New Game Plan

[bornadog]

Beveridge pushing Bulldogs to become greyhounds: Murphy (http://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/2015-01-19/bulldogs-to-greyhounds)
The Western Bulldogs have moved on from their off-season "heartache" and are implementing a more fast-paced and adventurous brand of football under new coach Luke Beveridge, captain Robert Murphy says.


In a departure from ex-coach Brendan McCartney's emphasis on winning the contested football, the Bulldogs have focused on rapid ball movement since Beveridge took the reins.


"I guess the main order (from Luke) is probably with the ball we're a little bit more adventurous," Murphy said.


"We've been playing a lot of games, so the competitiveness and balance of defence and offence has really come into sharp focus."


The Dogs were split into two groups towards the end of training on Monday, with the players encouraged to pin-point targets by foot in the first game-style drill.


The squad then moved into a shorter handball exercise, with the emphasis still on quick movement down the field.


Murphy said the young squad was still adapting to the tactics from their new coach – who cut his teeth under Hawthorn's triple-premiership mentor Alastair Clarkson.


The new skipper would not be drawn on comparisons with the Hawks' precise kicking brand of football, but said thinking through transition from defence to attack was the aim.


"I think we’re moving the ball faster and I think if you asked Luke perhaps too fast at times," Murphy said.


"At the moment it's hell for leather a bit. With a young side we need to develop when to go fast and when to go slow, like all clubs at this time of year.


"There's a little bit of experimentation at the moment. Luke's getting a feel for the players we've got here and the kind of personnel.


"We're still finding out who we are, which is not a negative at all."


The Dogs parted ways with coach McCartney, former skipper Ryan Griffen and Brownlow medallist Adam Cooney – among others - during a turbulent trade period.


Murphy said the club had healed and was looking forward to a brigher future – which included seeing young power forward Tom Boyd debut in red, white and blue in 2015.


"Footy clubs and this footy team have been able to absorb a whole lot of change and that's given me a great deal of heart," Murphy said.


"Guys have moved on from the heartache from the off-season and are looking to a brighter season ahead and brighter years ahead."

[LostDoggy]

About time we made this bloke captain.

[F'scary]

Hopefully, this spells the end to those god-awful chains of backwards kicks and handballs we seemed to specialise in last year.

[bulldogtragic]

This is good and bad. I think the old plan was too old for where footy is heading. The negative is we spent 3 to 4 years stocking up on 'cracking in' players whose foot skills don't necessarily match the new game plan. If that's proven right and we don't have the foot skills required, we are in for a lean time until we do.

[jeemak]

This is good and bad. I think the old plan was too old for where footy is heading. The negative is we spent 3 to 4 years stocking up on 'cracking in' players whose foot skills don't necessarily match the new game plan. If that's proven right and we don't have the foot skills required, we are in for a lean time until we do.

But just "cracking in" was never the end game. For all McCartney's faults (and he had some) one of the biggest misnomers that's going to be a major part of his legacy is that he was one dimensional, and that a contested and slow moving congestion game was all that he had in his plans. We all remember the good games we played at the end of 2013 and half way through 2014 when the team gelled, and none of them were one dimensional in the way we played irrespective of the major theme being that we were tough in the contest.

Beverage now has legacy issues with the playing list, but most of the wholesale changes to it recently experienced would have taken effect if McCartney was still the man in the top job. Yes, it's highly likely we would have gone for good kicks and good endurance players who look likely to be able to play defence or forward had he have stayed.

It will be interesting to see how much of a change in game plan we go through this year and the next shapes our draft picks in the coming two drafts. I'd be very surprised if it did to any great extent, as one of the things we put in place under McCartney was a direction on how the list should be built and the type of players we need.

No coach is stupid enough to just expect a dogged contested ball winning game can win finals these days. Everybody knows a good balance of users, runners, talls and hard nuts is required. It's never really been any different, and never will be. Even the most stoic of teams that have made the GF in recent years have had the talent to execute all of the required skills to compete.

We try and try to overestimate the impact game plan and mantra have on our clubs fortunes, but for the most part every coach wants to get to the same end goal in terms of game style and it's predominantly list balance and talent that gets them there. It's just the steps they take along the way that differ.

[jeemak]

Yeah, I'm glad I posted that twice..........please excuse the double post.

[hujsh]

Yeah, I'm glad I posted that twice..........please excuse the double post.

Worth posting though.

[Mofra]

But just "cracking in" was never the end game. For all McCartney's faults (and he had some) one of the biggest misnomers that's going to be a major part of his legacy is that he was one dimensional, and that a contested and slow moving congestion game was all that he had in his plans. We all remember the good games we played at the end of 2013 and half way through 2014 when the team gelled, and none of them were one dimensional in the way we played irrespective of the major theme being that we were tough in the contest.

Beverage now has legacy issues with the playing list, but most of the wholesale changes to it recently experienced would have taken effect if McCartney was still the man in the top job. Yes, it's highly likely we would have gone for good kicks and good endurance players who look likely to be able to play defence or forward had he have stayed.
Agree with that, but looking at our best players:
- Libba
- Macrae
- Stringer
- Bonti
- Boyd Jnr
- Murphy

One thing stands out - they are all excellent users of the football.
Our cheapie trades - Darley & Biggs - use the ball well. Guys like Hrovat & Prudden are good kicks, and the draftees in 2015 all note they use the ball well. I actually think the nucleus of good ball users is there - heck, even Roberts & Roughy (2/3rds of our senior-ready KPD stocks) are good kicks.

Our "poorer" ball users include Boyd Snr (his last year), Morris (who always plays safe so doesn't turn the ball over), Talia who has improved, Dahlhaus (whose energy overcomes limitations) and Clay Smith, who somehow is a good kick for goal.

[Cyberdoggie]

Agree with that, but looking at our best players:
- Libba
- Macrae
- Stringer
- Bonti
- Boyd Jnr
- Murphy

One thing stands out - they are all excellent users of the football.
Our cheapie trades - Darley & Biggs - use the ball well. Guys like Hrovat & Prudden are good kicks, and the draftees in 2015 all note they use the ball well. I actually think the nucleus of good ball users is there - heck, even Roberts & Roughy (2/3rds of our senior-ready KPD stocks) are good kicks.

Our "poorer" ball users include Boyd Snr (his last year), Morris (who always plays safe so doesn't turn the ball over), Talia who has improved, Dahlhaus (whose energy overcomes limitations) and Clay Smith, who somehow is a good kick for goal.


Just thought I'd add Jong, Wallis, Grant, Picken and Wood to the below average kicking category list.

Agree with you that with our recent additions we are improving but the key is do we have absolute elite kickers for the guys that need to move the ball out of defence and when the every player on the field is in front of them zoning off.
Murphy is our only sure bet but we'll see if any of the new guys or recent picks can fill the void.

[hotdog]

I see the McCartney "cracking in" years having a positive effect on our game plan moving forward. Always easier to teach someone an inside game first and foremost and then add the outside dash at a later date. Whilst what we watched was ugly for all those years it surely has to bode well when the whips are cracking in a big final in years to come. You never unlearn to go hard and hunt the ball at any cost. Guys like McCrae, Hunter even Bonts will know what needs to happen when the call to lock it up is made. I think of Jordie McMahon and always wonder if he was a product of the restrictions/ role he was asked to play and the coaching and learning received. What if he was asked from day dot to put his head over it? Would he have been a different player?

[AndrewP6]

I see the McCartney "cracking in" years having a positive effect on our game plan moving forward. Always easier to teach someone an inside game first and foremost and then add the outside dash at a later date. Whilst what we watched was ugly for all those years it surely has to bode well when the whips are cracking in a big final in years to come. You never unlearn to go hard and hunt the ball at any cost. Guys like McCrae, Hunter even Bonts will know what needs to happen when the call to lock it up is made. I think of Jordie McMahon and always wonder if he was a product of the restrictions/ role he was asked to play and the coaching and learning received. What if he was asked from day dot to put his head over it? Would he have been a different player?

The way he carried on when leaving our club tells you the answer :No, he wouldn't.

[SlimPickens]

Clay Smith, who somehow is a good kick for goal.

Next time you watch Clay play, please do me a favour and watch where the ball ends up after he kicks it. Not how he drops the ball but where it actually ends up. He is not a bad kick. The reasons he is a good shot at goal is because he is a good kick of the footy.

[Testekill]

Next time you watch Clay play, please do me a favour and watch where the ball ends up after he kicks it. Not how he drops the ball but where it actually ends up. He is not a bad kick. The reasons he is a good shot at goal is because he is a good kick of the footy.

Clay has an ugly action but he's pretty good at placing them. Been more than a few players over the years that have been similar. Honestly, when Macrae came in his kicking action was terrible but he's now one of our best users of the football.

[Greystache]

Next time you watch Clay play, please do me a favour and watch where the ball ends up after he kicks it. Not how he drops the ball but where it actually ends up. He is not a bad kick. The reasons he is a good shot at goal is because he is a good kick of the footy.


Clay has an ugly action but he's pretty good at placing them. Been more than a few players over the years that have been similar. Honestly, when Macrae came in his kicking action was terrible but he's now one of our best users of the football.

Clay also suffers from a perception issue also in that at times he can shank a kick, which when combined with a horrible ball drop, makes for an ugly spectacle. I agree that by and large he's a good kick, particularly from a set shot, and I would put him in the top handful of shots for goal at the club.

[Mofra]

Next time you watch Clay play, please do me a favour and watch where the ball ends up after he kicks it. Not how he drops the ball but where it actually ends up. He is not a bad kick. The reasons he is a good shot at goal is because he is a good kick of the footy.
I still wouldn't call him a good kick of the footy - some of his missed targets had people screaming "Matty Boyd mk 2" in his early days - he's improved but "good kick" is still plenty of work away for him.


Just thought I'd add Jong, Wallis, Grant, Picken and Wood to the below average kicking category list.
Wallis is like Morris - he plays within his limitations. His problem is more lack of penetration if anything.
Wood is decent, and Picken is a decent shot on goal in general play.
Jong? Well he's improved a lot, but was coming from a very low base.


when Macrae came in his kicking action was terrible but he's now one of our best users of the football.
Macrae always looks awkward but is a pretty effective kick - slightly 'loopy' but it either hits the target or is put to advantage.

[Maddog37]

Clay us not a great kick on the run IMHO. This is due to his technique. Set shot and stationary kick no worries though.

[Go_Dogs]

Clay us not a great kick on the run IMHO. This is due to his technique. Set shot and stationary kick no worries though.

I think that's a fair assessment, the shanks that stick in my mind have been on the run; I otherwise agree with Slim that he's deceptively efficient.

[1eyedog]

From what I've seen of Clay he seems to be a very good kick for goal on the run. Many of his goals have come on the run. Not sure on his field kicking on the run though. From what I have seen of Macrae he seems a neat kick typical of left footers although it must be said he lacks distance on his kicks. This will come as he builds core strength.

[Remi Moses]

I see the McCartney "cracking in" years having a positive effect on our game plan moving forward. Always easier to teach someone an inside game first and foremost and then add the outside dash at a later date. Whilst what we watched was ugly for all those years it surely has to bode well when the whips are cracking in a big final in years to come. You never unlearn to go hard and hunt the ball at any cost. Guys like McCrae, Hunter even Bonts will know what needs to happen when the call to lock it up is made. I think of Jordie McMahon and always wonder if he was a product of the restrictions/ role he was asked to play and the coaching and learning received. What if he was asked from day dot to put his head over it? Would he have been a different player?

Vince Lombardi wouldn't get anything out of McMahon to be honest.
I think it's harder to coach kids to dare I say it " cracking in", as there instincts in junior footy ( whey they've probably dominated) is to be given the ball.its a bit of a beat up the continual " cracking in " mantra , and some have just continually ran with it . The whole tactical naivety for me with McCartney is overplayed by some to be perfectly honest.
Obviously as well documented he fell out with everybody