TOPIC:

BC wrote: for mine you have to test the dockers physically early in the piece to see if they're really playing for the jumper and each other or there because the freo hierarchy says they have to be. subi didn't do that in last years GF and I think it was a big mistake. a few big hits will show very quickly which freo players are committed and who's not.

Agree BC very important for any non aligned clubs to do that early and maintain the rage for the duration of the contest....
Our boys were sadly lacking in that regard last year when they exited in straight sets, particularly in the do or die Preliminary final on our own dung heap, we surrendered far too easily for my liking. I would have preferred to front up in a GF the previous week undermanned with a few soldiers missing but we would have been confident that we had put everything on the line to make it to the big dance.

Dwert wrote:

BC wrote: for mine you have to test the dockers physically early in the piece to see if they're really playing for the jumper and each other or there because the freo hierarchy says they have to be. subi didn't do that in last years GF and I think it was a big mistake. a few big hits will show very quickly which freo players are committed and who's not.

Agree BC very important for any non aligned clubs to do that early and maintain the rage for the duration of the contest....
Our boys were sadly lacking in that regard last year when they exited in straight sets, particularly in the do or die Preliminary final on our own dung heap, we surrendered far too easily for my liking. I would have preferred to front up in a GF the previous week undermanned with a few soldiers missing but we would have been confident that we had put everything on the line to make it to the big dance.

We didn't go out in straight sets Dwert. We beat WP in our first final, the Qualifying final remember?

Roman wrote:

Dwert wrote:

BC wrote: for mine you have to test the dockers physically early in the piece to see if they're really playing for the jumper and each other or there because the freo hierarchy says they have to be. subi didn't do that in last years GF and I think it was a big mistake. a few big hits will show very quickly which freo players are committed and who's not.

Agree BC very important for any non aligned clubs to do that early and maintain the rage for the duration of the contest....
Our boys were sadly lacking in that regard last year when they exited in straight sets, particularly in the do or die Preliminary final on our own dung heap, we surrendered far too easily for my liking. I would have preferred to front up in a GF the previous week undermanned with a few soldiers missing but we would have been confident that we had put everything on the line to make it to the big dance.

We didn't go out in straight sets Dwert. We beat WP in our first final, the Qualifying final remember?

Thanks Roman for putting me back in my box on that matter, where you happy on how we exited the finals last year?

Dwert wrote:

Roman wrote:

Dwert wrote:

BC wrote: for mine you have to test the dockers physically early in the piece to see if they're really playing for the jumper and each other or there because the freo hierarchy says they have to be. subi didn't do that in last years GF and I think it was a big mistake. a few big hits will show very quickly which freo players are committed and who's not.

Agree BC very important for any non aligned clubs to do that early and maintain the rage for the duration of the contest....
Our boys were sadly lacking in that regard last year when they exited in straight sets, particularly in the do or die Preliminary final on our own dung heap, we surrendered far too easily for my liking. I would have preferred to front up in a GF the previous week undermanned with a few soldiers missing but we would have been confident that we had put everything on the line to make it to the big dance.

We didn't go out in straight sets Dwert. We beat WP in our first final, the Qualifying final remember?

Thanks Roman for putting me back in my box on that matter, where you happy on how we exited the finals last year?

No I wasn't. I'm never happy when we lose, especially finals but I saw it coming against a fit and seasoned AFL side. Speaking to people around the club, there is a very positive vibe going around and I feel we are better prepared this year and up for challenges that come our way. We didn't have a small forward last season, we have now, so that adds to our flexibility. Time will tell.

I'd be quietly confident if I was a doggie supporter Roman. you guys have got the talent across the park... it just depends if you bring it to the games that count.

Yeah we weren't as balanced last year - depth has been expanded and I think we've unearthed a few things of value for the future too
But to harp a bit more , much will depend on the pros

Southerner wrote: Yeah we weren't as balanced last year - depth has been expanded and I think we've unearthed a few things of value for the future too
But to harp a bit more , much will depend on the pros

And we will play one of the pro's next week in our last game , so how would you recommend to TC and his team that we approach this game?
The fact is we know they will have 15 AFL pro's minimum in that first final in two weeks(Not sure on who will be released to play finals yet by the Dockers)? Does that mean that we use the final qualifying game as a bit of a fact finding game and then prepare to put all the cards on the table the following week against the same oppo with a different make up of players?
I have always thought you should not flirt with your form leading into finals and approach every game to win. Interesting dilemma?

Dwert wrote:

Southerner wrote: Yeah we weren't as balanced last year - depth has been expanded and I think we've unearthed a few things of value for the future too
But to harp a bit more , much will depend on the pros

And we will play one of the pro's next week in our last game , so how would you recommend to TC and his team that we approach this game?
The fact is we know they will have 15 AFL pro's minimum in that first final in two weeks(Not sure on who will be released to play finals yet by the Dockers)? Does that mean that we use the final qualifying game as a bit of a fact finding game and then prepare to put all the cards on the table the following week against the same oppo with a different make up of players?
I have always thought you should not flirt with your form leading into finals and approach every game to win. Interesting dilemma?

We go out to win every game like all should. Why would we rest our players two weeks in a row? They will have this weekend off and fine tune things next week. Players won't play unless they have niggles to overcome as no risks will be taken.

BC wrote: I'd be quietly confident if I was a doggie supporter Roman. you guys have got the talent across the park... it just depends if you bring it to the games that count.

And you should be very confident with your mob BC. What you have over everyone else to mental & physical strength.

Roman wrote:

Dwert wrote:

Southerner wrote: Yeah we weren't as balanced last year - depth has been expanded and I think we've unearthed a few things of value for the future too
But to harp a bit more , much will depend on the pros

And we will play one of the pro's next week in our last game , so how would you recommend to TC and his team that we approach this game?
The fact is we know they will have 15 AFL pro's minimum in that first final in two weeks(Not sure on who will be released to play finals yet by the Dockers)? Does that mean that we use the final qualifying game as a bit of a fact finding game and then prepare to put all the cards on the table the following week against the same oppo with a different make up of players?
I have always thought you should not flirt with your form leading into finals and approach every game to win. Interesting dilemma?

We go out to win every game like all should. Why would we rest our players two weeks in a row? They will have this weekend off and fine tune things next week. Players won't play unless they have niggles to overcome as no risks will be taken.

Mate where did I say rest players? fact finding could mean playing players in other roles , Target a few run with roles on the opposition prime movers , target the core leadership group with some physical buffeting within the rules. These are tactics that opposition clubs use with regularity against us yet I have not seen much done back in return. For us to go deep in the finals this year this is one of the important areas that our team needs to improve markedly in. The problem will be is that we have been reluctant to do this all year in the games that I have seen.