The destruction of our forward line pillars

[George CantStandYa]

If we’re going to be honest with the stats, in the last 4 rounds:

• we’ve won 3 games, lost 1
• beaten a seriously bogey team away (Sydney) and the reigning premier who were 2nd at the time (Lions)
• went from 6th to 4th
• score percentage went up by 10%

This really paints a picture that our forwards are doing well relative to the competition.

But John, we got lucky with the Lions game! Yeah, well, we got unlucky with the Hawks game! It was literally a script-flip! It can even be argued that with the Lions game we matched their intensity for essentially most of the match. With the Hawks game, we should have blown them away in the first half except our kicking was disastrously horrible, which had allowed the Hawks to come back.

It’s not of course all rosy and pretty, but to suggest our forwards are getting crappier while we’re doing better is the stuff of selective inattention.

Close win: Nicks, you lucky bastard!
Close loss: Nicks, you bastard!
Am I doing this right?

How were we unlucky against the Hawks? We scored 3 more points than they did. The Lions goal kicking was atrocious. They kicked 0.8 in the last qtr.

And you’re doing you right, that’s about it.

 

[Southerntakeover]

Not quite enough difference between Tex and Fog’s key attributes has always been a bit irritating for me.

I always thought whether this was good or not depends on coaching.

Like theoretically two elite kicking players should be defence stretchers. Lead them out to the defensive soft spots in the pockets and flanks, force the opposition to put bodies there and feast in the spot afterwards. Golden State doesn't suffer because the splash brothers both shoot the 3.

Our coaching philosophy doesn't tailor to strength though, so we really only get the benefit of at best one at a time.

I'd rather change the coaches than the players personally

 

[dylan123]

I always thought whether this was good or not depends on coaching.

Like theoretically two elite kicking players should be defence stretchers. Lead them out to the defensive soft spots in the pockets and flanks, force the opposition to put bodies there and feast in the spot afterwards. Golden State doesn't suffer because the splash brothers both shoot the 3.

Our coaching philosophy doesn't tailor to strength though, so we really only get the benefit of at best one at a time.

I'd rather change the coaches than the players personally

From an offensive standpoint, I agree with you completely.

I suppose it gets exposed more when neither Walker/Fogarty have much speed and are easily run off of the other way. A lot of the criticism Walker gets is how his opponent is able to easily attack on the other end and I'd argue Fogarty has similar attributes to Walker on that front - but is getting the stronger defender which typically results in less rebounding attack.

With Walker getting the 3rd tall, normally someone that adds a bit more run which makes it quite hard for him to stop with his limitations.

 

[MRB37]

This is 100% accurate, especially the last sentence. It smacks of a coaching group bound to a philosophy, with no reference to the talent and type of players we have available to us. The List Manager has done a pretty good job over the last few years accumulating genuine talent in the sweet spot age group, as well as some high end younger players and good depth. Our squad hasn't been this balanced or talented for quite a while. But the coach(es) don't seem to have the ability to utilise these assets. It's like they're trying to slice a tomato with a hammer, when a sharp knife is available.

It's that classic problem bad coaches run into in the NFL all the time. They have their "system" and they expect an entire squad of players to fit into it, rather than develop one to play to the strengths of the squad they have on hand.

It's like a weird compilation of arrogance and stubbornness that goes into it.

 

[Southerntakeover]

It's that classic problem bad coaches run into in the NFL all the time. They have their "system" and they expect an entire squad of players to fit into it, rather than develop one to play to the strengths of the squad they have on hand.

It's like a weird compilation of arrogance and stubbornness that goes into it.

Usually in the NFL there's at least a season where the system works before everyone works it out and the coach sucks. Chip Kelly made the playoffs first.

We started with the sucking, have sucked the entirety of the six ****ing years, and yet still maintain that our system is infallible.

 

[Interloperer]

relevant to this thread. In the Goalkicking Analysis section:

Round 15, 2025 – This Week In Football

This Week In Football is a collection of some of the best in football currently outside the walls of AFL clubs or broadcasters. Each week a curated grab bag from regular contributors and special guests will provide insight into and beyond the game on subjects of their choosing. For more about...

thisweekinfootball.com

tl;dr - Adelaide Elite at number of chances, and goalkicking accuracy. Not that great at creating good quality chances. The reverse is true on defence: conceding relatively few chances, but not that great at stopping the high quality ones.

 

[Carn The Texan]

But we are the no 1 for points

People have a hard time admitting the system works!

 

[skittlebrew]

Over the past five weeks, we have ranked.

-Last for marks inside 50
-Last for marks inside forward 50 per inside 50
-14th for marks on a lead
-1st for offensive 1 on 1 contests, but 15th for % of offensive 1 on 1 contests won

To be fair the weather has been absolute trash the last two games, not conducive to marking. But did we go a smaller forward line? Ofc not...

 

[George CantStandYa]

People have a hard time admitting the system works!

It was sarcasm, we aren’t

 

[WetCrow1991]

Usually in the NFL there's at least a season where the system works before everyone works it out and the coach sucks. Chip Kelly made the playoffs first.

We started with the sucking, have sucked the entirety of the six ****ing years, and yet still maintain that our system is infallible.

Chrome dome is obsessed with proving that he isn't a total fraud and that his philosophy works (it doesn't). Terrible coaching and leadership.

 

[Southerntakeover]

Combined for zero goals first quarter

 

[jbanger]

Combined for zero goals first quarter

How'd they go in the 2nd term?

 

[Southerntakeover]

How'd they go in the 2nd term?

Much better when we kicked the ball to our best forward.

 

[Southerntakeover]

Seven goals in a half, actually looking for spot ups.

They're back!

 

[hugecannon]

Would still prefer that ROB stay out of the F50 for ball ups and let Tex or even Fog take them instead.

Keep ROB a kick behind the play where his marking is of greater benefit.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Would still prefer that ROB stay out of the F50 for ball ups and let Tex or even Fog take them instead.

Keep ROB a kick behind the play where his marking is of greater benefit.

How many marks did ROB take today? Close to a record. He's not needed in the forward line when our 3 talls are kicking 11 goals.

 

[dylan123]

Would still prefer that ROB stay out of the F50 for ball ups and let Tex or even Fog take them instead.

Keep ROB a kick behind the play where his marking is of greater benefit.

I am really curious if Tex was sucking in the ruck and that's why they've moved away vs him maybe not wanting it vs wanting Rob's influence in there.

I think Rob congests our forward line given there's nothing to gain even if he takes the mark just about - had a ripper game today though, just don't see the need for him inside the forward 50.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Seven goals in a half, actually looking for spot ups.

They're back!

Ps. Time for a thread title change to reconstruction... of our forward line pillars

 

[spenze]

How many marks did ROB take today? Close to a record. He's not needed in the forward line when our 3 talls are kicking 11 goals.

Took 8 and most of them were contested.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Took 8 and most of them were contested.

Hardly fumbled any.... & what a huge difference that makes!

 

[spenze]

Hardly fumbled any.... & what a huge difference that makes!

Yep, someone had a word in his ear, "don't fear the body contact, be the body contact". Rob is a fair frigging unit, he should be crashing into others but today he was going back with a "I'm marking this no matter what" thought in his head.

Great to see.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Yep, someone had a word in his ear, "don't fear the body contact, be the body contact". Rob is a fair frigging unit, he should be crashing into others

He has usually got his hands to the ball in games but drops so many.

It's like he is now got glue on his hands as he is clunking them.

Makes a huge difference to our aerial power along with the likes of Curtin & Dawson through the midfield.

We are the best contested marking team in the AFL.

 

[FR0GGY]

I am really curious if Tex was sucking in the ruck and that's why they've moved away vs him maybe not wanting it vs wanting Rob's influence in there.

I think Rob congests our forward line given there's nothing to gain even if he takes the mark just about - had a ripper game today though, just don't see the need for him inside the forward 50.

Be interesting to know if it’s a tactic or if he’s just following his opponent down there.
Gawn certainly gets back, so does English from memory.

 

[dylan123]

Be interesting to know if it’s a tactic or if he’s just following his opponent down there.
Gawn certainly gets back, so does English from memory.

Been 5 weeks since Walker has had a hitout in the ruck and that feels about right since the last time we've seen him take a ruck contest. Also feels about right for when ROB has floated forward more so it feels like it's more a tactic vs following his direct opponent.

 

[Danger in Texas]

Rumours of our pillars’ death have been greatly exaggerated