What do you mean? The other team has the ball, you tackle them to create a turnover. Were they meant to let them go? Pressure has become our biggest strength.
Its not just the tackles,
Ive noticed if he is ever in a 1 on 1 sprint to the ball he rarely wins it cleanly for some reason, that may be his tendency to play body on body which is a much more defensive tactic though. Rather than backing himself to win the ball he tries for a stalemate.
Yesterday grundy out sprinted him to a loose ball get. Which was perplexing.
We were far to gunshy with taking the option through the middle of the ground and I think that was because we turned it I moved early.
The umpiring killed us yesterday no doubt but playing the game on their terms did as well.
The halfbacks did their job but as good as Hurley and Hooker were at defending they lacked their usual rebound and that was where we should have drove home the advantage.
Slow ball movement and poor execution cost us and thatās why it was such low scoring.
I would have preferred we played our natural game.
I agree with all of that but it doesnāt answer my question which was:
āThe other team has the ball, you tackle them to create a turnover. Were they meant to let them go?ā
McGrath definitely looked slow yesterday. There was one bit of play where ambled after a lose ball but was overtaken by Grundy.
Of course you tackle them and as pointed out we did.
Itās a non event.
I actually think he panics with the ball in the contest. He is not explosive like shiel, nor is he particularly a great decision maker. I would put him in the back pocket and leave him there. I donāt believe he is a natural mid, he is a stopper.
he is a ntural mid though, thats where he played his junior football and averaged 32 touches a game in TAC.
It just hasnt translated well yet to AFL but I do believe it will eventually
Being pretty harsh on McGrath based on yesterdayās game.
He does his best work when the game has pace in it and he can use his agility and speed to attack.
A few of our smaller bodies and just ok kicks got found out yesterday when the heat went on and Andy was one of them.
He is a fast learner though and he will take a lot from it.
I donāt feel like Iām being harsh, I know that he is young, but I just feel that some players have poise under pressure and others panicā¦he panics. He is not alone BTW.
Agree. He clearly was not physically right yesterday. Young kid, new role and short turnaround against quality opposition. Not a surprise that he struggled against bigger bodies and real heat.
He seems to be fumbling more than he did in his first few years, I remember him being really clean and assured by hand, not to mention extremely fast. Iād back him to get that part of his game sorted out. With his kicking, like some of his teammates he just needs to learn his limitations and make decisions accordingly.
He copped a big hit early in the 1st that made me think he had been targetted by the flogs specifically. Maybe got just a tad Gun shy as a youngān after that
Something heāll no doubt have to get used to and overcome.
I know what you are trying to say. Maybe panic isnāt the right word.
Some players when they get the ball just seem to effortlessly side step or turn into free space. McGrath on the other hand seems to be a bustling type mover.
In his last year at school Andy ran 10.95 seconds in the 100 m run. He would be quicker now if he is on the weights and working on strength and agility.
Still waiting for him to deliver on the preseason hype, I have faith that he will explode at some point this season.
Concerned that he may just be not quite big enough
If James Hird debuted this season you blokes would have him shipped off to Bendigo reserves.
Runs out a game better than anyone on our list and hits the scoreboard from the midfield, while also being able to play a defensive role.
Might be the fact he is in the midfield now and is therefore a lot more exhausted when picking up the ball.
I canāt remember much about his game yesterday (the anger has clouded my brain a bit). But generally he is:
a super clean player.
explosive from a contest
A very good tackler
I think heās improved a heap this year. Not pre-season hype good but thereās definitely enough there showing that heāll be a very very good midfielder for us who can do it all. Has an extremely well rounded game now which reminds me of Coniglio who was a lesser light a few years ago when focused on different defensive roles.
One thing that stood out yesterday that Iām not used to seeing was Andy missing a couple of targets by hand.
I honestly think the occasion got the best of him.
He will bounce back against Geelong.