I tried to limit the use of the sarcastica font in my last post, but sometimes I overstep the mark.
My comments were based on a very small sample size (re: Mundy). But the fact I feel many on here have such passionate hatred towards Lyon, our administrators, football dept, ass coaches, etc. that I wonder how they reconcile to really be Docker ‘supporters’. Fair dinkum, I think some on here subscribe to a line of thinking similar to one I recall from a US Vietnam War veteran - we had to destroy the village to save it.
But back to the footy... one reason why Mundy has done so well up forward this year - aside from the fact he is a champion footballer with great skills, strength & decision-making - is other teams have been unable to find the right match up on him. That is, he’s confused other coaches. That also doesn’t mean he’s our ‘best’ forward - otherwise he’d be getting the first or second best defender each week - which he doesn’t.
But as Barra is getting on a bit and lacking a yard of pace that, let’s face it, he didn’t really have to start with - the coaching staff (not Roly, clearly, he’s not capable of such insight - sarcastica font engaged) have found a new role for him. He also hasn’t been our highest goal scorer so far either.
At the moment, we have a forward line consisting of Tabs, Cammac, Ballas, Matera with SonSon, Cerra, Brayshaw, Banfield, et al rotating through. Cammac has a shocker backing up from his best game in purple the week before. Matera, Brayshaw, Cerra & Banfield have 4 or less games experience playing in our team.
Had Walters not dropped a lace out pass from Cammac, Neale chipped over to Ballas in the goalsquare and/or Walters kick over to Matera been a metre closer - then all of a sudden our ‘disfunctional’ forward line looked ok.
I am less concerned about our forward line as when we move the ball from defence quickly and directly - as we’ve seen the past few weeks - then the goals come.
Premierships are built around strong defence, pressure on the ball carrier and quick, direct ball movements. The past 3 GF’s have been won by the teams doing all of the above - despite their opponents having (arguably) better forward lines on paper. Certainly that can be said for both Sydney & Adelaide.
We have already shown this year that with some shrewd recruiting and the return from long-term injuries - we have a backline that can be top 4 again. The midfield is going ok and with some high draft picks getting ground time - I’m optimistic that can be top 4 material sooner rather than later.
Forward lines, in the modern game, seem to be the least necessary of the 3 when it comes to the ultimate glory. Sydney with Franklin & Tippett & Adelaide with Tex & Jenkins haven’t been able to come away with the chocolates - despite heavy favouritism - 2 GF’s in a row. You could thrown in Wet Toast’s forward line in 2015 to the conversation too, for that matter.
My point is, forward lines appear to be the issue when you don’t convert in 50’s - but if you can’t match it with the best midfields and defences then your chances of winning drop away to zero - just like the in 50’s do.
Much like our 2016 (when we still had Pav) and, to an extent, our 2017.
