Lions to focus on Buddy Franklin in Hawthorn clash

[Hawkk]

Lions to focus on Buddy Franklin in Hawthorn clash

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23561202-10389,00.html

IT'S called Operation Buddy. Brisbane knows if it can't contain Hawk star Lance "Buddy" Franklin at the Gabba tonight, the game is as good as lost.

Planning the mission is simple because there's really no secret to the way the Hawks and their superstar forward plays – but stopping it is another matter.

Heat map player tracking data obtained from AFL statisticians Champion Data show the majority of Franklin's score involvements, be they shots on goal or direct assists, occur on the right half-forward flank.

Lions spearhead Jonathan Brown heads in the same direction but doesn't push as far wide and gets more shots on goal from in front.

According to Champion Data, Brown is statistically a more valuable player than Franklin, which is why almost every club double-teams the Coleman Medallist.

Whereas Brown presents in several directions and often offers multiple leads in each attacking movement, Franklin relies more on his upfield players moving the ball quickly through the middle and pumping it long and fast into the scoring zone.

The theory is simple: Put the ball out into space and Franklin will get it. It helps that he is super-quick, super-fit and super-agile.

Lions coach Leigh Matthews is an unabashed fan.

"Lance Franklin is a freak. He's the kind of player that people go to watch play," he said.

"At one stage against Adelaide on the weekend he out-marked Ben Rutten in a genuine contest, and you think to yourself, 'that's scary' because Rutten rarely gets out-marked in a contest like that."

Most sides employ a zone defence against the Hawks because, one-on-one, Franklin is almost impossible to stop because of his pace.

Brisbane has a simple policy: Daniel Merrett always gets the opposition's biggest forward.

But the Lions will attempt to crowd "Franklin's flank" to give Merrett some assistance.

"I don't think there is such a thing as an obvious match-up for Franklin," Matthews said.

"He's a unique physical specimen – he's tall, quick, agile and can run long distances."

The Lions also know what to expect from their opponents in the set-up of their attacking raids.

The Hawks like to hang on the footy deep in defence until a gap or overlap occurs, then they hit the afterburners and run in numbers, moving the ball by hand or foot straight up the corridor until Franklin makes his lead.

It is predictable, but happens so quickly it is difficult to stop.

"They have a lot of handballs and they want to run the footy and Franklin is obviously a fast-leading forward," Matthews said.

"But the game is still about winning the footy. If Hawthorn win the footy and all we are doing is chasing them there is nothing we will be able to do to stop them scoring.

"You have got to get the ball in your hands and make them chase you."

Roughead and Willo says high

You gotta love how the QLD based journalists feels the need to put down Franklin in a comparison with Brown

 

[melb_will]

The Courier Mail does of course have a long history of knoweldgeable unbiased AFL journalism.

 

[Hollow Knight]

The Courier Mail does of course have a long history of knoweldgeable unbiased AFL journalism.

Actually, Hamilton hates the Lions. He is a Swans man to the bitter end.

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

Is tis the most obvious story in history? Then again, "Stope Bradman for a chance to beat Australia" is on par...

 

[FisherHawk]

IT'S called Operation Buddy. Brisbane knows if it can't contain Hawk star Lance "Buddy" Franklin at the Gabba tonight, the game is as good as lost.

Only a rag without any journalistic credibility would print this crap. I'm born and bread up this way, but it is this sort of bias rot that kept me with the Hawks and well clear of the Bears.

I would say that if we can contain Brown, the game is as good as ours. Brisbane only have 1 other scoring option in Bradshaw. No other Bear has scored more than 3 goals this season.

 

[Flamin Joe]

That's right opposition teams, focus ALL your attention on Buddy.

Fremantle double teamed sometimes had 3 players in the immediate vacinity of Buddy when the ball came to him. He kicked a quiet 4. Roughead also kicked 4, Rioli and Boyle kicked 2.

North talked about "heat maps". Buddy kicked a lazy 5 with all the extra attention. Roughead booted 4, Osbourne 3.

Adelaide also made mention of using "heat maps" and reckoned they could interpret them better. Buddy booted 6. Williams played his first game for 12 months and booted 3.

Leigh Matthews talks up Buddy during the week.......


Shhhhh, don't tell Matthews there are other forwards who are going to hurt you if you get too Buddy conscious.

 

[Carn Hawkas]

Even if they manage to slow Buddy down, Roughead and Willo will dominate.

 

[vanders]

So they'll keep Buddy quiet and he'll only kick 4!

 

[Hawkarz]

Leigh Mathews is probally trying to get BUDDY on a high so he goes out there and thinks no one can stop (not many can) and gets a bit cocky and doesnt play his best.

 

[Flamin Joe]

Buddy thrives on that stuff. I think Matthews talking him up will end up backfiring on him more then anything else.

 

[CAPTAINCRAWF]

I actually love it when sides double and triple team Buddy. Before it was Roughie and Cyril picking up the crumbs but know you add someone as deadly around goals like the Shotgun its just plain scary.

I think Williams and Roughie as a foil to Buddy is a much more dangerous prospect to opposition teams than Roughie and Boyle(with respect to the Boyler).

 

[hawks_legends]

Everyone has focused on Buddy this year but they havn't succeeded because he has kicked bags of goals every week. Only time will tell if Brisbane can do it.

 

[jbomb3000]

"Operation Buddy" worked a treat, held him to 8

 

[Boot Studder]

Oops.

 

[Flukey!]

In fairness Bradshaw had a big night too.

We had no one who could hold him.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

The Crows focussed on Buddy, then the Lions did. Let's hope opposition teams continue to focus on Buddy