Think the second half of the year will be interesting. We've played 11 straight solid quarters of footy, and apart from brain fades as a side (read: the last 40 seconds, the Collingwood first quarter) we have really tightened up. Feel like we can give almost anyone a shake after yesterday. Games against St Kilda, Essendon, Brisbane, the Bulldogs, Collingwood (we were right with them for a lot of that game), GWS and North should all be considered winnable...hell, if you shut down West Coast's structures you could give them a fair old shake too, especially since I think their midfield pressure is massively masking their defensive deficiencies.
Yep. I said that in the review thread of the Geelong game.
What we have done well this year has been starting to implement Roos' game plan. As in, this is the first time we've properly seen it I reckon. It's all about blocking the exits. You can tell when it's working well when the other team has no run and looks really stilted when they have the ball and leads to the commentators saying stuff like 'I can't remember the last time <insert team who is usually better than melbourne> has played this POORLY!' IT has nothing to do with the other side really and is all to do with how we have structured up.
The problem has been trying to maintain this for 4 quarters, and also doing it effectively against the best sides in the comp.
I think it is also why a few games we have played have sorta reminded me of other games we have played this season. Ie. I remember saying during the Port game, that it felt like the GW$ game. Same thing in Adelaide, and against the Dogs. I think the Pies was a bit different but certainly against Geelong, we nailed the game plan. All day. You count the number of times they carved us up with run and carry through the middle on one hand. I'd love to see the scoring breakdown. Does anyone know where I can find these stats? It would be great to see how many of Geelong's goals came from free kicks, turnovers and stoppages versus a clear break away or chain of running play.
Also, the key to us at the moment is not letting the opposition team get a run on. Sounds obvious, but that is where we have been really found out and punished this year. Mind you, that has mostly been against better sides, and after they have broken through our press. We never let Geelong get any sort of a run on - i think the most consecutive goals they had was 2?
It definitely reminds me of the early days of Roos at Sydney. They would play this highly congested stuff and make other teams look slow and stop-start, but then when it all fell down, they'd let a run on of goals.
Anyway, I think WCE have yet to beat anyone of note. The 'best' team they have beaten was Richmond, who were coming off a bye (as both WC and us will be) and were pox. It's up in Darwin where we play ok. I dunno, I just think we are at least a chance. Probably won't win, but there are certainly a few unknowns going into it I reckon. Obviously the ruck will be a big battle. Need to try and nullify the influence of the 'All Australian****'. A lot of that comes down to shutting down Priddis. They don't really have another extractor like him. If Viney (?) can do to Priddis what he did to Selwood, we are a massive shot. Then you maybe give Vince his run-with/burn the other way role on one of Shuey/Gaff/Masten and all of a sudden their midfield is nowhere near as good as what it has been. Then we still have Jones and Brayshaw (!!!!) against the other two.
Sounds so simple