A Cut Above
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 in my lifetime 😁
We're only seven games into the season, but thus far our highest score has been 93 points against Carlton which is an issue because many of our easiest matchups for the year we've already played. Of the games remaining, our best chances to crack the ton should be at home against Freo in round 17 and GC in round 22.
Admittedly its a low-scoring year, but does it surprise you we're struggling to score to this extent with forwards including Bruest, Gunston, Roughead, Puopolo & Wingard? Yes two are not the players they were and one is struggling to adjust to a new system, but lack of talent shouldn't be the problem. Is it our depleted midfield? We're still averaging 52 i50s a game so the ball's down there often enough even if the quality of supply isn't top shelf.
Here's my concern - that we're playing a system which is overly cautious and defensive and doesn't look remotely like producing more than 100 points. Perhaps Clarko is worried we don't have the midfield talent to win a shootout, but we don't have a stingy enough defense for our 'minimal risk' strategy to work either.
With Smith, Henderson, Scully & Impey surely we should be exploiting our running power much more and playing a freer brand of attacking football. Obviously that's easier said than done but so far the team has generally played slow, unimaginative and uninspired football.
We're by no means the worst scoring team, averaging 83 points which is 8th highest. Our scoring levels have also been consistent and we've kept every game fairly close. I worry though that we lack spark and look overcoached, playing a brand designed to minimize damage that our attacking players are struggling under. Or perhaps we're simply light on talent and our expectations need to drop accordingly.
Admittedly its a low-scoring year, but does it surprise you we're struggling to score to this extent with forwards including Bruest, Gunston, Roughead, Puopolo & Wingard? Yes two are not the players they were and one is struggling to adjust to a new system, but lack of talent shouldn't be the problem. Is it our depleted midfield? We're still averaging 52 i50s a game so the ball's down there often enough even if the quality of supply isn't top shelf.
Here's my concern - that we're playing a system which is overly cautious and defensive and doesn't look remotely like producing more than 100 points. Perhaps Clarko is worried we don't have the midfield talent to win a shootout, but we don't have a stingy enough defense for our 'minimal risk' strategy to work either.
With Smith, Henderson, Scully & Impey surely we should be exploiting our running power much more and playing a freer brand of attacking football. Obviously that's easier said than done but so far the team has generally played slow, unimaginative and uninspired football.
We're by no means the worst scoring team, averaging 83 points which is 8th highest. Our scoring levels have also been consistent and we've kept every game fairly close. I worry though that we lack spark and look overcoached, playing a brand designed to minimize damage that our attacking players are struggling under. Or perhaps we're simply light on talent and our expectations need to drop accordingly.
