We're on the record as a club saying we kick to the pockets because the thinking is if we don't jag a mark we can force a ball up or a throw in. The reason for this is we back our mids at winning the contested ball from stoppages
It goes a bit deeper than this. I think we have touched on it before.
It has been shown, that kicking into the corridoor just inside 50 will result in more shots on goal for you, but also for the opposition with a qiuck rebound from a turnover in that zone.
Naturally kicking into the pocket will result in less of both outcomes.
There is no clear definitive leaning to which one is more beneficial.
The simplistic view is to say that it clearly is not working for us, but I ask the question, when our game is not on, can we afford to give the opposition more rebound goals? when you are playing poorly, are you not more likely to turn the ball over?
Our problems run deeper than this aspect of the game plan.
eg, how many times did we kick to their spare man in defence?
If they have a spare man, so should we, yet how many times did they kick to ours comparatively?
Just to clarify, im not of the opinion that kicking to pocket is the better option, but IMV, there are times it is, and there are times you should be centering the ball.