Strategy Changes & Pre-match Discussion - Round 24 vs. Essendon, MCG, Fri 25/08, 7:50pm

[thommo_legend]

The fact Elliott isn't training screams concussion protocols does it not?

He has gone away

 

[Go Pies!!!!!]

And then have to travel up to Brisbane if we lose?

Melbourne at the MCG is our biggest threat, Play them in a Preliminary final at the G or in a Grand Final i know what i am taking

 

[neilk]

He has gone away

Looks like Coogee Beach.

 

[Harry O]

He has gone away

You wouldn’t think we had a flag on the line would you. Doesn’t seem a big buy in to achieving this from the playing group
Even Tom Mitchell was out drinking beers with Jack Ziebell on Sat when he got king hit

 

[ElliottsMaggies]

Maybe the steps and stairs theme has come back to bite. As soon as they reached to top section of the stairs and qualified Top I 4, their discretionary effort dropped off. That was after Port Adelaide. Then injuries to critical players have compounded the problem.

Kick straight against Carlton and they win that game. They were battered with a short break post a hard game away in the wet.

The Hawks loss involved some game style that went away from the style which had won so many games. They were slow, going wide and mystifyingly avoiding going down the corridor and possessing the footy. Midfield was a disaster - Pendlebury, Adams and Mitchell as a combination was slow. Add to that a flat playing group. That was the low point especially with Nick getting injured. Sicily running around by himself. There was a plan for him that did not work apparently. This led to Howe’s new role.

The win against Geelong was instructive and really felt like a 3-4 goal win (2 infamous goals out of bounds and the junk time goal at the end with better effort does not happen). It was a good win with Moore injured mid-game, no Sidebottom or Nick Daicos. They returned to pressure and fast ball movement. Did enough and then took foot off. Howe nullifying Stewart and hitting the scoreboard is an important discovery.

Going into this week, without 4 key players against a healthy Brisbane at Marvel, with Top 2 already locked in, pre-game I thought a loss of 4 goals or less would be a good result. In the context of Murphy going off and Ryan going down, that is not a bad outcome. They also gave Howe a second shot at stopping Harris Andrew and it worked. Improved the midfield combinations and broke even in clearance. Pendles took control and Crisp and Josh are improved the mix. Tackling was good.

Now they need to make sure the defensive structure is working again. They were in preservation mode on Friday night as Top 2 is locked in.

I still have faith.

They will beat Essendon. Then it resets and 2/3 best players back in. Maybe even Nick.


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

Most sensible post on this forum in weeks.

 

[Big Bryza]

I personally would argue the cracks started showing around the same time we moved Nick from the backline and into the midfield.

He was BOG in his first 3 games as a mid and we won all 3.

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

He was BOG in his first 3 games as a mid and we won all 3.

Ok and?

Did I say Nick was a terrible player or something?

Our coach has said himself that we use him where we need him. The issue is, it seems we need him the most at half back. We've lost so much of our run and creativity from the back line since he's been moved....despite winning most games

I"m confused, are you suggesting that winning automatically means everything is hunky dory?

 

[legendstatus]

I would argue it was from the moment top 2 was locked in and we had less incentive to win

I would argue its always been there and outside 1-1.5 good Qtr in those wins, we would have lost more, in many games, our lead got swallowed up by siren time - this was and always will be a concern and need to be more consistent across 4 Qtrs.

 

[Big Bryza]

Since round 11 we've gone:

11 - Pies 105 v Roos 70 (W)
12 - Pies 120 v Eagles 57 (W)
13 - Pies 62 v Dees 66 (L)

14 - BYE

15 - Pies 82 v Crows 80 (W)
16 - Pies 120 v Suns 42 (W)
17 - Pies 89 v Dogs 77 (W)
18 - Pies 113 v Dockers 67 (W)
19 - Pies 85 v Prison Bars 83 (W)

From here things start to go pear shaped:

20 - Pies 76 v Blues 93 (L)
21 - Pies 73 v Hawks 105 (L)
22 - Pies 109 v Cats 101 (W)
23 - Pies 100 v Lions 124 (L)
24 - ??

So for all the carry on we've gone 8-4. Admittedly we've lost 3 from the past 4, far from ideal but due to recency bias we're apparently no good anymore and can't win the flag.

For mine it's been our inability or lack of desire to defend the ground that's stood out like dogs balls. For the better part of 19 rounds we defended the ground like our life depended on it. It was evident in the Blues game where they transitioned the ball far too easily from defence which at times made our defenders look silly. Murphy and Moore are the kings of killing the high ball, but 1 on 1 against the likes of Curnow is a different ball game. In saying that we were some straight kicking away from being right in that game deep into the final quarter. We followed that up with a woeful performance against the Hawks. Our trademark ability to arrest momentum was nowhere to be seen, and you cop the 5 goal loss on the chin. The desire to win had eluded the boys on this occasion.

The past 2 weeks, we've engaged in old fashioned shoot outs, games that felt more like watching a pre season hit out than a late season Home and Away game. Was this by design? Surely we realise that taking the Lions on this way is not conducive to a win. A bit of cat and mouse going on here for mine.

So, have we backed off our contested brand in order to freshen up for September? After all there's no use 'peaking' too early. You don't lose your ability over night and the old saying that form is temporary and class is permanent comes to mind.

It's been a strange old season. Not often do you see the top 4 so far in front of the field with a month til finals. The chasing pack of 8 have had to play their best footy in order to reach September. Journos then get a hard on over this and fall in to the trap that a fairytale premier will emerge from 5th-8th.

Outside of the Dogs stumbling on a flag, history suggests that it will come from the top 3 sides. This week is just another pre season game, rest a few that need it and fine tune certain parts of our game. The Bombers have seemingly thrown the towel in. All roads lead to a date with the Dees on September 8th.

 

[Big Bryza]

Ok and?

Did I say Nick was a terrible player or something?

Our coach has said himself that we use him where we need him. The issue is, it seems we need him the most at half back. We've lost so much of our run and creativity from the back line since he's been moved....despite winning most games

I"m confused, are you suggesting that winning automatically means everything is hunky dory?

Winning is where it's at.

You said it all changed with Naics moved in to the guts. We won all 3. Just cop that you were wrong.

 

[Harry O]

I would argue its always been there and outside 1-1.5 good Qtr in those wins, we would have lost more, in many games, our lead got swallowed up by siren time - this was and always will be a concern and need to be more consistent across 4 Qtrs.

I suppose if your aunty had balls she might be your uncle too

 

[JuniorB]

Since round 11 we've gone:

11 - Pies 105 v Roos 70 (W)
12 - Pies 120 v Eagles 57 (W)
13 - Pies 62 v Dees 66 (L)

14 - BYE

15 - Pies 82 v Crows 80 (W)
16 - Pies 120 v Suns 42 (W)
17 - Pies 89 v Dogs 77 (W)
18 - Pies 113 v Dockers 67 (W)
19 - Pies 85 v Prison Bars 83 (W)

From here things start to go pear shaped:

20 - Pies 76 v Blues 93 (L)
21 - Pies 73 v Hawks 105 (L)
22 - Pies 109 v Cats 101 (W)
23 - Pies 100 v Lions 124 (L)
24 - ??

So for all the carry on we've gone 8-4. Admittedly we've lost 3 from the past 4, far from ideal but due to recency bias we're apparently no good anymore and can't win the flag.

For mine it's been our inability or lack of desire to defend the ground that's stood out like dogs balls. For the better part of 19 rounds we defended the ground like our life depended on it. It was evident in the Blues game where they transitioned the ball far too easily from defence which at times made our defenders look silly. Murphy and Moore are the kings of killing the high ball, but 1 on 1 against the likes of Curnow is a different ball game. In saying that we were some straight kicking away from being right in that game deep into the final quarter. We followed that up with a woeful performance against the Hawks. Our trademark ability to arrest momentum was nowhere to be seen, and you cop the 5 goal loss on the chin. The desire to win had eluded the boys on this occasion.

The past 2 weeks, we've engaged in old fashioned shoot outs, games that felt more like watching a pre season hit out than a late season Home and Away game. Was this by design? Surely we realise that taking the Lions on this way is not conducive to a win. A bit of cat and mouse going on here for mine.

So, have we backed off our contested brand in order to freshen up for September? After all there's no use 'peaking' too early. You don't lose your ability over night and the old saying that form is temporary and class is permanent comes to mind.

It's been a strange old season. Not often do you see the top 4 so far in front of the field with a month til finals. The chasing pack of 8 have had to play their best footy in order to reach September. Journos then get a hard on over this and fall in to the trap that a fairytale premier will emerge from 5th-8th.

Outside of the Dogs stumbling on a flag, history suggests that it will come from the top 3 sides. This week is just another pre season game, rest a few that need it and fine tune certain parts of our game. The Bombers have seemingly thrown the towel in. All roads lead to a date with the Dees on September 8th.

It's also worth pointing out that none of the other teams in the top 4 have been flying either - all have struggled at some point, which suggests all are tinkering with their training loads.
As for Carlton and their streak - they could easily have lost their last 2 games, and perhaps the effort required is starting to take it's toll.

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

Winning is where it's at.

You said it all changed with Naics moved in to the guts. We won all 3. Just cop that you were wrong.

Except I'm not?

So again, just so I can clarify....

You're saying that winning means nothing can be wrong with your game?

 

[ElliottsMaggies]

Both Bobby & JDG look fine here..

 

[ElliottsMaggies]

 

[Sweeetleftfoot]

You wouldn’t think we had a flag on the line would you. Doesn’t seem a big buy in to achieving this from the playing group
Even Tom Mitchell was out drinking beers with Jack Ziebell on Sat when he got king hit

It’s as almost as if players have a life outside of football.

 

[Cory]

If true then best to let him recover before a week before finals. Definitely need Murphy and Moore for a game against Melbourne

 

[windchimes]

You wouldn’t think we had a flag on the line would you. Doesn’t seem a big buy in to achieving this from the playing group
Even Tom Mitchell was out drinking beers with Jack Ziebell on Sat when he got king hit

I would imagine it was a club approved day off. Likely being managed I’d guess

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

Moore Out, Daicos Out, De Goey out (currently), Hill out (currently), McCreery out (most likely), Murphy out (potentially)

Like...jesus christ

Even if we did get lucky enough to play the same Bombers team that lost by 125 points (we won't), I reckon we'd still lose with all those outs lol

 

[sideswipe]

I would imagine it was a club approved day off. Likely being managed I’d guess

And you don't necessarily have to be "on the beers" when you go out to a nightclub*. My spy says she didn't see him drinking.

* by you, I mean anyone other than the writer.

 

[windchimes]

And you don't necessarily have to be "on the beers" when you go out to a nightclub*. My spy says she didn't see him drinking.

* by you, I mean anyone other than the writer.

Interesting intel Sidey

However I was under the impression that the players all live in a monastery together outside of matchday?

 

[sideswipe]

Interesting intel Sidey

However I was under the impression that the players all live in a monastery together outside of matchday?

Ankle bracelets on at all times.

 

[sr36]

And you don't necessarily have to be "on the beers" when you go out to a nightclub.

True. Was he on wine or spirits?

 

[sideswipe]

True. Was he on wine or spirits?

Horse tranquilizer

 

[Jen2310]