The disappointment I experience is watching players not even doing the absolute basics, like chasing, tackling, when they are in a position to do so, i.e effect the contest. That has nothing to do with game plan etc, everything to do with lack of motivation, which therefore suggests “problems”. I’m disapponted that it’s obvious that we have problems, problems that were there at the start of last year, and, clearly are still there. This has nothing to do with whether or not we are developing, developed, lacking the right sort of players etc. It is something only the coaches working with the players can resolve.
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I wonder if Nackers will have the heart to turn up again this 2022/23 pre-season after this let down of a campaign.
If we’ve extinguished the flame that burns inside Nackers then we are truly farked.
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Are you sure? The practise of trying to corral rather than tackle looks like it’s deliberate. The practise of guarding grass instead of players looks deliberate.
The only word from Rutten et al about players not executing the gameplan has been in offence, suggesting they need to “kick more”. Which, you know, I’m glad we’ve got that millions of bucks worth of coaching talent there to figure out.
Haven’t heard nearly as much about actually defending.
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sad but true. was a different story 10 years ago
Agree… we are putting four guys around the ball carrier to try and gang tackle… we appear to be trying to ‘surround’ him into making a mistake. It is bizarre and stupid… but I believe that is legitimately what we are trying to do.
You could literally post thousands of still pictures of a Sydney player absolutely surrounded by Bombers… like 5-6 whatever guys all around him… and then he kicks to the corresponding number of free swans that have spread from the contest.
We are trying to keep the ball ‘inside’ the contest… modern teams are highly efficient at pushing the ball quickly to the outside of the contest. The days of the nil all draw are nearly coming to and end because of it… the ‘guarding the mark’ rules and a couple of other tweaks have helped it along too. So our entire tactical approach is wrong.
I really do feel sorry for our players. I actually think some of them really have been trying… but you can see even that is dropping off now as reality sinks in. Nothing as depressing as a lost cause.
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you’re probably right, but it really defies logic to tell a player, " look I know you could lay a tackle, but, please don’t,just sort of sheppard them along towards their forward line, It’ll be fine"
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Just hypotheticals. If and it is a big if, the club review and feel Rutten isn’t the right man for the job would we seriously consider Hird as a replacement?
Now the AFL have ticked off his suitability moving forward he will no doubt be named in every clubs coaching search but would we consider him?
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to you and I maybe… but the sense is that because so many tackles go ‘unrewarded’ (ie the ball is allowed to ‘pop’ out… very few HTB calls etc) that it is better to keep your shape and put implied pressure on.
I think there is a fine line between ‘don’t tackle’ and ‘don’t overcommit to the tackle’ and it would be bloody hard to work that out, in real time, with the noise and exhaustion etc etc. Might be a big difference between training and game time too.
Too often while we are trying to work out how to handle things… the oppo has already executed their plan and the moment is lost. So many of our players just looking devoid of confidence and hope.
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I don’t think the club would consider him… but I bloody wish they would. I think Hird was a terrific coach that got scapegoated. I’d put the saga about 5% at his feet and I think he has owned that 5% and then some.
I’d love to see Hird get another crack at finishing what he started… I’d love to have his passion back in the box… I’d love to have a return of hard, contested bulls… I’d love to see ‘come from behind’ wins again… I’d love to win interstate again… I’d love to see us in the top 4 again…
It won’t happen but I’d love to see it. Reckon whomever does take the punt will get a ripper. The man was born to coach imho.
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It does defy logic, yes.
Unless your club is a vortex of stupidity who sees that their best results correlate directly with high tackle count and says “nah”.
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Well said, couldn’t agree more.
I aint even mad…
Someone posted this on Facebook, and I think it’s a perfect visual of where the priority is for the players.
Down hill skiers…… and not willing to do the hard running & chasing defensively.
How many times to do you see someone make a half hearted chase or go to close someone down without committing to tackle. It’s ticks a box that he did a ‘pressure act’. Then people come on here and say “yeah he had no tackles, but look at how many pressure acts he had!”.
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You’re not mad, you’re just silly.
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I saw someone post this in one of the EFC FB groups.
I’d actually love to get Grant Thomas involved at the club in some capacity.
He’s a complete and utter ■■■■. We need far more of them.
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No.
And there’s two layers (at least?) of problem, there’s the “why are we completely and utterly ■■■■ right now” problems, and the “why haven’t we been any better than decent for 15 years” problems.
Yes, it certainly looks like there’s a lot of division and confusion. Not much buy in, lots of noses out of joint.
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True story, that bloke who made that comment was dating Ariana grande for a period of time. The dons could be ■■■■ for the next 50 years and he’d still be content
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Not Essendon’s fault they keep playing better opposition for milestone games.
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