We haven't progressed

[swan_song]

Since 2003 the team has gradually fallen away, whether through others adapting to our style of play, or a disrespect for the colours from the players, I don't know. But whatever, something drastic needs to be done if we are to take anything from this season. Perhaps we should now send a message to the underperformers, with a week or two in the Canberra league, and give most of the ressies a chance at senior football. Maybe we should really throw in the towel (or stop rowing) and go for those early draft picks, and hopefully something to look forward to in 2008 or 09, because at the moment two to three years into Roosie's 5-year plan, things are looking decidedly on the nose. Again, we only kicked three goals in a half of football, and that's never going to win matches...and who'd have thought that with a forward line that contains Hall, Magic, Nick Davis, Pebbles, Schneider/Bucky....
But hell, we're positively flying, compared to where we were under Col Kinnear and Buckanara....

[Wil]

Team changes to progress?

What can we do?

Feel free to rip me to shreds. How about some changes? What do others think?

B: C. Bolton, Schauble, Barry
HB: Ablett, Roberts-Thomson, Dempster
C: Davis, Goodes, McVeigh
HF: O'Loughlin, Kennelly, J. Bolton
F: Schneider, Hall, O'Keefe
FOLL: Jolly, Kirk, Spriggs
I/C: Bevan, Buchanan, Crouch, Some other ruckman
EMG: Mathews, Powell, Moore

Ablett and Dempster given free reign to go long to the forward 50 from the back 50. Crouch comes in for Schauble if unfit and C.Bolt is FB. Goodes given free reign to create something and force the opposition to defend him. Spriggs goes on ball because he is the only player in the team who can pick the ball up on the run (apart from Mickey). Mickey goes further upfield to create something for Hall (not the other way around). I bet not many people can defend Kennelly in the HF line. Get ROK and Schneider closer to the goals. Dempster/Ablett to do kick ins - long to the centre line. I.e. Goodes -> handpass to Davis/McVeigh -> Kick to the chest of a leading Hall.

[Nico]

It looks to me that as a group we peaked in 2003 and then plateaued in 2004. Now we are on the down side of the equation.

I believe the way we recruited (rookie List) showed that the rebuilding faze has started and the hope was we would hold the line this year.

Interesting, I recall someone here said that Colless was supposedly quoted before the season that it was no big deal if we missed the 8 this year.

Time to bring out the great coats folks just in case we are in for a long, cold winter.

[liz]

Re: Team changes to progress?

Originally posted by Wil
What can we do?

Feel free to rip me to shreds. How about some changes? What do others think?

B: C. Bolton, Schauble, Barry
HB: Ablett, Roberts-Thomson, Dempster
C: Davis, Goodes, McVeigh
HF: O'Loughlin, Kennelly, J. Bolton
F: Schneider, Hall, O'Keefe
FOLL: Jolly, Kirk, Spriggs
I/C: Bevan, Buchanan, Crouch, Some other ruckman
EMG: Mathews, Powell, Moore

Ablett and Dempster given free reign to go long to the forward 50 from the back 50. Crouch comes in for Schauble if unfit and C.Bolt is FB. Goodes given free reign to create something and force the opposition to defend him. Spriggs goes on ball because he is the only player in the team who can pick the ball up on the run (apart from Mickey). Mickey goes further upfield to create something for Hall (not the other way around). I bet not many people can defend Kennelly in the HF line. Get ROK and Schneider closer to the goals. Dempster/Ablett to do kick ins - long to the centre line. I.e. Goodes -> handpass to Davis/McVeigh -> Kick to the chest of a leading Hall.

Magic doesn't have the fitness to work further from goal for more than sporadic moments of the game. Why swap him and O'Keefe around when he's more likely to create something magical close to ground and O'Keefe has the endurance to work further up the ground - not to mention the long kicking skills to get the ball to our forward.

I'd like to see one debutant this week. We didn't get a huge amount out of Bevan, Buchanan, Schneider this week. They all did some good stuff but collectively not enough. There's no guarantee that another kid would do any better but it's probably worth a try.

I don't think there was any stand-out in the reserves game amongst the young midfielder but I'd probably give the nod to Schmidt. His use of the ball is pretty good though he's no speedster.

Maxfield will come back this week - whether people like that or not.

And who is this "some other ruckman" of whom you speak? Unless Ball or Doyle stages a remarkable recovery that isn't going to happen. Neither Shaw nor Erikson is anywhere close to being ready.

[Nico]

Micky's problem is match fitness. As that comes so will his value and work rate. Wish he could magically kick straight though.

[Wil]

Re: Re: Team changes to progress?

Originally posted by liz
Magic doesn't have the fitness to work further from goal for more than sporadic moments of the game. Why swap him and O'Keefe around when he's more likely to create something magical close to ground and O'Keefe has the endurance to work further up the ground - not to mention the long kicking skills to get the ball to our forward.

Yeah... damn fitness!! I would just like to see Magic get out of Hall's way and would prefer Magic having the ball and being able to kick it to Hall - not the other way around..

And who is this "some other ruckman" of whom you speak? Unless Ball or Doyle stages a remarkable recovery that isn't going to happen. Neither Shaw nor Erikson is anywhere close to being ready.

Was Meiklejohn ever ready? The Hyphen is a shocking choice to back up at ruck, particularly when he should be focusing on learning how to play CHB. So yup, probably Shaw if Ball or Doyle are not ready.

[liz]

Re: Re: Re: Team changes to progress?

Originally posted by Wil
Was Meiklejohn ever ready? The Hyphen is a shocking choice to back up at ruck, particularly when he should be focusing on learning how to play CHB. So yup, probably Shaw if Ball or Doyle are not ready.

MJ probably wasn't ever ready but nor did he ever deliver anything of quality at senior level.

One thing he did have over Erikson (and to a lesser extent over Shaw) is a stronger physique.

LRT won a Rising Star nomination in a game against Adelaide when he went into the ruck after Ball did his shoulder. He's not being groomed to be a ruckman but I don't think he is the reason why we lost the game last night.

[Snowy]

Forward structure needs to improve. Seemed that last night it was too one-dimensional, Hall or nothing.

[Wil]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Team changes to progress?

Originally posted by liz
MJ probably wasn't ever ready but nor did he ever deliver anything of quality at senior level.
--snip--
LRT won a Rising Star nomination in a game against Adelaide when he went into the ruck after Ball did his shoulder. He's not being groomed to be a ruckman but I don't think he is the reason why we lost the game last night.

Yup, but my point is that MJ got on the field at senior level.

Either LRT is to be our CHB for the future or not. None of the younger players will have any chance if we are chopping and changing them depending on injuries and mood. Its not how to develop them correctly. Let them settle into a position and learn its nuances.

There should be a 1st team, 2nd team, 3rd team and so on. The players should be moved accordingly when injury hits. Either Shaw or Erickson should be the 4th Ruckman - not LRT. But you are right - it has nothing to do with the result last night.