ace wrote:Full backs run off dangerous full forwards to get the full forward out of position.
Moronic imbeciles masquerading as coaches require the full forward to chase the full back everywhere.
Intelligent coaches require the full forward to stay in position, and have someone else pick up the full back.
The full forward without an opponent then burns the oppostion every turnover.
Unfortunately Ross Lyon requires all players to man up on their immediate opponent and does not have the intelligence to be flexible.
He can't find the flexibility in the Sydney game plan manual.
PS That is the Sydney game plan manual he is looking at in the photos.
Well, it depends on the opponent. It's not necessary to have your forward responsible for the same man who covers him when the forward is trying to win the ball.
On one hand, part of the essence of good forward pressure is workrate allowing there to be fewer forwards chasing then there are backmen seeking possession so your zone ro flood or whatever can create a numbers advantage for you. Similarly, it's becoming more and more common for teams to leave the most likely to turnover the ball open in the backline while creating this advantage. Opposition clubs are quite happy for Hudghton to build up cheap disposal, as he's never been a great user of the ball. We can all recollect instances of Jason Blake being left open to gain a possession, and when the ump calls play on a forward who hadn't been chasing suddenly mows him down from behind.
Against a Scarlett or a Milburn, allowing them free reign is going to hurt... but forward like Welsh when he played for Adelaide built his career on covering such dangerous backs, and then being an excellent set shot if the defense didn't pay him his due on the rebound.
Some teams WILL attempt to take advantage of Gehrig. Given the amount of time we've seen him back of centre the last couple of years, I'd say it's not as easy as made out. The questions will be:
1) can we exploit it via pressure from others to get goals in exchange for cheap possessions.
2) Can we use it to make teams attempt to rebound through players without the skills.
3) Do we have players we can use in a defensive forward capacity without hurting our ability to convert (e.g. a Raph Clarke, Shane Birss, Clinton Jones depending on the opponent).