Forward entry deficiency

[Sanctorum]

I've been pondering on the issue of St Kilda recording the lowest efficiency rate for entries into the forward 50, culminating in just 13 shots on goal from 48 entries - 27% - in the 4 goal loss to the Suns last week.

That was the lowest it's been this year, it might even have set a new record...

It is true to say that the team has been missing some regular forwards, against the Suns they missed Max King, Tim Membrey, Jack Higgins and Jack Hayes, and had 4 novices in Anthony Caminiti, Sharman Cooper, Mitchito Owens and Mattaes Phillipou. So it could be argued that with that level of inexperience 27% conversion was perhaps to be expected.

In quite a few of the other lossess, King and Higgins both played so you'd be entitled to expect a better result.

In the first game of the season, with a makeshift forward line, they scored only 20 times from 65 entries (31%) and yet they had a good win over Fremantle.

A big factor is obviously the manner in which the ball is delivered into attack and that's certainly been sub-standard, although on Saturday the team's overall disposal efficency was rated at 76% which is not too bad.

One of the things that occurs to me is that the assistant coach designated to teach the forwards their sepcialised craft is Robert Harvey and I'm wondering if maybe he lacks the requisite experience in that aspect of footy to do that effectively.

There's no question that Harves was an outstanding player in his day, but I don't know if this necessarily translates into him being able to coach successfully at the elite level.

Yes, he was Buckley's assistant for years and has racked up a lot of experience but I've always regarded hin as being more one of the 'backroom' operators, not necessarily a strong motivator or leader of men.

It's also most often the case that clubs find assistants that have vast experience in particular chosen fields, as with Corey Enright covering defence and Lenny Hayes midfield. I doubt that there are any ruck coaches that haven't actually played ruck.

I don't want to be regarded as the bloke who shot Bambi, but just as Lyon spoke plainly and honestly about his players after the game on Saturday, this is a conversation that needs to be had.

[Yorkeys]

Not Harvs.
There is no peer pressure to perform.
Senior players have established a sheltered workshop where effort and attention to skills is optional.
Ross has to start culling the part time lovers from this week, reputations and perceived essentiality notwithstanding.
Steele is a softy when it comes to calling out rubbish performance, it's just not his style and not his fault he is captain, it's the best player syndrome. Ok in grade 7 but.....

[shrodes]

You could make the same argument against Lenny who has been doing arguably worse with better players. Steele, Crouch, Ross are not superstars but better than the makeshift forward line Harvs has dealt with this season, and yet the midfield has been completely trounced almost every week with no respite (even against "poorer" midfield groups).

[The Fireman]

i reckon wilkie would make a good capt

[saynta]

All valid comments in the three above posts. Only thing is I don't feel qualified to comment on Banger as a forward coach.

Would be more than happy to see him as the main coach though, a role I feel he would be more suited to.

[TheGreatZacsby]

i reckon wilkie would make a good capt

Agreed. I’ve seen him bark orders in defence when I was on the boundary. He pulled up Stocker and scolded him. Than praised NWM with a classy intercept. That’s a captain right there. He was playing amazing AA form when he was the step in captain.