Strategy The Game Plan Thread

[Partridge]

I only spent 20 minutes doing this so it might be slightly off but that turn around is ridiculous. 15.2 extra clearances and 13.3 extra tap outs obviously gives us a lot more first use of the ball and I think it's shown in our game style and improved defence. Yes we lost against Brisbane and the sample size is very small to be garnering information from but I don't think this is a statistical anomaly. IMO since Brisbane we've put in four quarter efforts and adjusted to the ruck situation easily playing our best footy. I think Simpson has been a huge part of that.

Great post. I think too we got pulverised in the final quarter especially against Brisbane when Simpson tired to that makes the numbers even more impressive.

I thought we lost the centre clearances pretty clearly against Hawthorn though? Could be wrong.

 

[CF]

I don't think Simpson tiring was the reason we lost to Brisbane. Sure I agree their midfield got on top of us in that last quarter but I think the problem was that we didn't try and slow the game down. Kept playing on and on when clearly it wasn't working and turnovers were killing us on the return. North has shown that if you're getting rolled in the last quarter that you can't keep persisting with your attacking game plan as it leaves you too exposed.

I think the Catters have adjusted this beautifully since then though and North would do well to learn by what we have done. The Brisbane game was a brain fade by our leaders and just highlighted how attacking game styles (running forward in the spread but not necessarily running back in defence) can be used against a team. In the end it may prove to have been just what the Cats needed to get their shit together.

 

[Jimmy Yamazaki]

Defense is getting better, I don't know if we can keep it up for the rest of the year. We have kept our last 4 opponents to under 40 points at 3 qtr time, including Hawks and Freo.

The main problem for us is the fwd 50 entries. Need to stop bombing it in so much, Hawkins isn't playing like last year so need to lower our eyes and look for other targets, I mean when we turn the ball over and run it up the ground, we stream forward and have plenty of targets break and find space while we are doing this.

However, the player that enters the ball inside 50 either bombs it long to Hawkins or goes for goal from too far out and misses. If Hawkins doesn't mark then he is so slow that the ball is easy to rebound out if no other Cats are around.

Need to fix this before finals.

Melbourne and Freo games should have been much larger wins. Even Hawks we where inaccurate (but so where they).

 

[allrighty]

Haven't seen this posted but here is Damian Barrett's view. Lid please.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-07-16/the-loss-that-could-win-a-flag

 

[Hoffy95]

Haven't seen this posted.

Here's why.

Damian Barrett's view.

 

[manboob]

Jesus, he's a rubbish journalist. Sees this posted the day before and then goes out and writes the same...
http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/ho...bare-their-claws/story-fndv8haf-1226679797446

 

[allrighty]

Here's why.

Yuk yuk yuk. I think he's on the money though.

EDIT after MB post: Maybe he's on someone else's money.

 

[catempire]

I thought we lost the centre clearances pretty clearly against Hawthorn though? Could be wrong.

Yes, we were smashed 15-4 which was a really strange result given we average 12.8.

Even stranger, we managed to break even 36-36 in total clearances.

 

[GeelongFTW]

I think we are being a bit harsh on Damian. He is not that bad.

 

[footscore]

I only spent 20 minutes doing this so it might be slightly off but that turn around is ridiculous. 15.2 extra clearances and 13.3 extra tap outs obviously gives us a lot more first use of the ball and I think it's shown in our game style and improved defence. Yes we lost against Brisbane and the sample size is very small to be garnering information from but I don't think this is a statistical anomaly. IMO since Brisbane we've put in four quarter efforts and adjusted to the ruck situation easily playing our best footy. I think Simpson has been a huge part of that.

I think the recent turnaround also has a lot to do with certain young players upping their games.
Previously, it's been Stokes, Johnson, Selwood or Kelly dominating but since the inclusion of Simpson, we have seen Duncan, Christensen and now Caddy begin to share the load in the middle of the ground.

Christensen has been excellent all season long though but goes to show just how much better we are as a team once the ball gets shared around and even Stringer has come back and chipped in with over 4 tackles and a couple clearances a game.

 

[candiehappy]

I think we are being a bit harsh on Damian. He is not that bad.

I thought the first article a fair analysis post the Brisbane debacle

 

[footscore]

the other one is the Blitz, with Simpson playing the key role, Blicavs is continuing to develop and helping us out in the scoring involvements too

 

[Senatorguesty]

Screw the lid, what has the lid ever done for the Cats??!!?
GO CATS!
2013 PREMIERS!!!

 

[allrighty]

Screw the lid, what has the lid ever done for the Cats??!!?
GO CATS!
2013 PREMIERS!!!

2009 and 2011.

 

[supahoops]

While a change of game plan at this stage of the season is neither practical or completely necessary, given our outs I think we need to come up with a few things to keep the opposition guessing, or at least a plan B or C. Would love to see:

Chapman deep forward. Occasional forays up the ground but could spend 75% of game time where he's most dangerous.

Bartel CHF or defensive forward on the likes of Hodge. As good a contested mark for his size there is.

Varcoe off half back. License to run, need him back in form and confident.

A designated tagger. THunt GHS or even Kelly given his form.

Blicavs to a wing following the centre bounce, Give him his head.

JHunt back taking kick ins and freeing Guthrie to play loose if required.

Taylor defending deep, MBrown to play the quarterback role.

The key for me will be transitioning quickly out of defence and spreading - Duncan Stokes Christensen Mackie Motlop Murdoch must play out of their skins - and deliver precisely to Pods Chappy Jimbob et al. Lowering the eyes, hitting targets.

Season far from gone. Just hope we don't keep doing the same things expecting a different result.