Murray MiddletonRound Two
March 30th 2008 12:30
1. Disappointing Demons
On Saturday afternoon the Western Bulldogs defeated Melbourne by 95 points. It was the second successive humiliation for Dean Bailey and his men, following last week’s 104-point loss to Hawthorn. Next week Melbourne visit Skilled Stadium to face reigning premiers Geelong. It will get ugly. Although the season is only two rounds old, Melbourne appear to be a club in crisis. They made a daring decision to appoint Dean Bailey as coach following Neil Daniher’s resignation last year. Bailey, who was barely known to the football public, beat a list of more fancied candidates such as Kevin Sheedy, Chris Connolly and Chris Bond to the post. He served his apprenticeship under Mark Williams at Port Adelaide. There is little doubt that Alastair Clarkson’s (a former assistant to Williams) progress at Hawthorn enhanced Bailey’s stocks. However the selection panel must have seen something in Bailey.
It is too early to judge Bailey. Imagine if Melbourne had have appointed Kevin Sheedy as coach and still suffered the same fate in the opening rounds? Eighteen months ago Neil Daniher believed that Melbourne had a list capable of challenging for a premiership. Under Daniher the Demons played fluent, hard-running football that was good to watch, but lacked accountability. When Melbourne were bad, they were dreadful. Daniher never possessed good tall defenders. Premiership sides are always built on a strong defence. Ask Mick Malthouse. Melbourne’s desperation was evident when they selected Luke Molan at pick nine in the 2001 superdraft that boasted the likes of Judd, Hodge, Ball, Bartel, Ablett and Dal Santo. Molan was a key position defender who was expected to go in the second round. The Demons are still suffering from the Molan selection.
During Saturday’s call Gary Lyon voiced concerns over David Neitz’s form. This will be the skipper’s last season. Russell Robertson, who has been a great player, only has a few years left in his body. Last season Robert Walls suggested that it was time for Melbourne to trade the likes of Bruce, Green and Johnstone to begin a rebuilding process. It was a big call by Walls. Such drastic measures are rarely necessary in football. What is now certain is that the Demons have to rebuild. Their current crop of players is not good enough. The first step must be to form a solid defence. It is time for Jarrod Rivers to play a string of matches and deliver on his talent. Dean Bailey deserves time.
2. Bomber’s Boys Beat Bomber’s Boys
On Sunday afternoon Geelong defeated Essendon by 99 points. It was a reality check for the young Bombers. They should not be disheartened. Last week Essendon was able to overhaul the Kangaroos with a fast-paced brand of football. In ‘The Age’ on Friday Rohan Connolly wrote about the need for speed and identified the Bombers as one of the fastest teams in the competition. This may be true. But the Bombers were never going to compete with the bigger bodies of Geelong. On the surface, Essendon were let down by poor disposal against the Cats. Yet it was more the pressure that Geelong were able to apply that caused the mistakes to occur. The Bombers might be able to run, but they have to get the ball first.
Geelong looked great. Brisbane’s four consecutive Grand Final appearances involved largely the same group of players. Mark ‘Bomber’ Thompson is evidently not prepared to rest on his laurels. In 2008 he has introduced a new ruckman, a new defender and a new forward. Harry Taylor, the Cat’s first selection in the national draft, made a great debut on Sunday. He will most likely take the role of third tall defender in Matthew Egan’s absence. If only the Demons could draft a ready-made tall defender... Trent West and Ryan Gamble also impressed in their second and third games respectively. The Cats are feeding new talent into their team. They have parted company with the likes of King, Playfair, Gardiner and Callan. List management is crucial. Mark Thompson and his coaching staff should be applauded for their foresight.
3. Swans Kick 22 Goals
Many people expected Sydney to strangle Port Adelaide on Sunday afternoon. In 2007 Sydney won seven ought of the eight matches that they played at the SCG. The ground suits their defensive style of football. What no one expected was a blowout. Sydney kicked twenty-two goals and destroyed the Power. In the first two rounds Paul Roos has adopted the unconventional method of coaching from the sidelines. The move has allowed Roos to gain a different perspective on his team. Although it denies him an overview of the game, he has been able to speak face to face with players when they leave the field. It seemed to work on Sunday.
Roos has re-shaped his premiership side, bringing in the likes of Jack, Barlow, Bird and Grundy. All four players contributed to the demolition of the Power. Nick Davis was a notable omission from the team this week. It is unfortunate that a player of Davis’ potential is confined to playing in the bush league. Sydney’s style of play is tough for forwards. They are often starved of opportunities. Davis must make the most of his five to ten kicks per game. Last week against St. Kilda he did not. He does not have the motor to play further up the field. His omission sends a clear message to the rest of the team. Perhaps it worked. Sydney are going to be tough to beat at home this season.
4. Goodwin Kicks Seven
At the end of last season Adelaide lost the services of Mark Ricciutto. Toward the end of Ricciutto’s career Neil Craig gave him a role as a mid-sized forward. Unfortunately, injuries got in the way. During this year’s NAB Cup Craig played the likes of Edwards, McLead and Goodwin up forward. The Crows had a successful tournament. They carried that form into last Saturday’s thumping of the West Coast Eagles. Goodwin kicked seven goals. His performance was reminiscent of the role that Craig had hoped Ricciutto might perform in his later years. Goodwin is a tough player to match up. Should he be treated as a tall, a small, a lead-up player, or a crumber? Brad Johnson’s heroic efforts up forward for the Bulldogs have provided Goodwin with a protocol for his 2008 role. It will be interesting to see whether Goodwin can deliver once opposition teams devise a strategy for curbing his influence.
On Saturday afternoon the Western Bulldogs defeated Melbourne by 95 points. It was the second successive humiliation for Dean Bailey and his men, following last week’s 104-point loss to Hawthorn. Next week Melbourne visit Skilled Stadium to face reigning premiers Geelong. It will get ugly. Although the season is only two rounds old, Melbourne appear to be a club in crisis. They made a daring decision to appoint Dean Bailey as coach following Neil Daniher’s resignation last year. Bailey, who was barely known to the football public, beat a list of more fancied candidates such as Kevin Sheedy, Chris Connolly and Chris Bond to the post. He served his apprenticeship under Mark Williams at Port Adelaide. There is little doubt that Alastair Clarkson’s (a former assistant to Williams) progress at Hawthorn enhanced Bailey’s stocks. However the selection panel must have seen something in Bailey.
It is too early to judge Bailey. Imagine if Melbourne had have appointed Kevin Sheedy as coach and still suffered the same fate in the opening rounds? Eighteen months ago Neil Daniher believed that Melbourne had a list capable of challenging for a premiership. Under Daniher the Demons played fluent, hard-running football that was good to watch, but lacked accountability. When Melbourne were bad, they were dreadful. Daniher never possessed good tall defenders. Premiership sides are always built on a strong defence. Ask Mick Malthouse. Melbourne’s desperation was evident when they selected Luke Molan at pick nine in the 2001 superdraft that boasted the likes of Judd, Hodge, Ball, Bartel, Ablett and Dal Santo. Molan was a key position defender who was expected to go in the second round. The Demons are still suffering from the Molan selection.
During Saturday’s call Gary Lyon voiced concerns over David Neitz’s form. This will be the skipper’s last season. Russell Robertson, who has been a great player, only has a few years left in his body. Last season Robert Walls suggested that it was time for Melbourne to trade the likes of Bruce, Green and Johnstone to begin a rebuilding process. It was a big call by Walls. Such drastic measures are rarely necessary in football. What is now certain is that the Demons have to rebuild. Their current crop of players is not good enough. The first step must be to form a solid defence. It is time for Jarrod Rivers to play a string of matches and deliver on his talent. Dean Bailey deserves time.
2. Bomber’s Boys Beat Bomber’s Boys
On Sunday afternoon Geelong defeated Essendon by 99 points. It was a reality check for the young Bombers. They should not be disheartened. Last week Essendon was able to overhaul the Kangaroos with a fast-paced brand of football. In ‘The Age’ on Friday Rohan Connolly wrote about the need for speed and identified the Bombers as one of the fastest teams in the competition. This may be true. But the Bombers were never going to compete with the bigger bodies of Geelong. On the surface, Essendon were let down by poor disposal against the Cats. Yet it was more the pressure that Geelong were able to apply that caused the mistakes to occur. The Bombers might be able to run, but they have to get the ball first.
Geelong looked great. Brisbane’s four consecutive Grand Final appearances involved largely the same group of players. Mark ‘Bomber’ Thompson is evidently not prepared to rest on his laurels. In 2008 he has introduced a new ruckman, a new defender and a new forward. Harry Taylor, the Cat’s first selection in the national draft, made a great debut on Sunday. He will most likely take the role of third tall defender in Matthew Egan’s absence. If only the Demons could draft a ready-made tall defender... Trent West and Ryan Gamble also impressed in their second and third games respectively. The Cats are feeding new talent into their team. They have parted company with the likes of King, Playfair, Gardiner and Callan. List management is crucial. Mark Thompson and his coaching staff should be applauded for their foresight.
3. Swans Kick 22 Goals
Many people expected Sydney to strangle Port Adelaide on Sunday afternoon. In 2007 Sydney won seven ought of the eight matches that they played at the SCG. The ground suits their defensive style of football. What no one expected was a blowout. Sydney kicked twenty-two goals and destroyed the Power. In the first two rounds Paul Roos has adopted the unconventional method of coaching from the sidelines. The move has allowed Roos to gain a different perspective on his team. Although it denies him an overview of the game, he has been able to speak face to face with players when they leave the field. It seemed to work on Sunday.
Roos has re-shaped his premiership side, bringing in the likes of Jack, Barlow, Bird and Grundy. All four players contributed to the demolition of the Power. Nick Davis was a notable omission from the team this week. It is unfortunate that a player of Davis’ potential is confined to playing in the bush league. Sydney’s style of play is tough for forwards. They are often starved of opportunities. Davis must make the most of his five to ten kicks per game. Last week against St. Kilda he did not. He does not have the motor to play further up the field. His omission sends a clear message to the rest of the team. Perhaps it worked. Sydney are going to be tough to beat at home this season.
4. Goodwin Kicks Seven
At the end of last season Adelaide lost the services of Mark Ricciutto. Toward the end of Ricciutto’s career Neil Craig gave him a role as a mid-sized forward. Unfortunately, injuries got in the way. During this year’s NAB Cup Craig played the likes of Edwards, McLead and Goodwin up forward. The Crows had a successful tournament. They carried that form into last Saturday’s thumping of the West Coast Eagles. Goodwin kicked seven goals. His performance was reminiscent of the role that Craig had hoped Ricciutto might perform in his later years. Goodwin is a tough player to match up. Should he be treated as a tall, a small, a lead-up player, or a crumber? Brad Johnson’s heroic efforts up forward for the Bulldogs have provided Goodwin with a protocol for his 2008 role. It will be interesting to see whether Goodwin can deliver once opposition teams devise a strategy for curbing his influence.
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Comment by J Gastev