Run Docker Run...

[Gekko71]

We had 0 bounces this week and about two from memory last week against the WCE who racked up about twelve or so IIRC. Before that our bounce numbers also seemed to be pretty low.

I know we've been missing Hill for the last fortnight or so (I include today because he was subbed out early) and I know we play a more congested style, but seriously - where has all our outside run and carry gone??

Sooner we get Morra, Sylvia and Simpson back the better.

Any thoughts? Is the lack of carry a problem or am I worrying about nothing?

 

[hoss]

Duff could of had two bounces but he forgot that part of the rules.

 

[yakka man]

Agree on that. Our speed and spread is a big issue. I actually think we're particularly slow in defence. A Hill or Josh Simpson in our backline would be very handy. We get caught in tight spaces too often in our backline and need someone quick to get it out.

 

[andy_20]

Agree on that. Our speed and spread is a big issue. I actually think we're particularly slow in defence. A Hill or Josh Simpson in our backline would be very handy. We get caught in tight spaces too often in our backline and need someone quick to get it out.

I look at Harbrow and I always think, Geez that bloke would be great running out of our defense. We haven't really had a silky mover since Hayden

 

[DMan 11]

Wow, that's a pretty damming stat no matter how you look at it.
Either port were so good with their pressure and covering players we couldn't get one out free or our methods around congestion are not quite right in not freeing the man up.
I noticed Crowley received a fair bit around the packs today, I'd much rather hill, dPearce or Mz on the end of it but it wasn't to be today.
Crowley often butchers it with the quick slap on the boot - it's a hard art form to master.

If it weren't for the bye providing some well needed relief I think we'd see the likes of Sheridan , mora and Sylvia come into calculation for running power. Sylvia definately knows his way around a pack and loves a fend off, with ibbo due back it also frees a runner like sutclife or dPearce up to play more linking than lock down.
I think ibbo is an unheralded key to our defensive six given his versatility

 

[Gekko71]

I would worry less if the club was winning games. For no Freo player in the game to bounce the ball it tells me that players weren't trying to get around their opponent and take the game on if there was half a chance to do so.

Are the players too focused on the game plan? Are they over planning the game too much and leaving no space for individual improvisation?

 

[cp3_jr]

We clearly lack leg speed and players that can break the game open outside of Hill...
Hopefully Simpson and Morabito can change this once they come in (and Ballas when he is on).

In contrast Port have some average footballers who can really run and made quite a bit of difference today in White, Pittard and dare I say it but Kane Mitchell. They take the game on and run forward a bit but they hurt us today along with Ebert, Gray, Wingard etc (who I consider good players).

 

[Keys]

Thread needs more Scotty Chisholm

 

[caterina]

Either port were so good with their pressure and covering players we couldn't get one out free or our methods around congestion are not quite right in not freeing the man up.

From what I can see, just my opinion, I think it's the latter.
We don't have great speed but we are made to look slower than we are because for whatever reason we are getting too many numbers sucked in to where they don't need to be, and teams are picking us off. Has been a "feature" of our play for at least a month

 

[Silent Alarm]

With a bit more effort, more forward entries, kicking straighter, and giving Pav some respite... and Zac Dawson in we could've won the game.

And then this little stat would never have been dug up and would be used to show how well the team used the ball or how great the disposal under pressure was or how well we lead, ran, and found targets.

Redundant stat.

 

[Kram]

Thread needs more Scotty Chisholm

Running in circles?

 

[Gekko71]

With a bit more effort, more forward entries, kicking straighter, and giving Pav some respite... and Zac Dawson in we could've won the game.

And then this little stat would never have been dug up and would be used to show how well the team used the ball or how great the disposal under pressure was or how well we lead, ran, and found targets.

Redundant stat.

It probably is a redundant stat, yes - the thought occurred to me.

I'm not saying run and carry is necessary to win - I'm saying it's gone missing from our game and I'm hoping that's a deliberate decision by the brains trust.

As a general rule of thumb I believe the more predictable we are, the easier we are to play against. I also believe that the aspects of your game that you don't pay attention to, are often the same ones that bite you in the arse later on.

There's been a lot of talk on the boards about Freo's turnovers and people are advocating dropping otherwise-promising young players due to their clanger count / poor disposal. If you can run and carry for 30 - 50 meters then handpass/chip kick, then that's a higher percentage disposal. It also means that you're creating holes in the opponents zone; sometimes a lack of carry and bounce is an indicator of their being a lack of space to run through, which can indicate a ball movement/ positioning problem, or it can mean that the opposition is spreading their presence across the field better than you, forcing you into longer kicks which is often a lower percentage option over the course of the game - especially when the other team has high closing speed all over the ground like Port do.

Maybe we are carrying the ball less as a strategic decision to accommodate the amount of transitional running the whole team does. If so, then fine - but if it's an unintentional habit that's crept into our game that might potentially hurt us over time, or if it might be a symptom of a bigger problem, then it should be brought front and centre and dealt with.

 

[Gekko71]

Duff could of had two bounces but he forgot that part of the rules.

Yes - he ran too far... but right up until that HTB whistle, Duff's run and carry into the forward line looked to be a really promising F50 entry didn't it?


...At least it wasn't just another long bomb to a triple teamed Pav...

 

[Jimbos1]

I think Morabito will be an inclusion this week and possibly Sylvia. Duff will be suspended, crozier dropped and maybe a few others dropped.

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