The Fremantle Strangle

willoblue

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#76
Sydney have done that before. They let Fremantle win the ball in clearances and put pressure on to ensure that there isn't clean and easy inside 50 options. They happily played a counter attack game style knowing they would win the one on ones in defence. They did it in last year's draw, and again two years ago. Being at all three games it was astonishing how the three went to the same script.

A number of sides that have beaten Fremantle in the past two years have done so using defence as the springboard. Harry Taylor starred in the KP game mid last year. Brian Lake won the Norm Smith. On the weekend just gone Sydney's half back flankers won a tonne of possession.

Effort only tells half the story. There is a serious lack of class in Fremantle's forward half which better teams use to their advantage. Only a slight drop off in effort diminishes any chance Fremantle have of winning.

Ross Lyon has brought three effort based teams to the grand final and lost because of lack of class. It's something he has to address if he wants to be a premiership coach, otherwise he will forever just be a good coach with great results record.
I agree, but I'd like to add that, just like the Hawks, they spread wide of the contest & when entering their forward line, avoided Michael Johnson. He mops up so well & provides so much drive, they chose to nullify his influence. They even preferred the ball going out of bounds, compared to going to Johnno.
This highlights the importance of getting Ibbotson back in the team as Johnno & Ibbo are the 2 best intercept markers in the backline. With McPharlin & Dawson handling the 2 best big forwards, Spurr on the dangerous small, Duff providing the precision kicking rebound, Sutcliffe the running back who breaks lines, the backline is looking pretty awesome, but we need Ibbo there to minimise the effect of bypassing our most damaging defender in Johnson.
 

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Joined
Sep 13, 2013
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Fremantle
#77
We don't get as many free kicks as last year, not trying to be sour but it's a hard statistic. Could be a soft hand why our structures just aren't as efficient.

Specifically the rule RTB brought attention to, 'Chopping the arms'.




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Freo88

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#78
We don't get as many free kicks as last year, not trying to be sour but it's a hard statistic. Could be a soft hand why our structures just aren't as efficient.

Specifically the rule RTB brought attention to, 'Chopping the arms'.




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But the lower free kick count is across the league. If we're relying on free kicks for our structures to work we might as well pack it in now.
 
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