Is Buckley A Good Coach?

[jathanas]

The senior coach is an important club figure and a legitimate topic of discussion. It's fair to do so and everyone has a right to express their view.

The mod team observed that the thread was dominated by a few protagonists and their points were repeated i.e. 8 years of regression vs marked improvement in 17,18 etc Pretty much everyone with a strong opinion has already expressed it here.

What further degraded discussion was the simplistic "sack FIGJAM" or "he's a legend" type posts.

This thread will remain open. If your view has slightly shifted or you have new thoughts please share. In an effort to encourage quality discussion repetitive statements and circular arguments will from now on be deleted as will silly posts suggesting that we sack a coach on match-day.

FYI Gone Critical Anzacday Maggie5

 

[doppleganger]

I watch presser until he said No nothing changed in game plan , guy is in denial and refuses to accept he was wrong.

We still only had 44 inside 50s, the same we had against Geelong and less than we had against Port and Sydney.

Our game plan didn't change, we just finally had a forward provide a target and kick straight to see us take advantage of the few chances we create.

We still played the conservative kick, mark game...and we actually had more control of the game against Port.

 

[Markfs]

We still only had 44 inside 50s, the same we had against Geelong and less than we had against Port and Sydney.

Our game plan didn't change, we just finally had a forward provide a target and kick straight to see us take advantage of the few chances we create.

We still played the conservative kick, mark game...and we actually had more control of the game against Port.

we won the game.... i'm not one of these people who want to watch a beautful game. If that was the case, I'd be watching soccer and have 90 mins of beauty with no scoring. Just give me a win

 

[kickitolachie]

Jamie Elliott has underlined the point I've been making here. Our team's two failures have been an understrength midfield (Bianco and Poulter seem to be addressing this) and a lack of good forwards. Elliott in the lineup and things look very different. McCreery looks like being a second, and Mihocek continues as the third capable forward. That leaves three inadequate forwards, and so we are not out of the woods yet.

The use of the middle of the ground as we went forward was much mentioned in the commentary against Adelaide. Their poor coverage of that area made our use possible. The better sides don't leave the openings that we were able to exploit. They force us out of that area because our marking and passing under pressure are not up to taking the risks that are needed to break those shackles. This is a talent issue.

I expect next week that the pressure on Elliott will be immense, and that the Melbourne defensive midfield will have everyone bemoaning our game style again.

I did not expect a lot from our younger players this year, middling to low draft picks as they are, and so I have been very impressed by the rapid rise of the ones that are taking their chances. The row we have to hoe is still a long and hard one. I hope we don't start an era of rapid coaching turnovers as we undertake that task.

 

[GreekLunatic]

This doesn’t prove if he is a good coach or not if the crows kick straight when they were dominating this would have been a different narrative

 

[doppleganger]

we won the game.... i'm not one of these people who want to watch a beautful game. If that was the case, I'd be watching soccer and have 90 mins of beauty with no scoring. Just give me a win

Agree.
But I don't get people somehow thinking our gameplan changed just because we had Billy kick straight.

The gameplan didn't change, we are still a conservative kick mark keep possession team who likes to structure up well behind the ball, and hopefully score after creating turnovers.

What did change was we actually had a forward take advantage of limited opportunities for a change.

 

[jathanas]

Agree.
But I don't get people somehow thinking our gameplan changed just because we had Billy kick straight.

The gameplan didn't change, we are still a conservative kick mark keep possession team who likes to structure up well behind the ball, and hopefully score after creating turnovers.

What did change was we actually had a forward take advantage of limited opportunities for a change.

I think we're generally in furious agreement but my observation is that our style of play did change. Billy straightened us up and a couple of the kids have stepped up.

Did we all of a sudden completely stop being the conservative / defensive possession first team? No. The sideways kicks were still a predominant feature of our game but the change in personnel made an obvious difference in both execution and result.

We were faster to move the ball on (at times) and better with it.

I guess this goes to show that you can't judge the plan and the cattle in isolation of each other.

 

[Civilest]

Elliott was sublime. Poulter and Bianco are clearly already best 22. Like Stepho they need to play every game. Cal was very good finally after coming on. But it’s still Groundhog Day. These days When Bucks speaks I find it’s not even of interest what he has to say, never mind inspiring or even enlightening. I’m reminded of a boss I once had and nobody valued what he had to say. We listened politely but we knew he was just sadly irrelevant.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

Did we all of a sudden completely stop being the conservative / defensive possession first team? No. The sideways kicks were still a predominant feature of our game but the change in personnel made an obvious difference in both execution and result.

We were faster to move the ball on (at times) and better with it.

This is the thing; the sideways pass/switch is fine but the recipient needs to play on immediately. If they don’t, there was no point in the attempt because the zone rolls across too quickly.

Mayne is a handy gap filler, and brave as they come, but he slowplays and kicks short over the mark 90% of the time.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

Elliott was sublime. Poulter and Bianco are clearly already best 22. Like Stepho they need to play every game. Cal was very good finally after coming on. But it’s still Groundhog Day. These days When Bucks speaks I find it’s not even of interest what he has to say, never mind inspiring or even enlightening. I’m reminded of a boss I once had and nobody valued what he had to say. We listened politely but we knew he was just sadly irrelevant.

Bucks isn’t irrelevant but nothing he says is revealing. His pressers are mandatory and he gets them out of the way without saying anything we don’t already know.

 

[doppleganger]

I think we're generally in furious agreement but my observation is that our style of play did change. Billy straightened us up and a couple of the kids have stepped up.

Did we all of a sudden completely stop being the conservative / defensive possession first team? No. The sideways kicks were still a predominant feature of our game but the change in personnel made an obvious difference in both execution and result.

We were faster to move the ball on (at times) and better with it.

I guess this goes to show that you can't judge the plan and the cattle in isolation of each other.

All that changed was we were able to execute a bit better.

That is on the players.

Elliott is a sharp shooter, and natural forward who knows how to lead to a midfielder....that helps "connection" and our ability to apply scoreboard pressure.

And yes, the plan is only as good as the cattle who are trying to execute it.

 

[Civilest]

Bucks isn’t irrelevant but nothing he says is revealing. His pressers are mandatory and he gets them out of the way without saying anything we don’t already know.

Yes the pressers are an enforced chore. But the question I ask is, given how we are travelling, aren’t the members deserving of more than that? If not in a presser, then some other regular forum? I’m not saying Bucks is irrelevant. I was drawing a parallel with a work situation where we had a deluded boss. I don’t believe Bucks has lost the vast majority of the group but he has lost me...sounds like Charlie Brown’s teacher when he speaks.

 

[jathanas]

This is the thing; the sideways pass/switch is fine but the recipient needs to play on immediately. If they don’t, there was no point in the attempt because the zone rolls across too quickly.

Mayne is a handy gap filler, and brave as they come, but he slowplays and kicks short over the mark 90% of the time.

Mayne is the wrong option for a quick switch; a true momentum killer. He won't take the game on, it's not him.

I'd have much preferred him in over Madge. I see him as an asset in defence which is testament to how adaptive he is.

 

[doppleganger]

But the question I ask is, given how we are travelling, aren’t the members deserving of more than that?

Why should members deserve less if a team is travelling well?

 

[Markfs]

Agree.
But I don't get people somehow thinking our gameplan changed just because we had Billy kick straight.

The gameplan didn't change, we are still a conservative kick mark keep possession team who likes to structure up well behind the ball, and hopefully score after creating turnovers.

What did change was we actually had a forward take advantage of limited opportunities for a change.

well i've said on many occasions that i dont agree with buckley's strategy of not kicking goals.... it's nice to see him change

 

[Civilest]

Why should members deserve less if a team is travelling well?

Ideally they shouldn’t. But if the masses are happy it covers up a multitude of sins

 

[Markfs]

I guess this goes to show that you can't judge the plan and the cattle in isolation of each other.

The plan is to kick sideways and keep doing it until we make a mistake....then the plan is to try to scramble and re-establish a defensive posture and then repeat the whole process. I think Jamie is a bit of a loner and likes to go outside the plan.... de goey is much the same.... we need to trade those boys before we start getting too offensive.

 

[Markfs]

Yes the pressers are an enforced chore. But the question I ask is, given how we are travelling, aren’t the members deserving of more than that? If not in a presser, then some other regular forum? I’m not saying Bucks is irrelevant. I was drawing a parallel with a work situation where we had a deluded boss. I don’t believe Bucks has lost the vast majority of the group but he has lost me...sounds like Charlie Brown’s teacher when he speaks.

I've heard that the club conducted an audit on how much the members deserve and the consultants said about one premiership every 18 years and one finish at the bottom during the same period.

The consultants said that membership prices would need to increase to get a better return or a lot of the coaching and playing services would need to be outsourced to china..

 

[Civilest]

The plan is to kick sideways and keep doing it until we make a mistake....then the plan is to try to scramble and re-establish a defensive posture and then repeat the whole process. I think Jamie is a bit of a loner and likes to go outside the plan.... de goey is much the same.... we need to trade those boys before we start getting too offensive.

Joking aside I’m worried about us being raided down the track for the likes of bruzzy 2022 and checkers 2023

 

[doppleganger]

Ideally they shouldn’t. But if the masses are happy it covers up a multitude of sins

The masses are happy when you get a W, what a coach does or doesn't say at a presser has no relevance at all.

 

[Civilest]

I've heard that the club conducted an audit on how much the members deserve and the consultants said about one premiership every 18 years and one finish at the bottom during the same period.

The consultants said that membership prices would need to increase to get a better return or a lot of the coaching and playing services would need to be outsourced to china..

Then we need to add Xi Jin pooh bear or a panda to list of coaching candidates. At least the black and white will work

 

[Civilest]

The masses are happy when you get a W, what a coach does or doesn't say at a presser has no relevance at all.

Correct the masses are happy when we get multiple Ws

 

[doppleganger]

well i've said on many occasions that i dont agree with buckley's strategy of not kicking goals.... it's nice to see him change

We must drop Billy next week.

We can't hold the ball in our forward half if we keep kicking goals and letting our opponent get it back to the middle so easily.

 

[Markfs]

We must drop Billy next week.

We can't hold the ball in our forward half if we keep kicking goals and letting our opponent get it back to the middle so easily.

you're a hard man and times probably require it but I'd give him a week or two to settle in.

Obviously buckley is instructing them not to do those hook leads that jamie was doing. I'm sure bucks will have a word with him.... And obviously, that assertive forward-looking plays that Jamie indulges in, are completely outside Buckley's plans.

I heard that Buckley laid down the law to Jamie at 3/4 time, and Jamie thumbed his nose at him and got a massage. Bucks then put him in the midfield so that he couldnt score and Jamie went directly against orders by kicking that last quarter goal.

Now we all know from the experts in this thread that Buckley NEVER makes moves unless it's to go more defensive, so the move of Billy into the guts just shows you how bad their relationship has deteriorated.... I think Buck's is ready to do another Stevo and throw Billy out for a 4th round draft pick and a payment of half his salary.... I have a source within the club

 

[bucksisbest]

I don't think there was a change this week, we just played a very attacking side, who probably should have won on opportunity, but gave us more gaps than usual to work with.

There will be some confidence from winning, but I saw nothing fundamentally exciting or breakthrough from the game plan/coaching.

Individual players did give me some excitement.

 

[Scritchyscroony]

Would you accept your missus getting a new bloke and downgrading you to FWB or FB?

I'd give it some serious thought as long as the arrangement was reciprocal.