The MELBOURNEfc Coaching Panel reviews the teams record breaking comeback against Fremantle.
Round 7 Coaches’ Report
MELBOURNEfc v Fremantle
Sunday 4 May – MCG
Pre Game
- We had a good build up to the game, and there was a focus on gaining as much knowledge as possible regarding our opponents. The coaching group were able to pick the brains of two former coaches in Kelly O’Donnell and Chris Connolly during the week, and that was really helpful in increasing our intricate knowledge of Fremantle. The playing group also had a very detailed briefing session on Fremantle’s game style, and the individual strengths and weaknesses of their players. Going into the match, we felt like we knew our opponents very well.
- We have been training very well over the past two weeks – and that continued in the lead-up to this game. During the week, we focused on our work at the stoppages, which was nowhere near good enough against Brisbane. We also worked on our back transitions to the forward line, because this was the area in which we have been turning the ball over the most, which in turn has been hurting us badly on the scoreboard. As we have done all year, there was still a big focus on our skill work. We had been fumbling the ball quite a bit in recent weeks, and our handball efficiency had dropped, so those two skill areas were worked on. At our main training session, we played a really high intensity 10 minute simulated match. We were really happy with the decisions the players made, and their exaction of their skills. We needed to carry this into the game.
- We brought in Matthew Bate, Colin Garland and Matthew Whelan, at the expense of Lynden Dunn, who was omitted and needs to go back to Sandringham to find some form and confidence. Daniel Bell, who didn’t have the best of games against Brisbane, and Colin Sylvia, who had a hamstring complaint were both left out of the team. The inclusion of Bate was a big bonus, as he had been playing really good football at VFL level and he earned his opportunity. Colin Garland was also picked to play after he was a late withdrawal for the Lions match.
- We knew that, to beat Fremantle, we had to limit Aaron Sandilands’ influence. The week before, he was outstanding and played the best game of his career. To stop him, we felt we needed to use our two ruckmen to our advantage and run off him wherever possible. Sandilands had been playing around 90% of game time, so by rotating two players through him we were hopeful of wearing him out and gaining the upper hand. We also had to make sure we kept Matthew Pavlich in check. If he gets away from us, it will be a tough task to get the win. We didn’t have the perfect match up for Pavlich, so it was going to be a group effort as well. Another player we had to keep an eye on was Peter Bell. Although getting on a bit in age, he still has the ability to give the guys like Pavlich enough supply of the ball to make our job hard, so we assigned James McDonald the role, with some help from Clint Bartram.
- Before the game, there was a video played to the group about the sacrifices that needed to happen to win the game. The video included various inspirational acts undertaken by the players, and the speech made by Al Pacino in ‘Any Given Sunday’. It was motivational stuff, and it was a good lead into the match.
- Matthew Whelan was a late withdrawal with gastro – we gave him every chance to play but he progressively got worse, so we replaced him with Daniel Bell.
During the Game
- We started the game off poorly, with Fremantle gaining the ascendency in the centre bounce, having the first three clearances, which went inside their 50 metre area. Our pre-game fear of Matthew Pavlich was beginning to haunt us, with him kicking 1 goal 3 points in the first term. Ryan Crowley went to Nathan Jones as a hard tag, and he was having difficulty with him. Before the game, we also decided to let our 1st year player in Cale Morton go and play on Fremantle’s 1st year gun in Rhys Palmer. Cale was doing well, but because of the difficulty for Jones, we decided to get Jones to play a team role, playing a 2 on 1, and for him to go and tag Palmer.
- We needed to make some adjustments. The players were told what we thought of their poor start to the game at the quarter time break, but thankfully there was a lot of game time left to get back in it. We weren’t getting as easily beaten in the centre bounce, which in turn gave us some opportunities. Our ability to keep the ball and make some good decisions again was causing some real issues. Players never go out intentionally to turn the ball over, but it was a real concern for us. On the positive side, Brock McLean and Cam Bruce were finding the ball, and Brad Miller was leading up well. Matthew Bate started to get into the game although he was a bit fumbly and dropped a couple of easy marks. James McDonald and Clint Bartram had kept Peter Bell in check, and he was having limited influence in the game.
- At half time we walked into the room and were a little unsure what we would be hearing and seeing, but the leaders in Russell Robertson and Brad Miller were keeping the players upbeat and were telling them not to give up. We needed to get the guys feeling like they still had an opportunity to play well. They had to not worry about the result, just about the process. Our last quarters had been our best, so we tried to get them to think that there was no reason why they needed to wait until the last quarter to play their best footy.
- We started well in the third quarter, winning the stoppages and hitting the scoreboard. Our forward line was functioning the best it had all year, and the supply was also better than it had been in previous weeks. Brad Miller and Matthew Bate were providing really good targets for us. Palmer was getting away from Jones, so we went back to our original plan in Cale Morton, as he was originally doing well on him. We were really getting back into the game - the boys weren’t turning the ball over, and the spread all over the ground was good. We knew before the game that if Matthew Pavlich went into the centre bounce it meant we were going well. It also meant our biggest bodied player should go to him. He really hurt us, getting two centre bounce clearances and kicking 2 goals. It pushed the score deficit back out to 30 points, which in today’s footy was not a lot.
- Fremantle started really well in the final quarter, having the first two shots on goal, which were points, thankfully. We looked like we were still full of run - the boys were working really hard and were finally getting some reward for their efforts. The momentum was with us – then enter Austin Wonaeamirri. He was electric, his celebrations were exactly what the whole group needed, and three goals in the last quarter was pivotal for the result. It was a really long last quarter. We had kicked nine goals in the final term, but there were still six minutes left on the game clock, and the job had not been finished. The game slowed in the last few minutes. Fremantle had a couple of late opportunities, but were not quite able to get back in front.
- It was a wonderful win and one that came from nowhere. Everything just clicked in the second half - all the training the players had been doing was finally transferred into a game, which was very pleasing.
Post Match
- We were really proud of the team’s endeavour and effort to come back from such a large deficit. We showed in the second half what can happen when we do all the little things right. We began to spread at a stoppage, block and work for each other, apply forward line pressure, make smarter decisions with the ball in hand, and most of all, our skills were good. Notwithstanding this, it was still disappointing that we put ourselves in that position in the first place. Our first half was simply not good enough, as we didn’t follow instructions and didn’t play instinctive football, which led to turnovers and easy goals to Fremantle. This highlights how important a four quarter effort is.
- We were really happy with how our ruck combination worked, and how we were able to negate Sandilands’ influence on the game. Fremantle marginally won the hitouts, but our ruckmen were able to lay a platform for our midfielders to gain the upper hand.
- This game showcased the excellent skills of Aaron Davey and Austin Wonaeamirri. Davey was our spark, and really gave us some momentum during the third quarter. He has been down on form in recent weeks, but on Sunday his efforts on both the offensive end (3 goals – 20 possessions) and defensive end (5 tackles) was outstanding. Wonaeamirri was another player who stepped up when we needed him. He finished with four goals, and proved to the world what we have known for a long time.
- We were really pleased with the efforts of the senior players. Bruce, McDonald, Green, White, Miller and Robertson all stood up for us and all showed good leadership qualities.
- Nathan Jones didn’t have the best of days and we will use this as a good learning experience for him. Fremantle’s Ryan Crowley completely tagged him out of the game. This was the first time Jones has been tagged. We need to work with him on how to play with a heavy tag, and how to overcome it mentally, because Jones also gave away some undisciplined free kicks.
- We also wanted to say a big thank you to all our members and supporters who turned out to the game. As we have said before, the tough times are when we need our support the most, and we are glad that our true supporters got to witness a great game and our biggest comeback in Club history.
- The week off will give the team an opportunity to rest their bodies, but will continue to train hard and work on improving in all areas. We will have a Football Review of the first seven rounds during the week, and then our focus will turn to beating Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.
