The Fremantle Strangle

[Spoken4]

Was devastating in 2013. The Freo v Sydney Prelim Final had media commentators gasping at the maniacal defensive pressure we placed on the ball carrier and our capacity to pressure sides into coughing up the ball.

It was clearly evident for most of the second half of 2012 (as evidenced below) and for most of 2013.

Have we lost it?

 

[Dockernut]

Don't think so. I just reckon a few teams have figured out how to beat it.

 

[clogged]

You mean the prelim where Sydney were missing nearly their whole midfield?

They had the same midfield as they had tonight.

 

[ep2018]

Sorry I deleted my post, I'm still clearly peeved at the game tonight

 

[Tony_Clifton]

It was all to do with momentum. We had it and made the most of it.

 

[gaskin]

Part of the problem is Mayne injured and no Walters. They are 2 of our best for pressure and I have been saying for the better part of 2 years that when one of Ballantyne or Walters are missing our pressure drops dramatically.

 

[ep2018]

It was all to do with momentum. We had it and made the most of it.

You guys react strongly to your crowd and it was probably the loudest you have ever played to.

 

[salim malik]

Part of the problem is Mayne injured and no Walters. They are 2 of our best for pressure and I have been saying for the better part of 2 years that when one of Ballantyne or Walters are missing our pressure drops dramatically.

Having Tabs ,Pav,Clark and Sandi in the forward half and without Walters and Mayne out of form the chase and pressure goes out the window.

 

[Simmofreo]

Yes we have lost it. 100%. I have said it since the first game of the pre season. Ross believed that all we needed to do to win a flag was to kick a few more goals. So we have backed off the defence to fix the attack and have gone backwards IMO

 

[pokerspiv]

Except we aren't actually kicking more goals. We lost today to a side that kicked 13 goals.

We only kicked 2 goals in the first half.

 

[E Shed]

A few really important cogs missing & a few players sadly out of form. Only takes being 5% down on where you were & that's the ball game these days.

 

[caterina]

Don't think so. I just reckon a few teams have figured out how to beat it.

Exactly this, when it worked it was a pincer move with the midfield filling in space in front of them and the forwards running them down from behind as they tried to navigate a way forwards. Teams used to get sucked in moving their backs up to offer support so there was no outlet.
Longmire had it totally worked out today, if you are confronted in front with the forwards coming from behind just use long handballs back over the forwards heads and let your half backs (that have restriained themselves from joining the contest) have a field day.

 

[estibador]

It's a long season. We just need to keep our noses in with the leading pack then make sure we're peaking at the right time of year.

 

[Grape Bear]

It's a long season. We just need to keep our noses in with the leading pack then make sure we're peaking at the right time of year.

Our early losses last year were to Hawthorn then Essendon; then the draw in Sydney, Geelong in Geelong, Richmond at the G, and the St Kilda game.

We won vs Essendon but lost to Sydney, so that balances off. We will still have Geelong in Geelong, so if we lose that, balances off. We have return engagements with Geelong and Hawthorn in Pattersons. In theory, if we drop those two, we'll still be ahead of where we were last year.

The problem is that there are a few danger opponents that we have coming up. Port is much improved and looking like the real deal this year. Richmond at the G is still a game we may drop. Who knows how we will cope with going to Darwin. There's just so little room for error when the aim is Top 4.

 

[Jimbos1]

Ross has changed his tactics. We are a more aggressive team.

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

 

[free at last]

We'll be fine once we get Micky B back.
Don't underestimate the effects of last weeks game too,both us and Essendon lost yesterday.

 

[Rob]

We'll be fine once we get Micky B back.
Don't underestimate the effects of last weeks game too,both us and Essendon lost yesterday.

I didn't buy that excuse until I saw what happened to Essendon. Maybe there's something in it.

 

[crackerjack4X4]

Don't underestimate the six day break and travel as well.

 

[calaisking]

Don't underestimate the six day break and travel as well.

This. The players would've been fatigued, especially up against the Swans hard style footy. Essendon struggled yesterday also

It's great that we get to travel back to Perth and play on Friday night....

 

[crackerjack4X4]

Another 6 day break.

 

[Geoff]

Lyon's game plan takes the need for a player to play with overall football ability with one that only needs to have a specific set of criteria. If a player breaks away from his designated criteria it's death by a thousand cuts. From were I sat we needed players who had footy smarts and not ones who just follow the rigid plan. To me the hole which is the SGC requires hard man on man contests in ALL 18 positions on the ground, which is not in the Lyon script.

 

[go_the_dockers]

We struggle against teams that accurately kick the ball. Against Sydney and hawks they both kicked a person a lead repeatability and we could not stop them. to make it worse we allowed uncontested marks in our defensive 50. The other point which cost us is allowing the opposition to stand 10m away from the pack unmanned allowing him to get the handball receive and easy clearance

 

[free at last]

This. The players would've been fatigued, especially up against the Swans hard style footy. Essendon struggled yesterday also

It's great that we get to travel back to Perth and play on Friday night....

I think the lads don't have to travel for 3 weeks now plus the bye is not too far away either.

 

[caterina]

The other point which cost us is allowing the opposition to stand 10m away from the pack unmanned allowing him to get the handball receive and easy clearance

This is what is killing us, and why our "strangle" is getting picked apart.

 

[Rob]

Another 6 day break.

Our opposition have that too. So it shouldn't be an excuse.