That was not fun at all.
Firstly, credit to StKilda, when they can play with little pressure on them they look good. StKilda were running all day, they were able to pass to their team mates and there was always a team mate to pass to. Lots of run and it is very hard to stop when a team can cleanly take the ball down the ground at speed.
So, let's get on to Richmond, this was not pretty.
I feel like I make the same points week after week, but, here goes:
We try to stream down the ground going forward, but the opposition just know we are going to inevitably f**ck up at least one pass. It will go to the feet of our team mate. A handball above our team mate. Pick out an opposition player. These things happen time and time again, the opposition know it will happen and are ready to pounce, turn it over and score.
We pass to stationary targets, and invite an intercept. This problem is two-fold. Firstly why are we kicking to a stationary player and, if we are going to do this, at least kick it low and direct. Secondly, why is the player we are kicking to stationary? Why aren't they on the move?
Allied to the above, the forward line is so static, we just don't separate the defence and delivery into the forward line is a mess.
Passing to players, especially shorter players, who are outnumbered - what's with this. How many times did they pass to Baker who had 1 or more opponents on him? Geez, he's great, but he is 5'9" so passing to him when he has opponents about 6" taller right next to him, and passing direct to to Baker so he can't run to the ball, it makes no sense at all. This happens not just with Baker, but we pass to smaller players with tall opponents on them all the time, and we don't pass to their advantage, we pass it direct to where they are. Such a stupid piece of play.
We no longer apply enough pressure. The opposition are able to get payers free and overlap. Clean possessions to the opposition are a feature.
Not sure the coach can do much when we seem to lack skills, but there are some things which could be tried. FFS why aren't our forwards being told to present more, why do we leave great spaces of the ground open? There needs to be some better strategies implemented.
The umpiring was woeful as usual. Bauer gets pushed in the back taking a mark, no free. StKilda player gets touched and it is a free. I was behind the goals and watched as Jack's arm was held behind him in a marking contest, umpire right there, no free. Adjudication of the game is well below what it should be for the highest level of the game. I know some accept this standard, but I reckon it should be better. Players get criticised for bad performances, the umpiring is laughable.
DS
Firstly, credit to StKilda, when they can play with little pressure on them they look good. StKilda were running all day, they were able to pass to their team mates and there was always a team mate to pass to. Lots of run and it is very hard to stop when a team can cleanly take the ball down the ground at speed.
So, let's get on to Richmond, this was not pretty.
I feel like I make the same points week after week, but, here goes:
We try to stream down the ground going forward, but the opposition just know we are going to inevitably f**ck up at least one pass. It will go to the feet of our team mate. A handball above our team mate. Pick out an opposition player. These things happen time and time again, the opposition know it will happen and are ready to pounce, turn it over and score.
We pass to stationary targets, and invite an intercept. This problem is two-fold. Firstly why are we kicking to a stationary player and, if we are going to do this, at least kick it low and direct. Secondly, why is the player we are kicking to stationary? Why aren't they on the move?
Allied to the above, the forward line is so static, we just don't separate the defence and delivery into the forward line is a mess.
Passing to players, especially shorter players, who are outnumbered - what's with this. How many times did they pass to Baker who had 1 or more opponents on him? Geez, he's great, but he is 5'9" so passing to him when he has opponents about 6" taller right next to him, and passing direct to to Baker so he can't run to the ball, it makes no sense at all. This happens not just with Baker, but we pass to smaller players with tall opponents on them all the time, and we don't pass to their advantage, we pass it direct to where they are. Such a stupid piece of play.
We no longer apply enough pressure. The opposition are able to get payers free and overlap. Clean possessions to the opposition are a feature.
Not sure the coach can do much when we seem to lack skills, but there are some things which could be tried. FFS why aren't our forwards being told to present more, why do we leave great spaces of the ground open? There needs to be some better strategies implemented.
The umpiring was woeful as usual. Bauer gets pushed in the back taking a mark, no free. StKilda player gets touched and it is a free. I was behind the goals and watched as Jack's arm was held behind him in a marking contest, umpire right there, no free. Adjudication of the game is well below what it should be for the highest level of the game. I know some accept this standard, but I reckon it should be better. Players get criticised for bad performances, the umpiring is laughable.
DS
