Just say CC

[theGav56]

Wondering what others thought about the coaching on Sunday.

I thought we looked pretty good in that department. The match-ups and strategies worked a treat. And while both teams lacked half a dozen best 22 players, our rotations were limited once Headland and Haines went off, so they coped pretty well.

Two of the most talked about deficienies that had been highlighted from last year (midfield pace, and clearances at stoppages) seemed to have improved dramatically.

What we didn't see of course, is CC and co needing to change tack because they were being beaten; pull a trick from the bag.

You also need to praise them for the conditioning. Yes they are fit, but they also seem to have their heads popinting in the right direction, and look ready to play.

 

[newlander77]

It's early days my friend. Comment again after a dozen season proper games, it's difficult to know what teams plans are heading into these pre-season games.

I guess it'd be like trying to pick the 8 from the results of the first pre-season game. If you had done that last season you would have had Carlton up there somewhere.

 

[Topdock65]

I have made a new years resolution not to talk about CC coaching to after round 11 ....

But considering we recruited strongly in the coaching area this season (Harvey , Shaw) I was very impressed with the game on Sunday ...

GO DOCKERS

 

[theGav56]

It's early days my friend. Comment again after a dozen season proper games, it's difficult to know what teams plans are heading into these pre-season games.

I guess it'd be like trying to pick the 8 from the results of the first pre-season game. If you had done that last season you would have had Carlton up there somewhere.

Of course it's early days, and I'm not trying to predict anything about the season proper form one NAB game. But the changes in the coaching department are the biggest change to the club since last season.

There seems to be a lot of praise on this board about the way the players went about their business, which is fair enough, the did well. But they are only part of the equation.

There also seems plenty of posters wanting to have a crack at the Coach when things don't go well, which is also fair enough.

But what I am really looking for is some opinions on how the new look coaching regime shaped up for their first hit out.

 

[ThePope]

I am still concerned. We handballed in the backline and went sideways a lot. The lack of pressure let us get away with it. I don't think it would have been as sucessful vs a Ess/Port/Bris/Syd type of forward line pressure.

We ran with a 3-4 man forward line, and Woosha manned up our spare men in defence/midfield rather than having his own spare man/men in defence. Most other coaches don't do this because of the effect it has on their forward line (and the Wiggles forward line ineffectiveness could be an example of this). Also, would McPharlin have been as effective if there was a spare man dropping in front of him all the time? (of course if Pav was there we'd have an alternative tall target too).

Mercury on Dockerland keeps track of the clearances, and we only broke even. So still some work to do there.

But, yes, plenty of positives, but we weren't really challenged. Lets see how we go vs the Pies... remember how Mick has outcoached us in the past... lets make sure that the Pies melt in the sun.

 

[newlander77]

I am still concerned. We handballed in the backline and went sideways a lot. The lack of pressure let us get away with it. I don't think it would have been as sucessful vs a Ess/Port/Bris/Syd type of forward line pressure.

It's a tough call that one because there could be a lot of changes in defence, it was a young inexperienced defensive group. So with the inclusive of Black, Haddrill, Thornton and possibly Polak and Hayden the structures could change very dramatically quite quickly.

 

[kanabar]

I think we are being to proud of CC too early i was dissapointed with how in the 2nd quarter woosha tried to choke us and make us get the ball through one corridor rather then quickly move through the other side or quickly through middle the coaching staff didnt notice it till later on.

 

[theGav56]

So with the inclusive of Black, Haddrill, Thornton and possibly Polak and Hayden the structures could change very dramatically quite quickly.

BACKS All of those players could lay claim to being part of a "first choice" backline for us; the inclusion of any one of them would have strengthened the team from last Sunday (although the debate over who they replace may be interesting).

I'm not sure that we "went sideways a lot". They looked much more direct to me, and there was good flow through the backline and midfiled, which was in part due to the nature of pre-season games where defensive shut-down tactics aren't a feature.

MIDFIELD I am fine with the stats showing us breaking even at clearances. We were poor last year, and the Eagles had all but their best midfield out there. If we break even with them, then it indicates to me that one of our key problems areas has been addressed by the coaching staff.

FORWARDS Agree with the Pope about the forward line. If teams will allow us to do that during the year, brilliant, but it ain't gonna happen. For a start you would expect them to double team Pavlich again.

But the coaching team does seem to have developed some options. The one I would least like to see is CC going with the snall forward line for anything but a couple of minutes to throw the defense into disaray. The one I would most like to see is Sandilands in the goal square. His marking and kicking looks to have improved, and certainly his confidence is sky high.

 

[wehavethepassion]

The indicators are good but been bitten too many times to go ape ******** over one pre season game

 

[dugrene]

The new kick in rule and how we handled it threw up some different strategies. It definatley wasnt a case of grab it and kick as I thought it would be.

By altering the strategy from the kicks in caught the opposition completely off guard a few times.

I won't go through the different kick in options we used because I'll need to see them again in this week's game to see if it was luck or good management.

My gut feeling is CC has a few tricks up his sleeve.

 

[ThePope]

The one I would most like to see is Sandilands in the goal square. His marking and kicking looks to have improved, and certainly his confidence is sky high.

He sat down there in the shade for a bit in the last quarter, but muffed his two leads... but neither was a bomb on top of his head which should be the best way to kick to him... especially if the umps are going to be consistant on the no-hitting-the-arms rule.

 

[kanabar]

I agree with that if hitting the arms a big thing then we hsould tell 211 to stand 5-10 metres infront of goals at our midfield to kick infront of him slightly high that way his arms can get chopped and get infront of goal free kicks.

if not tell wizz to stay at his feet and get al lthe balls he doesnt mark thats our problem our crumbers dont do great

He sat down there in the shade for a bit in the last quarter, but muffed his two leads... but neither was a bomb on top of his head which should be the best way to kick to him... especially if the umps are going to be consistant on the no-hitting-the-arms rule.

 

[theGav56]

He sat down there in the shade for a bit in the last quarter, but muffed his two leads... but neither was a bomb on top of his head which should be the best way to kick to him... especially if the umps are going to be consistant on the no-hitting-the-arms rule.

I just can't see how, with the rule change/tightening, a normal backman can stop him if he gets the right delivery. At the very least it will psychologically mame the opposition backmen; I know, cruel, but within the rules.