Coach Luke Beveridge and his on-field coaching.

[Doggy]

Sitting effectively two games outside the 8 with the third highest percentage this late in the season is embarrassing for our coaches. If your system destroys bad teams but can’t beat anyone good then it’s just a gimmick, it’s not a winning strategy.

No ... it needs to be adaptable during games.

The high press is one of the biggest issues. It can be deployed against the best teams but when they get on top we need to adapt and change in game. Right now it seems that Beveridge doubles down.

It's a stupidly odd season because no doubt whatever we end up with wins wise would have been enough nearly every other year. We are 2 games outside the top 4 as well and have lost a shit load of close games. Could easily be in the top few on the ladder with just a bit of luck.

 

[low impact and reckless]

No ... it needs to be adaptable during games.

The high press is one of the biggest issues. It can be deployed against the best teams but when they get on top we need to adapt and change in game. Right now it seems that Beveridge doubles down.

It's a stupidly odd season because no doubt whatever we end up with wins wise would have been enough nearly every other year. We are 2 games outside the top 4 as well and have lost a shit load of close games. Could easily be in the top few on the ladder with just a bit of luck.

Poor selection cost us V Adelaide , and Brisbane first time( Harmes injured before the game and down a rotation). It's his Achilles heel.

 

[Doggy]

Poor selection cost us V Adelaide , and Brisbane first time( Harmes injured before the game and down a rotation). It's his Achilles heel.

Addition of Bont probably beats Brisbane, Collingwood and Fremantle. WA media were celebrating Bont being out 3 weeks before that game.

 

[low impact and reckless]

Addition of Bont probably beats Brisbane, Collingwood and Fremantle. WA media were celebrating Bont being out 3 weeks before that game.

Bonts injury was out of our control .Playing an injured player subbed out inside 5 minutes,and going in too short against Crows is in Bevos control

 

[X_box_X]

Bevo coaches his 250th match tomorrow night.

 

[TiAn_]

To me, every year sort of feels like Bev is testing theories for some dissertation he’s secretly writing.

One year it’s zoning off so hard that our opponents set league records for uncontested marks. We were obsessively backing off the mark everywhere on the ground at one point. This year it was pushing a forward half stoppage game to its absolute limit at the expense of defending turnovers and fast breaks.

We try things and they work and we abandon them the next week. We try things that don’t work and keep doing them for a whole season.

 

[spinningmagnets]

To me, every year sort of feels like Bev is testing theories for some dissertation he’s secretly writing.

Maybe he's gatheting data for the "specially-engineered software program" that he has "invented and trademarked for potential sale next year", according to a Jay Clark puff piece from April.

 

[stefoid]

To me, every year sort of feels like Bev is testing theories for some dissertation he’s secretly writing.

One year it’s zoning off so hard that our opponents set league records for uncontested marks. We were obsessively backing off the mark everywhere on the ground at one point. This year it was pushing a forward half stoppage game to its absolute limit at the expense of defending turnovers and fast breaks.

We try things and they work and we abandon them the next week. We try things that don’t work and keep doing them for a whole season.

I still cringe at the start of 2017 where paddling the ball in front of you was our secret weapon - at least that only lasted for 3 rounds

 

[dogwatch]

I still cringe at the start of 2017 where paddling the ball in front of you was our secret weapon - at least that only lasted for 3 rounds

Bont still uses it to great effect. But then he isn't easily pushed off the ball, unlike so many of his teammates.

(Did anyone know that Bont has a basketball background? )

 

[BatteredBulldog]

Our issues are our backline and our defensive structures.

We play a very high aggressive press which can be opened up quite easily, especially if our pressure dips. We also lack players in defence who are good 1v1 or defensively minded, as in defend first.

Look back at 16 the following were good 1v1 and/or defensively minded:
Morris
Boyd
Wood
Hamling
Roberts

Not saying they were all elite defenders or great afl players but they had defensive abilities.

We now play a quite aggressive backline. All of Dale, JJ and Bramble are not defensively minded. We also don’t have a lock down key defender. With jones falling off the cliff. Who was beat my opponent first then impact player.

We don’t sustain pressure on transition, last few years have been because we have played a tall forward line this year I think it’s due to age profile not being able to sustain it.

Clearly we lack the personnel back there and that’s why we have such terrible numbers when it comes to scores per inside 50 conceded. Against the weaker teams they don’t get the ball in there as much and they don’t transition as well allowing us to flood back. But against good sides they transition quicker than we can flood back and they match us in terms of inside 50s.

We need an adjustment in our game plan which is on the coaches. Our press needs to be less aggressive and we need to hold an anchor to stop the out the back goals.

Then recruiting wise we need to invest in our backline and players who defend first and can compete 1v1.

This is an excellent summary and precisely nails the issues we currently have !

Needs some attention and tweaking in the off season if Bevo acknowledges the obvious.

Failure to do so will result in much of the same as this year.

 

[lachy]

After 2021 a mini rebuild was required. At the end of 2023 proper resources were put into the football department.

Our performances since have been:
2022 Lost an Elimination Final after leading by 40 points
2023 missed finals
2024 lost an Elimination Final comfortably
2025 did not make the finals.

Each year there were reasons, and there were area's of improvement particularly in individual and as a team.

However when you take in either this trend line or the trend line back to 2017 there is no doubt Bev is under pressure next season. Small changes are all that is required, but a failure to make those changes should make 2027 untenable as this is a results based business and we are not a minnow club

 

[Libbaaaa]

I just want consistent pressure in all facets of the game, down back, in the middle and in the forward line.

 

[TheSportingEyes]

Time for the Bont to go to defence. Our best spoiler, best kick and I'm sure he could intercept mark at a high level. Finals are showing defence trumps all.

 

[TheScriptorWL]

Time for the Bont to go to defence. Our best spoiler, best kick and I'm sure he could intercept mark at a high level. Finals are showing defence trumps all.

I'm all for it. With the caveat that Butters will be wearing the tri-colours in 2027.