Let me simplify the problem last night...

[Enrico_Misso]

If he is calling for it then he shouldn't.

But if three defenders are silly enough to follow him then one strategy would be for Roo to lead wide and take those guys with him, whilst the link player then swings the kick back to the corridor where there should be a hole and our spare player(s).

That should be a standard training drill.

[Iceman234]

will we never learn?

what happened to the idea of using gilbert as a forward?

No, let's just blindly kick it to Roo all night.

Gilbert was touted as being played forward pre-season 2010 until he was finally moved there in a GF...now has to re-do his forward apprenticeship.

[noob]

our other 3 players are probably zoning off or flooding the defence so when one of those spare geelong players get the ball we get it back and kick it straight back to roo. Simple

[SainterK]

will we never learn?

what happened to the idea of using gilbert as a forward?

No, let's just blindly kick it to Roo all night.

Gilbert was touted as being played forward pre-season 2010 until he was finally moved there in a GF...now has to re-do his forward apprenticeship.

According to Ross, he has asked to go back, and isn't comfortable forward.

http://sen.com.au/audioplayer/Audio/Ros ... t-one/2053

[lefty]

Stanley will be in, need another tall target.

Plus, he's fast.

Don't say Stevens, he's not a "go to/kick to" man....

Edit: And of course Gilbert is down back, he's not a forward, he doesn't "read" the play correctly. I'd rather have him in the backline anyway, his run out of our backline is important

[Iceman234]

Gilbo should play where the coach decides to play and believes he will get the best out of him. For some reason Ross has called this as the forward line now for a couple of rpe-seasons but we've only seen it in the GF.

Personally I think for a couple of years Gilbo has turned over way too many coming out of defence, particularly when he has no right foot.

[kalsaint]

Exhibit A

That is comical & re-iterates how stupid our plan last night was.

again i dont think Ross Lyon had on the white board "kick it to Roo 4 on 1"

the question i have is if there are four geelong players in the frame where were the other saints players ? where were the crumbers ? Roo will make a contest EVERY time so there should be a crumber there at all times

Thats easy. Still running back to the forward area from the previous flooding tactic.We too slow to be creative up forward.

[kalsaint]

Exhibit A

That is comical & re-iterates how stupid our plan last night was.

again i dont think Ross Lyon had on the white board "kick it to Roo 4 on 1"

the question i have is if there are four geelong players in the frame where were the other saints players ? where were the crumbers ? Roo will make a contest EVERY time so there should be a crumber there at all times

Thats easy. Still running back to the forward area from the previous flooding tactic.We're too slow to be creative up forward.

[kalsaint]

Gilbo should play where the coach decides to play and believes he will get the best out of him. For some reason Ross has called this as the forward line now for a couple of rpe-seasons but we've only seen it in the GF.

Personally I think for a couple of years Gilbo has turned over way too many coming out of defence, particularly when he has no right foot.

Yep my thoughy yoo. Gilbert has no tight side and is often turning it over because of that. His short kicking in defence is the near perfect guide on how not to do it. Put him foraward and make him kick long unless he shows improvement with short kicking in defence.

[kalsaint]

Gilbo should play where the coach decides to play and believes he will get the best out of him. For some reason Ross has called this as the forward line now for a couple of rpe-seasons but we've only seen it in the GF.

Personally I think for a couple of years Gilbo has turned over way too many coming out of defence, particularly when he has no right foot.

Yep my thoughy yoo. Gilbert has no tight side and is often turning it over because of that. His short kicking in defence is the near perfect guide on how not to do it. Put him foraward and make him kick long unless he shows improvement with short kicking in defence.

[kalsaint]

Gilbo should play where the coach decides to play and believes he will get the best out of him. For some reason Ross has called this as the forward line now for a couple of rpe-seasons but we've only seen it in the GF.

Personally I think for a couple of years Gilbo has turned over way too many coming out of defence, particularly when he has no right foot.

Yep my thoughy yoo. Gilbert has no tight side and is often turning it over because of that. His short kicking in defence is the near perfect guide on how not to do it. Put him foraward and make him kick long unless he shows improvement with short kicking in defence.

[Johnny Member]

I really don't think the forward line is the issue, as such.

It's, as SainterK says, how it goes in there that is the issue.


But I think someone in this thread has touched on what I believe the root of the problem to be - and that is that our forward line doesn't have the ability to play their role in the defensive side of the ground when we don't have the ball, and play their role in the attacking side of the ground when do have it.

I don't think the forward line structure and setup can be fixed in isolation. I think it's going to take an alteration to the defensive nature of the game plan to allow the forwards to setup and play with some system.


Possibly the reason Roo is the only target every single time (seemingly) is that he's the only one athletic enough to push up when we don't have the ball, and actually get back when we do get it.

Having said that though, I think our backline is leaky when left to fend for themselves. I think they've been perhaps 'overrated' over the years due to the fact that they have the whole team helping them out.
So not involving the forwards in the defensive roles (or reducing them) might be a disaster and we could become far too easy to score against.


We will take some time to warm up this year though, so a R1 loss isn't the end of the world.
But the lack of other scoring options yet again is a worry.

[Wrote for Luck]

Gilbert's one of the best running defenders in the league.
His occasional inaccuracy is something to work on, it's not a consideration that would lead to removing him from the backline. In fact, all the more reason why he wouldn't be effective as a forward i.e. grand final replay.
I trust Ross when he talks about selection integrity. If Stanley hasn't done enough in the twos is it fair to put him in the team when others are slogging their guts out presumably. I reckon, and it may take a few weeks, one or two players will emerge who will own a forward spot by merit, enabling goals to flow like Nixon's undies across a tabloid newspaper.
Take your pick; Gamble, Stanley, Heyne, Lynch, Cahill, Steven, Archer, Armo, Mini etc...
What probably won't change is Nick, Kosi, Milne, Schneider locked in as forwards.

[goddardisgod]

I think Choo-Choo and Jarryd Allen would've helped us a lot. Choo-Choo's pace would have broken the lines, while Allen would've been another good tall for us.

[Dr Spaceman]

In the lead up to the game I suggested Archer could play a similar role for us that Hawkins plays for the Cats.

Having watched Tom again on Friday night I certainly don't believe such a role is beyond Arch

[PJ]

I think that we went conservative in the selection process and opted for Blake as the back up ruck. With the elevation of Archer you would think that clearly the coaches got cold feet and jumped for the tried and true - this sent a clear and conservative message - we won't be dishing up much new. Archer would IMO have made a significant change to the above pictures. He's 100kls and that kind of physical presence was what was required. Geelong were IMO clearly not bothered by Gamble and payed him little respect.

[Junction Oval]

The problem of a poor forward structure and Riewodt being double/triple teamed seems pretty obvious to all saints supportersa.

The coaches are being paid plenty to analyse the game. Perhaps that all coaches were at the Sandy game yesterday, indicates changes for for next week. Let's hope so.

[Junction Oval]

Forward structure needs changing. All saints supporters can see that. No doubt the highly paid coaches see it also. What's going to be done about it?

Perhaps that all coaches were at Sandy yesterday, indicates that changes will be made for next week.

[bigcarl]

will we never learn?

what happened to the idea of using gilbert as a forward?

No, let's just blindly kick it to Roo all night.

Gilbert was touted as being played forward pre-season 2010 until he was finally moved there in a GF...now has to re-do his forward apprenticeship.

According to Ross, he has asked to go back, and isn't comfortable forward.

http://sen.com.au/audioplayer/Audio/Ros ... t-one/2053

You reckon Riewoldt's comfortable with four blokes on him?