What motivates these teams in the final remaining rounds?
You will note a definite shift in key performance indicators. Often you will see a decrease in the percentage of contested possessions, the uncontested possession count lifts and tackle numbers drop.
A coach once asked me, "If your life depended on it, would you have made that next contest?"
Determination and motivation are a huge part of winning the contested footy. Absolutely, if my life depended on it, I would have found that little bit more to win the ball, thus, if finals are still a chance, the player will fight that little bit harder. Take finals motivation away and that desperation drops, perhaps by only a small margin, but enough that it allows the opposition to win possession of the ball.
Once finals are out of the equation, it is less about players maintaining the physical side of their games, and more about whether they have the knowledge, capabilities and skill set to fill a role in the structure for seasons beyond.
Personnel and statistics that matter
Two tall defenders (195cm to 198cm)
These defenders must have closing speed to stay on the lead against the best opposition tall forwards. The ability to stay on the lead and get a fist in to spoil the ball disrupts the opposition's offensive transition. Excellent kicking skills are not imperative, as most exit kicks are lateral to a running, skillful half-back. They must have the ability to cover around 13km in a game, but the most important component to their game is the high-end speed change of pace. This will enable them to create seven spoils a match, crucial to shutting down opposition patterns.
One defender who can play tall or small
This defender needs to be mobile, excellent at ground level and be ruthless in providing chasing and tackling pressure in the forward 50m area.
Three running defenders
These players must have the mindset to defend first combined with a hunger for creative possessions. They need to gather 20 possessions a game, mainly through uncontested marks (four) and handball receives (eight). Handball receives generate overlap football to move the ball quickly out of defence into an attacking dangerous position. Running defenders will cover 14 km per game and need a repeat speed physical conditioning.
Midfield (one in-and-under ball winner)
Although not blessed with breakaway speed, this player works tirelessly at the contest for the entire match. His strength is to accumulate possessions and demand defensive respect from the opposition - think Simon Black, Sam Mitchell, Josh Kennedy, Lenny Hayes. They tend to average 27 possessions per game (four hard-ball gets, four loose-ball gets, six to seven clearances) but it is their decision making in crowded areas that makes them so worthy. Hand skills are imperative, as handball is used mostly to exit the congestion (12 per game). They should expect to cover around 14 km with a work-to-rest ratio of 51-49 per cent.
Midfield game breaker
Consider Ablett, Griffen, Swan, Dangerfield, Rich, Wells, Boak, Martin. Expect these types of players to build on their potential. As they are power athletes, they need three to four full pre-seasons to build an engine that can have them play in the midfield for the majority of the match. They tend to begin their careers as dangerous half-back players. With the speed to break away from congestion, they look to average around 15 kicks per game and ideally, eight-10 handball receives. They should look to do most of their damage forward of centre, working towards five inside 50m entries and two rebound 50s.
Run-with player
Spirit and endurance are musts. He must be prepared to be knocked around both physically and mentally. He is required to play on all types of personnel - fast, steady, smart, strong. While his main focus is to nullify the best opposition player, he is still required to gather important possessions on offensive transition.
Wingers (183cm to 190cm)
These players need to cover a lot of ground. They must be able to get back defensively and then get forward to close out the opposition's rebound ball movement. They must be smart and skillful so that the team can own the structure around the stoppage.
Ruckman
The modern day ruckman must be able to find possessions as well as being a good 'tap' ruck. If he is not dangerous around the ground, his direct opponent will sit back in the hole in front of the key forwards, repelling any forward thrust.
Two key tall post players
Most forward line setups will have two big key forwards to kick long to when under pressure. The best set ups have two players of different make up - Brown and Merrett, Roughead and Franklin, Hawkins and Podsiadly, Pyke and White, Cloke and Lynch, and Dawes and Clarke. These types of players are not readily available and are heavily sought after by recruiters. Statistics that are important include mark on the lead (four to five per game), two contested marks and two uncontested marks from relaunch opportunities. The key is not always the marks they take, but the number of intercept marks their direct opponents do not take. For each ball that is bought to ground in the contest, dangerous crumbing forwards come into play.
Goal-assist half-forwards
These are required to make repeat speed efforts over 60m. They are required to slide up the ground to fill dangerous corridor space when the opposition has the ball. Once their team wins the ball back, they need to get on their bikes and make themselves available in the forward 50m. They need to be good decision makers with ball in hand.
Crumbing player
Playing close to goal, they work around the feet of the last tall forward. Speed, agility and clean hands are a must offensively, chasing pressure defensively.
Conclusion
The modern game has shifted from fielding seven talls to six, with two players at about 193cm who can play both tall and small.
It is vitally important to have dangerous wing players, one mobile ruckman, six or seven midfielders who can play midfield and forward roles, one tagger who has the ability to take the best opposition player out of the game, along with three running backs with good hand and foot skills.
Also needed is a forward line that has two half-forwards who can beat their direct opponents back towards goal, two key forwards (from the six talls) and a crumber at the feet of the pack-breakers. Down back, you need two key defenders who can stay on the lead and three running defenders.
Adrian Fletcher is an assistant coach with the Brisbane Lions
