News Darren Burgess: new High Performance Manager

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

So which is it? Are we running games out fine, or are we not running them out fine because our coaches are a bunch of morons and are expecting teenagers to play every minute of the game so they are cooked? Don't understand how you can hold both these views at the same time.

Because a teenager not being able to go pedal-to-the-metal for 23 full games per season is not a fitness issue. It's a common sense issue, which we don't have

Our obsession with continuity and aversion to managing the squad sensibly has been complained about on here a million times for years, to the point that I thought it was a given. Apologies for not reiterating

 

[NSolis]

Because a teenager not being able to go pedal-to-the-metal for 23 full games per season is not a fitness issue. It's a common sense issue, which we don't have

Our obsession with continuity and aversion to managing the squad sensibly has been complained about on here a million times for years, to the point that I thought it was a given. Apologies for not reiterating

Okay well that's fine. I guess when you said we were running games out fine and it was pressure, not fitness, we were including players like Rachele being tired in the later stages of games under 'fitness'. I certainly would.

But yes I agree - if the issue is generalised fatigue, sore bodies etc, resting some of the younger guys periodically throughout the year might help. We do it with older guys, so I don't see the problem with Rachele or Pedlar getting a rest. Gives someone else exposure to the team as well, and we seem more reluctant to make unforced changes than we should be. On the other hand if the issue is tank within games, not much you can do about that except make sure they are on a good fitness regime and give them some more preseasons. I suspect it's both.

Here's another one for you: of Thilthorpe's 17 goals this season, 8 of them are from the first quarter, and 12 from the first half. He's kicked one second half goal since round 4.

Broadly I think some of our younger players have lower impacts late in games, and I also think that's probably pretty normal.

 

[1990crow]

Because a teenager not being able to go pedal-to-the-metal for 23 full games per season is not a fitness issue. It's a common sense issue, which we don't have

Our obsession with continuity and aversion to managing the squad sensibly has been complained about on here a million times for years, to the point that I thought it was a given. Apologies for not reiterating

A case study of Geelong would interesting. Always thought the rotate players well.

 

[1970crow]

Yep, so moronic coaching/selection where teenagers are expected to play every minute of every game rather than strategic rests, rotation of sub role etc.

It's not a fitness thing with Rachele. Drop off just means that he's a human being. We treat our squad as equal set-and-forget robots then are surprised when their output fluctuates.

Continuity is killing this club

it's not just that, they all thrive on huge workloads too.

 

[GreyCrow]

resting some of the younger guys periodically throughout the year might help. We do it with older guys,

Which ones?

 

[NSolis]

Which ones?

Walker and Smith have both been rested this year. I'd say the only older player who might have benefited from a rest and didn't get one is Sloane.

 

[rabidcrow]

Yep, so moronic coaching/selection where teenagers are expected to play every minute of every game rather than strategic rests, rotation of sub role etc.

It's not a fitness thing with Rachele. Drop off just means that he's a human being. We treat our squad as equal set-and-forget robots then are surprised when their output fluctuates.

Continuity is killing this club

Had a quick look through the stats of the games (quarters) where we have been overrun and there is a clear correlation regarding handballs for our oppo v us. We have a lot less handballs in our losses in general and when we have faded in games. Will post some stats over the next few days

Two factors at play.

We aren’t fit enough to play our style week in week out - so rotation is critical

We don’t have enough genuine speed through the back half, wings and mids. We don’t have anyone - aka a John Noble - who can make critical plays through gut running sprints

Redman hopefully helps in this regard but we need more speed throughout the side


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Had a quick look through the stats of the games (quarters) where we have been overrun and there is a clear correlation regarding handballs for our oppo v us. We have a lot less handballs in our losses in general and when we have faded in games. Will post some stats over the next few days

Two factors at play.

We aren’t fit enough to play our style week in week out - so rotation is critical

We don’t have enough genuine speed through the back half, wings and mids. We don’t have anyone - aka a John Noble - who can make critical plays through gut running sprints

Redman hopefully helps in this regard but we need more speed throughout the side


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

Also maybe when pressured and when games get tight we revert to bad habits - slamming it on the boot, going long

Rather than looking to create, being constructive, absorbing some pressure

 

[Mutineer]

Okay well that's fine. I guess when you said we were running games out fine and it was pressure, not fitness, we were including players like Rachele being tired in the later stages of games under 'fitness'. I certainly would.

But yes I agree - if the issue is generalised fatigue, sore bodies etc, resting some of the younger guys periodically throughout the year might help. We do it with older guys, so I don't see the problem with Rachele or Pedlar getting a rest. Gives someone else exposure to the team as well, and we seem more reluctant to make unforced changes than we should be. On the other hand if the issue is tank within games, not much you can do about that except make sure they are on a good fitness regime and give them some more preseasons. I suspect it's both.

Here's another one for you: of Thilthorpe's 17 goals this season, 8 of them are from the first quarter, and 12 from the first half. He's kicked one second half goal since round 4.

Broadly I think some of our younger players have lower impacts late in games, and I also think that's probably pretty normal.

Yet endurance wise Thilthorpe is amongst the very top end runners we've had come onto our list as a draftee. 2 years running as a 16 and 17 year old he won West Adelaide's league team's preseason 2km run even before Darren Burgess got hold of him?

 

[NSolis]

Yep, he's a great runner. But there's lots of good runners in the AFL, and a lot of them are more seasoned and probably make better decisions about where and how to move to conserve energy etc. Thilthorpe is consistently pretty high on our GPS stats even with low game time.

It could obviously be a coincidence too that he never seems to do too much in second halves but I suspect not. I think by 2025 he will be a serious player.

 

[Sanders]

We have a non-existent injury list that is inflating and over exaggerating our progress this year

Does Burgo get credit for keeping the list healthy?

 

[Klug]

We have a non-existent injury list that is inflating and over exaggerating our progress this year

Does Burgo get credit for keeping the list healthy?

The good injury list this year is hiding our lack of depth in almost every position.

 

[Elder van Berlo]

Came here for this. Games in the balance this year:

Round 1 v GWS. Up by 5 points 3/4 time. 2.2 to 5.5 last quarter. Lost by 16. Bad.

Round 2 v Richmond. Down by 1 point 12 minute mark of last quarter. 0.1 to 5.2 from there. Lost by 32. Bad but in mitigation, a 6 day break off oppressive conditions.

Round 3 v Port. Down by 4 points 10 minute mark of last quarter. 6.1 to 0.2 from there. Won by 31. Good.

Round 6 v Hawks. Up by 1 point 3/4 time. 3.4 to 3.2 last quarter. Won by 3. Neutral.

Round 7 v Collingwood. Up by 16 3/4 time. 1.1 to 3.6 last quarter. Lost by 1. Bad.

Round 12 v Suns. Up by 3 points 2 minute mark of last quarter. 1.2 to 5.6 from there. Lost by 25. Bad.

Round 15 v Collingwood. Up by 13 points 3/4 time. 2.5 to 5.2 last quarter. Lost by 2. Bad.

Tonight. Up by 17 points 3/4 time. 0.1 to 5.2 last quarter. Lost by 14. Bad.

Really not much to show for whatever we are paying this bloke.

Thought it was only right to acknowledge that since this post, we have won 5 consecutive last quarters by a total of 91 points.

 

[BRL121]

Thought it was only right to acknowledge that since this post, we have won 5 consecutive last quarters by a total of 91 points.

Perfect timing for finals! Oh, wait.