Leppa's third year.

[captainrich]

i am now starting to see his game plan a bit more

he's happy with the fast movement and the exciting handballing which we saw alot of last year, but when the run is not there the plan is to slow it alll down with short kicks and possession maintenance (Richmond play a similar game style)

we just haven't had players like Hanley and Harwood fit for alot of the year to give us our run, and guys like Zorko have been a bit out of touch, its disapointing this year has gone down the way it has given we had so much promise beginning of the year, but not all of it can be blamed on Leppa

regardless the hand Leppa has been dealt if things go South like they have this year odds are he will also be getting the sack and we may throw out a wild SOS to Roos

 

[lukiuslion]

Yes they do tend to get the boot in those circumstances, but perhaps the point is they shouldn't. A little more patience might see the coaches plans actually come to fruition.

Clearly, if a team is getting hammered every week after 3 years then there may be a problem, but if after 3 years a team which has undergone a complete rebuild is consistently competitive and is showing genuine signs of on field improvement then surely a little extra patience is warranted rather than just start again with yet another coach with their own ideas.

The problem is - of leppa's 35 or so games as coach, we have been 'uncompetitive' in about 15 of them. That is incredibly high - you would hope for any team to be uncompetitive only once or twice a year at most. That's probley being kind too. This is the issue, we are in a situation where we are not only 'not improving' but we are often getting flogged. Effort has been there since round 6 this year though. I think that's why there is no clear answer is - and still after 4 pages of intriguing chat.. I am no closer to understanding what we want and what is reasonable.. Lol

 

[lukiuslion]

i am now starting to see his game plan a bit more

he's happy with the fast movement and the exciting handballing which we saw alot of last year, but when the run is not there the plan is to slow it alll down with short kicks and possession maintenance (Richmond play a similar game style)

we just haven't had players like Hanley and Harwood fit for alot of the year to give us our run, and guys like Zorko have been a bit out of touch, its disapointing this year has gone down the way it has given we had so much promise beginning of the year, but not all of it can be blamed on Leppa

regardless the hand Leppa has been dealt if things go South like they have this year odds are he will also be getting the sack and we may throw out a wild SOS to Roos

Yeah I commented a few weeks ago, I was watching a Richmond game and said to a mate, "this is like watching us, just better" - he is far more inclined to go on the attack through the middle, but will also play a 'team by design' game style, that is thought up for a particular opposition - like the, kick it to a series of stagnant packs along the wing and hope to win it over the back, game plan for the first half of the dogs game.

All in all, playing that tempo, controlled, kick it to targets for some of the game, then after half time .. suddenly run and handball, game style is very hard to implement and do well.. But who knows, we might be better for the diversity of game plan in the next few years time, just learning the ropes now.

 

[captainrich]

Yeah I commented a few weeks ago, I was watching a Richmond game and said to a mate, "this is like watching us, just better" - he is far more inclined to go on the attack through the middle, but will also play a 'team by design' game style, that is thought up for a particular opposition - like the, kick it to a series of stagnant packs along the wing and hope to win it over the back, game plan for the first half of the dogs game.

All in all, playing that tempo, controlled, kick it to targets for some of the game, then after half time .. suddenly run and handball, game style is very hard to implement and do well.. But who knows, we might be better for the diversity of game plan in the next few years time, just learning the ropes now.

Yeah i think its a good game plan, especially for a young developing team who probably doesn't have the legs to keep the up tempo plan for the 4 quarters, we probs just do not have the kicking skills/contested marking ability to continuallly maintain it, will get better with time though

 

[lukiuslion]

Yeah i think its a good game plan, especially for a young developing team who probably doesn't have the legs to keep the up tempo plan for the 4 quarters, we probs just do not have the kicking skills/contested marking ability to continuallly maintain it, will get better with time though

Yeah I also think it takes incredible maturity to not only 'play well' against better teams and survive, so to speak - but to also be able to control tempo at will and implement various styles of play is a big ask at our stage of development, leppa speaks about 'tempo' and all '3 phases' all the time.. sometimes I think we are 'over coached' - but I think long term, the style could hold us in good stead, just hard to learn and become second nature.

 

[notliondown]

I think the reality is that the club will judge Leppa with far lesson "passion" than we as supporters ever will. And in doing so place far more weight on issues we may not and less on others.

Really he came to the club almost as a development coach. It was someone else's list, and one that suddenly became the youngest list in the comp. It's a list with gaping holes not only in terms of age and experience but in positional stocks. Add to that the unexpected wildcard of some considerable talent suddenly being available in Beams et al, and yet not really being in a position to take full advantage of it - something I think we underestimate a lot.

He's been dealt a set of circumstances that with any real examination means that, probably until next year at least, his ability to shape, mould and create a team and style that he truly wants is very very limited.

For me these first 2 years (and really with this injury list its probably almost justifiable to say that little will be learned or gained from this year) were Leppa's time to assess and build for himself a hard line course of action. To take real stock of the list, make hard decisions (that I think we may see later this year), create a sense of direction and set course for what he thinks is the best way forward - both in list management and game style. And as such, probably won't count for much in terms of him being judged. There's a few here that won't like to hear it but I suspect the club would consider these 2 years as acceptable all things considered.

The next 2 however will be where the hard marking will take place. By the end of 2017 it will be Leppas team. There will be a plethora of the list with 60-70 games under their belts and progress up the ladder will be pretty much the only acceptable measure.

My big question is this. After the Voss debacle, just what will be enough to justify the decision one way or another. 18 teams can't win the premiership each year, and nor can they all fit in the top 4 or 8. What will we - and more importantly the club consider as acceptable progress?

Personally, endless rotations of key personnel like head coaches seems like a futile exercise unless the ends justify the means. Many many people thought Eade would have GC easily top 8. A list with talent and depth just lacking a coach (don't wheel out the injury line to me unless it justifies our position as well).

Change isn't always the best way forward.

 

[maroon and blue]

Our coaching staff changes have been faster than a Greek ATM. Can't see the point of replacing coaches in the near future.

 

[Wounded Lion]

I think some people significantly understate how bad our list was when Leppa took over. We had no elite talent whatsoever, our senior players were inconsistent and had never experienced success or a regular run in finals. We lost a young player on every line on the field. Our experienced KPP were Staker, McGuane, Maguire, Merrett, who were injury riddled and patchy.

Sure, our midfield has depth, but in round one against Collingwood, it was like watching 16 midfielders who had been moved into unfamiliar positions, we had no choice. Whenever I think of Leppa's worth as a coach, I ask myself if any other Coach (Clarko, Lyon, Hinkley) could do a better job with the age profile and inexperience of our list. I don't think it is possible. Maybe a few more wins but still the same issues.

 

[jackess]

I think some people significantly understate how bad our list was when Leppa took over. We had no elite talent whatsoever, our senior players were inconsistent and had never experienced success or a regular run in finals. We lost a young player on every line on the field. Our experienced KPP were Staker, McGuane, Maguire, Merrett, who were injury riddled and patchy.

Sure, our midfield has depth, but in round one against Collingwood, it was like watching 16 midfielders who had been moved into unfamiliar positions, we had no choice. Whenever I think of Leppa's worth as a coach, I ask myself if any other Coach (Clarko, Lyon, Hinkley) could do a better job with the age profile and inexperience of our list. I don't think it is possible. Maybe a few more wins but still the same issues.

I go the other way. It's hard to think of any coach doing a worse job.

 

[Skoob]

I go the other way. It's hard to think of any coach doing a worse job.

How's Rocket Eade doing?
Not that I am criticising Eade, but based on results alone, I don't think either can be judged as poor coaches.

 

[jackess]

How's Rocket Eade doing?
Not that I am criticising Eade, but based on results alone, I don't think either can be judged as poor coaches.

Or good coaches.

 

[James North]

Is it possible to consistently make arguments that are in the negative space of other arguments?

 

[jackess]

Is it possible to consistently make arguments that are in the negative space of other arguments?

I think so but I'm a positive guy.

 

[James North]

I think so but I'm a positive guy.

I'm not sure how to interpret this ... it seems too clear-cut ...

 

[Wounded Lion]

If the GH5 were still here, this is our best 22 today.

Docherty Merrett Paparone
Harwood Clarke Yeo
Hanley Rockliff Polec
Zorko Close Christensen
Green McStay Longer
Martin Rich D.Beams

Adcock C.Beams Redden Robinson

Although we picked McStay at #25, I dare say he would of slipped through to #29 (which we traded along with Polec). All other players around this number in the draft were drafted as midfielder/small defenders.

I have no real idea on how this team would perform today but I would like to get the opinion of others.

 

[Haso]

Voss's side 'nearly' made the finals with:

- 4-5 years with a gameplan
- a key forward
- a more experienced list who arguably had hit a glass ceiling with the talent available to them
- 5 extra 2nd/3rd year players who moved at the end of his tenure
- a team getting booted out of finals
- two expansion teams within their first few years.

I'm not sure I agree on the lack of improvement amongst our players either. Rocky has reached AA under Leppa's coaching (our first AA player in yonks), Stef Martin has had a career renaissance and a lot of the other players who have had form dips have simultaneously battled injury issues: Rich a prolonged one and Redden the first of his career. More recently, Paparone and Robertson have showed great signs of improvement.

For sure there have been some senior players who haven't performed as expected. Zorko and Leuey come to mind, but again, Leuey has battled ongoing injury issues and the loss of his primary spot to someone who must surely be in the top 5 rucks in the comp. Mayes hasn't come on as hoped, but other than that there haven't been too many dramatic cases of regression. Mostly I think the team balance has suffered from the loss of experienced KPPs.

Either way, we'll enter next year withwith an extra pre-season and a lot more guys in the 30-50 game bracket as a result of these last two years. I agree that on that basis alone, we should expect some improvement.

Crushing it recently Kevvo

 

[Kevvo]

Crushing it recently Kevvo

Cheers.

On the other hand, my output at work has taken a nosedive, but you take the good with the bad.

 

[Haso]

Cheers.

On the other hand, my output at work has taken a nosedive, but you take the good with the bad.

It's a delicate balance.

 

[lukiuslion]

It's a delicate balance.

LOL - at least you do always sound so productive on the Key Board though, the boss walks past and just thinks your are absolutely smashing something out bashing away non stop on the keyboard. Making plenty of progress on that Penski file.

 

[Haso]

LOL - at least you do always sound so productive on the Key Board though, the boss walks past and just thinks your are absolutely smashing something out bashing away non stop on the keyboard. Making plenty of progress on that Penski file.

Vandelay Industries, Executuve Vice President Haso speaking.

 

[captainrich]

If the GH5 were still here, this is our best 22 today.

Docherty Merrett Paparone
Harwood Clarke Yeo
Hanley Rockliff Polec
Zorko Close Christensen
Green McStay Longer
Martin Rich D.Beams

Adcock C.Beams Redden Robinson

Although we picked McStay at #25, I dare say he would of slipped through to #29 (which we traded along with Polec). All other players around this number in the draft were drafted as midfielder/small defenders.

I have no real idea on how this team would perform today but I would like to get the opinion of others.

interesting, however i doubt Longer would be in the team ahead of Leunberger, regardless the team probably looks better doesnt it, Yeo and Polec are absolutely game changing players, which we dont have alot of at this stage

 

[lukiuslion]

 

[jackess]

View attachment 148714

It's just empty calories and male curiosity, eh, Georgie?

 

[lukiuslion]

Funny tuning in to SEN this morn and listening to them ponder how Sydney could possibly make their forward line work with only Goodes and Reid - king suggesting they play Reid out of a goal square and put it on the ground in front of him.. Also Talking about the swans forward line 'woes' only averaging 80 points!!! Do you think leppa could manage with only goodes and Reid? Or only an A grade coach like Longmire. Lol

King also banging on about Power and 'nothing going right' and 'they can't take a trick in 2015' ohhhh woe is me, typical king justifying why he gets almost every prediction wrong.

 

[Fatcat08]

Poor Sydney only having the two tall forwards who played in the winning 2012 premiership to fall back on