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- Jan 19, 2014
- 7,593
- 12,534
- AFL Club
- Western Bulldogs
Buckley's writing us off. Half this board have written us off? Won't/can't make the top 4, the end is nigh.
Where are we at?
Positives
Negatives
The thing that strikes me is our scope for improvement. It's arguable that Port and Collingwood have played as well as they can, with not a lot of scope for improvement, and have reaped the rewards, being top 2 on the ladder and pretty much guaranteed a top 4 finish. I like watching them both so good luck to them. And if they maintain the pre bye form they're every chance of being deserving winners. Tis a long season though.
Melbourne, Richmond, Geelong and ourselves strike me as the teams with the most scope for improvement between now and September.
In our case, our inability to get reward for effort or convert at an acceptable rate is hardly breaking news. But it is critical to our chances. There is a very long list of unreliable set shots for goal. From our very best player right through to our newer ones. The set shot bogeyman does not discriminate in the western.
There is also the small matter of connectivity between mids and fwds. Dump kicking/bombing does not help our cause. Fwds not leading into space doesn't help. Mids not kicking into space for fwds to run onto doesn't help. And then set shot conversion rate doesn't help. I feel that the mids and fwds need to go to the pub, have a beer and sort this sh1t out. It is within their control to solve the problem.
Our back 6 cop it quite a bit but in many cases the damage is done with unpressured entries their opponents receive - and that's a midfield and fwd defensive issue. At those times, they are on a hiding to nothing. Of course they've shot themselves in the foot on more than one occasion with unforced turnovers and they're a modest one on one defensive unit to begin with, even at full strength. Our fortunes this year lie with those further upfield, defensively and offensively. They can however contribute to our scoring on the defensive rebound and JJ, Richards and Dale will have a significant influence in that respect if we are to progress.
Apart from our mid/fwd connection and our conversion rate, our glaring weakness is our midfield defense. We are particularly vulnerable to opposition mids who are quick - at stoppages and in general play through the corridor. Port have showed us that .... twice. It is/should be an area of the highest priority because unsurprisingly, the best teams we play will have quick mids and a good ruckman.
So, apart from an obvious mid and fwd collective improvement in connection and conversion, I'm going to name the 5 players that I think we need to get the most improvement out of to win.....in order of importance.
Where are we at?
Positives
- positive in the win loss ledger
- in the 8 at no.7
- on equal points with 5 and 6 - behind them on %
- we haven't played West Coast yet
- 4 points clear of 8th
- no injuries to the midfield
- no injuries to the forward line
- at full strength we have the run and gun players at hb and in midfield to threaten
Negatives
- % (but we haven't played WC yet)
- significant injuries to the backline
- Richards
- JJ
- Jones
- TOB
- Conversion rate
- I50 retention rate
- Midfield/fwd connection
- midfield defense - particularly vulnerable to quick opposition midfields with top end tap ruckman
- one on one defense back 6
The thing that strikes me is our scope for improvement. It's arguable that Port and Collingwood have played as well as they can, with not a lot of scope for improvement, and have reaped the rewards, being top 2 on the ladder and pretty much guaranteed a top 4 finish. I like watching them both so good luck to them. And if they maintain the pre bye form they're every chance of being deserving winners. Tis a long season though.
Melbourne, Richmond, Geelong and ourselves strike me as the teams with the most scope for improvement between now and September.
In our case, our inability to get reward for effort or convert at an acceptable rate is hardly breaking news. But it is critical to our chances. There is a very long list of unreliable set shots for goal. From our very best player right through to our newer ones. The set shot bogeyman does not discriminate in the western.
There is also the small matter of connectivity between mids and fwds. Dump kicking/bombing does not help our cause. Fwds not leading into space doesn't help. Mids not kicking into space for fwds to run onto doesn't help. And then set shot conversion rate doesn't help. I feel that the mids and fwds need to go to the pub, have a beer and sort this sh1t out. It is within their control to solve the problem.
Our back 6 cop it quite a bit but in many cases the damage is done with unpressured entries their opponents receive - and that's a midfield and fwd defensive issue. At those times, they are on a hiding to nothing. Of course they've shot themselves in the foot on more than one occasion with unforced turnovers and they're a modest one on one defensive unit to begin with, even at full strength. Our fortunes this year lie with those further upfield, defensively and offensively. They can however contribute to our scoring on the defensive rebound and JJ, Richards and Dale will have a significant influence in that respect if we are to progress.
Apart from our mid/fwd connection and our conversion rate, our glaring weakness is our midfield defense. We are particularly vulnerable to opposition mids who are quick - at stoppages and in general play through the corridor. Port have showed us that .... twice. It is/should be an area of the highest priority because unsurprisingly, the best teams we play will have quick mids and a good ruckman.
So, apart from an obvious mid and fwd collective improvement in connection and conversion, I'm going to name the 5 players that I think we need to get the most improvement out of to win.....in order of importance.
- Bailey Smith: He is quicker than most in our team. If we are to pressure/stop quick opposition mids on the break from a stoppage or through the corridor in general play, he needs to step up. A vast improvement in his defensive game is the number one priority imo. Technically and attitudinally. Offensively, he can run and gun but not run and pass. If he's in possession, I'd be happy enough for him to shoot for goal from 50 every time on a fast break from a stoppage. if he misses, we at least have time to set the defense.
- Tim English: We ask a lot of Tim. He really is fantastic in general play and defensively around stoppages. But we have to go the well again with Timmy. He needs to improve within this season in his ruck duels against the Lycetts and Gawns of this world. We'll meet them in September and their taps are supplying quick mids who we already know are a problem for us. Sorry Tim, it's a big ask but a lot rests on your shoulders. You'll be well rewarded for your efforts.
- Aaron Naughton: Leading into space and away from other forwards and converting. It's an easy one ... and essential. Defensively and second efforts I see no reason to complain.
- Tom Liberatore: Tom looks to me to be part of the mid/fwd connection problem. He needs to find, or we need to provide him, an alternative to the dump kick I50 out of stoppages or from congestion. The retention rate from these kicks is so bad it's detrimental. He's part of the problem but also part of the solution. His vision, hands and kicking generally is of such high quality that other options must exist or should be made to exist. Handball fwd or laterally into space to force another stoppage or better still to one of JJ, Richards and/or Dale streaming through from the hbf.
- Bailey Dale: With Bont and Libba, probably the best field kick in the team. Eliminate the unforced errors and hit targets I50 a bit more and it's a 3-4 goal a game turnaround (eliminate 2 against and help put 2 on the board for us).
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