Shepherding- or lack of it.
Not sure if our game plan doesn't allow for it as much as other teams, or if players are busy making position to keep the flow going, but I'd like to see some more blocking
Shepherding- or lack of it.
Not sure if our game plan doesn't allow for it as much as other teams, or if players are busy making position to keep the flow going, but I'd like to see some more blocking
The difference between insanity and genius is measured only in success.
We've never been big on shepherding, but Birdy sure laid a decent one.Originally Posted by CureTheSane
Shepherding- or lack of it.
Not sure if our game plan doesn't allow for it as much as other teams, or if players are busy making position to keep the flow going, but I'd like to see some more blocking
Would have thought Lamb would be more inclined to a shepherd...
sorry
I C w0t u did dere
In all I thought our game a lot better yesterday.
I brought this up last year. We don't shepherd a lot. We were getting into the habit after the half way mark last year and it did make a difference. It contributed to our GF win. We have regressed to the old style in quite a few areas this year. Shepherding is one area we have regressed.
Just kicking the ball long to a contest down the members wing is another. There were so many opportunities to attack on the opposite side but we just kept on bombing it long. bloody frustrating. I thought we got rid of that repetitive action after the half way point of last season.
Bombing it into the forwardline is another. Not as bad yesterday but still an issue at times.
I'm just going to say I love Mike Pyke. He is a sensational player. It is hard to believe he only took up the game 5 years ago.
The lack of shepherding is something we just have to live with, as frustrating as it is, because it's unlikely to change. Over the years I've asked both Paul Roos and Rhyce Shaw and both suggested that players are given a role in each situation and that's rarely to shepherd. Then again I spent a weekend an Eagles supporter and I was lamenting "bloody Daniel Chick" - now there was a shepherd that won a Premiership.
I wouldn't have thought that "shepherding" is a game plan/set role sort of science. It is an opportunistic "one-percenter" effort that arises within a passage of play. It is a skill that is executed well by players who combine experience and peripheral vision to create space for a team mate and hamper an opponent's access to player or ball. Often there is a thin line between a good shepherd and illegal deliberate interference.
Very valid point, sometimes its a shepherd and other times its interference. We cop enough free kicks against already. In fact I laughed tonight when on the AFL 360, they complained about the North Melbourne v Port Adelaide free kick count which was 28 to 10. How come no mentioned the GF, when its was 26 to 10? Or even Sunday's game when Brisbane got an extra 10 free kicks. I guess some teams have to expect that every game the opposition will get at least 10 extra free kicks, regardless if they are there or not.
When you lay 100+ tackles, the free kicks will naturally go against you...High, low, in the back, holding to long , slinging, late....versus....holding the ball.
Extremely lopsided....Which is probably fair enough, given you don't have the ball.
Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it's time to pause and reflect... MT
I'm going to assume that the club saw this thread, printed it off and handed it out to the players with a game plan to shepherd.
Last night's game certainly was a hell of a lot better in this area.
Nice to see for a change
The difference between insanity and genius is measured only in success.
Scott Watters wouldn't agree!
But we could do more.
He reminds him of the guys, close-set, slow, and never rattled, who were play-makers on the team. (John Updike, seeing Josh Kennedy in a crystal ball)
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