Why do we play in bursts?

[AidanNelson2009]

Throughout this season, i've noticed that the Cats have just played in bursts to win games and havn't really played 4 quarters of good footy except for the 101 pt win over the Dogs. Is it because we are getting older ? or don't feel the need to do it ??, It was what lost us the game last night, we were very poor in the 1st half, but turned it on in bursts in the 2nd half. Think back to last night, we lost by 4 pts not playing our best and only playing good footy for half a game. Then think back to rd 19 against Collingwood, there was a point where the score was something like 49-20, we flicked the switch for 15 mins and got infront.

I think this will end up hurting us this year, i know we have been up there for a long time and it's hard to keep playing 4 great quarters of footy week-in-week out but i just want to know what you guys think about it, and why it happens.

 

[geelong_crazy26]

Re: Why do we play in bursts ? - Need to play 4 quarters of footy !.

I think its because the hungers not their like it has been in the past and is currently with some other sides.we often just do what we have to do to win which against lower placed sides is 15 mins of brilliant footy and against top sides we only get desperate when we are behind

another reason is our game plane only works against the better sides when we are running hard , only a slight drop off and we become sitting ducks that get punished on the turnovers

 

[SJ]

Re: Why do we play in bursts ? - Need to play 4 quarters of footy !.

Because teams have spent four years setting up ways to shut us down through zones and so on. They are very difficult to break when they are done properly (see Collingwood, St Kilda, Adelaide). However they are also very difficult to keep up for 120 minutes of footy. When zones break down, they generally make it very easy for the opposition to score as there are loose men everywhere. It is on these occasions when Geelong 'play in bursts'.

 

[Partridge]

Re: Why do we play in bursts ? - Need to play 4 quarters of footy !.

Throughout this season, i've noticed that the Cats have just played in bursts to win games and havn't really played 4 quarters of good footy except for the 101 pt win over the Dogs. Is it because we are getting older ? or don't feel the need to do it ??, It was what lost us the game last night, we were very poor in the 1st half, but turned it on in bursts in the 2nd half. Think back to last night, we lost by 4 pts not playing our best and only playing good footy for half a game. Then think back to rd 19 against Collingwood, there was a point where the score was something like 49-20, we flicked the switch for 15 mins and got infront.

I think this will end up hurting us this year, i know we have been up there for a long time and it's hard to keep playing 4 great quarters of footy week-in-week out but i just want to know what you guys think about it, and why it happens.

Says a lot that this is only seriously raised now, it's been occurring all year long. And don't forget - it has been defended enthusiastically by an awful lot of posters on this site.

Don't you remember, it was all about being ready for September.

To answer your question - why does it happen? Simple. They are too complacent, they have become comfortable, certain players know they will never be dropped, and terrible habits have become ingrained.

 

[Daitro]

Re: Why do we play in bursts ? - Need to play 4 quarters of footy !.

zones will do that. we play large chunks of the game trying to get the ball out of defence after the opposition scores a behind. sometimes it's better if we concede as then we get to re-set in the middle and get a clearance.

if we burst early it's usually because the opposition isn't fully organised yet and if we burst late it's because the opposition is tiring and their zone breaks down as we raise the tempo.

 

[ATSAM]

Re: Why do we play in bursts ? - Need to play 4 quarters of footy !.

Mystery to most of us and could be game plan, coaching on the night, selection table, players readiness for the game or all of the above.
However what is amazing is that only one and a half quarters of footy won us the game on Friday night.
Well it would have if the consistent umpiring had been the main game of the night.

Disappointing though when they can play four quarters against an injured Bulldogs, perhaps in the end is is called sustained effort which they now need to work on.

 

[The Casey Cat]

Great question and one we must deal with to win this year. Even if are lucky enough to get by Freo with a patchy performance it just will not get near the Pies. Just no chance in hell. Absolutely need 4 quarters of great hard footy to beat the Pies and Saints this year and right now that seems beyond us. Must get starving hungry for the 4 quarter contest again.

 

[RegHickeyStand]

Re: Why do we play in bursts ? - Need to play 4 quarters of footy !.

Because teams have spent four years setting up ways to shut us down through zones and so on. They are very difficult to break when they are done properly (see Collingwood, St Kilda, Adelaide). However they are also very difficult to keep up for 120 minutes of footy. When zones break down, they generally make it very easy for the opposition to score as there are loose men everywhere. It is on these occasions when Geelong 'play in bursts'.

Have to disagree.

Its lack of motivation, hunger.

Here is my argument: Carlton. They don't play a zone/flood and they aren't one of the gun teams, and yet we had the same prob with them a few weeks back. Didn't get our fingers out until the second half.

And if its motivation, then maybe getting done in the qualifying is a good thing.

 

[Poetic Justice]

Re: Why do we play in bursts ? - Need to play 4 quarters of footy !.

I hope that when Bomber said in his press conference post the St Kilda match - "If you're not prepared to come and be motivated for the whole game then don't come and play footy for this club." actually sank in to the people he was directing it to.

 

[Partridge]

Re: Why do we play in bursts ? - Need to play 4 quarters of footy !.

I hope that when Bomber said in his press conference post the St Kilda match - "If you're not prepared to come and be motivated for the whole game then don't come and play footy for this club." actually sank in to the people he was directing it to.

Well said. It's interesting isn't it, those of us who dare point this out are howled down, but the fact is the coach said the same thing! Ling pretty much expressed those thoughts in his post-match interview too.

The frustration isn't that they've lost our ability, or aren't good enough, it's that they aren't producing it for an entire match. If they can do that they are still every chance.

 

[AP Erebus]

Re: Why do we play in bursts ? - Need to play 4 quarters of footy !.

It's something that I've noticed, whilst keeping an eye on Geelong, is that "burst play".

I wonder if it's a combination of a couple of things: A slightly reduced hunger; teams being able to lock down on the Geelong flow for longer periods of the game.

The one thing that I still fear, and good lord it was in full effect on friday night, is that 15-20 minute Geelong burst where they kick 5 goals and suddenly the whole game changes.

 

[witsend]

I think it's "mostly" just a result of mega zoning/flooding where we are unable to break through an 18 man zone for extended periods. But when we do, and score a goal, we get to set up allover the ground again, and if we win a few clearances in a row, can get multiple goals before the flood is on.
Let's face it...footy used to have players all over the ground. The only time that happens now, is after a goal and the start of each quarter.
Last Friday night was like watching an Auskik game between giant kids. Minimum 26-28 players around every contest.
AFL MUST do something to address this.

 

[Poetic Justice]

I think it's "mostly" just a result of mega zoning/flooding where we are unable to break through an 18 man zone for extended periods. But when we do, and score a goal, we get to set up allover the ground again, and if we win a few clearances in a row, can get multiple goals before the flood is on.
Let's face it...footy used to have players all over the ground. The only time that happens now, is after a goal and the start of each quarter.
Last Friday night was like watching an Auskik game between giant kids. Minimum 26-28 players around every contest.
AFL MUST do something to address this.

This is completely in jest, but hey, let's set it up like netball. Where certain players are only allowed to stay in their third of the court. Let the FB/FF not allowed to be leaving the 50 hahaha.... eww.

 

[SJ]

I think it's "mostly" just a result of mega zoning/flooding where we are unable to break through an 18 man zone for extended periods. But when we do, and score a goal, we get to set up allover the ground again, and if we win a few clearances in a row, can get multiple goals before the flood is on.
Let's face it...footy used to have players all over the ground. The only time that happens now, is after a goal and the start of each quarter.
Last Friday night was like watching an Auskik game between giant kids. Minimum 26-28 players around every contest.
AFL MUST do something to address this.

Cap the interchange. I'd be happy if it was set low, 40 or 60, but it will never happen.

 

[vinum coupe]

I want the interchange capped.
But did you hear what Huddo said on Monday morning?

That he had spoken to someone at a club regarding a possible interchange cap and the effect it will have.

'The person' said that there are some thoughts that it is going to best to go into holding patterns whilst the best players are having a rest, and then burst again.

That could get very ugly.

 

[AP Erebus]

Could you imagine them chipping it around for 2-3 minutes in the middle of a qtr to conserve energy?

Horrible :/

 

[witsend]

Could you imagine them chipping it around for 2-3 minutes in the middle of a qtr to conserve energy?

Horrible :/

I think the more likely scenario with capped interchanges would be that it would sort itself out pre-season, despite all the "end of the world is nigh" cries from the interchange junkie coaches.
All we'd be doing is taking it back to the kind of levels it was at 3 or so years ago. No big deal.
The danger atm is that some clubs are now interchanging in excess of 150 times per game!!!!
This is an explosion by any measure and fundamentally changing what was an open free-flowing game.
Not all clubs are "abusing" the system but a simple cap will halt the excesses without too much harm.
Malthouse would be the one to suffer the most, but he's quitting anyway.
The Magpies will be the team most effected by it. Geelong the least.

 

[Vdubs]

All depends on how long the opposition is able or unable to stifle us. Saints/Pies are the best at it, hence we get a brief respite and with desperation , get to play in bursts. Yet we do it against all teams. Basically means all teams on their day are capable of beating us if we don't go on some rampage.


Maybe, it's the uniqueness of us, not that many teams are capable of our bursts