Don't know is the correct thread to post this... but here goes.
The last few weeks for me have highlighted our lack of skills, and what skills a modern footballer needs:
1. ability to pick up the ball off the deck or below the knees. So many times we get first hands on the ball but it doesn't result in a possession. Not exactly a fumble, just not clean with it, and losing that split-second of time before the tackler comes. not sure if there is a stat called "first touch without possession" but if there was I reckon we'd be at the lower end of the league table for it. So often we pinball the footy around the pack until it ends up in opposition hands and they handle it cleanly.
2. Handpassing in close. AFL standard now is for a handpass of less than 5m, under no physical pressure, to land in the waiting hands of the team-mate. In the hands at waist height. Not below the knees, not above the chest, not half a metre to the left or right of the target. I say under no physical pressure but with a tackler maybe 2-3 steps away. Got to get the ball out cleanly to the outside, it is all about being that split-second or second ahead of the pressure. Good teams do it. If you can't do this say 9 times out of 10 you are not AFL standard.
3. Kicking. Ability to kick to advantage of a leading target. Enough has been said about this.
I am not sure Ross's philosophy of leaving skills up the players themselves is going to cut it.
The last few weeks for me have highlighted our lack of skills, and what skills a modern footballer needs:
1. ability to pick up the ball off the deck or below the knees. So many times we get first hands on the ball but it doesn't result in a possession. Not exactly a fumble, just not clean with it, and losing that split-second of time before the tackler comes. not sure if there is a stat called "first touch without possession" but if there was I reckon we'd be at the lower end of the league table for it. So often we pinball the footy around the pack until it ends up in opposition hands and they handle it cleanly.
2. Handpassing in close. AFL standard now is for a handpass of less than 5m, under no physical pressure, to land in the waiting hands of the team-mate. In the hands at waist height. Not below the knees, not above the chest, not half a metre to the left or right of the target. I say under no physical pressure but with a tackler maybe 2-3 steps away. Got to get the ball out cleanly to the outside, it is all about being that split-second or second ahead of the pressure. Good teams do it. If you can't do this say 9 times out of 10 you are not AFL standard.
3. Kicking. Ability to kick to advantage of a leading target. Enough has been said about this.
I am not sure Ross's philosophy of leaving skills up the players themselves is going to cut it.
