The Key Making the eight.

[nut]

Our young TALLs.

Moore, Maguane, Polak, Thursfield and shulz all have to step up and increase our depth in this area. Our small to medium player depth is ok.

 

[banzai]

Add Pattison to that. The talls improving will help, but in nearly all of the games we lost last year our midfield was slaughtered.

 

[lids2004roar]

Our KPPs are not a weakness if Schulz and Polak fire.

After that it is our midfield that needs to step up. We have some useless midfielders who can find the ball but can't win games because they turn it over all the time with blind kicking.

Foley is the worst user of the ball in the competition (fact in 2006)

Tuck is no better.

Johnson is a little better.

Tivendale was our 2nd best midfielder last year, so I still haven't found ONE midfielder who is reliable by foot.

Dean Polo is the normal, standard skilled player by foot, but is excellent in other areas so he will last.


Tambling is the answer. His disposal is one of the best in the team and the hype on him in 2004 will be revived soon enough. Deledio is sublime even if he is at the HBF.

 

[epping pingers]

people say 1 person doesnt make a team...which is true of course, but 1 player can sure make a massive difference.

coughlan.

seriously, i recon 20% more people would tip us for the 8 if cogs was playing.

 

[Punt_Road_Roar]

Our KPPs are not a weakness if Schulz and Polak fire.

After that it is our midfield that needs to step up. We have some useless midfielders who can find the ball but can't win games because they turn it over all the time with blind kicking.

Foley is the worst user of the ball in the competition (fact in 2006)

Tuck is no better.

Johnson is a little better.

Tivendale was our 2nd best midfielder last year, so I still haven't found ONE midfielder who is reliable by foot.

Dean Polo is the normal, standard skilled player by foot, but is excellent in other areas so he will last.


Tambling is the answer. His disposal is one of the best in the team and the hype on him in 2004 will be revived soon enough. Deledio is sublime even if he is at the HBF.

I cringe when ever he tries to short pass...... obviously I have the wrong tambling.

 

[lids2004roar]

I cringe when ever he tries to short pass...... obviously I have the wrong tambling.

Obviously

 

[Punt_Road_Roar]

Schulz needs to kick 50 goals a season along side Richo and Brown.

 

[True Thylacine]

Unfortunately the key to us playing finals is not in any one or even 2-3 players performances. It lies in the concept encapsulated in the work "team". Despite the consistent discussions about this player or that player the fact of the matter is that finals and success come only when the vast majority of players on a team chose to play for the team and no other motive. Yes the skill sets are important and yes some tactics are also but that all counts for zip if all the oars arent rowing in the same direction and with a considerable level of commitment to the club, the jumper and a high level of passion in doing so.

A lot are keen to compare our left half back flanker with the best left half back flankers in the comp and say we need to improve at that position or this but the fact is that in the successful teams the medium level players get lifted by the others around them and the collective will to succeed, even to the point of spilling a little claret a little for ya mates. Old fashioned idea it may be but it still rings true, "i.e. a champion team will beat a team of champions".

No every Eagle or Swannie have been world beaters in last 2 years, but they have both been great teams. St Kilda is the obvious comparison. I would like to think in observing some of Plough's strategies and actions that this is where we are heading also.

 

[lids2004roar]

Natural improvement from youngsters + Schulz + Polak + Brown + Newman = finals.

Below average midfield needs to be lifted by those around them like TT said.

 

[Bentleigh]

Our young TALLs.

Moore, Maguane, Polak, Thursfield and shulz all have to step up and increase our depth in this area. Our small to medium player depth is ok.

Well, we are hoping that our future spine:

Thursty/McGaune
Polak

Hughes/Pattison
Schultz

You'd want to hope they start showing something.

We are abit like the Eagles (KPP wise), a couple years ago at this stage.

 

[nut]

Our young midfield stocks are excellant. And most have shown that they will more than handy. Yes we got smashed on occasions in the midfield but there bodies are one year older and the experience level is increasing.

Polo- Looks good
Deliedio-enough said
Tambling looks like he will be the spark in the side.
Foley- Hard, fast ball magnet.
Raines- keeps improving.
Tuck- Crash bang Inside midfielder
Meyer- Class,needs to get more of the ball
Hartigan - there for added depth but has shown he can mix in the seniors.
Hyde- see Hartigan.
White- Still a year away
Newman- The oldest youngster and leader.

Very young group and they will all improve on last year.

 

[PLSC]

discipline

im not talking 2 hours of it to beat adelaide or 2 hours against port away im talking 22 matches

it wont happen and thats why i dont see finals yet

 

[PLSC]

Our KPPs are not a weakness if Schulz and Polak fire.

After that it is our midfield that needs to step up. We have some useless midfielders who can find the ball but can't win games because they turn it over all the time with blind kicking.

Foley is the worst user of the ball in the competition (fact in 2006)

Tuck is no better.

Johnson is a little better.

Tivendale was our 2nd best midfielder last year, so I still haven't found ONE midfielder who is reliable by foot.

Dean Polo is the normal, standard skilled player by foot, but is excellent in other areas so he will last.


Tambling is the answer. His disposal is one of the best in the team and the hype on him in 2004 will be revived soon enough. Deledio is sublime even if he is at the HBF.

this is why i get pissed when deledio is on a back flank

guys like bowden, newman, raines, deledio need to have the ball forward of centre but they are stuck in the back half providing "run"

and people want to know why we break down across half forward

 

[Darth_Tiger]

1%ers. if they do the hard things well enough - chase, tackle, shepherd, block, spoil etc etc we will improve out of sight. so realistically, on the last 2 years performances in this area we are no chance at all

 

[Paddles]

The key is clearly injuries. Surely we could have snuck into the 8 last year if we had all our players available.

 

[tigerdan]

I would say that it is critical that we stop blowouts when we lose!

Our percentage has been atrocious at the end of the year since about 1995, and even then it was not great.

With a log jam expected at the end of the year, a good percentage will be crucial.

I'd also say that stringing together wins rather than the usual win-lose-win will help too.

 

[lids2004roar]

The key is clearly injuries. Surely we could have snuck into the 8 last year if we had all our players available.

I think injuries are nothing to worry about as every club has them. If we had our best players we may have made the finals. If St Kilda had theirs they could have won the premiership.

 

[ORTALANA07]

I would say that it is critical that we stop blowouts when we lose!

Our percentage has been atrocious at the end of the year since about 1995, and even then it was not great.

With a log jam expected at the end of the year, a good percentage will be crucial.

I'd also say that stringing together wins rather than the usual win-lose-win will help too.

You wont make the finals YOU BIG CHAMPION!!!!
Just look forward to watching the doggies be amazing this year!

 

[Paddles]

You wont make the finals YOU BIG CHAMPION!!!!
Just look forward to watching the doggies be amazing this year!

Yeah I think u guys will go ok. But we have to have our revenge on you for round 1 last year. That was an awful night. Got wet standing outside the dome, then once i got in u blew us away.

 

[ata40]

About 15 games out of Richo, Johnston and Gasper, maybe another knee or two, few kids coming up, maybe a few going backwards so about 6-10 wins is where I see us in 2007.

Main issue will be who cements a place in the finals teams of 2009 plus, so far its looking like ;

B: ????, Bowden J, Newman
HB: Raines, ????, Polo
C: Tambling, Deledio, ????
HF: Brown, ????, ????
F: ????, ????, ????

FOLL: Simmons, Coughlan, ????

Plenty of spots up for grabs!

 

[beaver's army]

discipline

im not talking 2 hours of it to beat adelaide or 2 hours against port away im talking 22 matches

it wont happen and thats why i dont see finals yet

I agree. Look at sydney and there are no real standouts apart from goodes but not all the time and he still plays for the team doing all the team things. Sydney would probably have the best discipline in the AFL.

 

[_RT_]

5 Keys For The Tigers To Improve:
1. Richo, Brown, Schulz, Kingsley, Pettifer need to tally 250-270 goals between them for the year. Allow another 50-80 from the rest. Total 300-350 We make finals simple. Last Year the Top 8 sides scored 312(Saints) and 378(WCE) goals for the year including finals, we scored 278 goals for the year ranked 11th in the AFL. This is the hard part we need to increase our output by 2-3 goals a game. Not impossible when you see the talent listed but it needs them all at the best for most of the year and that is what makes it hard. You know what to expect from Richo and Brown, Petts to some degree after last year, but if the other 2 can step up it can be done.

2. Defence needs to have a target of no more than 280-300 goals against for the year. Again we do this and we play finals. Last year we conceded 323 goals for the year. The 5th worst in the AFL. Simply put we need to average 2 goals less per game for the opposition, when you think about it it is only half a goal a quarter. We have the talent there to do it with JB, Raines, PB, Newman, Polak & Thursty. The problem is with the next 3 points if they improve this area will take care of itself.

3. Pressure, more to the point Tackling, we need to lay more tackles and make them stick last year we ranked worst in terms of tackles made Simply put compared to the top sides we trailled them by near 500 tackles for the year. Carlton who finshed last had near 200 more tackles than we did last year. NOT GOOD ENOUGH!

4. 1%er's last year we were 16th for 1%er's and that is just not good enough, we need to sheperd, spoil, smother more. Last year the WCE's had nearly 800 more 1%er's over the course of the year, shows me they do the small things for each other and expect their team mates to do the same thing for them. No good having 3-4 guys doing it all over them have to do it.

5. Clearances/First Possessions we need to get our hands on the ball first more often. Last year we ranked 16th in both these catergories and unless it improves then the ret may as well be forgotten about. With our game plan supposedly being about quick ball movement it is not going to help if our guys are heading towards our goals and the opposition gets the clearance and jams it down their forwards throat with little pressure. Hopefully guys like Tuck, Tivendale, Foley, Deledio, Tambling and Howat will continue to improve in this area the biggest problem last year was Simmonds was our leading Clearance guy and while it is good that he gets his hands on the ball the successful sides were relying on their midfielders getting their clearances. As for Foley while he is good at clearances he still has a way to go to get to Judd levels. Last year Judd averaged 6.5 Foley averaged 2.8. The key for this area is to have more guys averaging Foley like numbers than expecting another guy to be a freak like Judd. If we get a 20% improvement across the team in these areas then we will improve by 100+ clearances/FP's as a team and that gets us up near the better teams.

These are the 5 Key areas I think we need to work on and well pretty much it is the everything but that is where we are at the moment, poor in all areas and need drastic improvement in each to make a real jump. Otherwise we will cause some upsets against some better teams, will beat a few fellow strugglers but in effect will go nowhere.

 

[lids2004roar]

Last year Judd averaged 6.5 Foley averaged 2.8.

....also when you factor in time on ground they had an equal percentage.

Foley = Judd in clearance ability according to 2006 stats.

Foley = worst ball user in AFL as well.

 

[buffalopride]

shultz is going to star this year..

 

[lids2004roar]

shultz is going to star this year..

Tambling is my main pick to shine and Schulz is right next to him.

Watching his athletisism against Melbourne convinced me