Training 2024 Pre-Season

[stavro#4]

I think the "fix the midfield and the forward line will sort itself out" is very shallow thinking and will have us in trouble. It might even make our midfield look worse than they are.

No doubt we have focused on the midfield. Put a huge emphasis into this area in recruitment, development, and coaching. I just hope the same level of focus is placed on the forwardline.

No good having midfielders streaming forward with King trying to body a gorilla FB one on one. No good having Higgins as your primary lead up target. No good bringing the ball to ground and everyone has gone up for the mark. No good having your two key forwards leading into the same space. These are all the things we saw last year. Intercept defenders read our attacks better than we did.

Our midfield gap is about talent, run and spread. But the forward line is about structure, space, patterns.

Banking on returning talent and midfielders fixing our forward issues is going to result in failure.

I'm just not seeing enough focus on this in the training footage/reports.

I would argue that our midfield gap is what happens when we win the ball.

Which is why the focus on leg speed and kicking ability.

we are one paced so have to go sideways or chip it for small territory gains. If you get a few who can cut sides up on the 45 degrees with run and carry, then your kicking into a leading forward line who have pockets of space.

At training this is exactly what your getting coached. Win the ball, clear disposal into moving players who carry, break a line and working on forward 50 connection

 

[gringo2011]

I would argue that our midfield gap is what happens when we win the ball.

Which is why the focus on leg speed and kicking ability.

we are one paced so have to go sideways or chip it for small territory gains. If you get a few who can cut sides up on the 45 degrees with run and carry, then your kicking into a leading forward line who have pockets of space.

At training this is exactly what your getting coached. Win the ball, clear disposal into moving players who carry, break a line and working on forward 50 connection

Nearly every side in footy has moved to getting the ball inside 50 quicker because if you can you beat the press. We've done well to change the side up at little cost and add some genuine leg speed.

 

[The Punter]

I would argue that our midfield gap is what happens when we win the ball.

Which is why the focus on leg speed and kicking ability.

we are one paced so have to go sideways or chip it for small territory gains. If you get a few who can cut sides up on the 45 degrees with run and carry, then your kicking into a leading forward line who have pockets of space.

At training this is exactly what your getting coached. Win the ball, clear disposal into moving players who carry, break a line and working on forward 50 connection

This is right. Every now and then Sinclair baulks and reverses the field - suddenly space everywhere and forwards leading into it. We need more of this.

 

[PoppedCorn]

That gives the opposition a plus one somewhere else so it’s not something coaches are usually happy doing.

Agreed
But
We leave King on the fwd 50 and the defender is gonna go and sit on the wing or go on ball??
Doubt it
At the most they would move to the centre square in space.
It's be up to our mids when running it out to not just bang it on the boot blindly

 

[stavro#4]

This is right. Every now and then Sinclair baulks and reverses the field - suddenly space everywhere and forwards leading into it. We need more of this.

Hence the recruitment of Henry and Dow is a burst player from stoppage which creates similar spaces - but closer proximity to the ball, which should theoretically allow someone like Hill to carry from burst to goal

 

[Sully111]

We need to hit targets.

All the structure in the world won't help much if we can't execute.

 

[stavro#4]

We need to hit targets.

All the structure in the world won't help much if we can't execute.

yes. but it's easier to hit targets when you find yourself with time and space.

so you need that opportunity first before you can expect to hit more forward 50 targets.

 

[gringo2011]

yes. but it's easier to hit targets when you find yourself with time and space.

so you need that opportunity first before you can expect to hit more forward 50 targets.

Also looks like a very sound training schedule too. Even shit like getting fitter gives better chances of executing skills but it sounds like skills and structure are also being drilled into them.

 

[Sully111]

yes. but it's easier to hit targets when you find yourself with time and space.

so you need that opportunity first before you can expect to hit more forward 50 targets.

Of course

But for years we've been ball butchers. Poor decision making and dreadful execution have held us back

I'm encouraged by the training reports that our skills have been ok, but I want to see it translate to game day.

For years, I've been a broken record... we need good kicks.

I don't doubt Ross's ability to have our structures right... hopefully that will help with decision making, but if we miss our targets we'll just turn the ball over like we always do and invite pressure.

Consistently hitting our targets will improve us immeasurably.

 

[Joffaboy]

Go and watch a replay of Saints v GWS final to see how a quick ball winning midfield makes the forwards look.

On SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[sunny3193]

Also looks like a very sound training schedule too. Even s**t like getting fitter gives better chances of executing skills but it sounds like skills and structure are also being drilled into them.

One of the drills I noticed last week was a deliberate kick over the press to a pack behind.
The kicker always kicked over the press, always to the pack.
With the press running back towards the pack.
It almost seemed like the players were practicing running patterns (the press retreating) while the forwards/backs were practicing their own roles.
This was when I saw Keeler sell his candy.
It formed one block of the training session, from memory in two groups (20+ players in each).
I never saw anything like this under either Richo or Ratts.
But then again, I wasn’t particularly invested in going to training with them in charge.

 

[pebblesofsand]

Chris Hollow went on to write for Neighbours, didn’t he? Always thought he was a decent player.

He was - especially on the bass.

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[moirae42]

We need to hit targets.

All the structure in the world won't help much if we can't execute.

Pretty much the difference between winning flags and not.

 

[gringo2011]

Go and watch a replay of Saints v GWS final to see how a quick ball winning midfield makes the forwards look.

On SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app

GWS was shock and awe, won it inside, moved it quick and precisely. Our defence couldn't set up and we got broken open with little push back. Brisbane were similar, just couldn't get it off them.

 

[gringo2011]

Pretty much the difference between winning flags and not.

It helps but not the difference these days. Richmond probably the best side in the last 10 years and they preferred fast to accurate.

 

[Joffaboy]

GWS was shock and awe, won it inside, moved it quick and precisely. Our defence couldn't set up and we got broken open with little push back. Brisbane were similar, just couldn't get it off them.

Especially out of the middle, tore us up using 6,6,6 unfortunately for Cordy, made him look foolish. Howard would have not faired any better.
Just outclassed our mids all day. Ok though as I have said before Pou got a lesson he won't forget in a hurray.

On SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[bergholt]

He had 32 disposals in his second game

We had a few like that who never went on. Dean Greig had 39 in his first game.

 

[Atomboy]

We had a few like that who never went on. Dean Greig had 39 in his first game.

John Georgiou ?.

Was on track to beat Michael Tuck’s games record at one point.

Also named in the Greek Team of the Century

 

[Otiman]

Maybe it's just the pundits ignoring F50 structure and strategy but I hope the coaching panel is focused. Harvs needs to put his stamp on the forward line this year or he is under pressure.

 

[Otiman]

We need to hit targets.

All the structure in the world won't help much if we can't execute.

Need a target to hit before execution matters.

All the execution in the world won't help much all our tall forwards can't organise themselves to create space to lead into.

Part of it might be the heavy defensive requirements for our forwards.

 

[luca77]

John Georgiou ?.

Was on track to beat Michael Tuck’s games record at one point.

Also named in the Greek Team of the Century

Locker right near mine at school. The nicest gun footballer you could meet. I was so damn excited when he debuted and started so well.

 

[St Neil]

Go and watch a replay of Saints v GWS final to see how a quick ball winning midfield makes the forwards look.

On SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app

Absolutely. GWS torched us when they got the ball out into space.

Their spread sliced us open and created space further afield. Our backline had no hope as their forwards were fed the ball on a platter by players with both time and space.

 

[Premium]

Absolutely. GWS torched us when they got the ball out into space.

Their spread sliced us open and created space further afield. Our backline had no hope as their forwards were fed the ball on a platter by players with both time and space.

Midfield wins the game , get the ball first and deliver it properly and you win the game - it has been our problem for years.
Hopefully Owens with Steele and Crouch changes our midfield.

 

[The Cobra]

It helps but not the difference these days. Richmond probably the best side in the last 10 years and they preferred fast to accurate.

Spot on - they had an absolutely predictable game style that suited their personnel - never let the ball stop & belt it forward no matter what.

We are a WIP but I’m absolutely confident RTB is drilling a game style - maybe not this year but we are building!

 

[seesalswigs44]

How’s my boy Darcy Wilson going atm? Haven’t heard much about him recently in the training reports