What We've All been Waiting For

[Hawkzzz]

A Plan B that actually works.

Buddy missing from injury has resulted in Clarko placing greater emphasis on multiple goalkickers. We've seen Gunston emerge and mids taking the next step and running to dangerous areas in the forward line and kicking majors.

This has been a major step forward. Finals are pressure cookers and that IS NOT the right time to be hoping for a plan B to come off, if it's needed.

Many of us went into meltdown after the Cats game because after an amazing 50 odd point comeback, we put ourselves in a position where the game was ours. EG> Sewell doesn't play on after the free kick, he takes some time off the clock, chips to another teamate and the job's done.

Better for this painful lesson to be learnt now, and boy were supporters and the players gutted. At that moment, it was one of the worst feelings I've ever had in 30 years following our club.

SO, WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN? In my humble view, this is possible:

Due to this transformation, how much harder is it for opposition to double team Buddy???
It's now not a case of players being told by Clarko to look for other options, the players have learnt it works, for themselves - they can fine tune this over the next four games. In my view it adds a great dynamic to the side. I don't think we've realistically been in this position before.

Another viable Plan is that with Buddy back soon, it may also allow Roughy, whilst interchanging in the Ruck, to drift down back and help IF we need him there. We still have firepower up forward. Roughy reads the play exceptionally and is very mobile. We also counter attack very well from the back 6 as long as we're not allowing opposition talls too much space to mark.

Our biggest problem was often a lack of goalkickers without Buddy - especially against the top sides. With Buddy playing, opposition defenses become more Buddy paranoid and this can only work for the better for our other goal scoring options. His presence is also very inspirational.

Have we ever had a real potent plan B and C without Buddy? We've proven it against the Pies and Cats and regardless what some may think, we are a much better side with Franklin in the team.

So, I feel we have moulded a more multi dimensional side for the first time. Thoughts?

 

[macmate]

i see a lot of logic and common sense used in this post.

Red card this fool mods, quality posts have no place here.

 

[Simon_Nesbit]

The "B" in Plan B stands for Lance.

 

[Beandip]

A great post OP, however I think part of directing traffic through Buddy is just his sheer presence, he's a big guy capable of amazing things, he almost draws the ball to himself, if I'm running through the centre of the ground under the pump, about to fire it in, the giant guy streaming towards me with the athleticism of a gazelle would almost solely fill my vision!

I think our players know that you should always kick to the best option, however I think they have become a bit spoilt with Buddy a.) because of his freakish ability, he can often turn anything into a goal, he can rove his own contest, burn-off and turn defenders inside-out, and convert from freakish angles. b.) Buddy's amazing vitality, in reality he misses very few games, and generally recovers from injuries faster than most big men, which means he is generally always available to be an integral part of our game plan.

Hopefully as you suggest, Buddy's forced absence over an extended period, combined with our now proven ability to kick winning scores without him against reasonable sides will make our midfield (and defensive QBs) learn to drop their eyes again/remove their blinkers and find the best target. I don't think we can under-estimate the tremendous impact Jack Gunston has had on this scenario. It's one thing to say "find the best option", you still need to have the confidence that the player you're about to kick to has the ABILITY to capitalise.

Gunston 'proving himself' without Buddy has had huge ramifications, if he had failed we wouldn't have been much better than where we've been sans Buddy over the last three years, with the ball-carrier continuing to question the value of sending it X's way if they don't have the confidence he can capitalise and convert. However, he has proven that he can take a contested mark, he can find-space, and most importantly that he is lethal at converting, basically earning the respect of the ball carrier.

I don't think anyone can guarantee that we will be less 'Buddy-centric' but I think Jack's recent performances (along with the likes of Breust who is equally lethal!) should have galvanised the confidence of the ball-carrier in delivering to a plethora of options instead of the big Budwah.

 

[Faithful Hawk]

Agree 100% with the OP, I think the loss on Friday night will turn out to positive by seasons end and be the catalyst that propels us to another Premiership.

 

[Hawkzzz]

As stated above, I agree that the players must have a more balanced approach when kicking it inside 50.

Do people think that we may end up that we keep the current forward structure but have buddy play around the 50 metre mark? I say this because Buddy is very capable of kicking goals from 55 metres out. In doing this, we add another goal scoring option.

It will be fascinating what tactics Clarko develops. Will he change game plans during the match to get players used to the alternative options?

My question is how do we most fully take advantage of Rough's ability to help the back 6 when needed, yet keeping the right balance in the Ruck and forward line????

 

[Cynic]

Plan B stands for avoid Geelong

 

[MrFujiMoto]

Plan B stands for avoid Geelong

Bollocks! Blow the Bastard Bumpkins Back to the Back water they came from when we meet them in the finals. How good would it be to knock them out of the finals. Flippin sweet. As for the OP, I think we have greater flexibility now and a level that we have not seen in some time.

 

[Great 2008]

If Franklin is the best option kick it too him.......if he is the second best option kick it to him. After that take your pick from our startling array of 3rd opitions.

 

[Cynic]

Bollocks! Blow the Bastard Bumpkins Back to the Back water they came from when we meet them in the finals. How good would it be to knock them out of the finals. Flippin sweet. As for the OP, I think we have greater flexibility now and a level that we have not seen in some time.

Not sure any of that matters compared to their Belief

 

[MrFujiMoto]

Not sure any of that matters compared to their Belief

Perhaps but I think the change of situation should have our guys Believing. This time we chased and caught them with a Big comeback, instead of the usual lead at 3qtr time and barely score in the last scenario.

 

[Cynic]

Perhaps but I think the change of situation should have our guys Believing. This time we chased and caught them with a Big comeback, instead of the usual lead at 3qtr time and barely score in the last scenario.

The only thing I hope can change the situation is Buddy

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

Hopefully it has provided our mids and half backs with more confidence to kick to the best option.

Streaming through the centre, I'd expect you'd be pretty confident if Gunston, Breust, Rioli or Rough were out in front of their opponents in the best position.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

I think we've been relying on Gunston to kick our goals and we've been looking for him too much. Time to play him in the midfield

 

[Dragz]

The biggest fixes are called Gunston and Breust. Now there's 2 more guys capable of kicking 5 games a match if let off the leash.
So if Buddy and Roughy are being held, there's now plan C

 

[B&GBlood]

Buddy back means Gunstall gets the third tall and Breust the fourth. Assuming they have someone on them, if the opposition might be double teaming Bud.

I can see Clarko going with the Cluster at CHF and one of Buddy, Roughy, Hale or Cyril in the goal square.

I can also see Buddy being the dummy lead sometimes and roving to Gunner.

 

[Hawkzzz]

Hopefully it has provided our mids and half backs with more confidence to kick to the best option.

Streaming through the centre, I'd expect you'd be pretty confident if Gunston, Breust, Rioli or Rough were out in front of their opponents in the best position.

Agree, and what may help more is the fact that teams' defenses are often focused on double teaming the champ (Buddy).

Question? Is there some way to play the same back 6, but allow Rough (when rucking), to drift back to defense and help but ONLY when one of the opposition forwards is doing some damage? What happens to Rough's direct opponent? Any thoughts on tactically getting around this?

 

[badgrill]

Agree, and what may help more is the fact that teams' defenses are often focused on double teaming the champ (Buddy).

Question? Is there some way to play the same back 6, but allow Rough (when rucking), to drift back to defense and help but ONLY when one of the opposition forwards is doing some damage? What happens to Rough's direct opponent? Any thoughts on tactically getting around this?

Schoey to forward line (even if it's not his opponent doing damage)???

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Overlooking Buddy for Gunston, Bruest or anyone else is harder than it looks. Our boys are drawn to Franklin. He oozes class and leadership. Not only does he run himself up and down the ground with boundless energy, but when he's within 5 metres of one of our boys running through the guts, they find it very hard to knock back his request for a handball.
Same thing when he's looking up the ground at them, and they are running at full tilt, working out who to kick it to. He almost demands the ball by sheer presence alone.

What we've achieved without him has been fantastic, but I will not be at all surprised to see players are still drawn to kick him the ball even if Gunston and Bruest are free( when he returns).

 

[maxsmart]

just to throw it out as a posibility- against Geelong in particular in the finals if we come up against them when we know Lonergan will go to buddy and either taylor or scarlett will look to zone off as third man up, should we consider making buddy the decoy and seemingly ridiculously confine him to a role player? He may hardly get the ball but do the job required by instructing him to move away from the intended target forward- as long as he buys into it (not sure he would as he just wants to instinctively go after the ball and believes he should be the one it goes to every time) and the players know to not go to him- again easier said than done when under pressure but if buddy isnt in their line of sight they should select the best option. Thoughts?

 

[MinerBoy]

The way we have played this year as a team and with Buddy forward, I'd be pretty happy that we played him as our key forward, knowing he isn't the only one there.

 

[Agent Smith]

Our biggest problem was often a lack of goalkickers without Buddy - especially against the top sides. With Buddy playing, opposition defenses become more Buddy paranoid and this can only work for the better for our other goal scoring options. His presence is also very inspirational.

This. Even last year our forward line went missing at times, to the point where their pictures were being placed on milk cartons asking for the public's help to find them. Okay, a little over the top but you get the point. Our spread of goal kickers is now at a stage where it can intimidate any opposition, but the proof of the pudding will be in September.

 

[B&GBlood]

I read/heard somewhere Bud did the decoy thing in the 2008 GF. Kept Scarlett well away from the pill.

 

[Cynic]

I read/heard somewhere Bud did the decoy thing in the 2008 GF. Kept Scarlett well away from the pill.

I heard it too and while there may be some truth to it Scarlett did beat Buddy comprehensively in the one on ones whenever they occurred.

Plus that's a win for the Cats regardless, Buddy was a 100+ goal kicker

 

[B&GBlood]

I heard it too and while there may be some truth to it Scarlett did beat Buddy comprehensively in the one on ones whenever they occurred.

Plus that's a win for the Cats regardless, Buddy was a 100+ goal kicker

Battle won, war lost!