Moving forward from here

[smoovy]

I think we have to put the Collingwood game behind us and just look at where to go from here. To be honest I tipped us to lose, the travel back from perth from a 6 day break against collingowood’s 10 break and the shear number of injuries was always going to be a recipe for disaster. It's not the number of players we have out at the moment that it is a worry, it is the number playing who are not fit.

I think the first thing that needs to be considered is that this is going to be a completely different season to the last two. It is going to be a struggle and the challenge is going to be putting us there about come finals and hope it all comes together then...a la 97/98. Here's what I think needs to happen for the rest of the year:

1) By the mid season break, which I think will be crucial for us, we need to somehow be at worst 6-6...7-5 would be great. At the same time we need to somehow manage our injuries and freshen our legs. This could include playing some players out of position (Burton as a permanent forward), or resting some key players for a week or two.

2) Forward line. We need to be generating 25+ scoring shots a game to be competitive, the last 3 weeks it has been 16-17.

Contrary to what most think I believe our structure is Ok in terms of generating goals from marks. However, our ability to score once the ball hits the ground or from in play situations is possibly the worst I have ever seen from the crows. 2-3 years ago this used to be the only way we used to score! Perrie and Bock are clearly liabilities in this regard. In fact they are not only costing us from kicking goals, they cost us scores up the other end from the opposition’s rebound. We desperately need a fit Welsh and Bode to help us in forward line pressure.

Somehow we need to find 2-3 decent forward line crumbers. I think we need a mixture of experience and youth. When back fit our 3 small forwards should be Vince, Bode, Mcleod or Johncock (we don't need both down back).

3) Midfield. Our lack of forward 50 entries is a big concern. We used to be a high volume team for entries, but lately we have been well down. Because our forward line is inefficient, we need this high volume to given them enough opportunities to score.

We need to improve our clearance work by being absolutely desperate at all contests. Also we need to generate some run, play on at all costs I say!

Our midfielders simply have to start kicking some more goals. A high number of goal kickers is key to kicking big scores. This year we've had 6,7,7,6,5,6 goal kickers per round, this simply is not enough. The crows given their forward line needs to have this number closer to 10 to be successful.

4) Backline, this is fine. But please get Mattner out of there! Let him run and use his left foot.

 

[FORCROWINGOUTLOUD]

I think we have to put the Collingwood game behind us and just look at where to go from here. To be honest I tipped us to lose, the travel back from perth from a 6 day break against collingowood’s 10 break and the shear number of injuries was always going to be a recipe for disaster. It's not the number of players we have out at the moment that it is a worry, it is the number playing who are not fit.

I think the first thing that needs to be considered is that this is going to be a completely different season to the last two. It is going to be a struggle and the challenge is going to be putting us there about come finals and hope it all comes together then...a la 97/98. Here's what I think needs to happen for the rest of the year:

1) By the mid season break, which I think will be crucial for us, we need to somehow be at worst 6-6...7-5 would be great. At the same time we need to somehow manage our injuries and freshen our legs. This could include playing some players out of position (Burton as a permanent forward), or resting some key players for a week or two.

2) Forward line. We need to be generating 25+ scoring shots a game to be competitive, the last 3 weeks it has been 16-17.

Contrary to what most think I believe our structure is Ok in terms of generating goals from marks. However, our ability to score once the ball hits the ground or from in play situations is possibly the worst I have ever seen from the crows. 2-3 years ago this used to be the only way we used to score! Perrie and Bock are clearly liabilities in this regard. In fact they are not only costing us from kicking goals, they cost us scores up the other end from the opposition’s rebound. We desperately need a fit Welsh and Bode to help us in forward line pressure.

Somehow we need to find 2-3 decent forward line crumbers. I think we need a mixture of experience and youth. When back fit our 3 small forwards should be Vince, Bode, Mcleod or Johncock (we don't need both down back).

3) Midfield. Our lack of forward 50 entries is a big concern. We used to be a high volume team for entries, but lately we have been well down. Because our forward line is inefficient, we need this high volume to given them enough opportunities to score.

We need to improve our clearance work by being absolutely desperate at all contests. Also we need to generate some run, play on at all costs I say!

Our midfielders simply have to start kicking some more goals. A high number of goal kickers is key to kicking big scores. This year we've had 6,7,7,6,5,6 goal kickers per round, this simply is not enough. The crows given their forward line needs to have this number closer to 10 to be successful.

4) Backline, this is fine. But please get Mattner out of there! Let him run and use his left foot.

Only if someone has taught him how to look upfield and bounce the ball

 

[pjcrows]

It's just a different season to the last few. I'd rather struggle now and get all our players on the park and in form by Round 22, rather than the other way around. We're OK. 6-6 would be great, 7-5 very good. We'll see. I won't tip us this weekend v Brisbane, but we have Richmond, Carlton and Melbourne after that. If we don't win those 3 then we don't deserve to be in contention.

 

[fightingdreamer88]

I believe the Crows will fight and be right in the mix come the end of the year. It will be tough, but this is when everyone (players, supporters, the lot) needs to come together and fire up. Over the next few weeks we'll be going in with a severely undermanned group, and we'll see flashes of brilliance mixed with the woefullest of errors. Hopefully we can break even and set ourselves up for a big finish.

 

[Dandy_GO]

You know I really wish we had the cattle to be able to slot McLeod into the forward line. There was a LOT of talk of it happening pre-season, but unfortunately due to various injuries it simply was not to be.

He has shown over the last two years that he still has an incredible ability to read the play, and he's probably better than ever at it. The amount of times he picks up a possession at half back from an opposition kick is incredible, and this is often with one of the oppositions forwards trying to negate his influence. When he gets the ball he manages to find space and time better than anyone in our side. We already know he knows where the sticks are, and if he were having shots rather than setting up the attacks from the backline, he'd kick 3 a game easily.

Unfortunately, we need him down back right now. The ball wouldn't be getting to our forward line anywhere near as often if it wasn't for his influence down back.

 

[- PC -]

Good post but....

..a la 97/98.

You have mentioned this a few times in your posts and while its nice to think like that I think we need to be not resting on '' it will happen'' . I hope the players arent thinking that way either

2) Forward line. We need to be generating 25+ scoring shots a game to be competitive, the last 3 weeks it has been 16-17

. Grr grr grumble grumble mutter mumble.

Yes no maybe. Why? We only need to outscore the opposition by 1 point. We are strong defensively , ok in the midfield and admittedly struggling in the forward area..so why not use our strengths?

Somehow we need to find 2-3 decent forward line crumbers. I think we need a mixture of experience and youth. When back fit our 3 small forwards should be Vince, Bode, Mcleod or Johncock (we don't need both down back)

Vince and Bode should be enough...having the other 2 will mean we are too short...???

 

[fightingdreamer88]

You know I really wish we had the cattle to be able to slot McLeod into the forward line. There was a LOT of talk of it happening pre-season, but unfortunately due to various injuries it simply was not to be.

He has shown over the last two years that he still has an incredible ability to read the play, and he's probably better than ever at it. The amount of times he picks up a possession at half back from an opposition kick is incredible, and this is often with one of the oppositions forwards trying to negate his influence. When he gets the ball he manages to find space and time better than anyone in our side. We already know he knows where the sticks are, and if he were having shots rather than setting up the attacks from the backline, he'd kick 3 a game easily.

Unfortunately, we need him down back right now. The ball wouldn't be getting to our forward line anywhere near as often if it wasn't for his influence down back.

When Johncock gets back we'll have the luxury of switching he and Macca between defense and attack. Would be awesome if they took that approach.

 

[smoovy]

Good post but....
You have mentioned this a few times in your posts and while its nice to think like that I think we need to be not resting on '' it will happen'' . I hope the players arent thinking that way either

I have not mentioned 97/98 in any of my previous posts, you must be thinking of someone else. I agree absolutely that we cannot just think it will happen like that, and I'm sure none of the players are. I merely stated it in terms of the type of season it might be as a direct comparison to the last 2 years which has been the complete opposite.

Yes no maybe. Why? We only need to outscore the opposition by 1 point. We are strong defensively , ok in the midfield and admittedly struggling in the forward area..so why not use our strengths?

Yes our defence is a clear strength, but it can only take so much, eventually it will break by the shear volume of ball going down there. Presently the opposition are going inside 50 much more than us, this hasn't been the case the last two years. Our defence over the last two years this has been helped by the defensive pressure over the entire ground, which has limited opposition entries. I take the approach that if we have the ball and are scoring, then the opposition are not.

Vince and Bode should be enough...having the other 2 will mean we are too short...???

Vince is a tallish player. Bode plus another small (mcleod or johncock..not both) is what we need. 3 talls + 3 mid/smalls. With welsh, stevens, perrie and bock down ther last week we were far too slow and top heavy against collingwood...especially in slightly dewey conditions.

 

[FORCROWINGOUTLOUD]

Good post but....
You have mentioned this a few times in your posts and while its nice to think like that I think we need to be not resting on '' it will happen'' . I hope the players arent thinking that way either

. Grr grr grumble grumble mutter mumble.

Yes no maybe. Why? We only need to outscore the opposition by 1 point. We are strong defensively , ok in the midfield and admittedly struggling in the forward area..so why not use our strengths?


Vince and Bode should be enough...having the other 2 will mean we are too short...???

Because it is a little hard to kick goals from full back all day long

 

[mackga]

We looked really slow on Saturday night. Collingwood's young kids killed us. Who have we got that can give us some pace and run? Have we got to the stage of having a go with someone like Mackay when he is fit? At least he is prepared to run and take people on. I agree with Drummond about this kid, he has shown something every time he has been given a chance so far.