Leading when bringing the ball out of defence

[Mike_B]

Our rebound from defence is often talked about as a strength of ours. This rebound is when we can force a spill and clear the ball with a chain of handballs and run. We generally do this pretty well.

Tonight was just another perfect example of how awfully lazy are players are when we bring the ball back with the chip and mark style of moving the ball out of defence. I noticed this against the Bulldogs where we had players jog for 20m to "make a lead" and create an uncontested option, which wasn't really one at all. Then got shown up by guys like Rob Murphy sprinting 60m to give the player with the ball an option. Tonight was infinitely worse. When are the players going to learn that to be a viable option you need to bust your ass to get into space, not just jog and hope you can get 2m clear. Add to that the fact that if you aren't hitting the ball at top pace, your opponent, who might be chasing at top speed will be able to make the spoil easily, or even just get in front and take the mark themselves.

Until we sort out this issue of effort to get into space, we will be sitting ducks for teams who play man-on-man footy and are willing to stop the run, and concede a kick to an unmarked player deep in the back pocket.

[mcs]

we just didnt move at all tonight. Couldnt get 2cm clear let alone 2m clear. Its been a problem with our team for years and when we arent on song we really struggle in this aspect as the passes dont stick like they do when we are playing well and our skills are going well. Time and time again tonight I and a hell of a lot of people were screaming out to the blokes standing round near us on the field to run and create space- obviously didnt hear us lol but what Im trying to point out is tha its awfully obvious at times that its a problem for us but its an area that we are not getting any better at at all.