No Oppo Supporters The Melt Thread

[Carnthedockers]

Is it Ross? Or is it personnel? Is he trying to implement a game plan we don't have the skills/confidence to carry out?

 

[DMan 11]

It's kind of pointless trying to blame individual players when the biggest issue seems to be the game plan itself. Our transition football and spread is terrible, and we lack the ability to work together to create space, leads or run the ball.

The contrast between when we had the ball to when the bulldogs had the ball was incredible. We were 10-15 metres off our players, chasing but ineffectively applying pressure throughout much of the game. Yet when we had the ball, our players were tightly manned up and constantly under pressure. That isn't about turnovers killing us, it's structural.

Players are so afraid of making a mistake and not playing to the system that they become virtually paralysed; unable to take the game on or play creatively. Instead they stop, pause for an eternity trying to wait for an option to magically appear out of thin air, then chip a slow loopy kick backwards. Our skillful, fast and agile players such as Hill, Pearce and Walters did nothing all game, and seemed to have the energy sapped from them.

Yes our skills were awful, but it is as much the fault of poor positioning and structure than the kicker themselves. The team clearly lacks confidence as to how they are moving the ball. It's 90% slow chip kicks along the wings. The optimist in me would like to hope that the struggles were due to us trying to adapt to a new game plan. The pessimist (nay dockers fan), in me sees the same struggles we've been trying to overcome in the past 18 months.

The entire team appears to have no confidence in themselves, each other or the game plan at the moment. As much as everyone loves to harp on about the poor quality of our fringe players and our lack of playing youth, it was our so called A-graders who let us down today. Fyfe, Mundy, Pavlich, Hill, Walters are the guys that win our lose us games, not Clancee, Mzungu or Suban.

That being said, the lack of playing youth is symbolic of our malaise; we refuse to change our game plan and system to adapt to where the game is heading. Perhaps we're waiting for all the spark and creativity to be drummed out of the younger players as they're moulded to the system, ala Crozier, Sutcliffe, Mayne etc.

Still, the biggest worry is the fitness and form of Fyfe, who almost single-handedly beast moded us to across the line last year.

Agree with every intelligent and insightful word in this post - great post !!

I think what you raise about the players having the flair restricted was made all the more obvious by Luke beverage's approach- give the players a platform to utilize flair and run and let them at it. While the bullies did this last year and turned it over occasionally, they turned it over with brazen run-and-stun. Unlike Freo today who turned it over with Deer-in-headlights.
I completely agree with gecko (?) who mentioned the left/right brain conundrum, we just didn't seem instinctual today - a lot of our work looked forced and 'overthought' .

 

[meima]

Agree with every intelligent and insightful word in this post - great post !!

I think what you raise about the players having the flair restricted was made all the more obvious by Luke beverage's approach- give the players a platform to utilize flair and run and let them at it. While the bullies did this last year and turned it over occasionally, they turned it over with brazen run-and-stun. Unlike Freo today who turned it over with Deer-in-headlights.
I completely agree with gecko (?) who mentioned the left/right brain conundrum, we just didn't seem instinctual today - a lot of our work looked forced and 'overthought' .

Maybe that what ross meant trying to play perfect football

 

[rodney hoo]

It's kind of pointless trying to blame individual players when the biggest issue seems to be the game plan itself. Our transition football and spread is terrible, and we lack the ability to work together to create space, leads or run the ball.

The contrast between when we had the ball to when the bulldogs had the ball was incredible. We were 10-15 metres off our players, chasing but ineffectively applying pressure throughout much of the game. Yet when we had the ball, our players were tightly manned up and constantly under pressure. That isn't about turnovers killing us, it's structural.

Players are so afraid of making a mistake and not playing to the system that they become virtually paralysed; unable to take the game on or play creatively. Instead they stop, pause for an eternity trying to wait for an option to magically appear out of thin air, then chip a slow loopy kick backwards. Our skillful, fast and agile players such as Hill, Pearce and Walters did nothing all game, and seemed to have the energy sapped from them.

Yes our skills were awful, but it is as much the fault of poor positioning and structure than the kicker themselves. The team clearly lacks confidence as to how they are moving the ball. It's 90% slow chip kicks along the wings. The optimist in me would like to hope that the struggles were due to us trying to adapt to a new game plan. The pessimist (nay dockers fan), in me sees the same struggles we've been trying to overcome in the past 18 months.

The entire team appears to have no confidence in themselves, each other or the game plan at the moment. As much as everyone loves to harp on about the poor quality of our fringe players and our lack of playing youth, it was our so called A-graders who let us down today. Fyfe, Mundy, Pavlich, Hill, Walters are the guys that win our lose us games, not Clancee, Mzungu or Suban.

That being said, the lack of playing youth is symbolic of our malaise; we refuse to change our game plan and system to adapt to where the game is heading. Perhaps we're waiting for all the spark and creativity to be drummed out of the younger players as they're moulded to the system, ala Crozier, Sutcliffe, Mayne etc.

Still, the biggest worry is the fitness and form of Fyfe, who almost single-handedly beast moded us to across the line last year.

This is it, excellent post.

Players need to no how to play in and out of structures, if structure breaks down you have to be able to think your way through it, don't go to panic. Holes that could be covered up by extra fitness and players with less skill level will now struggle with less interchanges.

 

[sabre_ac]

I just got around to watching the game, it felt like I was watching an entirely different team.

The first thing that struck me was the lack of intensity that has defined this club for the last few years, it simply wasn't there and the skill errors were also a problem. I think there is some cause for concern here, our reliance on Sandilands was completely proven and the old look for Pav when running forward won't work anymore.

Completely agree with those who have said we should be frustrated by the performance of our better players (Hill, Fyfe, Mundy and Walters) opposed to the guys who have only ever been the support cast (Mzungu, Suban, Clark etc). That said it also helps if there was never any high hopes for the like of Suban and Clarke who should be leaders but appear to never be destined to take the next step. Pavlich is playing like a guy of his age and years on the clock, I'm not expecting too much from him this year, could potentially say the same of Barlow as well.

 

[TheLoris]

While we obviously have some issues with skills, the most telling factor today was simply being outworked. Look at the manic workrate in our 2013 PF v Sydney compared to today, totally different. The doggies chased and pressured like we used to, and that causes the skill errors. Even when in space the perceived pressure has an impact.

It seems the playing group is a bit stale, it's basically the same as 2013. We really need an injection of yoof into the side to freshen things up. The current group have been listening to Ross's message for years now and I think it starts to lose it's impact. Get a few young guys into the side that will throw themselves into the contest and it can reinvigorate the senior guys.

 

[scon]

the most telling factor today was simply being outworked. Look at the manic workrate in our 2013 PF v Sydney compared to today,

Ditto!
Said this 10 mins in.
Reminded me entirely of that prelim game.

 

[Sweetback]

We were really flat-footed today. When we had the ball at half back, nobody was spreading or presenting.

 

[FreoRicci]

Clarke, for all his praise and patience for him to develop, have absolutely gone backwards as a player. Hardly ever gets involved consistently and just infuriating to watch.

 

[scon]

We were really flat-footed today. When we had the ball , nobody was spreading or presenting.

EFA.

 

[Patty_Moz]

Massive Sigh but it's not the end of the world we do have a number of issues though.

Oldest list in the league and age has a habit of catching up with old legs before you even know it. 13 of our senior list is over 28.

Not sure our problems can be solved by a couple of rookies but boy I'd like to see them given some games (tho doubt they will).

Back to the drawing board etc. So similar to the end of last year in that the only targets we can hit is a lateral ball to a loose man, nothing going forward seems to work and I think this is a combination of skills and personnel in the forward line.

 

[Carnthedockers]

I just got around to watching the game, it felt like I was watching an entirely different team.

The first thing that struck me was the lack of intensity that has defined this club for the last few years, it simply wasn't there and the skill errors were also a problem. I think there is some cause for concern here, our reliance on Sandilands was completely proven and the old look for Pav when running forward won't work anymore.

Completely agree with those who have said we should be frustrated by the performance of our better players (Hill, Fyfe, Mundy and Walters) opposed to the guys who have only ever been the support cast (Mzungu, Suban, Clark etc). That said it also helps if there was never any high hopes for the like of Suban and Clarke who should be leaders but appear to never be destined to take the next step. Pavlich is playing like a guy of his age and years on the clock, I'm not expecting too much from him this year, could potentially say the same of Barlow as well.

I would say the lack of defensive intensity has been a gradual decline since the sydney final.. I havent seen it since.

 

[Sweetback]

EFA.

True enough. Why the hell is this even something that our players need to be told to do?

 

[scon]

True enough. Why the hell is this even something that our players need to be told to do?

The coach reckoned they were counting their money in Kings Park.
Main injury worry was stubbing a toe on a pay cheque.

 

[Unique Name]

5 goals in a game of football is disgraceful.

Sandi
Johnson
Bennell
Alex Pearce
Mora
Langdon
Yarran

Will hopefully be in our best 22 by the pointy end of the season.

 

[Inveigh Slang]

I'm struggling not to break down and cry. Today was a shocker

 

[Sweetback]

The coach reckoned they were counting their money in Kings Park.
Main injury worry was stubbing a toe on a pay cheque.

Then it might just be time to rebuild.

 

[scon]

Let's see them on the payroll earn their loot in the meantime.

 

[E Shed]

It seems the playing group is a bit stale, it's basically the same as 2013. We really need an injection of yoof into the side to freshen things up. The current group have been listening to Ross's message for years now and I think it starts to lose it's impact. Get a few young guys into the side that will throw themselves into the contest and it can reinvigorate the senior guys.

whenever a team is being rejuvenated you hear the older players (Like Bob Murphy last year) talk about how everything is exciting again and how young it makes them feel having the kids running around.
Sydney hav freshened their list and came out running. Hawthorn change it up a bit each year.
Ross has got every drop out of our list, we need the likes of the 3 amigos and Alex Pearce getting around Fyfe and forming the nucleus of the new Freo. And as has been said above we need to get the players having fun and being creative again.
What we saw today was the natural follow on from how we ended last year.
Something has to give.

 

[meima]

Let's see them on the payroll earn their loot in the meantime.

Today every player go for toilet break so more to do with food poisoning .

 

[Sweetback]

whenever a team is being rejuvenated you hear the older players (Like Bob Murphy last year) talk about how everything is exciting again and how young it makes them feel having the kids running around.
Sydney hav freshened their list and came out running. Hawthorn change it up a bit each year.
Ross has got every drop out of our list, we need the likes of the 3 amigos and Alex Pearce getting around Fyfe and forming the nucleus of the new Freo. And as has been said above we need to get the players having fun and being creative again.
What we saw today was the natural follow on from how we ended last year.
Something has to give.

I reckon something will give if we get smashed in the derby in a couple of weeks.

 

[meima]

I reckon something will give if we get smashed in the derby in a couple of weeks.

I am actually disappointed with Ross not trial young kids like other team in nab, now I don't even know the kids really know his game plan.

 

[TheMcManusNose]

Clarke, for all his praise and patience for him to develop, have absolutely gone backwards as a player. Hardly ever gets involved consistently and just infuriating to watch.

Really worried about our ruck future now that Moller isn't here. Yes, I know, he was crap for most of his time with us but there was a plan for the future with glimpses of improvement last year.

 

[Admiral Byng]

I reckon something will give if we get smashed in the derby in a couple of weeks.

Not really. We smashed them in round 3 last year (for 3 quarters anways), but they still made the GF.

 

[Sweetback]

Not really. We smashed them in round 3 last year (for 3 quarters anways), but they still made the GF.

Well if you can guarantee that we'll make a grand final this year after we get smashed in a couple of weeks time then maybe I'll be okay with it, but if you can't then I think there will be changes.