Can someone explain to me (or possibly to Ross) the difference between our game plan and other successful sides? It seems that since Ross came on board, the game plan is "kick it long to a contest" or "kick it down the line". This is at best a 50/50. It worked well 5-10 years ago when the rules allowed for a more congested game.
We cannot seem to move the ball and find our players up field. Every other team I watch is able to pass it to leading players who in turn pass to other leading players and eventually get it into the 50. This might happen once or twice in a Freo game. Our entries more seem to come from either brute force (i.e. a rolling maul) or a centre break.
I watched Collingwood yesterday move the ball across the field WITH PURPOSE. This isn't the Dockers chip it around or send it to the other side of the field to kick it down the line, but Collingwood were definitely getting the ball free and making use of the switch.
It seems whenever we had the ball, Collingwood had a man on man. Whenever they had the ball, we had a zone which they were able to pick apart.
The other part of it is the entry into the forward 50. Games I've been to live, I've watched the forwards basically stay stationary in the 50 expecting a bomb. There is no movement and therefore the big bomb gets sent in.
I cannot fault Freo's effort yesterday. I thought they were strong at the ball and tried hard all day. However they were outcoached and outplayed.
Help me out here. I know it is a development year, but surely they have to be practicing the game plan they want to implement. Heaven help us if it is "bomb it long".
