Is pace our weakness ?

[Enrico_Misso]

Gee Essendon has some pacy players !

We clearly had better skills then Essendon.
And our tackling/pressure was better than theirs.

But when they did manage to get free we couldn't catch them.
They are clearly the fastest team we have encountered this year.
And they exposed some cracks in our game.

Against a more experienced, more skillful team with the same pace we could come undone.
Though fortunately I don't think Geelong are any faster than us.

[Marcus1232]

fortunatley for us i dont think that any other team has the same pace that essendon has either.

[SainterK]

Gee Essendon has some pacy players !

We clearly had better skills then Essendon.
And our tackling/pressure was better than theirs.

But when they did manage to get free we couldn't catch them.
They are clearly the fastest team we have encountered this year.
And they exposed some cracks in our game.

Against a more experienced, more skillful team with the same pace we could come undone.
Though fortunately I don't think Geelong are any faster than us.

Interesting to see how Essendon go against Geelong. People seem to think that we did poorly by not thrashing the bombers, but they are both in form and I think may be this years smoky.

[saintsRrising]

No it is not our weakness...but yes it is Essendon's strength.

[felixleo]

But even when they got free they still turned it over, whether it was because of poor skill or perceived pressure i don't know. The second quarter was the best one i have seen this year for intensity even though we lost it on the board. Pure pace is one way you can beat the zone but whether the dons can keep that up for the year will be interesting especially as you have to play lighter bodied players to implement it.

[Griggsy]

I think if we had an inform maxxy and goose in the backline it would have been a convincing victory. They would have dominated the bombers delivery. LLoyd and Neagle would have struggled for a mark.

[Enrico_Misso]

Interesting to see how Essendon go against Geelong. People seem to think that we did poorly by not thrashing the bombers, but they are both in form and I think may be this years smoky.

That's right.

Essendon cut the reigning premiers to ribbons.
It was also their pace that got them over the line in their spectacular wins against Carlton and Collingwood.

I think we beat a superfast and in-form team on a 6 day break.
In that light I think we can be well pleased with our efforts.

Knights has the makings of a pretty dangerous team there.
I can see them being Premiership contenders in two years.

[Enrico_Misso]

No it is not our weakness...but yes it is Essendon's strength.

Great observation.
Pace is Essendon's point of differentiation.

Ours is our agressive tackling, pressure and quick ball movement to key marking forwards.

No team can be dominant in all areas.
Trick is to be dominant in the areas that will win you a game.

And although tested tonight our gameplan stood up.

[kaos theory]

Our biggest weakness was having 3 less days to prepare for that game than the bombers.

We certaintly looked flat after half time.

[Legendary]

No it is not our weakness...but yes it is Essendon's strength.

Great observation.
Pace is Essendon's point of differentiation.

Ours is our agressive tackling, pressure and quick ball movement to key marking forwards.

No team can be dominant in all areas.
Trick is to be dominant in the areas that will win you a game.

And although tested tonight our gameplan stood up.

Spot on.


Teams have tried before to win a flag purely based around pace and fast ball movement, but you need more than that.

Premiership teams from every era have a strong defence and strong tackling and contested ball, and generally good forward lines.

They are our strengths, and I'm confident they will keep carrying us a long way.

We were tested tonight, and we were up to the challenge.

[saintly_safes]

At the start of the season I would have said definately but who can argue againt a side that has won 8 straight . Today was not a win that will go down in history , but coming off a short break & a greulling schedule they still had enough in the tank to win againt a side that flogged last years premiers last week. I personally think the team have been outstading so far & it will be a real battle to keep playing at that level without getting a little weary come mid year. They have done all that we can ask of them but the game plan is very taxing on the body & they looked out on their feet after half time but they kept plugging away & came home with the win. Speed is definatly a weakness that might be exploited but so far they have had all the answers & its very hard to be too critical after such a great start to the season

[jonesy]

Our biggest weakness was having 3 less days to prepare for that game than the bombers.

We certaintly looked flat after half time.

You're right

I've never witnessed a faster side than what Essendon put out there tonight. There pace is incredible! We had 72 hrs less recovery time,we were spent for more than half of it,but we kept them at arms length.
Good win

Wouldn't mind a 9-10 day freshen up after the last week

[ark]

Their fast style is not a finals style (well not yet). They are vulnerable to being shut down and we did that tonight on a number of occassions. Our dispoal accuaracy was down or it would have been a bigger margin.

But - boy - they are fast.

[ace]

Baker, Hayes and Ball will not win medals in the 100 metre sprint at the 2012 Olympics.
Pity about Ball.
Apparently he was a crack sprinter at Xavier, got osteitis pubis, now runs on grunt.

[Bernard Shakey]

Bombers run hard and fast and take big risks.

Works sometimes and other times the risks backfire. Today they were on and we still beat them.

Good teams win these games. We are a good team.

[mad saint guy]

It's definitely something we're a bit short on, and that is why people questioning Gram's value are way off. Gram is our only genuine sprinter who hits the contest and full pace and breaks the lines. Joey and Gilbert do occasionally, but not to the same level.

Ideally we'd have a couple of Lovett/Bateman types, but I guess that combination of pace and skill is hard to come by. Essendon exposed us for a lack of pace at times, but I don't think that will happen to the same extent against anyone else.

[OneEyedSainter77]

No it is not our weakness...but yes it is Essendon's strength.

Quoted for truth.

Was thinking this last night after the game.

i'm not particularly worried; Geelong are a quick team but like us, that's ball movement quickness.

Essendon are a bloody fast team - they have some very quick players and will be very competitive this year.

We needed to be a bit more accountable at times last night but we still stood up when it mattered so that's good enough.

[Foz]

Essendon employed a strong zone and did us for pace at crucial times. Pace is no good if you don't use it, but it seemed the Essendon mentality was to play on at all costs. Saints haven't encountered all of these factors combined. Dare I say it good coaching - it pains me too !

Pace has always been an issue, getting Farren Ray provides a bit more outside carry and takes the focus off Ball, Hayes. Always room for more pace though we may have to wait a bit for it. (smith, connors, choo) Not sure what caused more concern - Luke Ball having a shot from 50 or dawdling through half forward and being mowed down.