News Cats to go defensive

[Turbocat]

I stand to be corrected , but I don't think Jimmy H has SJ as a down hill skier more a school yard bully.Belting the kiddies but struggle against the big boys.Probably true to a degree but 1o1 he will shake most defenders , its just too often he has to improvise against the best teams because our ball transition is being held up.

I find it a bit contrary that we are happy for him to play a concerto to the rest of the teams orchestra yet when he fails to play a master piece we accuse him of being insular and self centred.
To me SJ is unique footballer in today's climate and when fully fit he can play bread and butter as well as jam and cream. He has nice mark on a lead and although not a long kick is usually a good convertor. His problem in the 09 GF and in 10 was fitness. Like so many of our guys , he really does require premium fitness and we have to be more hard nosed, not fit,not playing. There is a fine line between jaw dropping elusiveness and slack lazy hotdoging and being unfit edges his play to the latter.
Actually when really fit , he can lay a bump and hand it out. Remember when he decked Hird. He's no softy.

IMO , A fit SJ may be a bit of DHS but boy when on he is on like few others.

 

[maxy87]

Very well put, Turbo. Agree with everything you said. Not every player needs to turn into a defensive stopper. Stevie, as I have already said, is an enigmatic player and with players like that, you take the good with the bad. Granted, he could work harder in some areas but I'm sure these things are being addressed. Fitness is also a big issue. When fit and healthy, is a great player. Was absolutely flying in the first half if 2009 before the hip injury. If he can reach those levels again he will again be a very important part of the team.

Adding a more defensive element to the team plan requires a collective shift in mindset rather than singling out players for the way they may have played -and been very successful - in recent years

 

[couchy555]

My query on this is that can the older players in the team adjust to a more defensive game plan after having played the last 4 seasons playing an open, free wheeling style of game plan.

Then again i doubt its gonna be a vastly different game style to the one that have become accustomed to so who knows. All i know is footy is just around the corner

 

[you pick one]

I stand to be corrected , but I don't think Jimmy H has SJ as a down hill skier more a school yard bully.Belting the kiddies but struggle against the big boys.Probably true to a degree but 1o1 he will shake most defenders , its just too often he has to improvise against the best teams because our ball transition is being held up.

I find it a bit contrary that we are happy for him to play a concerto to the rest of the teams orchestra yet when he fails to play a master piece we accuse him of being insular and self centred.
To me SJ is unique footballer in today's climate and when fully fit he can play bread and butter as well as jam and cream. He has nice mark on a lead and although not a long kick is usually a good convertor. His problem in the 09 GF and in 10 was fitness. Like so many of our guys , he really does require premium fitness and we have to be more hard nosed, not fit,not playing. There is a fine line between jaw dropping elusiveness and slack lazy hotdoging and being unfit edges his play to the latter.
Actually when really fit , he can lay a bump and hand it out. Remember when he decked Hird. He's no softy.

IMO , A fit SJ may be a bit of DHS but boy when on he is on like few others.

Thats footy Turbo can't always get silver service.

Rather he droped the improvise bit and take a leaf out of Chapies book and just work harder.(STICKING TO THE GAME PLAN)

Or do we trot out the bolded for Pods, Moons , Stokes, S.J every time the good sides destroy us and tell our selves she'll be right.

Interesting times ahead Turbo,

On the fitness bit lots of players go out carrying injuries it's a call clubs some times have to make, but if it's strictly that there just not fit they shouldn't be out there. I'm not telling you anything you didn't already know there.

 

[Partridge]

Thats footy Turbo can't always get silver service.

Rather he droped the improvise bit and take a leaf out of Chapies book and just work harder.(STICKING TO THE GAME PLAN)

Johnson to me has two personalities, and you can tell pretty quickly which one has turned up.

When he's on, he covers tons of ground. He runs all over the place and gradually wears his opponents down. He also does the basics - plays in front, marks in front of his face, takes time to look for options. Does not play to the umpires either.

When he's not on, he plays from behind, stages for frees, and just looks terrible. It must be a mindset.

The funny thing too is, when he does the basics, the magical touch returns very, very quickly.

It has to be noted also, he kicked his highest ever goal tally last season. He wasn't useless in all our games by any stretch.

 

[you pick one]

Johnson to me has two personalities, and you can tell pretty quickly which one has turned up.

When he's on, he covers tons of ground. He runs all over the place and gradually wears his opponents down. He also does the basics - plays in front, marks in front of his face, takes time to look for options. Does not play to the umpires either.

When he's not on, he plays from behind, stages for frees, and just looks terrible. It must be a mindset.

The funny thing too is, when he does the basics, the magical touch returns very, very quickly.

It has to be noted also, he kicked his highest ever goal tally last season. He wasn't useless in all our games by any stretch.

Should stick that on his locker Partridge, Great summary of the bloke.

 

[Claude Balls]

In 2004 Geelong made a prelim with a young team on the back of great defensive and contested football, particulary in the midfield and the forward line. The players in the forward line were average, but they kept the ball locked in there, and the midfielders were all very tackle conscious. And the 2001 class were playing only their 3rd year!

I'm more than happy to read something suggesting we will change a few things in favour of defence. It's not like we'll adopt the superflood, and we clearly no longer have the cattle to execute the incumbent gameplan like we did in 2007. Something has to change.

 

[SJ]

Very good post, was a very young but tenacious team that year.

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

Should stick that on his locker Partridge, Great summary of the bloke.

Maybe the penny has dropped for SJ - didn't he return early to training and is reportedly training the hou....er " training well " ?
A fit SJ with the right game day attitude can only be a good thing for the Team.

 

[muttonchops]

When he's on, he covers tons of ground. He runs all over the place and gradually wears his opponents down. He also does the basics - plays in front, marks in front of his face, takes time to look for options. Does not play to the umpires either.

When he's not on, he plays from behind, stages for frees, and just looks terrible. It must be a mindset.

The funny thing too is, when he does the basics, the magical touch returns very, very quickly.

It has to be noted also, he kicked his highest ever goal tally last season. He wasn't useless in all our games by any stretch.

From what i hear from one of the medical staff is that Stevie J has lost 7 kgs over pre season and is flying. Should help him wear opponents down running wise.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

In 2004 Geelong made a prelim with a young team on the back of great defensive and contested football, particulary in the midfield and the forward line. The players in the forward line were average, but they kept the ball locked in there, and the midfielders were all very tackle conscious. And the 2001 class were playing only their 3rd year!

I'm more than happy to read something suggesting we will change a few things in favour of defence. It's not like we'll adopt the superflood, and we clearly no longer have the cattle to execute the incumbent gameplan like we did in 2007. Something has to change.

Agree with that completely.

More of a focus on defence is necessary for us, and we will be better for it.