My concern is Cox trying to implement an outdated game plan that does not work in todays game. The days of pure contested footy are over. Today’s game is built on hard running and numbers around the contest – I think what makes people think it’s all about inside contest is the fact that the dominating teams inevitably come out on top in that area, but it’s because hard running and numbers around the contest is actually conducive to that, it’s an after effect. We were clear 1st despite not dominating the inside battle, that speaks for itself. Brisbane and Geelong didn’t belt us on the inside, they belted us on the outside which ultimately also wins you the inside and pressure battle, and en sue the flogging.
It’s easy to look at the GF’s and pin point our contested ability, but imo that’s not where we lost the game – we actually lost because we DIDN’T play OUR game. In fact I think we completely switched our mentality being a GF and overcompensated our focus on winning the contest on both occasions, which took us away from our fundamental style of run and gun attacking footy. The end result is too much focus on direct opponent, less numbers on the outside, less awareness of where your teammates are, and not being in a position to be progressive with the ball once you've got it. That’s why we went from one woeful GF performance to another, and then to a misdirected GF review to now overcompensating even further in-season. The fix wasn’t the fix, it made it bad then worse. Horse also did it towards the back end of the year when we lost form, it was all about contest, mills and parker came back in to add to that, but it inevitably never got us back on track. The so called problem isn’t really the problem. The result is an over focus on 1 v1 footy, completely stripping the team of it’s assets. Everyone says finals footy is different, but it doesn't have to be. The team who inevitably wins it all wins it playing their way. And we're not the only team susceptible to it either, being finals i also think GWS and port fell into that trap too, hence 2 impressive wins despite us not being in good form at the time.
These kids have grown up playing footy in an era where it’s all about outside run, you can’t just all of a sudden say we’re going to play old school footy. Horse embraced our weapons for the most part, but reigned it back in both GF losses. If Cox continues down this path then we will become a rabble. Imo his focus is completely misdirected, and it also takes away from our players strengths. There’s a reason why most of our wins this year have come against the more dour teams, and why we made average teams look better on the attacking front than what they actually are. Winning Clearances and Contested possies and losing by 90 points is evidence enough for the non believers.
The 3 most important facets of a coach in order are 1. Making the current team play well TODAY based on their strengths, not necessarily what he thinks might be the best way for a team to play in general. 2. Motivating the team to show up. 3. Actually knowing what works in todays game. I can’t speak for 2, but 1 and 3 are completely off. Imo this list is primed, we’ve got the best attacking weapons in the league to play today’s game, at the right age, by quite a stretch and I’ll stand by that. We made a GF playing a certain way when we weren’t even ready in 22, then we made another after 2 years of maturation, it should be no different now. Cox will piss this list down the drain if he continues in this manner.
It’s easy to look at the GF’s and pin point our contested ability, but imo that’s not where we lost the game – we actually lost because we DIDN’T play OUR game. In fact I think we completely switched our mentality being a GF and overcompensated our focus on winning the contest on both occasions, which took us away from our fundamental style of run and gun attacking footy. The end result is too much focus on direct opponent, less numbers on the outside, less awareness of where your teammates are, and not being in a position to be progressive with the ball once you've got it. That’s why we went from one woeful GF performance to another, and then to a misdirected GF review to now overcompensating even further in-season. The fix wasn’t the fix, it made it bad then worse. Horse also did it towards the back end of the year when we lost form, it was all about contest, mills and parker came back in to add to that, but it inevitably never got us back on track. The so called problem isn’t really the problem. The result is an over focus on 1 v1 footy, completely stripping the team of it’s assets. Everyone says finals footy is different, but it doesn't have to be. The team who inevitably wins it all wins it playing their way. And we're not the only team susceptible to it either, being finals i also think GWS and port fell into that trap too, hence 2 impressive wins despite us not being in good form at the time.
These kids have grown up playing footy in an era where it’s all about outside run, you can’t just all of a sudden say we’re going to play old school footy. Horse embraced our weapons for the most part, but reigned it back in both GF losses. If Cox continues down this path then we will become a rabble. Imo his focus is completely misdirected, and it also takes away from our players strengths. There’s a reason why most of our wins this year have come against the more dour teams, and why we made average teams look better on the attacking front than what they actually are. Winning Clearances and Contested possies and losing by 90 points is evidence enough for the non believers.
The 3 most important facets of a coach in order are 1. Making the current team play well TODAY based on their strengths, not necessarily what he thinks might be the best way for a team to play in general. 2. Motivating the team to show up. 3. Actually knowing what works in todays game. I can’t speak for 2, but 1 and 3 are completely off. Imo this list is primed, we’ve got the best attacking weapons in the league to play today’s game, at the right age, by quite a stretch and I’ll stand by that. We made a GF playing a certain way when we weren’t even ready in 22, then we made another after 2 years of maturation, it should be no different now. Cox will piss this list down the drain if he continues in this manner.
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