Tactically speaking, we are still playing in 2007-11. Slow the ruck, wide defense up and in, dominate in defense via line speed and aggression and hunt in packs to minimize their yardage gains and basically beat them into submission. Our outside defense was able to stifle most attacking raids and the momentum gained by the aggressive defense systems allowed some very talented backs to score almost at will. Basically we won games with an attacking defensive system.
This would quite possibly still be a very successful game plan, IF we could pull it off. We currently lack the size, aggression and line speed to effect this tactic in the middle. In actual fact WE are the team getting beaten into submission with aggressive defense.
Working the ruck and slowing the play the ball down has resulted in us being penalized in the ruck with almost monotonous regularity, giving up field position, possession and momentum every_single_time. Whilst I've often felt we were getting unfairly pinged in the ruck, the simple fact is this: it's the epitome of stupidity to not look closely at this area and make_a_change!! Let them up faster? Trade those extra few seconds of time gained by holding down for the better gain of NOT gifting them field position and possession to boot. Sure they'll make a few extra yards per set, but is that worse than 30-40 free meters and a fresh set? Not even close. Four, five or six extra sets per game that invariably start in perfect attacking position. And we've proven time and again that our up and in (and slooooow) defense out wide is ohhh so vulnerable to a decent kick and a winger who can jump. Or even just catch and fall over. For F**CK'S SAKES!!
It's obvious to me, and I'm no technical wizard. I'm an ex front rower who enjoyed the simplicity of a game where "if they're not wearing your colours, and don't have a whistle, you can hurt them". That's all the instruction I required before a game.
These guys are highly paid athletes who've literally done nothing else (with a few exceptions of course) than play bloody football. They're not working 8-10hr shifts five days a week, sucking it up and going to training only to get minimal sleep and do it all over again. On f*ck all $$ an hour. These guys are getting paid boardroom dollars on what would apparently seem to be floor sweeping hours, with no responsibility except to themselves and the fans of the club they happen to be playing for. Surely some of these guys are smart enough to suggest that some changes should be made in the way they're playing and then perhaps lead the team in the physical war on the field? I'm hoping that in years to come that leadership role will be filled by Jake T, DCE, Gutho and guys like Demetriou and Santini and that young hooker from the U'20's.
When you step back and look at the guys we've lost over the last few seasons, the guys that lead the defensive brutality that gave us that intimidatory edge, things kind of come into perspective. Gifty, BoChoc, Kingy, Nood, Kitey et al.. That's a lot of forward power to lose and it's really hurt us this year.
I guess, in the infamous words of one Paul Keating, it's "the recession we had to have"?
You know what?? F*ck that sh*t. We are Manly. We don't do recessions. We don't do mediocrity. We don't do "mathematical chances". We kick ass, take names and go home with the Winfield Cup under one arm, with a pair of Seabirds carrying a carton of Tooheys under the other.
Amen!
