why cant we get space in our forward line?

[Footy_Fan2007]

FWIW, from an outsider's perspective - because it's not your gameplan.

Similar to Hawks 07 (buddy's box), your forwards primary job (well Mooney's anyway) is to create contest/spills/crumbs deep(er) in the forward line.

There was an interesting discussion before the grandfinal last year about your 'overhandball' tactic - and whether it was a chicken or egg situation (whether dominance > handball, or handball > dominance), but what it did show clearly, was how many of your scoring opportunities come from forward running players.

Not necessarily 'forward running' in the sense of downhill skiing - more in the sense of weight of numbers forcing the ball forwards (as against spotting up leading targets).

Without stats to back me up, I'd suggest you have more 'uncontested' marks on the lead in the 55-65m corridor than anyone else. More 'play-on' handballs from said marks. More running shots than any other team.

For many teams the final entry into f50 is either under great pressure, or the intended target is under pressure. Your gameplan results in many more unpressured shots on goal from players running past/ahead of the contest - instead of trying to hit up a leading player.

(All that said, I'm pretty sure you are #1 or close to it in i50 score assists, so it's not like players are selfish about it).

Shit, that is very well said.

In my opinion its because we are not moving the ball fast enough. It was alot easier in 07 when no team had any idea how to counter our style. Now with this zoning rubbish, teams get massive numbers back into our forward line. Nearly every team plays us like this. With the exception of the Kangaroo's this year when we had a massive amount of space up forward. So it's because teams know how to play us now. Took us 3 quarters against st'kilda to work out a way around it.

 

[geelong_crazy26]

What we are lacking is someone who has serious pace to stop the opposition running it out of the backline, while at the same time pinching a couple of goals. Maybe varcoe will have to go back (I hope not).

i think that rooke and chapman can both apply enough defensive pressure.perhaps the 5 forwards would be enough.