Hardwick's explanation for last week's 2nd quarter fadeout

[one-eyed]

A snippet from Hardwick's EOTT report on the Port game.......

For some inexplicable reason, we just went right away from our game style during that second term.  We became pre-occupied with these long handball chains, which we call referred pressure.  When we’ve been playing quite well this season, that a trap we’ve managed to avoid falling into.  As soon as one of our players refers pressure, we prefer them to take the tackle from the opposition. If they slow the play down, and then get pinged for holding the ball, so be it.  But in the second quarter last Sunday, our guys just went away from the things we’ve trained for, and that’s how Port was able to score those easy goals.  We had plenty of possession of the ball and were moving it quite well, but then it would all unravel in the same pattern of overhandball, overhandball, refer pressure, turnover, goal . . . At half-time, we had a quick conversation with the players when they first came into the rooms – and it’s fair to say that it wasn’t too pleasant!  We just gave them a subtle reminder that we’d gone away from our pre-game plans and the season could effectively end one of two ways – either a 100-point blow-out, or we could get some respectability back on the scoreboard. The turnaround after half-time was amazing.  We started playing our brand of football again, and fought our way back into the game.

Full report here:
http://www.richmondfc.com.au/ARCHIVEPAGES/SecureSignonTest/GreenbergsGrabs/tabid/15918/Default.aspx

[Go Richo 12]

This guy explains things so easily and simply we all can understand! Sounds so simple that our young team should and does respond to it! I like the man!

[mightytiges]

We became pre-occupied with these long handball chains, which we call referred pressure.  When we’ve been playing quite well this season, that a trap we’ve managed to avoid falling into.  As soon as one of our players refers pressure, we prefer them to take the tackle from the opposition. If they slow the play down, and then get pinged for holding the ball, so be it. 

The difference between the Wallace and Hardwick gameplans right there. As our youngsters get 2-3-4 more preseasons under their belts and build up their size and strength they'll be able to take the tackle and still give the ball off to a teammate and keep the play moving. Doing that should actually open up space elsewhere on the ground as you bring opposition player(s) towards the ball and take them out of a defensive set-up.

[tdy]

We became pre-occupied with these long handball chains, which we call referred pressure.  When we’ve been playing quite well this season, that a trap we’ve managed to avoid falling into.  As soon as one of our players refers pressure, we prefer them to take the tackle from the opposition. If they slow the play down, and then get pinged for holding the ball, so be it.

The difference between the Wallace and Hardwick gameplans right there. As our youngsters get 2-3-4 more preseasons under their belts and build up their size and strength they'll be able to take the tackle and still give the ball off to a teammate and keep the play moving. Doing that should actually open up space elsewhere on the ground as you bring opposition player(s) towards the ball and take them out of a defensive set-up.

yeah i much prefer the game plan to wallaces.  Accepting footy is a physical game and standing up in the tackle is such an important skill now.  You will only build that up by practice, practice and more practice.  And we shall weed out those who can't over the longer term.

[mightytiges]

We became pre-occupied with these long handball chains, which we call referred pressure.  When we’ve been playing quite well this season, that a trap we’ve managed to avoid falling into.  As soon as one of our players refers pressure, we prefer them to take the tackle from the opposition. If they slow the play down, and then get pinged for holding the ball, so be it.

The difference between the Wallace and Hardwick gameplans right there. As our youngsters get 2-3-4 more preseasons under their belts and build up their size and strength they'll be able to take the tackle and still give the ball off to a teammate and keep the play moving. Doing that should actually open up space elsewhere on the ground as you bring opposition player(s) towards the ball and take them out of a defensive set-up.

yeah i much prefer the game plan to wallaces.  Accepting footy is a physical game and standing up in the tackle is such an important skill now.  You will only build that up by practice, practice and more practice.  And we shall weed out those who can't over the longer term.

True and it's also a gamestyle that will stand up in finals when there's less time and space.