Strategy The Zone

[nahnah]

Simply put it doesn't work. Our players stand too far away from opposition players to affect the marking contest or apply pressure which allows for teams to just pick us apart. The sad part is our players give up so much space the other team doesn't even have to have great skills, they can stuff up the kick slightly or fumble the ball and still not turn it over.
I really think we need to play man on man and have some accountability because at the moment we are guarding grass and having goals kicked over the top of our zone. Teams are constantly out numbering us everywhere we go because our players are caught in no mans land,
To be perfectly honest I don't think I've seen a worse zone implemented by any team in professional sport.

 

[Pies_10]

There's a zone?, thought it was everyone go to the ball and don't structure up behind it.

 

[danielnajdek]

Do we have a zone.

 

[GutsyBug]

If that was the plan, needs to go immediately. Zone doesn't work if you can't close people down.

 

[2010JGsRevenge]

It's a good name for a nightclub

 

[Temploar]

Don't let me into my zone.

 

[DinoSoar]

Have to agree, this "zone" or whatever the hell it is has to go. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result - the jury's back, verdict is the Pies are insane.

 

[loki04]

Its been hurting us for years.

Last year our best footy was played when we went man on man.

We are slow, poorly drilled, poorly skilled and rutterless.

Playing Blair on ball is asking for punishment. Rnd 1 1st bounce Buckley starts Swan and Treloar on the bench and Blair onball...

WTF.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

It was hideous. The sad thing is I think the players actually tried pretty hard today, but our structure was non-existent and they walked through us with short passing and playing on.

 

[TW Sherrin]

the zone AKA witches hats

 

[Vicky Park]

There was a play today (3rd or 4th qrt?) when I counted 5 of our players lined up across half back, most had stopped running, the ball was still in play, and they were looking into the St Kilda forward line. Their opponents were running free in said forward line. I felt sick.

 

[goodoldpies]

There was a play today (3rd or 4th qrt?) when I counted 5 of our players lined up across half back, most had stopped running, the ball was still in play, and they were looking into the St Kilda forward line. Their opponents were running free in said forward line. I felt sick.

I watched this play Vicky Park i was just staggered! How can this happen?

 

[Vicky Park]

I watched this play Vicky Park i was just staggered! How can this happen?

Thanks for confirming that I didnt imagine it! Was horrible!

 

[goodoldpies]

Guys i took a pic after the game of the MCG security personal on the ground (unfortunately the size is too big to upload omy here) and how they zone in the forward 50...i think thats where bucks got his brilliant defence idea.

 

[themulletking]

 

[BEEG]

I don't even know what our game plan is, haven't been able to figure it out since Buckleys 2nd year.

 

[esc0bar]

I don't remember us playing a zone last year? Was this something implemented over the preseason? It's horrible, horrendous and embarrassing. Opposition coaches must be licking their lips when they analyse our game plan - cover space, stand still and hope the opposition kicks it to us to force a turnover.

 

[Bart99]

Mick had the zone also difference is everyone has worked the zone out all micks assistants got sacked playing this zoning style ..
Wake up Buckley and go back to basics man in man and move the ball quick forward to give the forwards a chance .,

 

[partypie]

It does actually work when pressure is consistantly applied to the ball carrier early in the game to the point where perceived pressure becomes a factor.

Fail to do so like we have been and any footballer at AFL level can generally pick out and hit a target in 5-10 metres of space if they are given sufficient time and space of their own to dispose of the ball, as we have seen (it basically turns into a "witches hat" type of situation).

 

[MightyPies2010]

Unfortunately the current Collingwood zone amounts to Collingwood players guarding "dangerous space" while leaving the opposition to play kick-to-kick without any pressure.

It's one of many, many things killing us at present.

We've had a horrible, horrible start to the season, the only saving grace is that we have banked 4pts (god knows how).

 

[Mateyman]

Our zone is absolutely terrible at the moment. Players just stand 20m away from their opponents and watch them get kicked the ball

 

[Axl the great]

It was hideous. The sad thing is I think the players actually tried pretty hard today, but our structure was non-existent and they walked through us with short passing and playing on.

Melbourne and Richmond did exactly the same thing to us last year too, and countless other teams along the way.
I can handle getting beaten, it is when you get beaten in repeat fashion, exactly the same way, you fall down in the same area, you fail going forward the same way.
Then, you don't learn and it keeps happening, that my friend is just madness.

 

[doodles98]

Our awesome zone and general gameplan has only been 5 years in the making. Some of you guys need to learn the art of patience. Imagine how good it will be after another 5 years of practicing!

 

[Good_Old]

What's the difference between ours and everyone elses? Other teams seem to be able to execute some form of zone effectively, especially against us.

 

[loki04]

I don't remember us playing a zone last year? Was this something implemented over the preseason? It's horrible, horrendous and embarrassing. Opposition coaches must be licking their lips when they analyse our game plan - cover space, stand still and hope the opposition kicks it to us to force a turnover.

We did play it for parts of last year and also man on man with players "rolling up" which also led to easy goals.