Changes for Rnd 7 v Bulldogs (Nipper Gordon to debut!)

[ugg]

I'm not a Rosebury fan at all.

Caned us something chronic in the semi v the Bullies last year. I'm in Row A for this match, so I'll be giving him an extra gobfull every time he gets within earshot, believe me.

Was he the umpire that paid Andrew Hooper that dodgy free kick near the end of the 2nd quarter?

[Triple B]

Not 100% sure ugg, but there were some very dodgy calls and more importantly some dodgy non-calls that ALL favoured the Doggies when they got their tails up after halftime.

Late in the game when we were coming back hard, Cross got caught cold holding the ball in the forward pocket. Everybody just stopped, including the spectators, just waiting for him to make the call. You know that real pause when you know the ump is going to make the big 'look at me' holding the ball signal. There was nothing, Rosebury just looked like he was asleep before finally calling a ball-up. It was just weird.

[Aaron]

Not quite! What he said may in fact be correct but surely to dismiss the effort of a player who kicks 5 goals (flatters) is ignoring an important fact.This guy can play poorly in the coaches opinion and still kick 5 goals!! So lets make him defend more in the twos while we have no goal kickers in the A grade? This is the kind of negative thinking that irritates me enormously. We then end up with a forward line that can defend but can't kick goals so the game becomes a defensive slog. Just look how slick the forward lines of Essendon and Carlton were .Slick forwards convert limited opportunities into goals.

Ok,Big Al,I admit Henry was not my favourite player and my analagy to "Eddie the Eagle" may have been a touch unkind but TDL is a skilled goal kicker that needs encouragement and development and I doubt he is getting that after hearing Henry's comments on him.

Agree! Sometimes, the coaches can be too over-enthusiastic to mould everyone the same. Every player is different and each can still contribute in different ways though they may have some short comings. The important thing is how to balance the team and utilise each available talent wisely. I think we need more shots at goals!

[Dosser]

I remember Andrew Dunkley was a great defender - maybe with this philosophy we should have had him in the forward line more often?

[Big Al]

I remember Andrew Dunkley was a great defender - maybe with this philosophy we should have had him in the forward line more often?

So you don't agree with the philosophy that forwards especially small ones need to have pressure skills in todays footy???

[Hartijon]

So you don't agree with the philosophy that forwards especially small ones need to have pressure skills in todays footy???

Of course they do when the opposition is in possession. Where I part company with the forward defense strategy is the situation like last week when time after time the ball spilled to the back of the pack in our forwards. A good forward who could cut loose from his opponent and get to the back of the pack would have wreaked havoc with Carlton and probably won us the game. We had no such player apart from Mc Glynne who is a "stand out " forward at the Swans because he gets loose ,marks and kicks goals.He is a classic forward but I fear by labelling him like this they will put him in the back pocket! Where were the other forwards? Either worrying about their opponent rather than their opponent worrying about them or they didn't have the engine to get there on time. So if you have a team where both the forwards and the backs put top priority on pressuring their opponents rather than being creative and cutting loose,you end up with a match that is a slug match of defenses.Not pretty and often random whether we win or lose.

[Big Al]

Of course they do when the opposition is in possession. Where I part company with the forward defense strategy is the situation like last week when time after time the ball spilled to the back of the pack in our forwards. A good forward who could cut loose from his opponent and get to the back of the pack would have wreaked havoc with Carlton and probably won us the game. We had no such player apart from Mc Glynne who is a "stand out " forward at the Swans because he gets loose ,marks and kicks goals.He is a classic forward but I fear by labelling him like this they will put him in the back pocket! Where were the other forwards? Either worrying about their opponent rather than their opponent worrying about them or they didn't have the engine to get there on time. So if you have a team where both the forwards and the backs put top priority on pressuring their opponents rather than being creative and cutting loose,you end up with a match that is a slug match of defenses.Not pretty and often random whether we win or lose.

No question you need to get the balance right because as you say if you become too defensive then you do have some issues. TDL hasn't got that balance right just yet imo but he will and when he does he'll cement a place in the forward line.

[Auntie.Gerald]

does anyone know if more goals come from pressured turnovers within a few passes ie max 3 or 4 or passes if more come from larger build ups of plays.

I know in soccer the stats are that the majority of goals come from 3 passes or less and generally through pressure ie causing a turnover in broken play

[ShockOfHair]

Not 100% sure ugg, but there were some very dodgy calls and more importantly some dodgy non-calls that ALL favoured the Doggies when they got their tails up after halftime.

Late in the game when we were coming back hard, Cross got caught cold holding the ball in the forward pocket. Everybody just stopped, including the spectators, just waiting for him to make the call. You know that real pause when you know the ump is going to make the big 'look at me' holding the ball signal. There was nothing, Rosebury just looked like he was asleep before finally calling a ball-up. It was just weird.

But doesn't that suggest he's a dolt rather than anti-Swans, and that he's just as likely to have a brain spasm in our favour?

Or am I ruining your anticipation of giving Rosebury a bake from Row A?

[Dosser]

So you don't agree with the philosophy that forwards especially small ones need to have pressure skills in todays footy???

Not at all Al, I agree that all forwards should have good defensive pressure, however we need to balance that with natural forwards who have good goal instincts and who are maybe not as good defensively.

(My Dunkley comment was a little mischievous )

[Big Al]

Not at all Al, I agree that all forwards should have good defensive pressure, however we need to balance that with natural forwards who have good goal instincts and who are maybe not as good defensively.

(My Dunkley comment was a little mischievous )

Thought TDL worked a lot harder today so he's obviously listening to the coaches. He should be pressing for selection next week.