In this week's Vero Coaches Wrap, Assistant Coach Murray Davis dissects the loss to the Western Bulldogs.
Lions.com.au covers the main points below.
Our fast start:
“The way we started the game was a positive. Daniel Merrett took a terrific mark and we were able to move the ball fairly quickly which was an aim we had taken into the game. The Western Bulldogs are a very good team defending from their forward half, so our ability in the opening minutes of the match to be able to move the ball quickly, run our patterns and Josh Green hits up Ryan Lester (his first of two goals) was good.
Red-time goals:
“These red-time goals come late in the quarter. In the first quarter the Western Bulldogs kicked three goals in two minutes. It was really disappointing from our point of view to work hard early on in the game and then to let three goals in in two minutes. They scored five goals against us from centre bounce.”
Our scoring from forward pressure:
“We didn’t have a huge amount of inside-50s on the night. We only had 31 but I think we showed when we do this (forward pressure) well we get our numbers in around the forward 50 and lock the ball in there to create scoring opportunities. Just on the time in the forward half, we’re generally aiming for 51%, we were only at 34% which put a lot of stress and work load on our backs.”
Contested ball:
“It was a big focus on the night. A lot of people will have questions how it happens and how we were so poor in this area on the night. Hard ball gets, loose ball gets, free kicks, contested marks and knock on – all of these things make up contested ball it’s just not one particular stat. It’s a big area of focus as a team, it’s not just the midfield it’s a whole team approach.”
Our backs:
“Our backs had 71 inside 50 entries to defend on the night. As a coaching group we thought their attack and pressure on the Western Bulldogs was outstanding. Merrett was super in his work rate, he was able to take a few good contested grabs that allowed us to setup our offence. He ended up with 17 disposals, seven spoils, four marks from opposition kicks and three tackles. His partner in crime Harris Andrews had a terrific night – not only being able to mark the ball but to spoil it as well. He ended the night with 11 disposals, 15 spoils (which is a season high for any defender in the competition), four marks from opposition kicks and three tackles.”
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