One weakness - small, quick-leading forwards

[Darky]

One thing I have noticed over the last season and a half, is that because of the lack of pace in the backline, we are stuffed if an opposition coach sends a fast-leading midfielder to full forward.

Last year, Terry Wallace did so with Brad Johnson, and Johnson kicked five goals to help the Bulldogs gradually gobble up our lead and beat us by a few points. John Blakey was assigned the task on Johnson, but Johnson was unstoppable on a lead, even though Blakey did little wrong in theory.

On Saturday night, Rodney Eade did the same by sending Wayne Schwass forward. On the occasions that the ball was shot to Schwass on a lead, he marked it, showing Blakey a clean pair of heels. Once again, Blakey did little wrong, but Schwass was just too quick on a lead.

I fear that Mark Thompson may try this tactic with Peter Riccardi on Friday night, as Riccardi is quick and has a pretty good pair of hands.

For the last three games, Adelaide can use Ricciuto and McLeod in the same way, Richmond have Rogers, and Collingwood have Nick Davis.

 

[Shinboners]

In that game against the Dogs and again on Saturday night, our midfield just wasn't competitive. Johnson and Schwass were effective simply because their midfielders had the time and space to deliver pinpoint passes onto their chests. It wouldn't matter who you had marking them, if the ball gets delivered to them 10 times, they will win it at least 6 times, and probably 8. So, the problem comes back to the likes of Grant, Simpson, Rawlings, Harvey, etc. not putting enough pressure on our opponents.

Having said that though, our backline lacks a mobile player who can inflict physical pressure on the opposition. Pickett is the obvious player to send back, but these days, he seems to be more valuable to us as a forward. What we would give for a young Glenn Archer......

 

[True_Roo]

our backline lacks a mobile player who can inflict physical pressure on the opposition

Hopefully Teague can fill this role in a couple of years, but right now our backline is really struggling.

 

[Back Seat Of A Taxi]

Originally posted by Darky
One thing I have noticed over the last season and a half, is that because of the lack of pace in the backline, we are stuffed if an opposition coach sends a fast-leading midfielder to full forward.

Last year, Terry Wallace did so with Brad Johnson, and Johnson kicked five goals to help the Bulldogs gradually gobble up our lead and beat us by a few points. John Blakey was assigned the task on Johnson, but Johnson was unstoppable on a lead, even though Blakey did little wrong in theory.

On Saturday night, Rodney Eade did the same by sending Wayne Schwass forward. On the occasions that the ball was shot to Schwass on a lead, he marked it, showing Blakey a clean pair of heels. Once again, Blakey did little wrong, but Schwass was just too quick on a lead.

I fear that Mark Thompson may try this tactic with Peter Riccardi on Friday night, as Riccardi is quick and has a pretty good pair of hands.

For the last three games, Adelaide can use Ricciuto and McLeod in the same way, Richmond have Rogers, and Collingwood have Nick Davis.

Doesn't this mean we need a quick leading defender

 

[Darky]

Re: Re: One weakness - small, quick-leading forwards

Originally posted by Back Seat Of A Taxi



Doesn't this mean we need a quick leading defender

Um...yeah!

Makepeace and Blakey play tight, but aren't quick enough to actually stop a fast runner on a lead. Teague appears strong enough overhead, but is also not overly quick, but his youth and build make it more likely that his body will respond to sprint training than some of the other options.

The only other way to stop fast-leading small men, is to position someone in the space in front of the contest, like Archer used to do when Martyn and Lockett/Dunstall were one-on-one coming out of the goalsquare. Maybe one of the 10 guys leaving their men unattended will have the foresight to make constructive use of their loose checking...

 

[DarkRider]

Good point Darky, and on a small ground like Sydney, we should have gone for a small forward line too. Rocca, McKernan & Carey never looked like dominating any marking contests, on Saturday night. We looked top heavy and slow. Why Pagan did not make a change I do not know.

 

[Back Seat Of A Taxi]

Re: Re: Re: One weakness - small, quick-leading forwards

Originally posted by Darky


Um...yeah!

Makepeace and Blakey play tight, but aren't quick enough to actually stop a fast runner on a lead. Teague appears strong enough overhead, but is also not overly quick, but his youth and build make it more likely that his body will respond to sprint training than some of the other options.

The only other way to stop fast-leading small men, is to position someone in the space in front of the contest, like Archer used to do when Martyn and Lockett/Dunstall were one-on-one coming out of the goalsquare. Maybe one of the 10 guys leaving their men unattended will have the foresight to make constructive use of their loose checking...

Yeah sorry Darky, I was only being a smartarse. I knew what you were talking about. We used to put Schwass down there on occassions. Can't see why we couldn't leave Byron on his lonesome in the square. If he didn't mark it you would back that he would have better recovery skills than his opponent.

I think the backline problem between the Motlop brothers & Teague. If could clone the toughness of Teague & the pace & poise of Motlop then the problem would be solved. Unfortunately Teague at the moment is far too slow & Motlop not aggressive enough.

 

[Vansrooboys]

Originally posted by DarkRider
Good point Darky, and on a small ground like Sydney, we should have gone for a small forward line too. Rocca, McKernan & Carey never looked like dominating any marking contests, on Saturday night. We looked top heavy and slow. Why Pagan did not make a change I do not know.

Didn't Shagga go to Full Forward in the third???