Is our forward area the biggest problem?

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  • cruiser
    What the frack!
    • Jul 2004
    • 6114

    Is our forward area the biggest problem?

    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.
    Last edited by cruiser; 2 May 2005, 10:37 AM.
    Occupational hazards:
    I don't eat animals since discovering this ability. I used to. But one day the lamb I was eating came through to me and ever since then I haven't been able to eat meat.
    - animal psychic Amanda de Warren
  • giant
    Veterans List
    • Mar 2005
    • 4731

    #2
    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.

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    • cruiser
      What the frack!
      • Jul 2004
      • 6114

      #3
      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.
      Occupational hazards:
      I don't eat animals since discovering this ability. I used to. But one day the lamb I was eating came through to me and ever since then I haven't been able to eat meat.
      - animal psychic Amanda de Warren

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      • Ruda Wakening
        Survived The Meltdown
        • Aug 2003
        • 1519

        #4
        And who said that Sydney have nothing in common with Collingwood...
        Sit down or i swear to God i'll have you shot.

        Comment

        • giant
          Veterans List
          • Mar 2005
          • 4731

          #5
          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)

          Comment

          • ScottH
            It's Goodes to cheer!!
            • Sep 2003
            • 23665

            #6
            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.

            Comment

            • skilts stilts
              On the Rookie List
              • Jan 2003
              • 72

              #7
              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.

              Comment

              • NMWBloods
                Taking Refuge!!
                • Jan 2003
                • 15819

                #8
                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.
                Captain Logic is not steering this tugboat.

                "[T]here are things that matter more and he's reading and thinking about them: heaven, reincarnation. Life and death are the only things that are truly a matter of life and death. Not football."

                Comment

                • Sanecow
                  Suspended by the MRP
                  • Mar 2003
                  • 6917

                  #9
                  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.

                  Comment

                  • ScottH
                    It's Goodes to cheer!!
                    • Sep 2003
                    • 23665

                    #10
                    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!!

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