What did we learn from the game?

[JayTee]

I thought the game , even though a loss, was invaluable for some of the questions it answered:

1. LRT can really ruck!

2. Goodsey struggles and so does the side when he is rucking against strong opposition.

3.We need a second ruckman to support LRT (Miecklejohn) so that Goodsey can do what he does best (run the field).Doyle must be doubtful by now.

4. We have to do something about Saddo, fast!(maybe play him up the ground).

5. That we can match it with any team (Adelaide with Carey firing and us getting slaughtered in the ruck for one half and we still nearly win).

6.That we are a definite chance for the GF.

I also think it would be time to rest a couple of players and give say James, Ablett and Sunny (as well as Micklejohn) some more game time.

[Donners]

7. When there is a 2 vs. 2 contest, not to have both Sydney players jump for the ball and leave an opponent open to get the easy crumb. Well, they haven't learnt that yet, but I'm sure they will one day...

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Donners
7. When there is a 2 vs. 2 contest, not to have both Sydney players jump for the ball and leave an opponent open to get the easy crumb. Well, they haven't learnt that yet, but I'm sure they will one day...

I've been watching for 30 years and in that time they still haven't learnt that one - I hope they do under Roos!!

[Dave]

If you are going to open someone's head up make sure they play for the other side!

[JayTee]

Good points fellas.

[penga]

Re: What did we learn from the game?

Originally posted by JayTee
6.That we are a definite chance for the GF.

not until yesterday, did i believe this!

[desredandwhite]

Re: What did we learn from the game?

Originally posted by JayTee


1. LRT can really ruck!

I dunno just yet.. but he's shown that he can get in there and force a contest. Not to mention I reckon he is a fantastic contested mark! Disposals scrappy, but that will come.



2. Goodsey struggles and so does the side when he is rucking against strong opposition.

I reckon Goodsey is in the same category as LRT. He's not a real ruckman, but he's athletic and talented enough to match the lesser rucks in the comp.


3.We need a second ruckman to support LRT (Miecklejohn) so that Goodsey can do what he does best (run the field).Doyle must be doubtful by now.

IMHO we can't afford to carry TWO pseudo ruckmen. I think if we rotate goodes and LRT through the middle rucking, let barry manhandle the contests in the forwards and someone else (probably schauble) in the backs.. we'll do ok.



4. We have to do something about Saddo, fast!(maybe play him up the ground).

Again, Saddo is being played out of position - there is no way known he is a KP backman. Floating off a flank is where he does his best work (we really ARE a bits and pieces team this year aren't we??).



5. That we can match it with any team (Adelaide with Carey firing and us getting slaughtered in the ruck for one half and we still nearly win).

Yep - that was the biggest positive I got out of the game.



6.That we are a definite chance for the GF.

Chance, yes. AT THIS STAGE I think we're not challengers for the flag. The performances over the next month (esp vs bris and coll) will tell the tale.

[JayTee]

IMHO we can't afford to carry TWO pseudo ruckmen. I think if we rotate goodes and LRT

I can understand your caution. However as an (albeit humble) ex ruckman I feel that I have seen enough to know that LRT has the goods, but he won't have the strength for a full game.

He has a great leap, excellent vision for the ball and speed over the ground and knows how to use his body. Some of the cleareast ruck contest wins this year have come from LRT and in some respects he has an edge over Ball (mainly leap).

I think it would pay to give MJ a run also because from what I can gather, he was the preferred ruck in the ressies.

Obviously, if Doyley really is on his way back then we won't need to.

On the other hand I would guess from the look of Magic (proppy in the last quarter) that we might have to rest him in which case we probably need another tall anyway.

[Sid]

No 7 is a hard one to fix. As much of a non-individual team we are, we still have that problem of talking. Personally, i think every team does it. Imagine urself running for the ball, u dont really have the time to see if ur team mate is going for the ball and then shouting "leo, this ones mine mate". I saw a clash between Bazza and Leo Barry. They are both mark takers, what we need is rovers and on-ballers to stay on the ground, in which case they werent close to the ball.

Adelaide has a big ground and i think that we were kicking too short and therefore lacked quick attacks and clearances. If we are going to kick to a contest, why kick it short?

[swan_song]

I sincerely hope we learnt that if we by some chance play adelaide in the GF, NOT to let them get off to another flyer in the first quarter... Seems to be a regular failure against the Crows lately...

[SXP]

IMO, slow start costed us more than the "fake" Carey's goal. I know there was a breeze and the Corws kicked with it, but we shouldn't use this as an excuse.

[NMWBloods]

It was so much a slow start, but more the Crows kicked away in the last five minutes of the first qtr. Up until then we had held them quite well. The second qtr was rather disappointing - we made no inroads to their lead.

[Newbie]

Re: IMHO we can't afford to carry TWO pseudo ruckmen. I think if we rotate goodes and LRT

It might be good to drop Stevens and bring in JM if Doyle is not ready. Goodes in the forward line and JM in the ruck are probably more potent than Stevens+Goodes combination.

Still though, with Everitt is out, we might not need JM+LRT+ Goodes together against the Hawks.

[SWANSBEST]

Des


You suggested that we can not afford to carry 2 pseudo ruckmen. From what I have seen Meiklejohn is purely a ruckman and nothing else. Like LRT he will give a real contest in the ruck..

In the Reserves JM only played ruck while LRT played as a KPP. I appreciate there is a big jump in standard but I think that JM should be given some game time before the finals because if LRT gets injured we are in big strife. Goodes performs best as a roa ming player with some bursts on the ball. I also think that Stevens should be dropped to make way for a genuine ruckman like Meiklejohn.

[BAM_BAM]

the Ressies have really missed JM too. He goes ok