This is where I see us, it is not a big step ..

iscah

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Thread starter #1
In 2003 Freo finished 5th and missed out on % on a top 4 position. Since then we have not progressed. However it does not take much to jump into the top 4. Looking at the last two seasons ..

- In 2004 Geelong (12th previous year), St Kilda (11th) jumped into top 4
- In 2005 Adelaide (12th), West Coast (8th) jumped into top 4

Arguably West Coast got there on a good injury free run and a mountain of close victories (9 by 24 points or less is not repeatable). That is their only top 4 in 11 years amazingly. But the other three teams have jumped on vastly improved performances from a relatively poor previous year which is a good sign for us.


We are not far off given :

- We have won 11 of our last 18 in Melbourne (travel there was a problem year after year)
- We have not lost by more than 10 goals in 75 consecutive AFL matches back to round 14, 2002 (we used to get blown away too often)

Given the evenness of the comp, the better travel record and the way we hang in more these days it is not a big step to take to finish top 4. That is the positive. The downside is I don't think Connolly is the man to get the most out of this squad. He may get us to the top 4 eventually but maybe a year or two later than a better coach. I hope to be proved wrong.
 

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theGav56

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#2
Interesting way to look at it all. I can see the club being strengthened by the good 2nd half of the year.

Just a question; Given your preaise for the travel record and the fact that we don't get blown away any more, why don't you think CC is the man for the job?

I think that when things go wrong the Coach tends to cop it in the neck, and when things go well, it is the players playing to their potential (almost despite the Coach). I know I tend to not notice the Coaching when the team is playing well.
 

dominguez

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#3
theGav56 said:
Interesting way to look at it all. I can see the club being strengthened by the good 2nd half of the year.

Just a question; Given your preaise for the travel record and the fact that we don't get blown away any more, why don't you think CC is the man for the job?

I think that when things go wrong the Coach tends to cop it in the neck, and when things go well, it is the players playing to their potential (almost despite the Coach). I know I tend to not notice the Coaching when the team is playing well.
It's a tough job being an AFL coach but I think you can break a coaches job down into 3 main roles which will impact results
i) Preparing the players physically prior to game day- making sure their skills are good, they eat the right things, their fitness is up to scratch, making sure they work hard in the gym, know where to lead, have your clearances structured etc etc.
ii) Preparing the players mentally- making sure everyone that runs out onto the field is switched on and confident in their ability and their team mates ability.
iii) Matchups and structure- Both the matchups selected before the game and the changes made during the game need to be right, and the changes need to be made quickly. A coach also needs to be able to counter whatever tactics the opposition throw up. If the opposition decide to flood, or tag a couple of your best midfielders or double team your key forward you need to have plans in place to counter these moves and exploit them.

If I was to grade Connolly on the above areas he would receive a C and 2 D's.
i) Our skills are average, several players have struggled to bulk up but our fitness is good. Our forward line often lacks structure and we are often smashed in the clearances.
ii)Many times the players have looked disinterested in the last 2 seasons. Whether for a whole game or for a half there has been a part of most games this year where we have pulled up the handbrake and given the opposition a clear run at the footy. Connolly tried to make Larcom the scapegoat but he was only following instructions and any problem with team harmony must be solved by the senior coach. Either Connolly isn't given the players the right message or whatever he says isn't getting through.
iii) Connolly makes his match ups pregame and sticks with them either for the whole game or for far too long. Opposition players are left to carve us up for way to long. There are plenty of examples but Pavlich into the middle last night with 8 minutes to play was embarassing. He said during the split round that we weren't getting enough run out of the backline so we would move a midfielder back. Most coaches would notice that at half time in a game and make the change, Connolly took 13 weeks!
 

masai

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#4
theGav56 said:
I think that when things go wrong the Coach tends to cop it in the neck, and when things go well, it is the players playing to their potential (almost despite the Coach). I know I tend to not notice the Coaching when the team is playing well.
We all know players win games, coaches lose !!!!.

Gav, rational comments are not allowed here!!.

Players need to lift there own heads and play with pride, not wait for the coaches to come along and wipe their .......
 

Ripper

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#5
masai said:
Players need to lift there own heads and play with pride, not wait for the coaches to come along and wipe their .......
David Parkin reckons that the 1995 Blooze coached themselves.

Back on topic though, You are right iscah. We are not far away although I said that last year as well.

We have had a year where just about anything that could go wrong did go wrong right from Robbie Haddrill going down at 1/2 time in Round 1 and not escaping with at least 2 points in Tassie.

We were a bottom 8 side witha top eight draw. Watching the tape again the thing that stuck out is that up against Port we were a lot skinnier and got bumped off the ball a lot easier and could not get tackles to stick and break tackles as they did.

Another preseason in the gym will improve that.

I am expecting big things from Ryley Dunn next year.
 
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