Tony Shaw's Observation

[CJH]

Listening to the radio on the way home today, I heard Tony Shaw make the following observation. And the more I thought about what he had to say, the more I knew that he was right.

He asked what kind of stats our key defenders had. Gaspar, Hall, Zantuck (even though he did have a good game) and Kellaway had very little of the ball. Maybe no more that &frac12 a dozen possessions each. Now while it is acceptable that defenders generally get little of the ball, Shaw made the point that these guys were not making any effort to be offensive players in the back half.

That is to say, they weren't working hard once we got possession of the ball and helping run the ball out.

It was very clear that we struggled to get any system going with moving the ball out of the back half. This seemed to be because, we were willing to just let Chaffey and Fiora to do the bulk of this work.

Shaw pointed out that maybe the likes of Gaspar, Hall, Zantuck and Kellaway should aggresively run off their opponents once we gained possession and all become viable options up the ground and force the opposition forwards to become defensively accountable.

It is entirely logical that if there are 8 options across half back instead of 3 - 4 then we will have more success in moving the ball free.

 

[oxx]

Wasn't this instinctively happening in the first qtr?

That's what Newman said we were doing.

 

[CJH]

Yes, it was happening early on. To a degree. Funnily enough, as a result we were leading at quarter time! Those that were attacking from defense though were the likes of Chaffey and Fiora. (At one point, Chaffey marked on forward 50 and then passed to Fiora who was free 25 metres from goal)

For whatever reason though, this attacking derring-do was not visible for the rest of the game.

 

[oxx]

I dont think our players are stupid.

I think at qtr time spud went with a plan that was built on
a lifetime of failure - his, as well as suffering from a bout
of "no Richo".

The team played well without Richo until Frawley tried to coach.

 

[CJH]

Originally posted by oxx


...

The team played well without Richo until Frawley tried to coach.

Touche.

 

[Coach Required]

sorry but the fact that tony shaw came up with any suggestion on how the tigers should play is as much a joke as danny's coaching abilities.

 

[CJH]

I was expecting someone to disregard the message based on the credibility of Tony Shaw.

Regardless of where the message came from, what cannot be disputed is that it is correct. And now that it has been identified, there should be something done to correct it.

 

[1980]

Tony Shaw knows more about Frawley's coaching than anyone. He was his assistant.

Its a defensive mindset. Its a dont lose by too much mindset.

When you didnt learn how to win as a player, you dont know how to win as a coach. You do not inspire confidence in your players, and all they worry about is not making mistakes, not winning games.

It really sticks in my craw that Grant Thomas came out and said we may have been a chance if we'd not been so defensive minded.

Loser player, loser coach. Ballarat beckons.