Analysis Match Day changes/decisions

[Collingwoodity]

Leaving aside the issue of team selection from one week to the next, once we are locked in with the 22 players and things are not going our way I am quite concerned with the changes/decisions being made by Buckley/Lappin/Hart/Harvey (whoever else).

Many seem obvious to us armchair critics but this is a constant consensus amongst us who seem to be able to see what is panning out poorly and what changes could arrest the momentum.

Obvious examples off the top of my head:

1. Swan playing forward worked against Essendon ANZAC day; after trying it numerous times throughout the season, starting him in the forwardline does not work if:

• we can't get it to Swan because our midfield can't win the clearances without him; and
• the persistence of playing an extra man back means that there is always a man covering our errant F50 entries to Swan; Swan is never isolated 1v1 which is the whole point of playing him forward.

2. Playing Taylor Adams anywhere other than in the guts when the game is not won. Just like Luke Ball, he plays well in one position. Play him there. Playing him elsewhere has the dual effect of:

• destroying his confidence; and
• reducing the whole effectiveness of the team structure.

3. Keeping Keeffe on Jenkins when Jenkins was high on confidence and Keeffe low. Shit happens, Jenkins was average this time around but the persistence to keep Keeffe on Jenkins meant:

• Each time the rest of the team came close to wrestling back control of the game, Adelaide would isolate Keeffe and Jenkins and we lost our momentum; and
• Keeffe lost confidence and the opportunity to switch him to another player was also lost.

These are some obvious examples that I have recalled this season. This does not have to do with team selection or poor skills or decision making. This is about actual changes that can be made during the match.