Roos' Coaching

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Nico
Our lack of urgency is rather frightening right now, and yet we have been beaten by a combined 24 points in 3 games. What were the comparable figures at Round 6 last year.

3 wins by a total of 118 pts.

3 losses by a total of 95 pts.

(BTW - our 3 wins this year by 88 pts).

[Nico]

So on those stats are we better or worse than last year?

One thing for sure is we are way more competitive than last year at this time, and I reckon if we get our game right for 4qtrs who knows what might happen. A 10% improvement in disposal and running would be handy.

Interesting comment by Roos after Sats game - "we are still getting our game plan right".

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Nico
So on those stats are we better or worse than last year?

Mixed. Our losses have been close rather comfortable margins. However, our wins haven't been quite as convincing.

[liz]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
Mixed. Our losses have been close rather comfortable margins. However, our wins haven't been quite as convincing.

I would say better. In each game we have lost we have been in the game with a chance to win until pretty close to the end, despite not really deserving to be beat either the Dons or the Dees. And we haven't been overly reliant on ultra-accurate goal kicking to keep us in the game. The Dees match we were pretty accurate but then so were they.

Last year we were almost in touch with Hawthorn until they blew us away in the final quarter but we never really looked like winning that game even during the early parts. The defeats by the Dockers and Crows were fairly convincing.

Our total winning margin at this time last year was slightly inflated by playing the rabble that called themselves Carlton. The only "poor" team we have played this year were the Cats but they have now started to turn it around and are nowhere near as ordinary as the Blues were last year.

Putting aside how we've played, the only really disappointing loss on paper was the one against the Dees because it was a home game. Losing to the Lions and Bombers on their home turf is certainly no disgrace.

So purely in terms of the results, I'd say we've been better.

However, the worrying thing is the trend-line. This time last year we were working our way into form. At the moment the team seems to be working its way out of form - both skills and confidence seem to have gradually declined since the season started, with the Roos game being a blip in this trend.

Balancing this is that we have been harder hit by injuries so far this season than at the same time last year. Of course, this is only some comfort if we start to get a reversal in this trend, but at least it provides some explanation (if not excuse) for the mediocre showings so far.

Still no reason to be overly concerned yet because it can all turn around pretty quickly and the individual improvement required from each player is fairly small to have a significant overall impact on the team form.

[Go Swannies]

Lizz, I agree with you but I'm even more optimistic. I finally brought myself to watch the Bombers game again and was amazed at how close the two teams were. Ignoring the umpiring, they were slightly harder at it and had slightly better ball skills. We are playing consistently better football against teams playing us harder (and closer) than last year. And we still seem to be fitter than any team we've met so far.

The worry is that so many of our players were so flat footed on Saturday. The Dons scored three goals because our players couldn't outrun them - and two of those players were Goodes and Davis. And Tiger barely broke a trot all day. I presume they are injured. Fortunately, we shouldn't have to play football at finals level to win the next four rounds. And that will give us time to get some players back and give some more match time. McVeigh, Bevan and Rogers (esp Rogers) really need more time at this level - but without being flattened by a Lions or Saints game.

It's trite to say that it all depends on injuries but it's true. If we are no better off at R22 than we are now, I doubt we'll go far. But if the rest are spared and the injured recover then I think the team can make it. They have the skills now and the coach is good. They have the faith - even if spirits (or legs) are ailing right now. So, with luck this could be the year.

Have a look at the Dons game again. There was only just over one quarter when they really bottled us up as well as got lots of drive from the clearances. That cost us the game. But we were the better for about half the game - that just wasn't reflected on the scoreboard.

Last year we had a great running game. This year (so far) we chip. I think part of Roos' gameplan is attempting to deny supply to their forwards while Schauble is out. Right now I think he'd be better to work on our crumbing at clearances - the Bombers (Hird) showed us how it should be done.