dangermouse wrote:From what I saw the problem lofty had early was not that their big forwards were absent- it just wasn't getting down there. Lofty have a super midfield in Trzesinski, White, Burch, Wood, Peterson-Grey, Floreani, Artis, Cutting etc, but they just didn't get the job done in the first quater. When they did get on top in the midfield (after 1/4 time) then they had no-one to kick to and their lack of big targets to convert forward thrusts became the issue. And with this talk of Uraidla recruits- don't forget Marcus Anderson, he was the difference early, consistently winning the ball in close. I'm sure Lofty will welcome with open arms all there big gun forward targets when they are fit, but the midfield need to start winning some hard footy early to give their forwards a chance and backline a break. Does anyone who saw the game disagree?
Some good points, DM.
But I don't reckon it was so much the hard ball gets. Uraidla had this approach where one or 2 (MAX) went in for the ball. A couple were there for the first give, then one would peel off (very quickly) and be a handball away and would straighten up with a kick to CHF. This kick was ALWAYS (in the first qtr) under absolutely no pressure. It was a case of 2 teams that are used to their onballers getting first purchase and ASSUMING that they'd get it out of the pack.
Your comments re lack of fwds after quarter time is spot on.
If Fleet plays next week, he may well kick a bag against the Dorfs, but against the stronger teams he may find himself on the bench.