Forward Pressure???

[saintbob]

I don't think that our midfield is whats hurting us, it's the lack of forward pressure we apply.
Too many times the midfielders and the backs work their arses off just to see their hard work undone by poor second and third efforts by our forwards, which results in the ball flying back out over their heads, hence why we look so slow .
We're having just as many inside 50's as our oppisition every week, Milne, Riewoldt and Kosi are the worst offenders.
If we are to get anywhere this season this is one area that needs to be fixed immediately.
I not sure how we can fix this??
Jones and Dempster seem our best options currrently and maybe when Baker and Gilbert are available one of these has to play permanent forward as they both love to initiate body contact and their second and third efforts can't be questioned.

[JeffDunne]

IMO we should play Ball up forward.

[Saintschampions08]

IMO we should play Ball up forward.

Can't kick far enough to play a half forward flank, won't have enough impact as a forward pocket.

Needs to be played in the forward line in spurts more often, but that won't change our current form.

[JeffDunne]

He can kick as long as anyone currently on our forward line.

He can pass & tackle better too.

[saintbob]

IMO we should play Ball up forward.

I deliberately left him out of the equation as we desperately need his pressure in the centre off the ground.

[Winmar7Fan]

I don't think that our midfield is whats hurting us, it's the lack of forward pressure we apply.
Too many times the midfielders and the backs work their arses off just to see their hard work undone by poor second and third efforts by our forwards, which results in the ball flying back out over their heads, hence why we look so slow .
We're having just as many inside 50's as our oppisition every week, Milne, Riewoldt and Kosi are the worst offenders.
If we are to get anywhere this season this is one area that needs to be fixed immediately.
I not sure how we can fix this??

Exactly how I see it.

[Beno88]

No forward pressure?

Koschitzke ranks 5th in tackles for the club. Milne 6th. While 3 of our top 4 tacklers often rest up forward.

We've had more scoring shots than our opposition.

We've scored more in the first 11 rounds than what we did in 2005, 2006 & 2007.

Forward line pressure isn't St.Kilda's problem. Basic skill errors, poor finishing and poor decision making is what's costing us games.

[matrix]

No forward pressure?

Koschitzke ranks 5th in tackles for the club. Milne 6th. While 3 of our top 4 tacklers often rest up forward.

We've had more scoring shots than our opposition.

We've scored more in the first 11 rounds than what we did in 2005, 2006 & 2007.

Forward line pressure isn't St.Kilda's problem. Basic skill errors, poor finishing and poor decision making is what's costing us games.

well said

[samoht]

Spot on.

A major flaw in our game.

When we occassionally mark the ball in our forward 50, we mainly kick points from very gettable shots and when we dont mark the ball it gets shot back out under no pressure.

our midfield would be very frustrated.

[Gilbert=Legend]

lets see,

Grant had the forwards applying presure

Ross has us doing none.

Pick the better of the 2?

[samoht]

No forward pressure?

Koschitzke ranks 5th in tackles for the club. Milne 6th. While 3 of our top 4 tacklers often rest up forward.

statistics dont tell the real story.

The number of tackles isnt a direct measure of forward pressure.

there's a big difference between tackling someone after they manage to pass the ball to a team mate (applying a lame tackle) and applying effective tackles.

also what about chasing someone down - that's forward pressure too - and you need leg speed for that.

[Beno88]

"tackling someone after they manage to pass the ball to a team mate "

Pretty sure that wouldn't be counted as a tackle, more likely a free kick.[/quote]

[samoht]

"tackling someone after they manage to pass the ball to a team mate "

Pretty sure that wouldn't be counted as a tackle, more likely a free kick.

[/quote]

I didnt express my thoughts well.

Let me rephrase that to ..tackling someone who still manages to get an effective pass to a teammate. .. a lame tackle.