I'd mentioned in another thread that our current game style is quite similar to Brisbane, and now having watched a replay it just strengthens that perception.
Really, in the first half the difference was finishing efficiency, we struggled to turn opportunities into goals and they were able to go at 50% or maybe even better. Otherwise it looked a pretty even battle all over the ground despite Draper being dominant, in the second half Draper remained dominant but the bulk of battles were still 50/50, but our ball use and decision making improved dramatically. It's almost like we learned what we were supposed to be doing off the opposition!
Brisbane's clean use of the footy would be the envy of every other AFL coach, they pick the eyes out of half a step of space.
We can't take much from the VFL game regarding the talls, because the Demons were basically a squad of kids. For example even Moir looked to be a class above, especially when we started avoiding Tom McDonald.
But the smaller of our on ball brigade did OK, better than OK, effectively against a bunch of peers.
I like the look of Ison in that turnover transition roll, but I'm not sure he has an AFL tank yet, he's another in that Kemp or Cripps size bracket and to me looks a bit like Kemp before we pigeon-holed Kemp as a defender.
Yep. Stuck to what he is best at, get the aggott and hand it off to someone in a better position... creating an opportunity for a team mate - leadership (rather than kick and hope or taking on 3 tacklers - hero stuff).
I don't think it is hero stuff, I think the problem is doubt surrounding the decision chain for being tackled with the footy. Cripps is playing like prior opportunity does not exist, and just panic hacking the ball forward hopelessly, it's very ugly.
It's clear to me now that umpires have moved the emphasis on the decision chain to the tackler needing controlling the opponent with the footy, which is a bit more old school. You can't just have a midget hang off a giant who is charging down the ground and call it a tackle, the tackler must actually impede the ball carrier's progress or disposal. That is why late in the game Walsh was riding tackles, being spun and disposing of the footy, he was strong enough to stand in the tackle and dispose of the footy. Also, the way it is being umpired is another reason why teams have become drilled at dropping the footy cold, because under the old school variant if the ball is knocked free it's play on even if you've had an opportunity to carry it.
As sad as it may be for the sport, you almost need multiple versions of game style subject to the way umpires are working on the day.
Confidence and competence in a game plan makes a difference measured in fractions of a second, a reduction barely noticeable except in the outcome, that reduction in hesitation is all it takes to get away an effective disposal.
Oddly, not panicking, being a little calmer, buys you a few moments of clarity. See Pendles as a reference.
A great example of the opposite was Newman touching that kick that was heading out of bounds, if he'd been a little bit patient, if he'd been a fraction clearer in his mind, he would have left it to cross the line and delivered him a lasso.
Cripps getting a fast break and trying ineffectively and unsuccessfully to get away a pressured disposal, he can just ride the bump or tackle, spin 180 if he has to, and offload to any of his passing team-mates would be 1000x better than a bodged rushed kick under pressure. Late in the game he reverted to the basics, and it made him appear much much better, he was able to create some time and space because he knew what to do.
One of the beauties of such a dominant performance is that it places huge pressure on a number of senior players.
Yes, finally we seem to have a crew showing some interest in winning VFL matches.
It's a foundation for developing a winning culture, perhaps we are washing our hands of the "Wolf of Wall Street" style elitist mindset that saw us largely ignore the lower levels for many years.
I thought in the second half we were more willing to ride the initial tackle, which allowed us to dispose with better efficiency and choosing better options.
The only problem I see long term is the inconsistency of umpiring, the determination on how long you can ride the tackle before disposal is arbitrary.
Terrible messy game to watch standard wise and the Saints were not much better than us with their skills.
All AFL is currently like this, it's unwatchable chaos. n the past I would. watch multiple games in a weekend, this season it is lucky if I watch four full quarters in total.
It was the perfect time to run through a bloke legally.
The contrast to H then with how Evans was treated.
Unfortunately you can't teach this stuff, you either have it or you don't.
I'd recruit May in the MSD, if for no other reason to put a cat amongst the pigeons and force out the flutterbys. We need someone who'll not put up with the sh1t from either opposition or team-mates.
