Difference between us, Geelong and Hawthorn

[Legs Akimbo]

Watching tonight's game and last night's game (albeit fell asleep last night), it is notable how similar Geelong and Hawthorn play the game. In particular, they both play in zones. From above, the ground looks like a game of Chinese chequeres or a Damien Hirst spot painting. A green field dotted with evenly spaced brown/gold or blue/white pegs.

This rolling zone strategy places so much pressure on the disposal skills of the other team because if they @@@@ up with the precision passing needed to penetrate the zone, all of a sudden the other team just takes off en masse into the open space behind the line of opposition players towards the goal. It's almost frightening to watch.

Obviously this is not a new thing and footy is constantly being evolved and reinvented by wiley coaches, but really, this puts our man on man and flooding' style out of business.

I think Roos needs to get with the times and adopt the rolling zone or come up with a new effective counter tactic. The dogs tried to move the ball quickly at all costs with laserlike passes, but sadly, their skills fell apart under the pressure. Maybe something like a forward line version of the huddle to break apart the zoning.

[Go Swannies]

Good post. When the Cats got their act together last year their ability to zone was scary. I remember saying at the time that playing them (or the Hawks this year) is like bouncing a ball against a wall - you go forward and it comes back to hurt you. Others say it's more attractive to watch than the Swans, Lions and Eagles' man-on-man style but I'm not convinced. However, it is certainly the method to beat these days and the Swans saying endlessly that "if we play our hard checking game, we can win" is living in the past.

I think Roos and many of our players are smart. But I'll revise that if I don't see us come out with a revised game plan for 2009. I bet it will still be defensive (the way every good team has played this millennium) but it can't just be man-on-man any more.

[Wardy]

I have said for ages (and got shot down for it) that our playing style has been found out - we dont have the edge anymore and Roos has not even considered implementing a plan B. Well its time for him to pull his dyed head out of the sand and change the game plan. Geelong and Hawthorn (despite what some think) are playing fast, free flowing, high scoring attractive footy. The chip kicking, stop starting crap is no longer working for us.

I personally think that this Saturdays granny will be an absolute ripper.

I will be honest - I really wasnt fussed on this season (and I dont think I'm alone in thinking this way), we just didnt move with the times, and when a plan B was needed - Roos stubbornly refused to change direction. Add to that some of the questionable team selections & continuing saga's just added too the disappointment. But you do have to take the good with the bad - and we will all be back again next year to cheer them on again.

2009 is a new year, so hopefully a new game plan, renewed vigour and maybe, just maybe a more successful season.

[hammo]

The Swans still haven't adapted to the quick kick-in rule so expecting radical changes might be too much to ask.

[Wardy]

The Swans still haven't adapted to the quick kick-in rule so expecting radical changes might be too much to ask.

Good point Hammo - I forgot about that - we would have to be the slowest at that little gem.

[Plugger46]

The Swans still haven't adapted to the quick kick-in rule so expecting radical changes might be too much to ask.

Excellent point hammo - it was extremely frustrating this year.

[AnnieH]

goals goals goals.

I don't know if I've said it before, but the team who kick the most goals is the team who wins the four points.

The more goals, the higher the percentage.

The higher the percentage, the better off you are at the end of the year (i.e. when there is more than one team on the same amount of points as you).

The cats and jobbies & wee wees are more efficient at getting the ball into their forward 50 and converting.

There lies a difference.

[humphrey bear]

The biggest difference is physical strength and clean hands. Geelong particularly are impossible to tackle and kill the play.

They are always strong enough to get their hands free and the handball under pressure usually hits a target to another sure handed player. They are then clean enough to hit 3, 4 or 5 handballs under pressure until they have a loose man.

Hawthorn arent as good at it as Geelong but they are bucket loads better than the rest of the competition.

[dimelb]

The Swans still haven't adapted to the quick kick-in rule so expecting radical changes might be too much to ask.

Nothing about our style of play frustrates me more than this. Such a simple adjustment would give us a lot more play-on situations, and we have shown that we can be quite good at this; Geelong and Hawthorn are better, but then they get a bit more practice than we do.

[Lakeside]

The Swans still haven't adapted to the quick kick-in rule so expecting radical changes might be too much to ask.

Maybe it says a lot about the confidence they have in each other? It's annoying and it's the same tactic all the time. Tadgh or Mattner will just kick it to a player deep in the left pocket and then the same predicable lead up. Was good little tactic in 05 but gee its so old.

Would love to see Roos come up with something new.

[Lakeside]

Watching tonight's game and last night's game (albeit fell asleep last night), it is notable how similar Geelong and Hawthorn play the game. In particular, they both play in zones. From above, the ground looks like a game of Chinese chequeres or a Damien Hirst spot painting. A green field dotted with evenly spaced brown/gold or blue/white pegs.

This rolling zone strategy places so much pressure on the disposal skills of the other team because if they @@@@ up with the precision passing needed to penetrate the zone, all of a sudden the other team just takes off en masse into the open space behind the line of opposition players towards the goal. It's almost frightening to watch.

Obviously this is not a new thing and footy is constantly being evolved and reinvented by wiley coaches, but really, this puts our man on man and flooding' style out of business.

I think Roos needs to get with the times and adopt the rolling zone or come up with a new effective counter tactic. The dogs tried to move the ball quickly at all costs with laserlike passes, but sadly, their skills fell apart under the pressure. Maybe something like a forward line version of the huddle to break apart the zoning.

Geelong play a style of game that is old school and was used in the 70s. Play on at all costs and have players peeling off you and get in to your forward 50 quick. Nothing innovative about it, It's the way footy has always been played BUT with the endurance, speed and high skill level of players these days it so much more attractive, easier for the players executing it and much free flowing.

Also it helps when the rules have been changed or modified to suit this style of game plan. The swans defensive/offensive style was effectively killed by the rules committee.

[#73]

I have said for ages (and got shot down for it) that our playing style has been found out - we dont have the edge anymore and Roos has not even considered implementing a plan B.

Every team in the comp knows every other teams' game plan.

I think our plan still works when our best 22 are applying it. The problem with the '08 season is that we struggled to get the best 22 on the field consistently. Too many players were in and out of the side.

The positive side to that was the fact that we could blood some damn good young players.

I think '09 will be good for us so long as Baz can behave himself and some of the older guys can stay relatively injury free.

[Lakeside]

Another factor i forgot to add was a lot of teams in the past 4 years refined their game plan to beat us, who at the time were sort of the bench mark. So this IMHO has been detrimental to the way a lot of newer players executed their game plans. Now all of a sudden its reverted again so teams who in the past trained for the flooding man on man style have been found out and why Geelong and Hawthorn are playing for the flag.

I expect things to change next year and Geelong to come back to the field again with teams now adopting to the way Geelong play.

[hot potato]

Play on footy simply must create adrenalin in the players, it certainly pumps the fans. It has to create more goal scoring opportunities. I hope kicking it backwards is play-on next year.
The fall off in crowds was alarming for Sydney in 08 because most peak period nite games they playeed very dull footy. It was a big turn-off.
The Swans are desparate for a new game plan, but i don't think it's going to emerge from the current coaching group.