Return of the Flood?

Smokin

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How long do you think clubs/coaches will put up with massive scores against?

The press looks to be unlocked, cant save a score to save itself anymore. Sure, one on one could come in, but is that going to be enough for the defensive side of the game?

I have a feeling we are coming full circle, and whilst it is great for us fans that there are high scoring games, for some reason I dont think the coaches are too thrilled with it. Both Bomber and Eade said last night defensive work is being done to fix this right now.

Teams are out on their feet earlier - simple solution, get numbers behind the ball and slow it down, wtih the sub, the need for high rotations lessens.

The day of the open 50 to run into may be over a lot earlier than we think.
 

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FRUMPY

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#2
love it how round 1 has gone and the press has been defeated, people of ignorant.

Bomber thompson explained it perfectly on AFL360, in his opinion clubs will work on the defensive side of their games more to curb the high scoring of round 1. Says that AFL changes about every 6 weeks and clubs implement/improve thier techniques to control the game.

It may be free scoring at present but by round 10 it will be back to the past year or so of footy, very well organised defensive structures, zones and in your face presses.
 

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#3
love it how round 1 has gone and the press has been defeated, people of ignorant.

Bomber thompson explained it perfectly on AFL360, in his opinion clubs will work on the defensive side of their games more to curb the high scoring of round 1. Says that AFL changes about every 6 weeks and clubs implement/improve thier techniques to control the game.

It may be free scoring at present but by round 10 it will be back to the past year or so of footy, very well organised defensive structures, zones and in your face presses.
There might be minor changes every six weeks but it's not like the press or flooding were in and within six weeks out again. It's like a flow on effect isn't it. Could be new zones round 10 don't know. Teams seem to have worked out the current zones and how to beat them. I'd love to see man on man footy again! Like the 90's. Thats when we would see a flood again.
Flooding was the start of the zone I reckon
 

cos789

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#4
There has always been defensive structures that basically entail pushing numbers back to form a defensive wall.
A part of this is the physical requirement to run back and man/zone up.
Possibly with the reduction in the number of replacement players we have reached the physical limit to this exercise.
 

Smokin

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There has always been defensive structures that basically entail pushing numbers back to form a defensive wall.
A part of this is the physical requirement to run back and man/zone up.
Possibly with the reduction in the number of replacement players we have reached the physical limit to this exercise.
well, going back to a more defensive flood would mean a near abandonment of pressing the defensive players up. Will probably go a way to saving their legs a bit.

Right now, it seems clubs have had a 2nd pre-season to work on the press, and are that adept at it, it is nearly detrimental to press. My club is getting killed on the rebound, leaving a near empty 90m opposition forwardline.

If you press, and it doesnt do its job Id say 75% of the time, you are in big trouble. It means your own forwardline has the majority of the 36 players on the field, so that next contest (generally long ball these days) is lost, the opposition have a wide, open forwardline and are now scoring with ease.

But, even if you do win it, you are going back into a conjested (flooded if you will) situation.

So the press is seemingly at a point whereby its effectiveness isnt cancelling out the negative end result of players situated on the field for the pressing team.

Teams may take the next step back to a one on one game, but that will then lead to the more numbers back, as like it or not coaches would rather win whilst limiting the opposition, rather than the Knights way of scoring more than whatever they do.
 

Roby

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#6
Well GWS had a semi-flood gameplan already. Don't think you're top teams will adopt this as an overall strategy, but it may came in effect given different situations.

The problem with the flood is that it's only used to minimize damage and not to win the game. If the opposition started pinging shots from outside 50, the damage may not be that much reduced. Also flooding will allow even the least drilled opposition teams to effectively lock it in with a full press.
 

Smokin

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Well GWS had a semi-flood gameplan already. Don't think you're top teams will adopt this as an overall strategy, but it may came in effect given different situations.

The problem with the flood is that it's only used to minimize damage and not to win the game. If the opposition started pinging shots from outside 50, the damage may not be that much reduced. Also flooding will allow even the least drilled opposition teams to effectively lock it in with a full press.
Yes, essentially the difference between a flood and press is where it is happening.

If teams 'lock it in with a full press', then simply that is the current day press. The defending team will invite this (via flood), in order to force their own defensive 50 to be chock a block, and their own attacking half of the ground open.

That is how teams are scoring so easily these days.

So, what I am saying is, you use a press or flood (or zone) to put your resources into an area to own that area. But, over time teams have learned that they will then press or push or follow, ensuring the equal number is at press. Thus, equal competition at that next contest, not being "suffocated" like teams were in 2010 by Collingwood, who outnumbered you due to the press.

Thus, it is an 18 v 18 situation, but the game is clogged at the end which the pressing team is attacking, and open for the opposition's.

The press is now a hindrance, not an advantage.

You would rather "reverse press", ie get your flood back and actually invite the opposition team to press up.

But, teams wont be that silly, so it will be back to a defensive, numbers in the backline type game.

Either way, coaches will not stand for massive scores against. It just isnt in their DNA.

In the Essendon - North Game, watch the last quarter. Essendon dominated in play, had double the number of inside 50's, yet were outscored by 5 goals or so. We pressed, and had a clogged forward line. We didnt kick straight, but it was a hard forward line to function in.

On the rebound, North were out and scored 4 goals in their first 5 inside 50's, or something like that.

Carlton do it well, since getting smashed by West Coast last year, they in fact became one of the better teams handling a press. They match the numbers, then win that contest on the back flank and operate so often with an open forward line. This suits their mobile, speedy forward line. I went on Thurs night - when Richmond were able to get numbers back, Carltons forward line looked a little impotent. They, like north, thrived when given an open forward line to operate in.
 

flashmanvc

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#10
Defensive strategies, such as zoning, the press, flooding et al are employed by coaches so they can hold onto their jobs. The defensive mindset exists because coaches know that heavy losses will lead to pressure from fans, which will lead to them getting sacked.

When all, or the majority, of coaches use these tactics, it becomes something of a negative-vibe circle jerk. Meanwhile, a coach who gets his team to go on the attack must have faith in his list and feel secure in his tenure.

Not just my opinion either. Heard it from someone who works in the AFL that this is also the view of the competitions' management.
 

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Furn

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#13
The question is how are you going to get the ball out?

If you flood and a team presses up they dont have to go 18 on 18 because they are on the attack they can just send in 14-15 and have, for example with the Hawks, Birchall, Suckling and Burgoyne sitting about 70 out waiting for the the ball to be kicked out.

A quick kick out and they grab it and go bang from 55. The other option is to run it out or try to chip it. Both super risky.

To me, a flood isnt having all your players in your back half. If all the opposition players are in your 50 then of course yours are going to get all your back. The flood in its pure sense was putting all your players back and not contesting the ball up the field. Basically allowing a side to bring it uncontested, all the way and then stop them inside 50.

These days good sides will pick a flood apart or kick over it and if that doesnt work press up and keep it in there all game.

Have a look a the 3rd qtr Hawks v Dees round 3-4 last year to see what happens when you sit back against a good side.
 
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