List Mgmt. Ross the Boss

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tants

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I saw someone post somewhere that Clay has received a board ban - I hope not. If he has it isn't fair to take pot shots at him if he can't respond. If he's just being a wuss and not posting here - pot away.
If he has a board ban under this alias, I'm sure he would just create another next time Freo lose.
 
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If he has a board ban under this alias, I'm sure he would just create another next time Freo lose.
He likes posting about things he thinks we can improve and how we are comparatively tracking badly in some areas. That doesn't mean he takes joy in us losing. Why the two are confused by some people is beyond me.
 

maka

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He likes posting about things he thinks we can improve and how we are comparatively tracking badly in some areas. That doesn't mean he takes joy in us losing. Why the two are confused by some people is beyond me.
I havent got a board ban, so not sure why he would? Mods all seem pretty chilled unless it was a verbal tirade against another poster
 
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No doubt.

I do find it interesting the changes in view of things external to Freo across the last 12 months (or longer) but the views held about Freo and Ross Lyon are steadfastly held in place. It's the same posters on both sides (mostly) with very few changing their minds. I'd be interested in hearing from the less vocal who have wanted change in the last 18 months, the likes of Lach72 electricfeel Cameron_K Admiral Byng nurries PurpleGreenRed E Shed prpl_jss wild side and many more were all vocal 12-18 months ago about booting Ross (along with a LOT of others (capitals for BlueE )). Any of them think we are on the right path now?

The right path does not mean extending RL's contract but that Freo (and RL) maybe had a timeline and rebuild in place for a few years and it is starting to match the timeframe they laid out in mid 2016.

Of course, we could easily tank from here as we have done for the last couple of seasons. That will make for some interesting reading too.
I want to see a more consistent and longer body of work...and what happens when other clubs work out what we're trying to do

There's been some encouraging signs. So far we've played 2 poor games, one ok game, 2 very good games.

Side seems to be gelling a bit
 

wayToGo_

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This played out of position last season is rubbish. Matera and Tabs both played up the ground and in the forward half against GWS just like they did last season. Matera and Tabs are both now fit and had a full pre season under their belt which is the reason they are playing better.
Walters played mid and forward last season , no change there. Hogan and Lobbs arrival, another pre season plus experience under the youngsters is another reason for the improvement. The rebuild is taking effect ,embrace it . It's a pretty good feeling.
Matera was used in the midfield and on the wing last season. I don't recall seeing him there this season, probably because we haven't needed him to play there. As you say that doesn't mean he won't still come up the ground at times - he's been pretty reliable whenever he gets the ball this season imo.

Also when in the forward line last year he was often playing as a high half forward rather than as a forward pocket. Ballantyne tended to be used as our deepest small forward last season. Still not convinced Ballas + Matera in the same team gives us the right mix but whilst Ballas is injured we don't need to concern ourselves with it. Switta coming in, who was out almost all of last season and is more valuable at half forward, helps with balance as well.

I don't think Ross deliberately played him out of position last year - I just think the set of circumstances we had didn't suit us leveraging Matera's strengths as well as we have this season. Plus as you say, his fitness is chalk and cheese between the two seasons. And we have multiple talls that he can crumb off now.

Rather than complain about what we did last year, supporters should be congratulating all involved (recruiters, coaches, players) for a creating a far more functional forward line this season where we are getting more out of everyone and it seems likely to only get better and better over time. Pretty incredible to think these guys have only been playing together for a handful of games at most.
 
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This is something I've been thinking about too. What happens when we go from hunter to hunted.
You need to be good enough that even when teams do figure out what you are trying to do they can't stop it. Everyone knew what Hawthorn were doing, but stopping them from doing it proved next to impossible!

I think we are a long way from that point, but having a stable team playing consistently good footy will make us bloody hard to beat, and that's all we can aim for at the moment. Whether that translates into a premiership in the next few years will depend on just how well we develop or recruit players.

Certainly there are signs we are becoming more predictable and I think that is the key to sustained success.
 
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No doubt.

I do find it interesting the changes in view of things external to Freo across the last 12 months (or longer) but the views held about Freo and Ross Lyon are steadfastly held in place. It's the same posters on both sides (mostly) with very few changing their minds. I'd be interested in hearing from the less vocal who have wanted change in the last 18 months, the likes of Lach72 electricfeel Cameron_K Admiral Byng nurries PurpleGreenRed E Shed prpl_jss wild side and many more were all vocal 12-18 months ago about booting Ross (along with a LOT of others (capitals for BlueE )). Any of them think we are on the right path now?

The right path does not mean extending RL's contract but that Freo (and RL) maybe had a timeline and rebuild in place for a few years and it is starting to match the timeframe they laid out in mid 2016.

Of course, we could easily tank from here as we have done for the last couple of seasons. That will make for some interesting reading too.
I must admit I've said some stuff about Ross, but this season has turned me.
 

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Admiral Byng

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No doubt.

I do find it interesting the changes in view of things external to Freo across the last 12 months (or longer) but the views held about Freo and Ross Lyon are steadfastly held in place. It's the same posters on both sides (mostly) with very few changing their minds. I'd be interested in hearing from the less vocal who have wanted change in the last 18 months, the likes of Lach72 electricfeel Cameron_K Admiral Byng nurries PurpleGreenRed E Shed prpl_jss wild side and many more were all vocal 12-18 months ago about booting Ross (along with a LOT of others (capitals for BlueE )). Any of them think we are on the right path now?

The right path does not mean extending RL's contract but that Freo (and RL) maybe had a timeline and rebuild in place for a few years and it is starting to match the timeframe they laid out in mid 2016.

Of course, we could easily tank from here as we have done for the last couple of seasons. That will make for some interesting reading too.
I'm a bit torn. I really didn't think Ross had it in him to change. But there have been glimpses of a style of footy I really like, which is moving the ball forward with purpose (i.e. keeping control of it) into a position where we can kick low inside 50m to a moving target. We looked brilliant against North. Also I really enjoyed the first 15 minutes of the last quarter against GWS when the game was there to be won and we took it with this style of play.

Am I convinced yet? Nearly. I don't know. So I've been a bit quiet on the subject. But since you've tagged me in on it I'll respond.
 
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RTB invested a lot in improving the list last year blooding young players (un Ross like at the time) and deserves his chance this year with the right cattle to do his cobbling
Frustrated me with the number of games he gave some players like Crowden who really needed time at Peel but got a lot of game time into a young list
With Blakely coming back into the midfield and our up and coming players reducing thier turnovers/clangers im quietly confident RTB will prove his worth
If not will be joining the possie for change
 
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No doubt.

I do find it interesting the changes in view of things external to Freo across the last 12 months (or longer) but the views held about Freo and Ross Lyon are steadfastly held in place. It's the same posters on both sides (mostly) with very few changing their minds. I'd be interested in hearing from the less vocal who have wanted change in the last 18 months, the likes of Lach72 electricfeel Cameron_K Admiral Byng nurries PurpleGreenRed E Shed prpl_jss wild side and many more were all vocal 12-18 months ago about booting Ross (along with a LOT of others (capitals for BlueE )). Any of them think we are on the right path now?

The right path does not mean extending RL's contract but that Freo (and RL) maybe had a timeline and rebuild in place for a few years and it is starting to match the timeframe they laid out in mid 2016.

Of course, we could easily tank from here as we have done for the last couple of seasons. That will make for some interesting reading too.
It's pretty much inevitable in a rebuild where there "will" be supporters baying for the coaches head, regardless if it's fair or not. And also people in general have the habit of overrating lists I think, and imo ours in the last few years wasn't good enough to be competitive, due to factors such as age, depth, spine, etc. and switching coaches wasn't going to change very much, even if I didn't think Lyon was up to it.

It was only really now where the state of our list is in such a good shape where continued failure could be more reasonably attributed to coaching and structure, as we clearly have the cattle to do it now. I actually feel like our rebuild has progressed much faster than I was expecting, aided by some fantastic recruits and development. But if we regress now back to 2017/2018 levels, then I think a change is needed.
 
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Interesting to see that we’ve started the season as ranked at the top in defence and saw a graphic tonight on the Foxtel coverage where we had the most forward pressure acts in Round 1 and Round 4 in the comp. I know that’s the kind of stuff RTB relishes but it’s a sign the players are responding to his messaging which I feel has been challenging for him in the last couple of seasons.
 
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So after 5 rounds of 2019, Fremantle have the least points scored against indicating Ross Lyon has his defensive game plan back and working well.
And yet now when we win well against poor defensive teams (eg. GWS & Norths), I'm hearing how Ross Lyon has finally listened to his haters and is now playing a more attacking game plan. Even though when we play teams with strong defensive game plans, we still struggle to score.

Let me rewind a little ... when Lyon was appointed as Freo's Senior coach, replacing Harvey in 2011, I can remember saying to friends how annoyed I was, but I did acknowledge that Freo supporters (myself included) are very fickle and if Ross Lyon starts winning games, then we will all jump back on the band wagon. Well, I did just that, but what I didn't do was jump off once we stopped winning games. Even though my biggest disappointment was early 2016 when after a huge amount of negative press about Lyon's coaching and game plan (in 2015), Freo seemed to try to copy Hawthorn and we got smashed because of the lack of defense behind the ball when turnovers occurred (mostly from skill errors). Throw in some major injuries to key players and a rebuild was flagged and again I found myself annoyed. But I accepted that Freo's list was aging and something radical may be required to give us best possible chance of a premiership. Well now the list is looking better and Ross can once again show just how good his defensive game plans can be.

So, whatever you believe when it comes to Ross Lyon and his coaching, if Freo start winning games you'll mostly be jumping back on that band wagon and quickly forget the reasons why you ever jumped off. But that's all good with me ... after all, who am I to judge.
 

Caldera

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I've been a critic, but I'm feeling optimistic so far this year so far. My expectations remain relatively low - double digit wins and percentage in the 90s. Right now we are on track to perform better than this, and that would be awesome. But if we fall short - similar to last year with 8 wins and dirge percentage, that would be hard to stomach.
 
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