That was a terrible performance. Outnumbered at the ball, the ball comes off the pack to Sydney players and ours are nowhere in sight. They didn't work hard enough etc etc etc.
Yes, it is only round 3, but there are a few things we need to seriously look at.
Both Carlton and Sydney have managed to get the ball into their forward 50 and behind our defence too easily. There are clearly issues with teams who play fast being able to break our defensive zone. I think some adjustments are needed. I understand the need to zone as playing man on man just means the forwards can run off on a lead. But there is definitely an issue there which needs to be looked at as the more open game has changed things. Whether the game slows down a bit over the course of the year, and whether some strategies are sorted to combat the way that the team with the player on the mark is effectively on player down, remains to be seen. But the system needs some re-consideration.
We also need to do something about centre clearances. Whenever we lose, we lose it in the centre. Must find ways to turn that around during games.
We generally have more inside 50 entries than our opposition, today we were well beaten on that stat. This is a serious problem we need to address.
There were a fair number of passengers today but they weren't just off today, they have been off for 3 weeks. Caddy looks too slow for the current game, unless he is a third target up forward. Just not fast enough for defence or wing. Rioli is simply not doing enough. I also can't understand why they picked Eggs, saw him not go in hard enough for a spoil early in the game and that has been his weakness, can't see any reason to pick him again.
The umpires were, well, the same as usual. You can get your head ripped off and not get a free in a Richmond jumper, you can not be in possession and still be holding the ball as a Richmond player, you can swing an opposition player 720 degrees and it is play on. Their inconsistency is simply appalling and clearly not good enough for a professional sport.
The lack of contested possessions is killing Australian Football. It is looking more like basketball every game.
Good this happens in Round 3 as we have a bit of learning and tweaking to do.
DS
Yes, it is only round 3, but there are a few things we need to seriously look at.
Both Carlton and Sydney have managed to get the ball into their forward 50 and behind our defence too easily. There are clearly issues with teams who play fast being able to break our defensive zone. I think some adjustments are needed. I understand the need to zone as playing man on man just means the forwards can run off on a lead. But there is definitely an issue there which needs to be looked at as the more open game has changed things. Whether the game slows down a bit over the course of the year, and whether some strategies are sorted to combat the way that the team with the player on the mark is effectively on player down, remains to be seen. But the system needs some re-consideration.
We also need to do something about centre clearances. Whenever we lose, we lose it in the centre. Must find ways to turn that around during games.
We generally have more inside 50 entries than our opposition, today we were well beaten on that stat. This is a serious problem we need to address.
There were a fair number of passengers today but they weren't just off today, they have been off for 3 weeks. Caddy looks too slow for the current game, unless he is a third target up forward. Just not fast enough for defence or wing. Rioli is simply not doing enough. I also can't understand why they picked Eggs, saw him not go in hard enough for a spoil early in the game and that has been his weakness, can't see any reason to pick him again.
The umpires were, well, the same as usual. You can get your head ripped off and not get a free in a Richmond jumper, you can not be in possession and still be holding the ball as a Richmond player, you can swing an opposition player 720 degrees and it is play on. Their inconsistency is simply appalling and clearly not good enough for a professional sport.
The lack of contested possessions is killing Australian Football. It is looking more like basketball every game.
Good this happens in Round 3 as we have a bit of learning and tweaking to do.
DS
