Leigh Fisher and overall team footspeed
Moderators: Saintsational Administrators, Saintsational Moderators
- Mr X from the West
- Club Player
- Posts: 1239
- Joined: Wed 10 Mar 2004 5:58pm
- Location: Subiaco
Leigh Fisher and overall team footspeed
Firstly, I'm rapt we won the NAB Cup and the cash that goes with it. I'm alos rapt with the fact that when we had to stand up in the last quarter, Ball, Harvs, Gram, Milne and even Fiora stepped up to the mark.
HOWEVER, I also saw some disturbing signs on Saturday night.
As was the case last year, there is a notieceable lack of footspeed in our team. This means that the opposition is able to "lead up" too easily and move the ball down field. It also means when we kick the ball it is often to contests because the receiver is not able to break away from his marker. I was hoping for improvements in this area this year but apart from CJ I don't know where it is going to coming from.
Leigh Fisher's lack of footspeed is a particular worry. He gets caught and/or run down too many times...I question whether he commands a spot in our best 22 at the minute.
HOWEVER, I also saw some disturbing signs on Saturday night.
As was the case last year, there is a notieceable lack of footspeed in our team. This means that the opposition is able to "lead up" too easily and move the ball down field. It also means when we kick the ball it is often to contests because the receiver is not able to break away from his marker. I was hoping for improvements in this area this year but apart from CJ I don't know where it is going to coming from.
Leigh Fisher's lack of footspeed is a particular worry. He gets caught and/or run down too many times...I question whether he commands a spot in our best 22 at the minute.
"Blow out the candle I will burn again tomorrow"
- B W and R all over
- SS Hall of Fame
- Posts: 2220
- Joined: Tue 09 Mar 2004 3:14pm
- Location: Northcote
- St Chris
- SS Hall of Fame
- Posts: 2153
- Joined: Wed 05 Apr 2006 2:20pm
- Has thanked: 4 times
- Been thanked: 41 times
This has been an issue for a while, but I think the way the coaches are trying to address it is through smarter running, not necessarily faster running.
Take Lenny for example, he's never been overly quick, but it's not as obvious as a Leigh Fisher because he's rarely caught out of position.
On the other hand, Raph clarke can really motor, but gets caught a lot and looks slow because of bad positioning and poor decision making.
If Leigh Fisher can continue to develop smarter running skills, then his lack of pace will be less of an issue.
Take Lenny for example, he's never been overly quick, but it's not as obvious as a Leigh Fisher because he's rarely caught out of position.
On the other hand, Raph clarke can really motor, but gets caught a lot and looks slow because of bad positioning and poor decision making.
If Leigh Fisher can continue to develop smarter running skills, then his lack of pace will be less of an issue.
-
- SS Life Member
- Posts: 3303
- Joined: Tue 23 May 2006 6:14pm
- Location: East Oakleigh
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 40 times
- magnifisaint
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 8095
- Joined: Sun 02 May 2004 2:52am
- Has thanked: 227 times
- Been thanked: 605 times
- yipper
- SS Life Member
- Posts: 3967
- Joined: Wed 10 Mar 2004 8:18am
- Location: Gippsland
- Been thanked: 10 times
Essendon are quick this year are they not?? Well, funny how they couldn't shake us off all game. We have improved our leg-speed with the influx of our newer younger players. We also have Ball and Hayes moving freely this year. But we are also running smarter and harder at the end of games through much improved fitness. Our tackling is also superb thus far,which helps to contain fleet-footed opponents.
I want to stand for something. I'm a loyal person and I think at the end of my career it will be great to look back and know that I'm a St Kilda person for life.
- Nick Riewoldt. May 19th 2009.
- Nick Riewoldt. May 19th 2009.
- Mr X from the West
- Club Player
- Posts: 1239
- Joined: Wed 10 Mar 2004 5:58pm
- Location: Subiaco
You can't tackle them if you can't catch them!yipper wrote:Essendon are quick this year are they not?? Well, funny how they couldn't shake us off all game. We have improved our leg-speed with the influx of our newer younger players. We also have Ball and Hayes moving freely this year. But we are also running smarter and harder at the end of games through much improved fitness. Our tackling is also superb thus far,which helps to contain fleet-footed opponents.
Ignore the problem at our peril.
"Blow out the candle I will burn again tomorrow"
- saintsRrising
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 30093
- Joined: Mon 15 Mar 2004 11:07am
- Location: Melbourne
- Has thanked: 711 times
- Been thanked: 1234 times
I would think that geelong last year were not any more faster then we were but they moved the ball quicker... chasing bums makes anyone look slow
btw not many backs would have stopped some of those leads.
btw not many backs would have stopped some of those leads.
FQF
loyal in the good times and bad
In richo I trust
2013 trade/draft best ever?
Billings - future brownlow medallist Longer - future best ruck
Dunstan - future captain Eli - future cult hero
Acres - future norm smith
loyal in the good times and bad
In richo I trust
2013 trade/draft best ever?
Billings - future brownlow medallist Longer - future best ruck
Dunstan - future captain Eli - future cult hero
Acres - future norm smith
- Mr X from the West
- Club Player
- Posts: 1239
- Joined: Wed 10 Mar 2004 5:58pm
- Location: Subiaco
Geelong are a s*** load faster than us.Solar wrote:I would think that geelong last year were not any more faster then we were but they moved the ball quicker... chasing bums makes anyone look slow
btw not many backs would have stopped some of those leads.
"Blow out the candle I will burn again tomorrow"
who? we have our outside runners and so do they. Bartel v hayes, dal v corey?? ablett is not slow...Mr X from the West wrote:Geelong are a s*** load faster than us.Solar wrote:I would think that geelong last year were not any more faster then we were but they moved the ball quicker... chasing bums makes anyone look slow
btw not many backs would have stopped some of those leads.
but its more their football movement that killed everyone last year
FQF
loyal in the good times and bad
In richo I trust
2013 trade/draft best ever?
Billings - future brownlow medallist Longer - future best ruck
Dunstan - future captain Eli - future cult hero
Acres - future norm smith
loyal in the good times and bad
In richo I trust
2013 trade/draft best ever?
Billings - future brownlow medallist Longer - future best ruck
Dunstan - future captain Eli - future cult hero
Acres - future norm smith
- CeilidhSaint
- Club Player
- Posts: 562
- Joined: Mon 18 Sep 2006 11:00pm
- Location: The Ironically Named Victory Room
Quick ball movement is far more important than leg speed - lots of players get caught and you can't always cut off good leads that hit players on the chest - the best defenders are right on their hammer even when the opposition is hit lace out - you will note that Max even when beaten one on one on lead always was within arm distance.
Don't panic!
Other teams will kick goals, we just need to kick more and surely with a mid field like we have now and a forward line of G, 23, 12, 44, 13, 3, 28 we should do damn well.
Don't panic!
Other teams will kick goals, we just need to kick more and surely with a mid field like we have now and a forward line of G, 23, 12, 44, 13, 3, 28 we should do damn well.
TB 1 - The Brightest Light on the Darkest Night - we miss you.
Think Globally, Act Sainterly
I have Phil Narkle's helmet
Think Globally, Act Sainterly
I have Phil Narkle's helmet
-
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 4298
- Joined: Fri 15 Sep 2006 10:35am
- Location: earth
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 1424 times
You only need three or four speedsters in the team to break the lines.
Look at Geelong. Their midield has Bartel, Corey, Ling and co. who have never been seen as super-quick.
They are no quicker than the Saints, and they had a super season in 2007
True, you need some speed in your team, but just how many quick players required is debatabl.
As for Leigh Fisher, I think he's an automatic selection - tough, disiplined, and makes good decisions. I just can't understand those who rate him so poorly.
Have a look at the first 14 games last season and see for yourself just how good he was.
Look at Geelong. Their midield has Bartel, Corey, Ling and co. who have never been seen as super-quick.
They are no quicker than the Saints, and they had a super season in 2007
True, you need some speed in your team, but just how many quick players required is debatabl.
As for Leigh Fisher, I think he's an automatic selection - tough, disiplined, and makes good decisions. I just can't understand those who rate him so poorly.
Have a look at the first 14 games last season and see for yourself just how good he was.
-
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 5018
- Joined: Sun 14 Mar 2004 10:42am
- Location: Bayside
- Has thanked: 9 times
- Been thanked: 92 times
His kicking to position is not good enough in my book.cwrcyn wrote:You only need three or four speedsters in the team to break the lines.
Look at Geelong. Their midield has Bartel, Corey, Ling and co. who have never been seen as super-quick.
They are no quicker than the Saints, and they had a super season in 2007
True, you need some speed in your team, but just how many quick players required is debatabl.
As for Leigh Fisher, I think he's an automatic selection - tough, disiplined, and makes good decisions. I just can't understand those who rate him so poorly.
Have a look at the first 14 games last season and see for yourself just how good he was.
Look at the tape sometime in the third a pass straight over Roo's head, just should not have missed.
Fixes this part of his game, becomes an automatic selection for mine.
- snoopygirl
- SS Life Member
- Posts: 3589
- Joined: Tue 18 May 2004 11:56am
- Location: Cranbourne East
- Armoooo
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 7281
- Joined: Sun 26 Nov 2006 2:28pm
- Location: The Great South East
- Contact:
Geelong aren't that quick, West Coast weren't that fast, Sydney weren't, Port weren't and Brisbane weren't...
It's not about how fast you are it's about how well you use the ball and find space....
It's not about how fast you are it's about how well you use the ball and find space....
ROBERT HARVEY A.K.A The Great Man, Banger, Harves, Ol' Man River...
384 games, 4 B&F's, 3 EJ Whitten Medals, St.Kilda Captain, 2 Time Brownlow Medalist, 8 Time All Australian, 2nd Highest Brownlow votes poller.... The greatest of ALL TIME!!
384 games, 4 B&F's, 3 EJ Whitten Medals, St.Kilda Captain, 2 Time Brownlow Medalist, 8 Time All Australian, 2nd Highest Brownlow votes poller.... The greatest of ALL TIME!!