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AFLW 2024 - Round 9 - Indigenous Round - Chat, game threads, injury lists, team lineups and more.
I disagree with your assessment that Essendon play to limit the damage, in fact I think they play a similar style of game to us. What they do better is have a whole team defensive strategy that is miles better than ours, despite still being terrible. They have conceded significantly less points than us with what is a fairly average backline, yet are still 120 or so points worse off than the next worse team (Gold Coast).I'm not pro Leppa, in fact as of the weekend I'm convinced he won't last, but I think your comparison needs to be prefaced by a couple of points.
A) Essendon's entire set-up is based around limiting the damage. A very defensively minded structure that has held up reasonably well all things considered. "So why don't Brisbane follow suit and place a higher premium on defence?" Glad you asked.
B) As we now know the Lions' players pretty much demanded an offence-heavy brand after the Bulldogs win late last year. Leppa gave in to player demand to avoid another player exodus (another example of the tail wagging the dog).
I disagree with your assessment that Essendon play to limit the damage, in fact I think they play a similar style of game to us. What they do better is have a whole team defensive strategy that is miles better than ours, despite still being terrible. They have conceded significantly less points than us with what is a fairly average backline, yet are still 120 or so points worse off than the next worse team (Gold Coast).
Players setting the game plan is probably a tad extreme. For the coaching staff it's a case of damned if you do and damned if you don't. The club would be so conscious of avoiding another player exodus at all costs. Playing a brand that the players are known to dislike* while not delivering results or constantly getting hammered...
*It should never come to this. It's clear we have a self-entitled bunch of players who think they're God's gift to the world. Schwab et al. have some really interesting decisions ahead of them. Regardless of who's coach I don't think they'll be able to rectify the attitudinal problems amongst some of the senior core.
Doesn't explain why we are conceding so many high scores though. In fact we have conceded 300 more points than Essendon, check out the respective backlines from last week:
I mean, Essendon kept Adelaide - a far superior team to a significantly lower score at Adelaide oval than we did at the GABBA against Port. Let's be honest, their backling will look nothing like that next year either so it's not a personnel thing, the only really good player there is Francis and he is a first year player.
Dea Hartley Mcdonald-Tip
Gleeson Francis Dempsey
vs.
Hammelman Merrett Cutler
Dawson Andrews Mayes
This isn't an isolated incident either. Every week we concede scores against average sides. That is not a youth thing, it is structural and has been happening since round one. Comes back to the coach.
This is all by memory but Leppa openly stated that he was approached by the players to implement a fast open style of game plan at the end of last season. After the win against the Bulldogs last year he believed they actually "demanded" it in the way they played. He said it's always the desire of young players to play a quick style and after the struggles of last year with a more defensive set up he was willing to accommodate it. He also said that he was always defensively minded and that was his default style so it took a lot to change. It's all on the record of an SEN before the game interview - the bulldogs game I think.
This was a time he was under pressure to change his style and be more open and consultative. Was he held to ransom... well that depends on your point of view. Given the struggles last year and the rumours of rifts, physical abuse and aggression you could probably argue the answer is yes.
So now as a coach you have a game plan which you almost felt compelled to create and are forced to defend. Not a good situation. I have very little doubt that should he be coach next year our game plan will be different. And he'll be in a position to say I told you so.
I really think some here underestimate the power of the playing group. As a club we've been held to ransom for years. Player power at least contributed to the removal of the last coach. Leppas first job was to try and stop an exodus. It's hung over his head ever since. It's used by the media and managers as a blunt instrument. He's damned if he's too tough and condemned for being weak.
And to be honest I'm not sure anyone else will be able to change that.
This is all true. But I am not personally keen on this slowly becoming the new narrative that is developing. "Leppa had a great plan but the players stuffed it all up by changing it on him, poor bugger was hung out to dry'. It is a very small part of a huge problem, for example.. he implemented this incredibly shonky 'high press' which we are not equipped in the slightest to execute, that is primarily why we are scored against so easily.
We still play cautious a lot of the time going forward, we are described as playing a 'chip it backwards' style of play by most commentators, we are hardly taking it down the highway like Geelong in 2009.
We don't know how to defend, not sure who's fault that is but almost every other team, including Essendon, isn't having nearly as tougher time as us.
Not one person has said Leppa had a great plan.
OK... that's confusing the hell out of me then, aren't we supposed to be sticking to this / backing in this plan we are half way through?
Also, that quoted part was obviously an extreme version of the sort of sentiment I was highlighting, though suggesting others 'believe in his plan' isn't the part I thought would draw a re-buttle. LOL!
This is all true. But I am not personally keen on this slowly becoming the new narrative that is developing. "Leppa had a great plan but the players stuffed it all up by changing it on him, poor bugger was hung out to dry'. It is a very small part of a huge problem, for example.. he implemented this incredibly shonky 'high press' which we are not equipped in the slightest to execute, that is primarily why we are scored against so easily.
We still play cautious a lot of the time going forward, we are described as playing a 'chip it backwards' style of play by most commentators, we are hardly taking it down the highway like Geelong in 2009.
We don't know how to defend, not sure who's fault that is but almost every other team, including Essendon, isn't having nearly as tougher time as us.
I'm flattered you feel compelled to quote and reply to every post I write on this topic lioninthesand - I'm beginning to think you have a little man crush...
But where exactly did I or anyone else say that Leppa had a great game plan? You fail to see that most of the support for Leppa is based on a chance to fulfill potential, finish a job and in the interests of club and player stability. I really don't recall anyone suggesting he's some God's gift to coaching.
I actually clearly stated that last year the plan/team struggled. And I've also posted about Essendon and how their situation is utterly opposed to ours. Maybe you need to slow down on the insatiable urge to reply and let the context sink in a little first.
You don't like him, you don't want to see him coach next year. I get it.
Looks like Mark Williams is going to be let go by Richmond. I'm not suggesting him as Head Coach but he could be the experienced head our coaching team is lacking..
Looks like Mark Williams is going to be let go by Richmond. I'm not suggesting him as Head Coach but he could be the experienced head our coaching team is lacking..
He would be a great option for a senior assistant to Leppa IMO, great at motivating and very endearing to young players - plus carries enormous weight (not literally) This is the sort of candidate I would want us to employ to help Leppa next year. another bonus is he won't have senior coaching ambition. Only issue is - that richmond influence runs pretty deep if he is there also.
If he is leaving, I'd like to know why first...
Not really. Was at Port as head coach for a really long time. Couple of years at GWS and then at Richmond for a fair while.Seems to bounce around a bit doesnt he? Why are teams letting him go?
If he is leaving, I'd like to know why first...