My first post, so beware, it could just be all a pile of nonsense.
I think everyone who has said to go away from the zone is correct for all the above reasons. But for me, from a realistic stand point, if we force a turnover by opposition teams we still have the problem of pushing forward with a lot of players in a relatively small spaces. This relies on extemely good footskills and decision making which is something that has obviously been lacking from our game over the first 4 rounds. Also, this could work if you had a bruiser of a lead up forward aka Johnothan Brown or someone who could at least take a contested mark. With Richo playing wherever he wants and no Cleve Hughes, we basically leave Riewoldt to do the sole crashing of packs IF we were to go long. Obviously, having no superior crumming forwards makes it hard.
Also, there has been much media speculation over Wallace's reign regarding pressure; especially late last year when Bowden was dropped for not getting a tackle stat for an entire game. The Zone takes you out of pressure in terms of tackling. Not just because of the fact your defending an area as opposed to a player, but the whole premise of a zone is to let them make the mistake themselves, as opposed to we will put insurmountable pressure on you so your forced to make a mistake. The identity of defensive pressure that we have through the zone takes away alot of a pressurous mindset. I'm not talking with this point from solely a football perspective, but also from a basketball standpoint which the concept of the zone originates from.
In terms of offensive gameplan, for me it should feed from a defensive pressure, or our ability to win the ball in the middle. Neither of these we have established, but at least one is due to lack of personel, the other is a lack of will. I remember a distinct play in the doggies game, can't remember who spoiled the ball, but it went to Delidio at CHB. Lids turned on the jets, took a couple of bounces, hit a lead up wing, who hit a lead up player on the forward stuff who hit up Matty White running into the goal square. Call me crazy, but why can't that simple bit of football be our gameplan? Run and carry, kick the ball to a lead up contest instead of holding it up and looking for another uncontested possession which inevitbaly means we kick it backwards, and everyone runs forward? Really there are two plays (this is a basketball quote that I've tweaked for football purposes) Romeo and Juliet and kick the F****** ball through the goals. I watch Geelong and The Doggies play their brand of footy, and whats so genius about it is its simple. This zone stuff that we run has seem to take the pressure out of the game, which takes the simplicity out of football which leaves players a) lacking in confidence but also b) forced to constantly make complex decisions. Face facts, we don't have 22 brilliant decision makes hitting the park each week, so why play a style of footy that is so complex?
For me, every sports team whether it be Soccer, NFL, AFL, Basketball, Netball what have you, the best teams have an identity. The best teams make the game look easy. The reasons why? Because it is easy.
May have gotten off topic a little there, but hopefully I put my points accross.
