The Game Plan

Binxy

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Thread starter #1
Inviting speculation as to whether our gameplan will change for season '06?

There were some absolute tragedies this season (Bulldogs @ The Dome) but there were also some successes (Lions/Demons @ The G)

Will we "straighten up" next year? Are we still trying to rid ourselves of the Schwabby "chip" game?
 

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Stoney

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#2
Im not trolling, just cause im a Geelong supporter i am a HUGE fan of the Hawks boys (in particular the midfield group mitch, crawf, hodge, bateman, vanders and lewis etc)

1) so long as u have a smallish forward as ur target (mark williams) there will be alot of chipping around because u cannot just bang the ball in long to one-out contests because often he will get beaten in the air by the fullback

2) Everitt up forward is the answer, however this would mean less chances for first possession out of the midfield because his 30-40 taps a game would go missing and i dont think a fit Robbie Campbell and Simon Taylor could form an imposing ruck duo - i mean i would take Peter Street and Paul Chambers over those boys (well not really, but i dont rate them very high)

3) Hawthorn cannot be successful until last yrs boys and this yrs young fellas develop - imagine Mitch, Hodge and Lewis in the middle, Franklin hauling in marks like a fit Reiwoldt up forward, Xavier Ellis and Bateman providing run and drive from defence

I think Geelong and Saints (possibly WCE) could raffle the next 3-4 premierships between them, however come 2010-11 watch out cause we will have the new Brisbane dominating the competition in u boys.
 

Gary Shadforth

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#3
Good question Sheik Binxy.

Stoney, Mark Williams led the competition goalkicking for a larger portion of the season. For his size isn't a bad overhead grabber. What we need is a strongman or two loping around the pockets to look after him, in other words intimidate any fancy-pants fullback who puts the heat on him. And whilst his minders are henchmen they themselves must have the ability to snap a few goals as well as being good chest and overhead markers and crumbers to boot.

We lack fleet footed players who can deftly target Willo with skillfully weighted foot passes to a forward's chest, a technique which makes it difficult for even the best of fullbacks.

This, as an example, is why I like the style of a developing Clinton Young, one who under pressure can cooly and calmly side step an opponent with poise and balance; dashing clear with spurts of speed to deliver the goods accurately to a leading forward. It's a quality which only much game time at the elite level can provide development in a player to perfect such a craft. That's why rookie Clint was given plenty of opportunities to develop his style over the last seven games. Clarko likes what he sees in the lad. And we need more of such a pattern from our midfielders and indeed from an attacking halfback line.

That is the radical change required in our game plan. Chipping around going sideways is a display of no confidence in our forwards ... it simply has to stop - there is a need to opt for the skills I have afore mentioned.
 
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