This seems to be our biggest issue at the moment. Our inside 50 counts are generally pretty high, which is a big improvement on last year.
What is our best forward 6 combination? It can not include Wright plus a resting ruck.
Not sure if anyone can pull any stats on the forward combinations with our best stats for
% scores per inside 50
tackles I50
turnovers in front half
marks inside 50
With Hawkins out, Geelong went with a very mobile forwardline and looked as dangerous as they have all year.
We are so predictable bombing long to 2mp and easy to defend against. Outside of Guelfi we have had no forwarline pressure either.
What is our best mix?
This forward set up is not gonna take us anywhere
Its shift the magnets time
Harry back to play the Ridley role
Rids forward
McKay does fk all down back, forward
Davey’s to the pockets
Lav crash and bash fwd
We looked at our best this year minus 2MP. Over this 4 weeks Harry was on the up and our fwd line resembled structure. Our mids lowered their eyes and become more efficient.
Once Wright returned our fwd line crumbled because we rely on him to take a mark, he can’t!! He has spaghetti for arms and couldn’t hold a conversation let alone the Sherrin. He is an absolute specimen of a man yet so easily defended.
He is a prestigious kick without doubt. He will kick a goal 9 times out of 10 within 55-60m. And this is likely why we target him so much…but he juts can’t take a grab!
For this very reason we need effective small forwards who could be feasting on Wrights inabilities, but we don’t.
BUT , its not all on Wright, Langford has disappeared, Stringer sporadic, we miss a Tippa like forward immensely.
I think our efficiency is hugely impacted by repeat entries - our defense has been better set up allowing us to get more inside 50’s, but as a result the forward 50 is packed for those re entries - and as we know, the poor decision making / poor skills means we just bomb it back in again so those stats don’t surprise me at all.
We struggle enough on fast plays to hit open targets in the 50 let alone when it’s flooded on re entries. Need to lower the eyes (such an obvious thing to say) - but on top of that we need to stop panic bombing it back in, have some composure and tidy up those dinky little kicks to start hitting the open target.
I think this is a huge factor. We’ve decided to go for a game plan that really compresses the field and fills the forward line, but our forwards aren’t pack-busters and crumbers in congestion, and we probably only have two or three players you’d back to create an uncontested mark kicking into a crowd. It might be the best defensive setup for our personnel, but it’s no good as an offensive setup.
It’s odd, because with McKay and Ridley, you’d think most systems would be like “we can be a bit aggressive going forward, we’ve got two guys very good at winning it back as a fall back”, and set up around that.
Even moreso if your main key forward is a bloke who has one trick - lead at ball, mark ball on lead, and kick really well. It’s a really good trick to try use, too.
I guess to answer the original question, if this is the game plan then I’d consider something like:
Draper out of the goal square for pack crashing purposes, hopefully close enough to goal that he doesn’t kick them all out of bounds. Guelfi and Gresham as the deeper forwards at the feet and to apply pressure and maybe kick some goals. Wright as the ruck forward, playing closer to the arc where there’s a little less congestion but he can still kick goals that most players wouldn’t make. Stringer and Langford up as higher half forwards to try and provide some strength around half forward, as well as some genuine scoring threats from wider. I don’t think it’s great, the list of our best forwards and the type of players you’d want really don’t match up.
Our problem is that instead of applying a proper forward setup and balanced 22, whereby players are competing for spots. We are creating positions to fit everyone in. Works well when we have injuries but now that we basically have a full list, it’s holding back the development of players and hurting us during games.
Cox as the sub on a wet night where we already went with a 2 ruck setup and a Jones on a wing is a prime example !
Given how well 2mp converts up around 45m + it really is strange that we use him as a long deep target considering contested marking is a clear weakness and we don’t have a grade crumbing forwards.
We should be chipping around the edge of half forward and trying to spit 2mp out on a lead. With a bit of luck that could create some space at the top of the goal square for someone like caddy to pop up and take a mark