It wasn’t the game plan that changed it was the execution.
Funny what happens when players hit up the right target and don’t fumble and second handle the ball isn’t it?
Spot on. Those who have been to training during the Bolton era would have seen this game plan in action & seen how well it works when properly executed. Kicking 100 points is a lot easier when this works. Of course when it is poorly executed it opens you right up & then players go back into their shell.
I was quietly confident leading into this game after hearing Crippa speak during the week. With what he said it was clear the players had totally owned last week's shattering loss.
Not for the first time we kicked 5 goals in the 1st quarter, but instead of dropping right off in the 2nd quarter, we held sway, allowing us to go into the 2nd half in control of the game.
Ultimately the game was won through our control of the midfield, with Kreuzer, Cripps, SPS & Fisher leading the way & having a far more dangerous forward line than the Bulldogs. Harry, Levi, McG & JSOS kicked 9 goals between them, while we got 6 goals from our smalls.
It is now quite obvious why SOS prioritised Harry ahead of Charlie in the 2015 draft. His ceiling is ridiculously high. 20 disposals, 11 marks, 4.3 from a player who is only 21, with only 20 games under his belt. What will he be doing when he has 60-70 games under his belt?
I was pleased for Levi today. I'll concede I haven't been excited by his inclusion in the team this season, but you can't ask more than from him than to kick 3 goals as back up to Harry, with 2 of those goals being absolute rippers.
The continued improvement in Gibbo is pleasing. Now that he is getting to play further up the field, you can see he is far more comfortable in himself. To give some perspective on the step from full time VFL to AFL, Kane Lambert, now a mainstay in the Tiggies' best 22, had 6,9,8,11 & 19 disposals in his first 5 games, kicking only 1 goal. Gibbo's 11,16,4,16 & 21 & 1 goal stacks up quite well comparatively. The change from part time to full time player can be quite a learning curve.
As has been the case so far this season, our defence was again superb today, particularly with the Bulldogs having more inside 50s than us. Our defence has become a real strength this year. It probably helps that players are getting some continuity working together, in contrast to the 19 players who spent time in defence for us last season.
Finally, I can't finish off without mentioning the ongoing class showings of Sam Walsh. He is just making it look so easy & we should all be eternally grateful to him for kicking that final goal & shutting up the media & opposition supporters.
Looking to next week, I don't think we should be looking at too many changes. I would be tempted to bring Stocker in for Polson & if Charlie is fit, a run in the VFL could be in order.