Rumour Future of the club (Bevo, board, assistant coaches, football department)

[adogsfan5]

the thing that strikes me watching the dogs in years under bevo post 2016 is our effort isnt up to standard of top sides. possibly fitness issue?

we hardly get running goals and struggle to get break away goals in open f50

We got GWS’ fitness guy for this year and GWS were insanely fit last year, so surely can’t be fitness?
Seems like structure and positioning to me.

 

[House_of_Dahl]

Anyone else getting the feeling that we’re in a mini rebuild/refresh period and the club knows it?

Not a feeling, an openly discussed fact we are in a refresh/"evolution" period.

 

[Bald]

We got GWS’ fitness guy for this year and GWS were insanely fit last year, so surely can’t be fitness?
Seems like structure and positioning to me.

The GWS' fitness guy isn't going to make our team super fit in one preseason.

 

[adogsfan5]

The GWS' fitness guy isn't going to make our team super fit in one preseason.

Based on our running numbers in games, I genuinely think we’re fitter.

 

[dogwatch]

Not a feeling, an openly discussed fact we are in a refresh/"evolution" period.

Ah yes, "evolution", the latest euphemism for a rebuild. It has variously been a "refresh", a "reset" and now an "evolution".

To be fair though, it's not a new term. Charles Darwin anticipated this in his seminal work on footy: The Origin of Speccies.

 

[Johnny_Dogg4]

We got GWS’ fitness guy for this year and GWS were insanely fit last year, so surely can’t be fitness?
Seems like structure and positioning to me.

it might just be down to work rate if fitness isnt an issue. i think we are far too reactive without possession imo especially when it comes to closing down opp players

 

[Bald]

Based on our running numbers in games, I genuinely think we’re fitter.

It's likely we are fitter, but I don't think we're the fittest that we can be, and that's going to be built both in season but also in several pre-seasons.

 

[KingLibba]

There’s been some positional & structural changes to the team, Naughty to CHF, smaller backline with an extra runner etc but I really don’t think there’s been many changes to the game plan at all.

We’re working a bit harder and executing a little bit better than the abomination that was last year which is causing us to move the ball a little bit better at times off half back but that’s always been the plan we just haven’t been able to do it. I would really like to see us stretch the ground set our lines deeper which would open up our ball movement, now we’ve got a lot more speed in the side it shouldn’t leave us too exposed, we have to try to generate fast ball for the forward line.

Our stoppage work is identical to last year, our general forward entries are the same just with a different look with Naughty out of the 50 for the most part. Still roll an extra up to the ball, still push our forward line super high on defence and our defence super high on offense leaving us out to dry at times on the fast break at either end.

There’s been some very positive shifts in execution and selection (ie key defender structure) that have us as a much better side than last year currently, but I’m not seeing a dramatic shift in gameplan that some are talking about.

Interested to hear what people think we’re actually trying to do different this year

 

[VitalDread]

A refresh isn't a rebuild

 

[stefoid]

There’s been some positional & structural changes to the team, Naughty to CHF, smaller backline with an extra runner etc but I really don’t think there’s been many changes to the game plan at all.

We’re working a bit harder and executing a little bit better than the abomination that was last year which is causing us to move the ball a little bit better at times off half back but that’s always been the plan we just haven’t been able to do it. I would really like to see us stretch the ground set our lines deeper which would open up our ball movement, now we’ve got a lot more speed in the side it shouldn’t leave us too exposed, we have to try to generate fast ball for the forward line.

Our stoppage work is identical to last year, our general forward entries are the same just with a different look with Naughty out of the 50 for the most part. Still roll an extra up to the ball, still push our forward line super high on defence and our defence super high on offense leaving us out to dry at times on the fast break at either end.

There’s been some very positive shifts in execution and selection (ie key defender structure) that have us as a much better side than last year currently, but I’m not seeing a dramatic shift in gameplan that some are talking about.

Interested to hear what people think we’re actually trying to do different this year

there is definitely an emphasis on overlap run and carry out of defence and past stoppages that has been sadly lacking previously.

 

[Unorth]

i think Bevos ‘evolution’ comment was a kind way of putting to supporters (and certain players) that he wants Sanders and Gallagher in the midfield over Macrae and Caleb. Which is a pretty huge call and is predictably causing a bit of controversy.

 

[KingLibba]

there is definitely an emphasis on overlap run and carry out of defence and past stoppages that has been sadly lacking previously.

Yeah 100% - it feels like more of an emphasis and non-negotiable now, with a bit more buy in and enthusiasm from the players, rather than any drastic shifts in game plan though for mine. We always wanted to do this but we just didn’t, and we were hamstrung by a defence full of battler talls, Buku & Jones intercepting and the addition of Bramble has helped here dramatically.

I don’t really see that as a game plan shift though

 

[blurst]

There’s been some positional & structural changes to the team, Naughty to CHF, smaller backline with an extra runner etc but I really don’t think there’s been many changes to the game plan at all.

We’re working a bit harder and executing a little bit better than the abomination that was last year which is causing us to move the ball a little bit better at times off half back but that’s always been the plan we just haven’t been able to do it. I would really like to see us stretch the ground set our lines deeper which would open up our ball movement, now we’ve got a lot more speed in the side it shouldn’t leave us too exposed, we have to try to generate fast ball for the forward line.

Our stoppage work is identical to last year, our general forward entries are the same just with a different look with Naughty out of the 50 for the most part. Still roll an extra up to the ball, still push our forward line super high on defence and our defence super high on offense leaving us out to dry at times on the fast break at either end.

There’s been some very positive shifts in execution and selection (ie key defender structure) that have us as a much better side than last year currently, but I’m not seeing a dramatic shift in gameplan that some are talking about.

Interested to hear what people think we’re actually trying to do different this year

I haven’t had the opportunity to attend a live game this year yet, but one noticeable thing on TV is there seems to be a very deliberate approach to set up an interceptor for D50 entries. There’s always someone blocking or otherwise obstructing opponents to give a cleaner run for Buku/Jones to fly for the ball and take the grab.

Compare this to last year when you’d usually just see all of Ed, Jones and Gardner flying for the same ball desperately trying to kill it by punching it to the boundary, and often this resulted in them clashing into each other, allowing the ball to fly out the back for an opposition small to crumb.

It’s a really minor thing really, and I’m sure there’s much more sophisticated observations that can be made by those attending live, but it’s something little that’s really stood out to me.

 

[bobs head soup]

Anyone else getting the feeling that we’re in a mini rebuild/refresh period and the club knows it?

Every year a handful of players and personnel come and go and best 23s and tactics are refined weekly so refresh, evolution and rebuild are just semantics. Change is constant.

 

[_Cerberus_]

As some have said. Bevos comments taken out of context. We are not rebuilding. We just needed a refresh in a couple of areas, which is what he means. We are not gonna delay the development of potential A grade players just to squeeze in some fan favorites. Plus we badly lacked leg speed and general fitness last season. I do think we are a faster and fitter team so far this season. Gallagher, Sanders, Darcy have been a breath of fresh air. Bramble been good in 3 of his 4 games, Coffield was looking solid before injury. Could still potentially see Clarke, Freijah this season who knows? I'm enjoying it.

Love Macrae, but some of the over the top aggressive posts on social media the past few days, at him being the sub is a joke. He was so and so when he came on. He isn't an A+ player at the moment, has not been since late 2022. People need to stop living years in the past and over defending favorites. He and players like Daniel still have a role in the team. It is just a matter of balance in trying to figure out what. Players come and go, everything in life ends at some point. People need to let go.

 

[BIG_BONTS]

Every year a handful of players and personnel come and go and best 23s and tactics are refined weekly so refresh, evolution and rebuild are just semantics. Change is constant.

Feels more significant this year. So nice to see a few RS nominations even if it is a vanity award

 

[_Cerberus_]

I think he was a tad better than so so when he came on, he was actually pretty influential. He had the equal most tackles, 100% disposal efficiency and was ranked equal 2nd for the match in player ratings points per minutes played.

He's far from his best but based on last week he deserves a starting spot, especially considering how poor Daniel was. Give him a run of 3-4 weeks as a rotating midfielder and then re-assess. If nothing has changed then I'm all for having him come and go as needed but I think he deserves a chance to prove himself, it's not like he's 35.

As I said, there is a role for him. It is a matter of figuring out what. He does need a few week run that doesn't include being a sub to see where he stands. But that will mean one of Sanders, Treloar, Libba, Bont will have to see reduced minutes in the middle. Macraes best position will always be in the center, not half forward or wing. If we can put a few goal buffer on the Bombers this week, we will be able to rotate and experiment more.

 

[Johnny_Dogg4]

Anybody else think that our skill level under pressure isn’t good enough (to be a top team) ?

I watch Melbourne in comparison and they are really good when under immense pressure. Their handball skills are elite and rarely turn the ball over with hands.

When I watch us we misfire handballs , loopy and slow when tackled. Kicks arnt pinpoint and over the heads of leading players.

 

[Doggy Dan]

Can’t discount how big an out Smith is for us. Could have been the difference between us being contenders or also rans.

 

[Sentinel]

As some have said. Bevos comments taken out of context. We are not rebuilding. We just needed a refresh in a couple of areas, which is what he means. We are not gonna delay the development of potential A grade players just to squeeze in some fan favorites. Plus we badly lacked leg speed and general fitness last season. I do think we are a faster and fitter team so far this season. Gallagher, Sanders, Darcy have been a breath of fresh air. Bramble been good in 3 of his 4 games, Coffield was looking solid before injury. Could still potentially see Clarke, Freijah this season who knows? I'm enjoying it.

Love Macrae, but some of the over the top aggressive posts on social media the past few days, at him being the sub is a joke. He was so and so when he came on. He isn't an A+ player at the moment, has not been since late 2022. People need to stop living years in the past and over defending favorites. He and players like Daniel still have a role in the team. It is just a matter of balance in trying to figure out what. Players come and go, everything in life ends at some point. People need to let go.

I would argue that Macrae started to drop away midway through 2022. He made the AA squad but wasn't the same player in the run home, and hasn't been since.

 

[stefoid]

Yeah 100% - it feels like more of an emphasis and non-negotiable now, with a bit more buy in and enthusiasm from the players, rather than any drastic shifts in game plan though for mine. We always wanted to do this but we just didn’t, and we were hamstrung by a defence full of battler talls, Buku & Jones intercepting and the addition of Bramble has helped here dramatically.

I don’t really see that as a game plan shift though

I do. Previously we have been very happy to take the ball wide out of defence and kick down the line, seemingly as plan A.

Its fine to say, why dont we go more direct but that relies on people upfield and behind the ball doing the right thing. Thats coordination and positioning and all that stuff.

 

[Mofra]

Alas, we'll never know whether Jordan Sweet could have been our senior ruckman. It would have been good to find out.

Port are finding out as we speak.
The guy we chased a year before landing Lobb is a mile ahead of him.

There is zero chance Sweet could get close to English's work around the ground. His ability to push back is the only reason we're surviving with 1 KPD and 1 tallish interceptor right now.

 

[Mofra]

I haven’t had the opportunity to attend a live game this year yet, but one noticeable thing on TV is there seems to be a very deliberate approach to set up an interceptor for D50 entries. There’s always someone blocking or otherwise obstructing opponents to give a cleaner run for Buku/Jones to fly for the ball and take the grab.

Compare this to last year when you’d usually just see all of Ed, Jones and Gardner flying for the same ball desperately trying to kill it by punching it to the boundary, and often this resulted in them clashing into each other, allowing the ball to fly out the back for an opposition small to crumb.

It’s a really minor thing really, and I’m sure there’s much more sophisticated observations that can be made by those attending live, but it’s something little that’s really stood out to me.

I don't think it's a minor thing. I think it's pretty major. We've gone from bottom 4 in transition from defence, to top 4 in that area. It's clearly been a focus for us.

Primarily we've gone smaller and faster - hence "good" players who don't fit that gameplan (Daniel and Macrae) are out in lieu of quicker types (Bramble, Gags). Naughts higher has been a big one too as he's playing more of a link role and he and Marra are no longer fighting for the same ball.

We absolutely had to do something over the off season and we did.

 

[hutchy31]

Anybody else think that our skill level under pressure isn’t good enough (to be a top team) ?

I watch Melbourne in comparison and they are really good when under immense pressure. Their handball skills are elite and rarely turn the ball over with hands.

When I watch us we misfire handballs , loopy and slow when tackled. Kicks arnt pinpoint and over the heads of leading players.

Yes. It’s a significant issue imo.

Handballs regularly go to the feet of teammates, creating turnovers or stoppages instead of an attacking chain. Often they’ll go behind the player rather than in front, which kills momentum. They obviously do drills on this but it’s not working for many.

Kicking skills are pretty variable by player, but we’ve got a previously good kick like Dale who’s scuffing them along the ground or missing players by several metres. And the less said about goalkicking from set shots the better, particularly from the main guys who are paid to do that.

Finally, one of the main game day thread mainstays - ineffective tackling. Broken tackles by the opposition are killers, and we seem very poor in this area.

These are basics which if fixed up to a top 8 level might see us entrenched in finals, regardless of some poor team selections and broader gameplan. Hopefully it’s a confidence thing and can improve but it’s been an issue for a while.

 

[LondonBulldog]

To a lot of posters on here, this rejuvenation of the playing list, game plan is long overdue. Richmond took our manic pressure of 2016, added flooding back into defense and turnover, hard running forwards. The best coaches since have copied that, Macrae and Kingsley (ex Richmond).
Yet, we stuck with our flip it around, wax the possession count, territory game. It was old, it beat the bottom times, got us close against the middle yet we lost against the best of the best.

Finally our coaches have seen the light, Stagnate slow ball moment is out. Pressure, speed, covering space quickly in defense and precision at speed going forward from defensive is king.

Unfortunately that means that the game has moved past Macrae and Daniel. Its a long season and they have a role to play yet its a small role at best. Thats just footy, happened to Wally a few years back will happen to more. Dale and Williams aren't far behind and need to find form.

I for one is excited at where the team is heading.