Strategy What is going wrong? A discussion of tactics, strategy and execution issues and how to fix them

[Brishawk]

I think our midfield set up is wrong and here's why

*we currently have 2 wings, 2 contested mids, 1 attacking mid and 1 defensive mid

Tom Mitchell and James Worpel are the contested mids, JOM the attacking mid, Shiels the defensive mid

This set up is not attacking enough, most teams have moved away from taggers and defensive mids as its more important for mids to win centre clearances and the i50 battles

*a more modern midfield is 2 wings, 1 contested mid, 3 attacking mids

It gives our midfield more of an attacking flair with the ability of an attacking mid to rest forward to provide goal kicking support to the forward line, defensive mids are out of favour in general and gives us the ability to spread from midfield more effectively

I think it is very hard to carry a midfielder who isn't good defensively. Dangerfield goes for the ball but if he doesn't get it or is out positioned he can turn his speed and strength into tackling power. I think it is important that players be able to apply defensive pressure even if they are attacking players or contested players etc. I think you are right in that playing a tagger isn't plan A so it is up to the more attacking players to take up that defensive slack and be able to witch between offence and defence instantaneously. One player goes in and two players stay close but stay out and on their feet to receive the ball or apply pressure. Far too often we throw two into tackle one player. too often we get caught out be that one player giving the ball off and we are out numbered. I think it is that strategy or reaction that needs to change more than the individual players.

 

[GOHORCS]

I think our biggest issue is the forward line.
We have a pretty attacking backline, potentially.
When or if they surge out and they have nothing to kick to unless gunston or wingard dont have two or three on them.
The standard slow play from kick ins just invites an opposition turnover. If we do manage an inside 50 then in terms of forward marking nothing and if it hits the deck then it is breust or nothing.
Yes a more attacking midfield would help but would reduce def turnovers.

A harder wingman would give a better link for the def turnover surge. Maybe Jimpey.
The good kicks from the backline scrimshaw or day should kick to the corridor or switch more often to a moore or a very wide scully.

We could make attacking moves but it relies on going through a forward line that relies completely on breust and gunston.

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[H00t]

I think our biggest issue is the forward line.
We have a pretty attacking backline, potentially.
When or if they surge out and they have nothing to kick to unless gunston or wingard dont have two or three on them.
The standard slow play from kick ins just invites an opposition turnover. If we do manage an inside 50 then in terms of forward marking nothing and if it hits the deck then it is breust or nothing.
Yes a more attacking midfield would help but would reduce def turnovers.

A harder wingman would give a better link for the def turnover surge. Maybe Jimpey.
The good kicks from the backline scrimshaw or day should kick to the corridor or switch more often to a moore or a very wide scully.

We could make attacking moves but it relies on going through a forward line that relies completely on breust and gunston.

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Doesn’t matter who was playing up forward for us this year. We move the ball so glacially slowly that by the time the ball gets forward the opposition’s defence is set up and we don’t have the quality to overcome it.

We need to move the ball quickly to give the forwards a chance and rely on them locking the ball in rather than defending even when we have the ball.

 

[Brant]

Doesn’t matter who was playing up forward for us this year. We move the ball so glacially slowly that by the time the ball gets forward the opposition’s defence is set up and we don’t have the quality to overcome it.

We need to move the ball quickly to give the forwards a chance and rely on them locking the ball in rather than defending even when we have the ball.

100%. Yet every di**head wants to blame our KPF for being useless / overpaid etc.

Our 2020 midfield was an opposition defender's (+ ruckman's) dream scenario. They knew the avenue the ball would enter & usually had 30-90+ seconds of warning to set up as we'd generate our own stoppages, allowing them to get back in numbers.

Actually quite bizarre how bad we were given the names we had in there, but that's another matter...

 

[VandoHawk]

100%. Yet every di**head wants to blame our KPF for being useless / overpaid etc.

Our 2020 midfield was an opposition defender's (+ ruckman's) dream scenario. They knew the avenue the ball would enter & usually had 30-90+ seconds of warning to set up as we'd generate our own stoppages, allowing them to get back in numbers.

Actually quite bizarre how bad we were given the names we had in there, but that's another matter...

I do wonder what caused our midfield to be so horrible in contested situations this year. A lack of cohesion? Poor ruck/midfield connection? On paper we have two midfield bulls who excel in contested situations yet Mitchell & Worps were usually the first players to go to ground. Did we commit too many people to chasing the ball? Was our structure at stoppages just bad?

We had a midfield that didn't excel in contested situations, didn't use the ball well and seemed to lack speed. But when you look at the names it doesn't look like that.

 

[CHUBBSS]

I do wonder what caused our midfield to be so horrible in contested situations this year. A lack of cohesion? Poor ruck/midfield connection? On paper we have two midfield bulls who excel in contested situations yet Mitchell & Worps were usually the first players to go to ground. Did we commit too many people to chasing the ball? Was our structure at stoppages just bad?

We had a midfield that didn't excel in contested situations, didn't use the ball well and seemed to lack speed. But when you look at the names it doesn't look like that.

Speed?

 

[GOHORCS]

Doesn’t matter who was playing up forward for us this year. We move the ball so glacially slowly that by the time the ball gets forward the opposition’s defence is set up and we don’t have the quality to overcome it.

We need to move the ball quickly to give the forwards a chance and rely on them locking the ball in rather than defending even when we have the ball.

We have enough speed when we get a turnover. We just dont take any risks. We try and nickel and dime it into the F50 lock it in and hope for a goal.
It is a moneyball led tactic but without the creative goal kickers required for it.

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