Well, Well, Well

[bus24]

Attacking football - Who would have ever thought it would be useful.

We've seen the Cats this season and Melbourne in the first 3/4 today benefit from it.

And what do you know, we played it for a 1/4 of footy and kicked 5.4 to 1.1

9 scoring shots to 2

We played our usual crapshack kick backwards, handball sideways, turn it over football for 3/4 and ended up more than 7 goals behind.

There's no secret to it, it's stuff you learn in under 9's. Move it quickly, kick the ball long and give the forwards a chance.

 

[jenny61_99]

There is no doubt, we will NEVER win a GF playing the sort of footy we have been playing so far this year.

 

[pjcrows]

"One of those games" this week, unfortunately. Melbourne had to win one. They were too good on the day. We're 6W 4L, with many of our own saying we would be LUCKY to be 5W 5L after 10 rounds. We played like women, and lost by 3 goals to a team that was under the pump from everyone. Some may say my head is in the clouds, but I felt that we would lose one of the Carlton or Melbourne games.

 

[CrowTwig]

I'm glad i caught a glimpse of what is to be, a much needed change in our gameplan. An attacking one, albeit it was only for 1 quarter.

 

[Nige_Bix]

I'm glad i caught a glimpse of what is to be, a much needed change in our gameplan. An attacking one, albeit it was only for 1 quarter.

Savour it - they seem to be few and far between - and we have to be able to consistently play footy like that to be worthy of being considered a major chance later in the year.

I cant recall the last time we staged a big comeback and then actually won the game! Maybe someone out there can remember - surely not the 97 PF!

 

[King Elvis]

Our forward line is still our biggest problem.

 

[Nige_Bix]

Savour it - they seem to be few and far between - and we have to be able to consistently play footy like that to be worthy of being considered a major chance later in the year.

I cant recall the last time we staged a big comeback and then actually won the game! Maybe someone out there can remember - surely not the 97 PF!

I'll answer my own question - the 98 GF - but was thinking of the last comeback win in the last few years.

 

[pjcrows]

Savour it - they seem to be few and far between - and we have to be able to consistently play footy like that to be worthy of being considered a major chance later in the year.

I cant recall the last time we staged a big comeback and then actually won the game! Maybe someone out there can remember - surely not the 97 PF!

2003 v Bulldogs. We were 8 goals down in the third quarter and won.
2005 v St Kilda. 32 points down at quarter time and won.

 

[crowsarethebest]

Our forward line is still our biggest problem.

Agreed. We moved it pretty well I thought in the 1st quarter. It was just our forwards weren't really on. We're still missing that crumber... Bode has left a massive MASSIVE hole. Gee, I hope we bloody draft a quick excitement machine because it is becoming a necesity in the forward line now.

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

Our forward line is still our biggest problem.

As it has been for years now.

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

Agreed. We moved it pretty well I thought in the 1st quarter. It was just our forwards weren't really on. We're still missing that crumber... Bode has left a massive MASSIVE hole. Gee, I hope we bloody draft a quick excitement machine because it is becoming a necesity in the forward line now.

Disagree. I thought Porp did a good job in the small forward role.

 

[relapse]

2003 v Bulldogs. We were 8 goals down in the third quarter and won.
2005 v St Kilda. 32 points down at quarter time and won.

Weren't we about 4-5 goals down against freo in the final last year ???

 

[Dandy_GO]

Disagree. I thought Porp did a good job in the small forward role.

He doesn't have the leg speed or aggression to keep the ball in the forward 50 though, which is an essential skill for decent small forwards.
Got a couple of goals, but his tackle count was zero. He takes a great grab, but he's not so great at reading the ball off hands and knowing where to be around contests. He's essentially just another leading forward.
I like Needles, and I think he has a place in our forward line, but we're desperately missing Bode's pressure up there.

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

He doesn't have the leg speed or aggression to keep the ball in the forward 50 though, which is an essential skill for decent small forwards.
Got a couple of goals, but his tackle count was zero. He takes a great grab, but he's not so great at reading the ball off hands and knowing where to be around contests. He's essentially just another leading forward.
I like Needles, and I think he has a place in our forward line, but we're desperately missing Bode's pressure up there.

True. We are also desperately missing a key forward that can take a contested mark, or at the very least, an over head mark. Surely the Bock as a forward experiment should be just about over.

 

[chopper55555]

big lobby kicks into the forwards. midfield not kicking a lot. not many if any contested marks in the forward line. come on down Kenny... and take grabs.

 

[maccas_no1]

I maybe in Singapore but I put the copyright back on Well, Well, Well back in round one..................this thread has been reported

 

[samdaman_2]

adelaide were just truly rubbis yesterday. bout time we start taking the game on and stop playing defensive crap. we are so much better than that!

 

[Stiffy_18]

There is no doubt, we will NEVER win a GF playing the sort of footy we have been playing so far this year.

I think what you are trying to say is that we will never win a GF with that forward line.

We just don't have the fire power to kick a big winning score consistently so we try to make is a defensive game by limiting the opposition within our "range" of what we are capable of kicking in a game on consitent basis. We are a 12 goal per game side and you don't win a lot of finals with that sort of "fire power"

 

[Stiffy_18]

Disagree. I thought Porp did a good job in the small forward role.

I agree. I thought he was good in his role and Lethal agreed

He is a bit of a Porplyzia fan. Very impressed with his hands (one grab player) but would be wanting him to find a bit more of the footy.

As for this attacking game plan, people seem to be getting a bit too carried away with it. We were down by a reasonably big margin at 3QTR time, Melbourne were in cruise control but got the major yips and were afraid of losing and went back into their shell as evidenced by some of their highly questionable decision making under least amount of pressure.

We had nothing to lose so we rolled the dice, Melbourne got scared of losing and went into their shells. The funny thing was is that we were a bee's proverbial away from pinching the unlikely win and shot ourselves in the foot. I still firmly believe that if Mattner wasn't selfish and went over the top with a handball to Goodwin we would have pinched the game.

IIRC it was a 3 goal game at the time, kick that goal and its a 2 goal game with plenty of time left on the clock. 12 points and its a whole new ball game. Dees would drop their head even further and it would give us the spark to go on and get it done.

Water under the bridge now but being at the game, I got the impression that was the final roll of the dice. Having said that, we never should have been in that position to start week. Weak as piss effort in the 2nd quarter is what cost us the game and Bruce and Green running riot because our boys would give them WAY too much room to operate in. Both must have had some pretty bad BO.

 

[jenny61_99]

I think what you are trying to say is that we will never win a GF with that forward line.

We just don't have the fire power to kick a big winning score consistently so we try to make is a defensive game by limiting the opposition within our "range" of what we are capable of kicking in a game on consitent basis. We are a 12 goal per game side and you don't win a lot of finals with that sort of "fire power"

No, I am trying to say that the style of footy we are currently playing would never win a GF. The forward line is good - if they all play to their ability. How we get the ball to the forward line has continued to be the problem this year. If we have three leading forwards, why do we either all lead to the same spot (making it a contested pack for which we have no crumbers) or lead wide (making the goals that much harder) - low percentage football in both cases. Last year we scored many more goals than we let the opposition kick - in fact had the best percentage and yet we had very low efficiency rate (ie. we went into our 50 metre zone more often but failed to convert). We can't even get it IN to our 50 metre zone this year - and that's all about delivery. So are we falling down in the mid-field? Certainly our centre clearances don't seem to be as good as they have been in the past. It's something Craig et al needs to address, and pretty quickly too.

 

[Wood_Duck]

About 5 mins into the first quater, I saw one of the worst passages of play I've ever seen. Reminded me of a school yard game of Keepies off. Handballing it around in a circle to players in trouble, one after the other and eventually turned it over.

This type of play is symptomatic of the fact that we can not move the ball forward quickly to a player that has any space available either beween him and his opponent or to run into or infact a forward that is able to present as an option.

We are continually having to pfaff around with it between HB and HF waiting for numbers to run forward and create an option.

We are simply unable to kick forward to a contest as we dont have a single forward that you could count on to take a one on one mark.

I'm sorry but if anyone is under the impression that our current forward line is good enough (even when they are playing to their ability) to win a final, I reckon you are sadly deluded.

It is a basket case at the moment. If there is anything positive about Pezza's injury it is that Craig is now forced to restructure the forward line.The Welsh, Perrie, Bock plan needs to go out the window.

Time to try the Welsh, Griffin, Stevens plan. Could it be any worse?

 

[jenny61_99]

Our forward line IS good enough - when they are playing to their ability. ALL of them are capable of taking good contested marks. Whether they do or not depends on whether they are in the zone. Bock, Roo and Welsh - a formidable forward line in anyone's book. Add to that Porplyzia and Burton - awesome. Perrie also provided a good contest so that at worst, the ball would spill at his feet (his goal kicking is his biggest problem however). Unfortunately, we have no small crumbers to pick the ball up and take advantage of spilled balls and the opposition team takes the ball back out with far too much ease. I think Griffin is also a good option up forward - he has a good pair of hands and a great kick. I also think Jericho, given the chance, could shine for us up there. Fix the engine room and the forward line will follow!

 

[Wood_Duck]

Our forward line IS good enough - when they are playing to their ability. ALL of them are capable of taking good contested marks. Whether they do or not depends on whether they are in the zone. Bock, Roo and Welsh - a formidable forward line in anyone's book. Add to that Porplyzia and Burton - awesome. Perrie also provided a good contest so that at worst, the ball would spill at his feet (his goal kicking is his biggest problem however). Unfortunately, we have no small crumbers to pick the ball up and take advantage of spilled balls and the opposition team takes the ball back out with far too much ease. I think Griffin is also a good option up forward - he has a good pair of hands and a great kick. I also think Jericho, given the chance, could shine for us up there. Fix the engine room and the forward line will follow!

Jenny, you are very sadly deluded as to the aility of some of the Crows players. If all of the players you mention were half as good as you think they are we'd have won the last two premierships and be on top of the ladder this year. Our engine room has been very good for over a decade (do the names Ricciuto, Goodwin, Edwards, Mcleod ring a bell), yet it is now 10 years since we won a premiership. Our midfield is still very good, Thompson, Goodwin, Edwards, Knights etc is still very good in anyones books. Our current forward line is honest and hard working on a good day, with glimpses of brilliance at times. I doubt any other team in the competition rates it as formidable, even on a good day.

I'm being as gentle as I can hear Jenny but you really need to take your blue, red and gold goggles of and get a good stiff shot or reality.

 

[Stiffy_18]

No, I am trying to say that the style of footy we are currently playing would never win a GF. The forward line is good - if they all play to their ability. How we get the ball to the forward line has continued to be the problem this year. If we have three leading forwards, why do we either all lead to the same spot (making it a contested pack for which we have no crumbers) or lead wide (making the goals that much harder) - low percentage football in both cases. Last year we scored many more goals than we let the opposition kick - in fact had the best percentage and yet we had very low efficiency rate (ie. we went into our 50 metre zone more often but failed to convert). We can't even get it IN to our 50 metre zone this year - and that's all about delivery. So are we falling down in the mid-field? Certainly our centre clearances don't seem to be as good as they have been in the past. It's something Craig et al needs to address, and pretty quickly too.

Out forward line is not good. Players individually are good forwards but as a unit they are a bunch of mismatched pieces and it shows. Too many similiar types and not enough of other types. Ricciuto and Welsh are both leading forwards, and so are Porplyzia, Stevens, Bock and Perrie. Too much of the same thing and not enough of variations. No genuine crumbers, no genuine stand under the long ball forwards, no genuine pack busting forwards.

All those players play in a similar way and have similar styles. There is nothing thats very different in any of those players. They are all best suited to lead, catch and kick type roles.

Our midfield is not a lot worse than it was alst year. In fact I would say its better in terms of options and number in there. Our forward line is not a shadow of the one last year. Last year's forward line was a great mix of complementing pieces where players in question were all different types of forwards. Roo was the leading forward, Bode was a great little crumber. McGregor was the stay at home under the ball type, Hentschel and Burton did a great job of roaming the forward line and kick goals. MUCH MUCH different mix than last year and it shows.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Our forward line IS good enough - when they are playing to their ability. ALL of them are capable of taking good contested marks. Whether they do or not depends on whether they are in the zone. Bock, Roo and Welsh - a formidable forward line in anyone's book. Add to that Porplyzia and Burton - awesome. Perrie also provided a good contest so that at worst, the ball would spill at his feet (his goal kicking is his biggest problem however). Unfortunately, we have no small crumbers to pick the ball up and take advantage of spilled balls and the opposition team takes the ball back out with far too much ease. I think Griffin is also a good option up forward - he has a good pair of hands and a great kick. I also think Jericho, given the chance, could shine for us up there. Fix the engine room and the forward line will follow!

MY GOD, I cannot believe that you can be THAT short sighted. All those players (other than Burton) are leading type forwards. They play a style that is too similar to one another. That mix is just about terrible. Its not a matter of them being good individual forwards. No doubt all of them the kick a bag on their day. No doubt all of them can be match winners on their day BUT too much of the same thing and not enough of the variation of styles. Those players are all good individually but as forwards, they don't complement each other. They crowd each other and cramp each other style.