Opinion Something else happened.

[Outshined]

Not really sure why. Sure a season takes a lot more games, but the overwhelming criticism of Lyon has been answered. A bit like McCarthy's performance, but with far greater ramifications. Posters who want Hogan "in" would have been targeting him, but instead they are looking at Taberner. McCarthy is un-droppable.

I don't think we can definitively say that the criticisms of Lyon have been answered just yet. If we consistently play football like we did on Sunday, or at least try to even in defeat, I'll be happy to call it and say Ross had adapted.

At the moment though, it's not a big enough sample size to make any conclusions one way or the other. We notched up a huge win against Brizzy in 2016 with a similar scoreline, so we need more games to determine whether this is an outlier or if there's actually been a genuine, long-term improvement in the way we're playing. The signs are all there, but I want to see us put it all together more than once.

Trust me, Sunday has given me genuine belief that we're on track, but the innate negativity that comes with being a Freo supporter is demanding caution in case this is just a false dawn.

 

[Deathly]

Interesting thread, but here's some quick thoughts on what I've been honestly thinking recently regarding our direction.

I'm a fan of Ross Lyon. I personally think he's been treated unfairly and can factually be excused for the position of the team on-field these last couple of seasons. Although, even I think he should only remain coach until the end of 2020. The only way he will be extended is if we win a final in 2020 AND have a replacement ready - who WILL take over at the beginning or end of 2022.

Just a summary of my ideal what-if world if things go well (Using examples):

End of 2019: 10-12 wins, Get some new assistants or recent retirees in the football department. Longmuir / Adcock / McVeigh / Lappin / Glass ETC
End of 2020: Consistent season, win a final, Ross extends for a year, have a succession plan in place (Longmuir)
End of 2021: Longmuir takes over, Ross takes another position at the club or goes home for more money (Doubt unless there's an absolute rock bottom side)

Regardless of what people think, given the position of this list we're going to need some substantial new perspective and ideas drilled into these boys within the next 12-18 months (Senior / Assistants / Developmental). We've had some seriously average appointments at the end of our contention period and during the seasons that followed prior. These guys can't be listening to the same stuff and having the same friendly conversations over and over again. I'd wager whatever was spearheaded at the Gold Coast camp was done so by a few people, not the collective. So replace the "Yes" men and get new and more credible people in to help refine it and add to what we're doing.

Also no more "Friend" criteria being highlighted when looking for people. From top to bottom, I'm tired of this club approaching and dealing with things in a more friendly manner opposed to a business one.

 

[AstonSouffle]

Lol does anyone remember when we smashed the Pies round 1 a few years ago and then went to dust mid year?

Could still happen again!

 

[bushchook]

We've played 1 game at home against very ordinary opposition I think it's too early for any kind of predictions yet. Would be nice if we won by 15 goals every week though.

 

[creamygoodness]

Lol does anyone remember when we smashed the Pies round 1 a few years ago and then went to dust mid year?

Could still happen again!

2014? We still made top 4 at the end of the season, then went out in straight sets. We had some pretty bad injuries that year though didn't we?

 

[Cesoir]

Whatever happened to the Ross the Boss thread - do we really need another one?

 

[Freo]

2014? We still made top 4 at the end of the season, then went out in straight sets. We had some pretty bad injuries that year though didn't we?

When haven’t we had a year with plenty of bad injuries?

 

[theGav56]

I think long bombs to the forward line are a legitimate option when you have marking strength available. Our problem in the past has more been that we do that with the likes of Ballantyne double teamed, and also because it seemed like our only forward entry strategy.

Despite some posters commenting from the JLTs that we were seeing no game plan development from Lyon, one of the key things at play was a significant increase in forward entries. This followed through into the North game. I think it is the pointy end of the game plan which included rapid transition, especially from defence, along with far less kicking backwards and switching play. And that game plan is the pointy end of the rebuild which has seen the recruitment of players with the skills to produce those results.

Guys like Wilson, Pearce, Ryan and Logue are designed for fast transition from defence. We are faster and cleaner through the midfield. Guys like Lobb, Taberner and Hogan have the DNA required for making contested marking in the forward line our signature. Amazing team transition being undertaken with the game plan we saw on Sunday driving it.

Again, for me, these are the things we should be looking for this season, not just a focus on win/loss.

 

[theGav56]

Well, that's true.

But so was this;

I am just going public with an apology to speedwagon. The intention of my reply post was to agree with his post, but in trying to be too clever this actually reads like I am calling the bulk of his post "appalling".

My apologise, certainly not my intention, but a careless mistake on my behalf.

 

[theGav56]

Ross at his age is very unlikely winning a GF, but his guidance could get us finally
over the line.

I think he could be a fantastic mentor for the likes of Longmuir. I don't mind a Harvey/coach in waiting type situation, and think given a well developed list this could be ideal.

My personal thinking is Lyon should be retained till the end of his contract regardless of where things go from here, barring a train-wreck situation.

If he gets a GF or looks seriously like that is a possibility then 6 months out give the 1 year extension. Otherwise, time for a refresh.

 

[Deathly]

Whatever happened to the Ross the Boss thread - do we really need another one?

Mate it's 2019, we don't bump threads around here. We make new ones!

 

[Cesoir]

Mate it's 2019, we don't bump threads around here. We make new ones!

Does that mean all my anti-Ross vitriol and hatred is now consigned to distant memory?

 

[E Shed]

Hey guys, I wasn't sure where to put this, but I wrote an article on that round one performance.

https://www.theroar.com.au/2019/03/26/the-green-shoots-are-growing-quicker-in-fremantle/

Would love to know what you guys think, and it was a super performance!

Not bad but other than the inaccurate information on Pearce you also state North’s defense was highly rated when all the comments I saw leading in were about it being their weakness.

Also perhaps use an online source for similes to mix your adjectives up a bit. You use brilliant for every description which gives the writing an amateur quality. It’s creative writing 101. If you say player one was brilliant, say player two was excellent or creative or productive or superb or did a great job.

On the plus side it was well observed & constructed.

Hope you don’t mind the criticism but good writing takes practice & creativity. Thanks for sharing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[blue shark]

I think he could be a fantastic mentor for the likes of Longmuir. I don't mind a Harvey/coach in waiting type situation, and think given a well developed list this could be ideal.

My personal thinking is Lyon should be retained till the end of his contract regardless of where things go from here, barring a train-wreck situation.

If he gets a GF or looks seriously like that is a possibility then 6 months out give the 1 year extension. Otherwise, time for a refresh.

Don't think Ross should get knifed, like we have done to past coaches. I agree that we give him the tools required, or take some control
with our future.
But I honestly believe that he is safe this year regardless, won't be the first coach sacked, replaced.
Woosha, Richardson? Can see Caracella returning to Windy Hill.

 

[thetradesman]

Not bad but other than the inaccurate information on Pearce you also state North’s defense was highly rated when all the comments I saw leading in were about it being their weakness.

Also perhaps use an online source for similes to mix your adjectives up a bit. You use brilliant for every description which gives the writing an amateur quality. It’s creative writing 101. If you say player one was brilliant, say player two was excellent or creative or productive or superb or did a great job.

On the plus side it was well observed & constructed.

Hope you don’t mind the criticism but good writing takes practice & creativity. Thanks for sharing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Fair enough, I wasn't too sure on why it would be a weakness, considering they ranked really highly in most defensive stats last year.

And yeah, I do need to expand and improve my Vocabulary. Will be working on that in the future.

No worries, I appreciate the time you took for the feedback. Cheers.

 

[Outshined]

Fair enough, I wasn't too sure on why it would be a weakness, considering they ranked really highly in most defensive stats last year.

And yeah, I do need to expand and improve my Vocabulary. Will be working on that in the future.

No worries, I appreciate the time you took for the feedback. Cheers.

Thompson was a big out for them and Tarrant's coming off a shoulder reco. Losing Vickers-Willis didn't help either. In saying that, Freo teams over the past few years would've struggled to take advantage.

Good article, keep writing!

 

[theGav56]

Thompson was a big out for them and Tarrant's coming off a shoulder reco. Losing Vickers-Willis didn't help either. In saying that, Freo teams over the past few years would've struggled to take advantage.

Good article, keep writing!

All true, but we had McCarthy without any real form to speak of, and Taberner who was a "test", plus a debutant in Schultz and Lobb as a new recruit. I mean it wasn't like they were playing a well polished forward line. They were a rabble in defence.

Given their recruiting over the off-season this was a pretty fair game for us to use as an early bench mark. Both teams on the move, but the Roos ahead in their development. But the hiding they got may take a bit to recover from. And the affirmation we achieved should be a real boost to the confidence.

 

[awaremind]

Not really sure why. Sure a season takes a lot more games, but the overwhelming criticism of Lyon has been answered. A bit like McCarthy's performance, but with far greater ramifications. Posters who want Hogan "in" would have been targeting him, but instead they are looking at Taberner. McCarthy is un-droppable.

If McCarthy plays 2or 3 crap games in a row, he will be dropped I'd hope, and if this team doesnt get 10 plus wins or goes back to dour miserable gameplan I'd hope he wouldnt be extended. Injury luck/management will be important, because if all fully fit we could be pretty damn potent.

 

[Bad Brain]

I heavily disagree. There is always going to be some bombing, every team does it since other teams generally dont like you hitting leading forwards in space or give you the time to do so.

Without studying play by play we hit up or tried to hit up a leading forward or one in space every time it was possible, more so than we've ever done before

Just checked the stats and we had 62% efficiency inside 50 so no complaints there. Probably just my nervousness influencing my experience of the game. We’ll see for certain in Round 4!

 

[Joao]

Sure Ross has started on fire, but is that him or the kick up the backside he received?

That question makes no sense unless you genuinely believe Ross hasn't been trying?

I highly doubt he was just sitting around doing nothing and then he got a board talking to and now he has a go.

 

[fnerd]

Don't think Ross should get knifed, like we have done to past coaches. I agree that we give him the tools required, or take some control
with our future.
But I honestly believe that he is safe this year regardless, won't be the first coach sacked, replaced.
Woosha, Richardson? Can see Caracella returning to Windy Hill.

Yeah same.

Should woosha fail to get the bombers to the finals reckon he’s in some serious trouble and that bombers heirachy will look to caracella

 

[Outshined]

Lol does anyone remember when we smashed the Pies round 1 a few years ago and then went to dust mid year?

Could still happen again!

The year we finished top 4?

I'd take that tbh.

 

[Wally Walpamur]

Us supporters and the media measure our coach on a week by week basis; the club would measure Ross on a much longer period of time (3 monthly?).

A few observations:

- the 6-6-6 rule has forced Ross’s hand, that he can’t start with the extra in defence and so he’s had to adjust his structure and game plan
- since committing to the rebuild in 2016, the players we’ve drafted now have 1-3 preseasons under their belt and are now at a point where their bodies are used to a full season
- it’s taken every draft and trade period since committing to the rebuild to bring in the players to build our spine
- it feels like Ross has given the players the confidence to be a bit more ‘natural’ and take the game on, which has led to better ball movement
- it’s taken every preseason and game to teach the playing group the defensive structure first and has now had time to work on the offence

With half the list turned over in the past two years, it was always going to be ugly but now it feels that our list is largely settled and now it’s about adding midfield depth and best 22 players. The only old timers I can see moving on in the next couple of years are Sandi, Ballas and Mundy.

 

[bushchook]

I think S. Hill will be on a 1 year contract after this season if his injury worries don't resolve themselves. I think there's a possibility he doesn't play on after 2020, but I hope very much that I'm wrong.

 

[theGav56]

With half the list turned over in the past two years, it was always going to be ugly but now it feels that our list is largely settled and now it’s about adding midfield depth and best 22 players.

i think the choice of Sturt is evidence of this. He is a bit of a project player, whereas there has been more of a tendency to take players closer to being ready to produce.