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View Full Version : Brendan McCartney tells players to be bold against Geelong



bornadog
26-04-2013, 01:39 PM
link (http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/teams/western-bulldogs-coach-brendan-mccartney-tells-players-to-be-bold-against-geelong/story-e6frf9nx-1226629943891)

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TAKE the game on. That's the bold message to the young Western Bulldogs team against the powerhouse Geelong outfit tomorrow night.

But Bulldogs' coach Brendan McCartney warned that any ultra-positive approach must be tempered by the need to defend against the unbeaten Cats at Etihad Stadium.

"We may have to look at subtly doing things a little bit different and still have the courage to be prepared to move the ball and use the ball,'' McCartney said before training today.

"Part of that is not to always go crazy-fast with the ball, but at the same time, it's worse to go slow and safe with the ball. There's got to be a combination.

"The best teams with the ball generally handle what's in front of them. When teams defend you really well, the obvious option is to kick it to a contest. If they give you a little time and space, then you should take that too.

"We are encouraging them every week, and we do drills every week, to encourage people to have the confidence to shift the ball into space and move it a bit quicker.

"Some times young people, under high pressure and fatigue and the game's going really fast, in their head forget that.

"At the moment, as with times last year, we've got a lot of those players. There will be contests where you think 'Gee, they've actually done better than they probably should've with the opponent they're against'. And probably the ones, when the game gets hot, they respond to it.

"There's no doubt some of our younger players will have patches in the game where it's getting away. It's how well they get themselves back.

"That's almost the definition of maturity. In any job, if you have a bad minute, you don't let it become a bad day or week. You can correct it and they've got to learn to do that. And, just as important, they've got to learn to help each other do it.''

The Dogs have been ravaged by injuries, with Ryan Griffen (shoulder) and Daniel Giansiracusa (shoulder) this week joining the casualty list.

McCartney, a former assistant coach at Geelong, has used Cats premiership performers and Dogs' specialist coaches Matthew Scarlett and Cameron Mooney to help prepare his injury-depleted team for the massive task.

"We understand how they play, no different to any other club, and the two boys who were champions down there have gone about the work with our young forwards and defenders this week just to help prepare them for people they may know a little more about. That's the only difference,'' he said.

"What we're really clear is not burdening our players with too much information before a game. They need enough preparation to know wherever there's a stoppage, to have a very clear idea of what their role is and understand we defend better when we do these things and also move the ball better when we do certain things.''

McCartney said he was trying to incorporate components of Geelong's sustained success into his long-term plans, while preserving the Western Bulldogs' identity.

"We're not Geelong. We're the Western Bulldogs, but you can't ignore patience and clear stability and developing a brand of footy where the harder the game is, the more it stands up and doesn't dissolve.

"And to drive that style, you need certain types of people and players. But we're our own entity and we'll develop long-term great players,'' he said.

"It's funny, people who have worked in that club are going to have great respect for that club because what was built down there wasn't just one or two people. It was a group of fantastic people who worked together for a long time. And it did take a long time.

"We've got to remember it took that club six or seven years of patient building and clear philosophy to get to where they wanted to be. And they've been remarkably good at sustaining it and that's probably a bigger accolade. They have pioneered and led the way how to do it over a long period of time.''

Hotdog60
26-04-2013, 01:56 PM
It's all good positive stuff from the coach and I can see he is building for sustainability for the long term.
I just hope we can see it out and reap the rewards.
I also wonder if he has now given a time frame in which to see to it happen. Macca mentions in the article that it took Geelong six or 7 years to reap the benefits so is that the time frame we should expect very good results.

ledge
26-04-2013, 06:09 PM
At one of the meetings last year he mentioned a 6 year plan and we were two years into
It .

Nuggety Back Pocket
26-04-2013, 08:15 PM
It's all good positive stuff from the coach and I can see he is building for sustainability for the long term.
I just hope we can see it out and reap the rewards.
I also wonder if he has now given a time frame in which to see to it happen. Macca mentions in the article that it took Geelong six or 7 years to reap the benefits so is that the time frame we should expect very good results.

Largely depends on how good our recruitment will be. Geelong has had probably the best recruiter in the AFL in Stephen Wells. They have now enjoyed 7 years at the top or thereabouts and still remain a powerful unit.BMcC has a massive task in front of him.

Before I Die
26-04-2013, 09:46 PM
Largely depends on how good our recruitment will be. Geelong has had probably the best recruiter in the AFL in Stephen Wells. They have now enjoyed 7 years at the top or thereabouts and still remain a powerful unit.BMcC has a massive task in front of him.

Based on McCartney's formula for success, it isn't about having the best talent spotter. It is about developing a team first ethos and recruiting quality people who will adhere to that ethos. Then out of that culture, champion players will emerge. It raises a chicken and egg scenario. Did the recruiter make the team, or did the team make the recruiter?

I am actually a disciple of Macca's philosophy. I am not demeaning the work of Stephen Wells, but I believe that the more important ingredient was the culture of the club.

Of course the father/son selections didn't hurt either. :)

bornadog
26-04-2013, 11:58 PM
Based on McCartney's formula for success, it isn't about having the best talent spotter. It is about developing a team first ethos and recruiting quality people who will adhere to that ethos. Then out of that culture, champion players will emerge. It raises a chicken and egg scenario. Did the recruiter make the team, or did the team make the recruiter?

I am actually a disciple of Macca's philosophy. I am not demeaning the work of Stephen Wells, but I believe that the more important ingredient was the culture of the club.

Of course the father/son selections didn't hurt either. :)

Surely you need talent first then work out if they are good people

jeemak
27-04-2013, 02:35 AM
Based on McCartney's formula for success, it isn't about having the best talent spotter. It is about developing a team first ethos and recruiting quality people who will adhere to that ethos. Then out of that culture, champion players will emerge. It raises a chicken and egg scenario. Did the recruiter make the team, or did the team make the recruiter?

I am actually a disciple of Macca's philosophy. I am not demeaning the work of Stephen Wells, but I believe that the more important ingredient was the culture of the club.

Of course the father/son selections didn't hurt either. :)


Surely you need talent first then work out if they are good people

I think Macca would be pragmatic enough to realise you need both.

For instance, you only draft players with talent and the characteristics that make good people. Not one or the other exclusively.

In the background you create a culture across the entire club that fosters a team first ethos. The talented players with good character blend in, under the guidance of the club and no excuses are made for serious deviations away from that ethos.

It's a pretty simple philosophy when you think about it. Having said that, there's still an element of doubt and indecision that needs to be managed when exceptionally talented players are available, even if they're not able to perfectly fit in to the structure mentioned above. The club, after some time, needs to be able to back itself in to influence such types to ensure it gets the most out of them.

LostDoggy
27-04-2013, 12:02 PM
Largely depends on how good our recruitment will be. Geelong has had probably the best recruiter in the AFL in Stephen Wells. They have now enjoyed 7 years at the top or thereabouts and still remain a powerful unit.BMcC has a massive task in front of him.

Well, we have to give them full marks for their recruitment in the past year. Stringer and McCrae look like they will be very good footballers and the three older players they brought into the club (Lower, Stevens & Young) are not only holding their positions .... but look to be potential long term players.

Another few years of strong recruiting, on top of what we have already, could see Macca's vision come to fruition.

It is just hard work watching the slow development.

bornadog
27-04-2013, 01:09 PM
Well, we have to give them full marks for their recruitment in the past year. Stringer and McCrae look like they will be very good footballers and the three older players they brought into the club (Lower, Stevens & Young) are not only holding their positions .... but look to be potential long term players.

Another few years of strong recruiting, on top of what we have already, could see Macca's vision come to fruition.

It is just hard work watching the slow development.

Don't forget the past two years we have been lower on the ladder and we get to pick the better players before others do. From 2008 to 2010 our first rounds picks were not till the teens.

wimberga
27-04-2013, 01:12 PM
Based on McCartney's formula for success, it isn't about having the best talent spotter. It is about developing a team first ethos and recruiting quality people who will adhere to that ethos. Then out of that culture, champion players will emerge. It raises a chicken and egg scenario. Did the recruiter make the team, or did the team make the recruiter?

I am actually a disciple of Macca's philosophy. I am not demeaning the work of Stephen Wells, but I believe that the more important ingredient was the culture of the club.

Of course the father/son selections didn't hurt either. :)

Great post. We of course do need the talent but this has hit the nail on the head with how Macca is building our club.

Ideally, we wont be hitting that top echelon talent via the draft from next year onwards....

Ghost Dog
28-04-2013, 10:20 AM
Nice to see Brendan was bold at the selection table, and in the box as well, on the day.

bornadog
28-04-2013, 11:45 AM
Nice to see Brendan was bold at the selection table, and in the box as well, on the day.

I have been critical of his match day performance , but I thought last night was pretty good. When Roughie was being beaten, he moved him. Cooney was being tagged out so he put him in the forward pocket and Austin, Smith were moved around a bit as well.

westdog54
28-04-2013, 08:37 PM
I have been critical of his match day performance , but I thought last night was pretty good. When Roughie was being beaten, he moved him. Cooney was being tagged out so he put him in the forward pocket and Austin, Smith were moved around a bit as well.

I think last night showed us that Macca is ready to make moves where there is a clear tangible positive for player and team. Roughead going forward was a good example of that.

Where we've got a chance to 'pinch a win' he'll make a move to try and get it done, rather than moves to 'stop the bleeding'. That's just my take on it.

bornadog
28-04-2013, 10:49 PM
I think last night showed us that Macca is ready to make moves where there is a clear tangible positive for player and team. Roughead going forward was a good example of that.

Where we've got a chance to 'pinch a win' he'll make a move to try and get it done, rather than moves to 'stop the bleeding'. That's just my take on it.

I think Roughead was moved because Taylor was killing him.

westdog54
28-04-2013, 11:20 PM
I think Roughead was moved because Taylor was killing him.

But unlike a player like Markovic, where adjusting matchups in the backline ends up a bit like shuffling the deckchairs on the Titanic, at least with Roughead there was an opportunity to have him play a role elsewhere on the field.

immortalmike
29-04-2013, 11:22 PM
I think Roughead was moved because Taylor was killing him.

Really? Two marks and two goals is killing him? One goal was a cheapy in the square and the other two were on Dale and Austin.

jeemak
29-04-2013, 11:56 PM
Don't forget the past two years we have been lower on the ladder and we get to pick the better players before others do. From 2008 to 2010 our first rounds picks were not till the teens.

It does get harder when your first rounder is in the teens. Probably why many have an issue with the recruitment of Howard, who was out of the blue when there were safer bets available and Howard would have been around at our second round pick in all likelihood.

We need to really capitalise on the lower table finishes at the draft table. If we don't a scenario of oblivion isn't too far off the horizon.

bornadog
30-04-2013, 08:37 AM
Really? Two marks and two goals is killing him? One goal was a cheapy in the square and the other two were on Dale and Austin.

It was more than two marks, it was at least four. Why else do you think we would move Roughead when he is being groomed for fullback?

immortalmike
30-04-2013, 12:28 PM
It was more than two marks, it was at least four. Why else do you think we would move Roughead when he is being groomed for fullback?

Interesting as watching the replay I only saw two on Roughead specifically.

bornadog
30-04-2013, 01:20 PM
Interesting as watching the replay I only saw two on Roughead specifically.

OK, on marks you could be right, I am going on memory, however, what I am saying is Roughead was killed in the backline and had to be moved.

LostDoggy
30-04-2013, 05:13 PM
Based on McCartney's formula for success, it isn't about having the best talent spotter. It is about developing a team first ethos and recruiting quality people who will adhere to that ethos. Then out of that culture, champion players will emerge. It raises a chicken and egg scenario. Did the recruiter make the team, or did the team make the recruiter?

I am actually a disciple of Macca's philosophy. I am not demeaning the work of Stephen Wells, but I believe that the more important ingredient was the culture of the club.

Of course the father/son selections didn't hurt either. :)

Sydney will back that argument up for you.