The Defensive Mindset

[CJH]

I have just commented on how our defenders do nothing more than merely defend (Tony Shaw's Observation). This seems to be an issue that runs through the midfield as well.

I have a view on midfield tagging. Unless there is an out and out super gun player in the opposition midfield (McLeod springs to mind, as does James Hird) then we should not play any taggers whatsoever.

Instead, run a rotation of 10 attacking midfielders who may have a direct opponent who they compete directly against rather than seek to shut out of the game.

Unless a tagger is like Kirk or Peverill who can get 20 possesions themselves, then they should not be in the side. Takes too much away from the attacking perogative.

And while negating opposition midfielders and pushing numbers behind the ball may stifle the opposition scoring, it also has the effect of stifling our own and as such, we invariably end up losing.

It has also the effect of disheartening our own players as they are under too much pressure in the defensive half because there is not enough players up the field to run the ball through.

I watched Port Adelaide play Hawthorn yesterday. That was interesting. Like ourselves, Port Adelaide like to get numbers behind the ball in defence. However, once they turn the ball over and gain possession, their midfielders explode back up the field and they move the ball forward quickly in a classic counter-attack.

Apparently Hawthorn had roughly the same amount of Inside 50's as Port Adelaide but only half the scoring shots.

The crucial thing to consider here is that Port defend grimly when defending but attack aggressively when attacking.

Unlike ourselves who attack defensively.

Profound really.

 

[Fishfinger]

Originally posted by CJH
The crucial thing to consider here is that Port defend grimly when defending but attack aggressively when attacking.

Unlike ourselves who attack defensively.

Profound really.

Bloody frustrating and annoying I'd say really.

 

[oxx]

Maybe it's the pride of Frawley(mindset of an ex backman)
that stops him from adapting
an alternative approach to his defensive tactics.

To simulate what u just described CJ would only be a step
in the right direction and can't be that hard for him to see or do,
can it?
It's gotta be his pride.

re our mid field

He's totally gone against the whole pre season hype of
playing a fully rotational mid-field.
Correct me if im wrong but wasn't this one of the things we were
told to watch for?

 

[DirtyDogTiger]

Originally posted by oxx
Maybe it's the pride of Frawley(mindset of an ex backman)
that stops him from adapting

Sheeds/malthouse = back pockets and coached 6 flags.

 

[oxx]

Originally posted by DirtyDogTiger
Sheeds/malthouse = back pockets and coached 6 flags.

I know it's possible......for most.

I'm not saying backmen cant coach, hell i'd deserve to be laughed off the board.

Just that Frawely can't see it (the options) and that it may be
because he thinks it has to be his way.
Honestly i never really rated him much when i was a kid.
Nothing more than a chubbikins who would chase and tackle.

The club loved him cos he was such a nice guy.
At that time,winning at st.kilda was merely a pipe dream
and they were happy to boast a strong back line -due to weekly cannings from opposition forwards.

We've inherited the excrement of the stkilda fall out.

 

[rfctigerarmy]

We were no chance to win the game 29 points down at 3QT.

When the air convayence went bang into the atmosphere at the start of the game, Ottens was a loose man in defence. How do you win matches like that?

 

[peejay]

And later in the quarter when they kicked a goal Ottens who was up forward went straight to defence after the runner came out.

 

[Crumden]

Originally posted by CJH

I watched Port Adelaide play Hawthorn yesterday. That was interesting. Like ourselves, Port Adelaide like to get numbers behind the ball in defence. However, once they turn the ball over and gain possession, their midfielders explode back up the field and they move the ball forward quickly in a classic counter-attack.

Apparently Hawthorn had roughly the same amount of Inside 50's as Port Adelaide but only half the scoring shots.

The crucial thing to consider here is that Port defend grimly when defending but attack aggressively when attacking.

Even though Port were the best team of the home and away last season, their gameplan was found wanting under the added intensity of finals footy (even with one of the quickest/best midfields). Whether they can make it work this year remains to be seen.

 

[1980]

Championship post CJH. We were always going to live or die against the Saints in the middle. We dont seem to run hard enough in the middle when we get the ball to create options for the defenders.

It was utterly disgraceful that Ottens was played loose in defence when we were still a chance at 3qr time.

DDT, sheedy and malthouse were backmen, but they were also premiership players. They were part of winning teams. And more so, as former backmen, they have instilled DISCIPLINE in their teams as coaches. As a former backman, Frawley has not. We are undisciplined.

That's the difference between playing in premiership teams like Sheedy and Malthouse did, and playing in losing teams like Frawley did.

A backman that always plays in a losing side VS backmen that played in premiership sides. That's not the best of comparisons.

When you have a loser mentality as a player, you play your best player in the back line in the last qtr as a coach.

 

[oxx]

Originally posted by 1980
We are undisciplined.

If u wanna start with basics this is the place to start.
We are like schoolboys.

 

[itsintheblood]

Originally posted by oxx
Maybe it's the pride of Frawley(mindset of an ex backman)
that stops him from adapting
an alternative approach to his defensive tactics.

To simulate what u just described CJ would only be a step
in the right direction and can't be that hard for him to see or do,
can it?
It's gotta be his pride.

re our mid field

He's totally gone against the whole pre season hype of
playing a fully rotational mid-field.
Correct me if im wrong but wasn't this one of the things we were
told to watch for?

He is rotating them.....on the bench.

 

[Otto's ladder]

Spot on 1980, it's the losing mentality of the coach that's the problem, not what position they played in their heyday. Sheeds/Malthouse have the winning mentality, and are able to amend their gameplans to search for victory if they are behind. We have seen more than a few times recently Frawley simply defend a loss from becoming worse. Not going to get premiership points on the board following this logic.

Looking at teams such as Brisbane and Sydney, they appear to want to get the ball forward as fast as possible. Both of these teams have players streaming up forward, and have second efforts to the ball that Richmond does not possess.

 

[Showbag]

So true, so damn true. I see Richmond at the moment as an Alan Border side- won't go for victory until it is assured we can not be beaten. We need to change to the Steve Waugh/ Ponting mindset- win from any position. There is no pride in Richmond, no heart, nothing. The gameplan is unintelligible as it is is unexciting. It provides for a dull day at the football. Why give away sunglasses and have record membership if you are going to have a gameplan that turns people away?