Is our forward area the biggest problem?

[cruiser]

This from the Herald Sun online re the game against West Coast:
"Sydney went inside its attacking 50m 16 times in the first quarter and the Eagles just eight, but with a 1.6 return at quarter time, held a four-point lead."

If Sydney's forwards cant learn how to lead properly into space, mark the ball (contested and uncontested) and kick goals, then Sydney has no chance this year. They have been utterly inept now in our four losing games: North 7.17; Adelaide 11.13; Melbourne 7.18 and West Coast 8.11. Total 33.59. That's a 35% conversion rate for goals to points in those four games. They should be ashamed of themselves.

[giant]

Re: Is our forward area the biggest problem?

Originally posted by cruiser
This from the Herald Sun online re the game against West Coast:

Sydney went inside its attacking 50m 16 times in the first quarter and the Eagles just eight, but with a 1.6 return at quarter time, held a four-point lead.

If Sydney's forwards cant learn how to lead properly into space, mark the ball (contested and uncontested) and kick goals, then Sydney has no chance this year. They have been utterly inept now in our four losing games: North 7.17; Adelaide 11.13; Melbourne 7.18 and West Coast 8.11. Total 33.59. That's a 35% conversion rate for goals to points in those four games. They should be ashamed of themselves.

Could only bear to watch about a quarter of the game on Saturday but it seems to me that it's a mix of a dysfunctional forward line (no confidence with leading, structure, kicking, crumbing & anything else that you might expect from a functioning forward line) and some just awful delivery from midfield & half bak line.

Guess chicken & egg stuff about what causes what - mostly I think it's symptomatic of a team playing with no confidence and a coaching staff struggling with a mixed-up game plan.

Too simplistic to put all the blame on the forwards tho.

[cruiser]

Re: Re: Is our forward area the biggest problem?

Originally posted by giant
Too simplistic to put all the blame on the forwards tho.

I don't blame it all on our forwards, however it appears that much of the criticism has been directed at our midfield, whereas I think our forwards deserve the most criticism.

[Ruda Wakening]

And who said that Sydney have nothing in common with Collingwood...

[giant]

Re: Re: Re: Is our forward area the biggest problem?

Originally posted by cruiser
I don't blame it all on our forwards, however it appears that much of the criticism has been directed at our midfield, whereas I think our forwards deserve the most criticism.

Well I certainly agree that the forward difficulties should (in theory) be easier to fix than the midfiled. Last year they oozed with talent - this year they just ooze.

Many basic things they can be doing to get their act together which would be totally independent of the quality of midfield delivery (structure, pressure, crumbing, etc)

[ScottH]

The problem isn't the amount of inside 50's, it is the quality of those inside 50's.

The ball is not being delivered to the forwards properly. So it is not entirely there fault, unless of course they are not leading properly. Not having seen a live game yet, I can't tell which it it is.

[skilts stilts]

Maybe the wet weather had something to do with it. My humble observation is that the back 6 are down on confidence and unable to run out of defence. Not only are the opposition clamping down on Kennelly and Barry but those 2 players are not being screened sufficiently when they get the ball to allow them to charge out of the backline.
I expect (hope for) a big form reversal this week. Please selection committee, I hope Mr Spriggs papers have been stamped NEVER TO PLAY AGAIN.

[NMWBloods]

The forward structure seems to be dysfuctional. The ball is coming in haphazardly and in fits and starts, so Hall seems to be struggling to time his leads and find space. He is also coming up too far to get the ball.

The delivery is woeful - short kicks are too high or too low, while long kicks normally advantage the defender. There are no crumbers, so whenever the ball hits the deck the defence is able to whisk the ball away quite easily.

When the forwards do get the ball, a mix of poor positions (tight angles) and poor kicking as contributed to terrible accuracy. A lot of our shots are also from 40+m - we don't get a lot ofgood shots from <40m.

We are taking very few I50 marks, hencing making conversion difficult. Much of this is delivery. Hall has never been a great overhead or pack mark - he is best on the lead. However, he's not getting this opportunity this year, so many of our goals are hard work. When we do get a mark I50, it's often out near the 50m arc or wide.

[Sanecow]

The forward line is not to blame. The forwards move up the ground when the ball is in the defensive half and slowly move back towards goal as the ball advances as part of some horrific, roving zone defense. I am assuming it is a deliberate strategy. Unfortunately the forwards end up one out, flat footed, with the ball dropping on their head as they wrestle with a gorilla.

Hall is leading really well and getting great delivery but it is outside the 50m arc. If this happened closer to goal we would obviously score more.

I partly blame the setup of the forward line (not leading from the square down the corridor) and partly blame the fact that the ball doesn't move forward fast enough to set up a Pagan's paddock situation.

OTOH: WCE kept three forwards in the goal square when the ball was in their defensive half and they led out to the ball as it approached. I was quite envious.

[ScottH]

Originally posted by Sanecow
Hall is leading really well and getting great delivery but it is outside the 50m arc. If this happened closer to goal we would obviously score more.

Maybe he should start his leads from the car park, then he might be in the goalsquare by the time he marks it!!