Analysis What's Actually wrong?

[Kunna17]

Not a thread for complaining or abusing individual players, but more identifying where our teams fallen off this year. Watching the game today I got the impression that our defense has lost confidence in each other. Resulting in players too far away from the contest to impact it attempting to get across and being stuck in "no-mans land" and their opponents end up in space. I think we need better and more contested players, who also have skills, rather than experiment with wings across half-back. Hawthorn for example roll Hodge, Burgoyne and Mitchell back, who are midfielders yes, but contested ball players very capable 1 on 1.

I actually think our forward line is making progress from last year, but needs more structure and we need to be able to isolate our players 1 on 1 better.

We have been getting HAMMERED around the ball and although Sandi being out can cause that, is a serious cause of concern for the future as unlikely we will ever have a ruckmen that dominant again. I think we are undermanned for skillfull and contested players, we need more guys who can make decisions under pressure, and release our outside runners more. Yes hill is getting more ball this year, but a lot of it's contested and we need our best users with more freedom on the outside.

 

[Dirty_banchez]

Here you go:

1) Slow game plan out of half-back
2) Non-existent forward structure
3) New assistant coaches
4) Injuries
5) Lack of tall forwards
6) Noncompetitive rucks
7) Lots of kids finding their feet
8) Too many unskilled players

That some of the reasons why we only have 3 wins.

 

[Ysaye]

(1) Pre-season training - pretty sure they got it wrong and internally they have recognised it. This had resulted in both hamstring injuries and not having the speed to pull away from opponents.
(2) Key players reduced output and/or not on the field. In particular Ballantyne, Pavlich and the three injuries in Johnson, Fyfe, Sandilands and also the end of McPharlin and Duffield. To a lesser extent Barlow as well.
(3) Change in gameplan following rule changes. The new gameplan relies on players making good decisions faster and some are not up to it. The old plan was simpler and hence arriving at the "correct" solution was faster and easier. The loss of confidence also massively smashes decision making time because you procrastinate longer.

 

[wayToGo_]

Was thinking of putting together a post on this as well. Here's my 2c worth...

1. Fitness - we clearly don't have the same run we did last year. Need better pre-season running and will alleviate some of these problems:
   • Spread - watched more closely today and our defenders are stuffing around with it because nobody is moving forward of the ball
   • Support - the good teams have players running behind the ball to provide support should an option in front not present. Allows running the ball down field until a more viable target presents to kick to.
   • Rebound - we just don't transition to defence quick enough when we make one of our 90 turn overs during a game
   • Pressure - the chase to apply pressure down field to slow down the opposition moving the ball or causing a turn over is done by too few of our players.
2. Structure - 6 man forward line, with 3 talls and some stay at home forwards. No f'in flooding defensive 50, nor forward pressing too deep to get caught out on the rebound. Do we have to play NAB U18s rules to get a taste of it?
3. Outside Game - we can win the ball fine on the inside and will be even better when Sandi and Fyfe are back but we need to use our outside players better. If we do I think we solve some really important thing to be able to win:
   • Inside 50 Delivery - outside players with time and space can lower their eyes and hit targets
   • Timing Leads - the extra time it takes to move the ball to the outside gives our forwards more time to set up coordinated leading patterns and time them so they are reaching the hit zone at the right time.
   • Structure - similarly to above, a contested marker and crumber can time their link up to best effect.
   • Minimised Rebound - kicks inside 50 under less pressure should mean less intercepts and therefore less quick rebounds against us.
   • Long Range Goals - an outside player can also hit the scoreboard which results in defenders having to push up to apply pressure and allowing a give over the top to forwards running in to an open goal.
   • Locking In - all the structural benefits also maximise our ability to better lock the ball in our forward line.
4. Intuitive Play - there is zero dare/creativity/intuition in how our players are playing. They aren't playing with natural instinct and that time they are spending over thinking things is the difference between good ball use and a turn over.

Just some thoughts off the top of my head. There's lots wrong (and no doubt far more than this list) but I also don't think it's insurmountable to fix.

 

[kwikfix]

Defensive basketball tactics wont work without super fit mature players.

 

[Rob]

Here you go:

1) Slow game plan out of half-back
2) Non-existent forward structure
3) New assistant coaches
4) Injuries
5) Lack of tall forwards
6) Noncompetitive rucks
7) Lots of kids finding their feet
8) Too many unskilled players

That some of the reasons why we only have 3 wins.

That's as good an analysis as you'll get in as few words as possible.

The worry about it all is that the kids coming through think the sort of dross that was served up today is OK.

 

[Square Peg]

In the end, it all comes back to drafting and trading and free agency acquisitions. With few exceptions we have been shit at all three for years.
I have had a go at players, I have had a go at the coach, they have all made mistakes but when I think about it logically Bond and his team are ultimately "what's actually wrong". We are looking at years of pain because of their mediocrity

 

[Carnthedockers]

Here you go:

1) Slow game plan out of half-back
2) Non-existent forward structure
3) New assistant coaches
4) Injuries
5) Lack of tall forwards
6) Noncompetitive rucks
7) Lots of kids finding their feet
8) Too many unskilled players

That some of the reasons why we only have 3 wins.

Perfectly put.

 

[darkshines]

The cattle just aren't up to the new game plan. For all their good qualities, we've just got far too many types who aren't natural movers of the ball. Not instinctual, to be harsh, not real footballers.

Was the change in game plan the right move? I think so, plodding on wouldn’t have won us a flag. No embarrasments sure, but if you arent contending or building to contend, what is the point.

Falling as hard as we have will be good in the end. Mandate for massive change.

 

[Cobbler]

Im amazed we can't develop a play from a kick in. Its just kick sideways or play on and kick to about 65m out.

 

[kwikfix]

In the end, it all comes back to drafting and trading and free agency acquisitions. With few exceptions we have been shit at all three for years.
I have had a go at players, I have had a go at the coach, they have all made mistakes but when I think about it logically Bond and his team are ultimately "what's actually wrong". We are looking at years of pain because of their mediocrity

Been saying this for years.

 

[E Shed]

Not instinctual, to be harsh, not real footballers.

was thinking this today at the game, how it was good to see Yarran because he just looks like a footballer, the way he took a good strong contested mark and then just eased it through from 45m out. And I laughed because I realised I'm used to the likes of Mayne or Taberner who either can't take a contested mark or make the distance from 45m. Supposedly professional footballers who aren't really footballers.

 

[pavslovechild]

Mcpharlin, Johnson and duffield for me just really exposed a number of players this year into areas of play they weren't accustomed too in the backline. Ibbotson and sutcliffe in particular. Spurr is not the guy to set play up. Dawson and Collins are punch and play guys but that just kills you when trying to move it cleanly out the back 50. I find the back half 10 times more frustrating to watch than the forward half.... When it gets there

We can't set play up, as we don't have the clean 'out' out of the back half to then deliver and take the play forward structurally.

A side note on the bennel creativity point... 100 percent agree. Re watched the crozier and Sheridan draft videos.... My word those guys had flair... Especially Sheridan. I just really hope he can grasp the impact he could make on the team if he just played with a little less fear of messing up... That's how I see him play anyway.

 

[pavslovechild]

was thinking this today at the game, how it was good to see Yarran because he just looks like a footballer, the way he took a good strong contested mark and then just eased it through from 45m out. And I laughed because I realised I'm used to the likes of Mayne or Taberner who either can't take a contested mark or make the distance from 45m. Supposedly professional footballers who aren't really footballers.

Absolutely agree.

I still believe find mature forwards at 23-24 years old in state leagues who just know how to kick goals, don't need to lead up to the defensive 50...if you get your mids and back half right, just hit them on the lead and let them dob them.

 

[Man of Men]

Our players all seem to get sucked to the ball under 11's style. Whether its everyone going up for a marking contest in defence leaving their opponents to pick off the easy crumbs, all going in for the one tackle allowing 5+ players to be eliminated by one handball, or coming too close to a teammate with the ball for a handball receive allowing them to be shut down by the same tackler that was there initially.

 

[freodog]

We knew for years Pav, Mcpharlin would be retiring and did nothing about it. Should have picked up at least one KPP per year to see which one would come on but expected to just buy a ready made one.

Now Sandilands will retire next year and Clarke never worked out

 

[DudleyDocker]

Our players all seem to get sucked to the ball under 11's style. Whether its everyone going up for a marking contest in defence leaving their opponents to pick off the easy crumbs, all going in for the one tackle allowing 5+ players to be eliminated by one handball, or coming too close to a teammate with the ball for a handball receive allowing them to be shut down by the same tackler that was there initially.

This one sums it up for me, see ball, chase ball schoolkid style. I think that is what has been drummed into them for the past four years and they just don't have the footy smarts to read the play any more. Watch the deft little touches to open space that Hawthorn use and try to remember the last time one of ours did that. Our modus operandi is to take the ball, take the tackle and hope for a stoppage.

When we had a tough, winning midfield led by Fyfe that worked sometimes, not it just never works.

 

[Cheesewheel]

In the end, it all comes back to drafting and trading and free agency acquisitions. With few exceptions we have been shit at all three for years.
I have had a go at players, I have had a go at the coach, they have all made mistakes but when I think about it logically Bond and his team are ultimately "what's actually wrong". We are looking at years of pain because of their mediocrity

Not just drafting etc, they're also part of the match committee who spent years favouring/selecting mediocre experience over talented kids. Now it's taken the entire club to become a burning train wreck for Bond and Co. to change their selection policies which is a total embarrassment.

 

[rodney hoo]

Not just drafting etc, they're also part of the match committee who spent years favouring/selecting mediocre experience over talented kids. Now it's taken the entire club to become a burning train wreck for Bond and Co. to change their selection policies which is a total embarrassment.

Money.

 

[Proud SJW]

...A side note on the bennel creativity point... 100 percent agree. Re watched the crozier and Sheridan draft videos.... My word those guys had flair... Especially Sheridan. I just really hope he can grasp the impact he could make on the team if he just played with a little less fear of messing up... That's how I see him play anyway.

Agreed as well.

Question is, then, are they being over coached? I did see a couple of posts on our supposed drafting issues, but I don't see that at all. I think we've drafted reasonably well (at least average), and then for some reason too many Freo players just seem to become dumb footballers.
Fear of messing up might actually but pretty close to the mark. Hesitation and poor decision making can come from over thinking things.

 

[ydraw]

1. Coaching and game plan.
2. Injuries

 

[mike91]

Here you go:

1) Slow game plan out of half-back
2) Non-existent forward structure
3) New assistant coaches
4) Injuries
5) Lack of tall forwards
6) Noncompetitive rucks
7) Lots of kids finding their feet
8) Too many unskilled players

That some of the reasons why we only have 3 wins.

Spot on mate. Game plan too, needs to change and adapt to the times.

 

[Retzlaff]

Partying

 

[MadDocker]

Has to be game plan. Yesterday we had Mundy, Hill, Neale at center bounces who are no crabs but we were absolutely spanked out of the guts. Even when Clarke accidentally tapped to advantage a few times it just didn't look organised in there.

Sydney in comparison streamed out of the middle running forward in packs and moved the ball with great skills.

We suck.

 

[Patty_Moz]

1) Oldest list in the league so most of our best players are past it or injury prone
2) Lack of youth development over past 5 years
3) Same game plan as St Kilda '07
4) 1 decent forward who spends half his time in the midfield