COACHING MODERN FOOTBALL CHAPTER 12: KICK OUT STRATEGIES

 

The following stats come from this post.

Port Adelaide topped the scoring from kick outs in 2024 at 6.3pts per game with a single game high of 26pts.

Geelong topped scoring from their defensive 50 at 20.1pts per game with GWS getting the single game high of 50pts.

 Geelong also topped scoring from defensive center at 20.9pts per game and St Kilda reached the single game high total of 51pts.

From cneter bounce Geelong wins again at 14.4pt/game and the single game high of 45 from Collingwood.

Forward center scores were highest by the Hawks at 31.1pts/game with Sydney getting the single game high total here of 31pts.

The Western Bulldogs were the best for scoring from inside forward 50 at 23.5pts per game with a single game high of 55pts!  

Apart from the obvious that it's easier to score from your forward half then anywhere else on the ground, from the stats you can se that if you can get your defensive half ball movement on song, then you can still rack up solid scores from there on a semi-regular basis when you compared the single game high scores from each category.

This chapter will focus on kick out strategies but the process of them can still be used for general play ball movement within, and out of, your defensive half.

This follows the previous 11 chapters:

#1 - Forward Press Defense

#2 - Lane Running

#3 - Midfielder Running Patterns

#4 - 666 Connection

#5 - Exploiting the Stand Rule

#6 - Team Formations

#7 - Creating/Utilising Length

#8 - Center Bounce Clearance

#9 - Forward Play

#10 - Wing Play

#11 - Playing Between the Lines

It is now available from the register page as a stand alone product which when purchased is then emailed to you in a PDF, meaning you don't have to be a member to gain access.

If you're a local/amateur football coach then you're well aware that apart from your assistant coaches, there is distinct lack of readily available resources form where you can learn about different concepts used in football.

All coaches watch and read about footy and the different tactics and strategies that are used by are left wondering what is it exactly and how can I teach my players to do that?

That exact question is what I set out to answer in this mammoth series.

I'm planning on adjusting my release schedule and up it to 3 chapters a week for the next couple of weeks to get them all out in time for pre-season 2025 for local/amateur coaches.

1 - I want space the release time of each chapter enough to give you time read, digest and then get a handle on each chapter before the next one comes out to ease the mental load compared to receiving all of these chapters at once and then wondering where do I start? 

and;

2 - I also want to make all, or most, chapters available for all coaches before pre-season for 2025 commences so you can factor these new concepts into your plans for next season.

Make 2025 the season you positively turn your coaching practices upside down and re-energise your passion for teaching, coaching and leading your players.

AFLW WEEK 1 FINALS GAME ANALYSIS

                                 

An excellent 1st up week of AFLW finals over the weekend with all games being competitive, and so they should be at this time of the year.

It's a lot easier watching 4 games v 9 anyway that's for sure!

Today we look at:

• North Melbourne stoppage formation located on one of the outer sides of the corridor
• North Melbourne going inside forward 50
• Adelaide kick out
• Essendon at center bounce clearance
• Fremantle going to ground on their own
• Essendon not trapping the ball
• Hawthorn getting length then using run from behind options through corridor

For full access to this game analysis post, register for a level 1 membership at https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.

COACHING MODERN FOOTBALL CHAPTER 11: PLAYING BETWEEN THE LINES

 

If opting for a possession game during your game play, then you need to use short to medium passes.

This goes against the usual territory tactic used by most local/amateur football teams but you can use this to your own great advantage.

Playing between the lines refers to playing to open teammates positioned between the lines of the opposition's defense.

Short pass-by-short pass will not gain a tonne of territory, but if you perform these passes with relative quickness and precision, then you can break the first 2 - 3 lines of the opposition defense WHILE gaining territory which can give you far improved field position and a chance to get the ball deep inside your forward 50.

The process is that each short pass before going inside forward 50 drags an opposition player up to man the mark, opening the space they just occupied, and someone can move into it to receive.

Lateral kicks don't do this as you don't gain territory nor do you drag a defender up and out of formation, a defender from the same line simply slides across and you've moved the ball, but not the defense.

At some point the defense will then need to decide to continue to push up and man the mark or hang back, at which point you've now got multiple options to play to. 

This follows the previous 10 chapters:

#1 - Forward Press Defense

#2 - Lane Running

#3 - Midfielder Running Patterns

#4 - 666 Connection

#5 - Exploiting the Stand Rule

#6 - Team Formations

#7 - Creating/Utilising Length

#8 - Center Bounce Clearance

#9 - Forward Play

#10 - Wing Play

It is now available from the register page as a stand alone product which when purchased is then emailed to you in a PDF, meaning you don't have to be a member to gain access.

If you're a local/amateur football coach then you're well aware that apart from your assistant coaches, there is distinct lack of readily available resources form where you can learn about different concepts used in football.

All coaches watch and read about footy and the different tactics and strategies that are used by are left wondering what is it exactly and how can I teach my players to do that?

That exact question is what I set out to answer in this mammoth series.

I'm planning on adjusting my release schedule and up it to 3 chapters a week for the next couple of weeks to get them all out in time for pre-season 2025 for local/amateur coaches.

1 - I want space the release time of each chapter enough to give you time read, digest and then get a handle on each chapter before the next one comes out to ease the mental load compared to receiving all of these chapters at once and then wondering where do I start? 

and;

2 - I also want to make all, or most, chapters available for all coaches before pre-season for 2025 commences so you can factor these new concepts into your plans for next season.

Make 2025 the season you positively turn your coaching practices upside down and re-energise your passion for teaching, coaching and leading your players.

COACHING MODERN FOOTBALL CHAPTER 10: WING PLAY

 

The wing position is the most structure-based position in the ground in today's football and has those players performing many different roles in any 1 game.

It requires great player flexibility,adaptability and game intelligence of knowing what role to play,when, and how, with a huge reliance on them from everyone else on the team to be successful.

It's not just a case of putting your greyhound on the wing and letting them run all day anymore, although if your winger has those physical qualities as well then that's a huge bonus, but between 2 fast wingers, the most intelligent one will win out every time.

This follows the previous 9 chapters:

#1 - Forward Press Defense

#2 - Lane Running

#3 - Midfielder Running Patterns

#4 - 666 Connection

#5 - Exploiting the Stand Rule

#6 - Team Formations

#7 - Creating/Utilising Length

#8 - Center Bounce Clearance

#9 - Forward Play

It is now available from the register page as a stand alone product which when purchased is then emailed to you in a PDF, meaning you don't have to be a member to gain access.

If you're a local/amateur football coach then you're well aware that apart from your assistant coaches, there is distinct lack of readily available resources form where you can learn about different concepts used in football.

All coaches watch and read about footy and the different tactics and strategies that are used by are left wondering what is it exactly and how can I teach my players to do that?

That exact question is what I set out to answer in this mammoth series.

I'm planning on adjusting my release schedule and up it to 3 chapters a week for the next couple of weeks to get them all out in time for pre-season 2025 for local/amateur coaches.

1 - I want space the release time of each chapter enough to give you time read, digest and then get a handle on each chapter before the next one comes out to ease the mental load compared to receiving all of these chapters at once and then wondering where do I start? 

and;

2 - I also want to make all, or most, chapters available for all coaches before pre-season for 2025 commences so you can factor these new concepts into your plans for next season.

Make 2025 the season you positively turn your coaching practices upside down and re-energise your passion for teaching, coaching and leading your players.

AFLW ROUND 10 GAME ANALYSIS PART 3/3

3rd and final part of game analysis for AFLW round 10 where we look at:

• Sydney forwards working together to confuse the defenders
• Sydney kicking to the side of the congestion
• North kicking inside 50 to options coming from behind them 
• Carlton not defending inside or outside
• Hawthorn create a +1 and gets the Tigers defender caught between them
• Poor Hawthorn play on handball
• Richmond forward press defense

For full access to this game analysis post, register for a level 1 membership from https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.

AFLW ROUND 10 GAME ANALYSIS PART 2/3

                               

Today we have part 2 of 3 from round 10 where we look at:

• Carlton forwards too deep to contest aerially
• North Melbourne forwards coming at to meet the ball aerially
• Sydney not getting as many numbers in front of the ball as the defense
• Adelaide not manning the mark and Geelong falling for it
• Geelong defender rolling back to the goal square and not looking for any opposition to pick up in defensive 50
• Bulldogs getting the outnumber and overlap to open space in front of goal

For full access to this game analysis post, register for a level 1 membership from https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.

AFLW ROUND 10 GAME ANALYSIS PART 1/3

                             

The final home and away round is done and dusted for the AFLW and I'm sticking with North Melbourne to finally break through for their 1st premiership win by the end of the finals.

This week we have 19 clips over 3 videos which again, is more than usual but that's also more learning so the more the better!

Today's video groups a lot of forward press defense plays from the weekend then the other 2 days are a mash up of the rest.

Today we have:

• Gold Coast not using forward press defense at all
• Gold Coast not using it again but this time it results in a goal
• Carlton trying to use it but has the timing all out of whack for it to be effective
• Gold Coast deciding to use it and dramatically altering the shot on goal because of it
• Geelong also altering the kick on goal from using it
• Geelong knowing it has to happen and finally it does to cause a stoppage on a fast play going inside forward 50

For full access to this game analysis post, register for a level 1 membership from https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.

COACHING MODERN FOOTBALL CHAPTER 9: FORWARD PLAY

                                                    

You've got to score to win and after all the good work from your defense and midfield, then it's in the forwards hands to finish off all the good work done up the ground.

In terms of training at local/amateur level there's a fair bit of focus put on zone defenses and stoppage formations but the forward is usually left to its own devices, relying more on the individual talent you have there more than anything else.

Increasing the forward craft of your players is essential in being effective when going inside your forward 50 and a dangerous forward lines puts a heap of pressure on the entire opposition team as they need to stay at home and defend making it hard for them to get overlap and outnumber advantages through the middle of the ground.

If you can finish great passages of play through the defensive and middle 50m areas then it's great team lifter and confidence booster but is highly deflating when it comes back out as quick as it went in.

This follows the previous 8 chapters:

#1 - Forward Press Defense

#2 - Lane Running

#3 - Midfielder Running Patterns

#4 - 666 Connection

#5 - Exploiting the Stand Rule

#6 - Team Formations

#7 - Creating/Utilising Length

#8 - Center Bounce Clearance

It is now available from the register page as a stand alone product which when purchased is then emailed to you in a PDF, meaning you don't have to be a member to gain access.

If you're a local/amateur football coach then you're well aware that apart from your assistant coaches, there is distinct lack of readily available resources form where you can learn about different concepts used in football.

All coaches watch and read about footy and the different tactics and strategies that are used by are left wondering what is it exactly and how can I teach my players to do that?

That exact question is what I set out to answer in this mammoth series.

My plan going forward is to release a different chapter every Monday and Friday for 2 reasons:

1 - I want space the release time of each chapter enough to give you time read, digest and then get a handle on each chapter before the next one comes out to ease the mental load compared to receiving all of these chapters at once and then wondering where do I start? 

and;

2 - I also want to make all, or most, chapters available for all coaches before pre-season for 2025 commences so you can factor these new concepts into your plans for next season.

Make 2025 the season you positively turn your coaching practices upside down and re-energise your passion for teaching, coaching and leading your players.

COACHING MODERN FOOTBALL CHAPTER 8: CENTER BOUNCE CLEARANCE

                                                   

This is the most detailed chapter of the lot at 21 pages, 21 video clips and 24 images looking at many center bounce clearance formations you can use.

To train just choose the formations and movement you prefer, get your midfield together and get after learning them and get the timing of them down.

Center bounce clearance is the most vital part of getting field position because it's the only rime you'll have a 4v4 in a 50x50m space, if only for a few seconds or so.

If you can win out of their more then the opposition then you can start putting the other parts of your game model into the game but if you're not then everything you do is reactive and that's a terrible place to be during games.

This follows the previous 7 chapters:

#1 - Forward Press Defense

#2 - Lane Running

#3 - Midfielder Running Patterns

#4 - 666 Connection

#5 - Exploiting the Stand Rule

#6 - Team Formations

#7 - Creating/Utilising Length

It is now available from the register page as a stand alone product which when purchased is then emailed to you in a PDF, meaning you don't have to be a member to gain access.

If you're a local/amateur football coach then you're well aware that apart from your assistant coaches, there is distinct lack of readily available resources form where you can learn about different concepts used in football.

All coaches watch and read about footy and the different tactics and strategies that are used by are left wondering what is it exactly and how can I teach my players to do that?

That exact question is what I set out to answer in this mammoth series.

My plan going forward is to release a different chapter every Monday and Friday for 2 reasons:

1 - I want space the release time of each chapter enough to give you time read, digest and then get a handle on each chapter before the next one comes out to ease the mental load compared to receiving all of these chapters at once and then wondering where do I start? 

and;

2 - I also want to make all, or most, chapters available for all coaches before pre-season for 2025 commences so you can factor these new concepts into your plans for next season.

Make 2025 the season you positively turn your coaching practices upside down and re-energise your passion for teaching, coaching and leading your players.

AFLW ROUND 9 GAME ANALYSIS PART 2/2

                                 

Another 9 clips over 2 videos to cover off round 9 where we look at:

• Essendon using their free player
• Essendon offensive ruck run
• Bulldogs maintaining possession but not getting the overlap or outnumber from it
• Saints not manning the mark
• Bulldogs maintaining possession and now getting the overlap and outnumber
• Elite Pritchard inside 50 kick
• Bulldogs block in aerial contest
• Collingwood going inside forward 50 then wondering why they can't score
• Collingwood ruck not contesting ball up inside forward 50

For full access to this game analysis post, register for a level 1 membership from https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.

AFLW ROUND 9 GAME ANALYSIS PART 1/2

                                   

1 week of the AFLW season to go and the top 8 is a lot clearer now with what looks like Essendon now getting the 8th spot over my choice, Melbourne. 

I've compiled more videos than normal from this round so we'll have 2 posts consisting of 2 videos each.

Today we look at:

• The best way to get over alp and the outnumber at the same time
• Bannan guessing way too early and giving up a potential outnumber advantage because of it
• Poor GWS marking in their own defensive 50
• Gold Coast staying connected to the play and being too far back to make the kick inside forward 50
• Gold Coast Kick Out tactic they should use far more often
• Subpar Port Adelaide decision making giving up a certain goal going inside forward 50
• West Coast player not having enough adaptability with ball in hand
• Defender v Midfielder - who should man the mark?
• Richmond transition offense off of a kick out

For full access to this game analysis post, register for a level 1 membership from https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.

COACHING MODERN FOOTBALL CHAPTER 7: CREATING/UTILISING LENGTH

                                                 

In junior football ranks of football we've got a sort of football epidemic where players are forever running away from the ball carrier once they receive a pass, and quite often far out of reach of how far they can kick.

Coaches then implore with their players to lead up at the ball and then we congest any space around the ball to go short, end up going long and the players default back to getting "over the back".

They are essentially creating length by doing this but have no idea about it, nor what else needs to be in place for this play to continue on to our team's advantage, with 666 Connection being a big factor here in how the players are organised across the field at any given time.

When coached properly, the power of length can greatly boost your territory, how you achieve that territory, overall field position and thus, your offensive in general.

This chapter consists of 6 game clips, 10 game images and 1 training activity to put this into place with your own team. 

For training it's a more a matter of first giving your players the knowledge of the game on creating and utilising length and then designing appropriate training activities that will provide opportunities to practice this.

It follows the previous 6 chapters:

#1 - Forward Press Defense

#2 - Lane Running

#3 - Midfielder Running Patterns

#4 - 666 Connection

#5 - Exploiting the Stand Rule

#6 - Team Formations

It is now available from the register page as a stand alone product which when purchased is then emailed to you in a PDF, meaning you don't have to be a member to gain access.

If you're a local/amateur football coach then you're well aware that apart from your assistant coaches, there is distinct lack of readily available resources form where you can learn about different concepts used in football.

All coaches watch and read about footy and the different tactics and strategies that are used by are left wondering what is it exactly and how can I teach my players to do that?

That exact question is what I set out to answer in this mammoth series.

My plan going forward is to release a different chapter every Monday and Friday for 2 reasons:

1 - I want space the release time of each chapter enough to give you time read, digest and then get a handle on each chapter before the next one comes out to ease the mental load compared to receiving all of these chapters at once and then wondering where do I start? 

and;

2 - I also want to make all, or most, chapters available for all coaches before pre-season for 2025 commences so you can factor these new concepts into your plans for next season.

Make 2025 the season you positively turn your coaching practices upside down and re-energise your passion for teaching, coaching and leading your players.

COACHING MODERN FOOTBALL CHAPTER 6: TEAM FORMATIONS

                                                       

"Good decisions are made from good positions"

Team formations can greatly assist in ensuring that every player on the ground is aligned with the collective process and the preferred outcome at any given time in the game.

This occurs when everyone is in their correct ground positions dependent on ball location, and goes a long way in that play looking how we want it to look such as where does the ball go, who ends up with the ball etc.

When all these are lined up then decision making is easy and you're team will look far more cohesive as the opposition.

In local/amateur football most coaches do spend time on formations but it's mostly kept to kick out zones and this suggests that formations are important enough, and this takes a look at full team formations based on different game situations and ball location. 

For lesser ability teams, formations is the best thing you can train because at least you'll be organised and that means you can defend somewhat against more attack from the opposition and also be somewhat efficient when you have possession.

It follows the previous 5 chapters:

#1 - Forward Press Defense

#2 - Lane Running

#3 - Midfielder Running Patterns

#4 - 666 Connection

#5 - Exploiting the Stand Rule

It is now available from the register page as a stand alone product which when purchased is then emailed to you in a PDF, meaning you don't have to be a member to gain access.

If you're a local/amateur football coach then you're well aware that apart from your assistant coaches, there is distinct lack of readily available resources form where you can learn about different concepts used in football.

All coaches watch and read about footy and the different tactics and strategies that are used by are left wondering what is it exactly and how can I teach my players to do that?

That exact question is what I set out to answer in this mammoth series.

My plan going forward is to release a different chapter every Monday and Friday for 2 reasons:

1 - I want space the release time of each chapter enough to give you time read, digest and then get a handle on each chapter before the next one comes out to ease the mental load compared to receiving all of these chapters at once and then wondering where do I start? 

and;

2 - I also want to make all, or most, chapters available for all coaches before pre-season for 2025 commences so you can factor these new concepts into your plans for next season.

Make 2025 the season you positively turn your coaching practices upside down and re-energise your passion for teaching, coaching and leading your players.

AFLW ROUND 8 GAME ANALYSIS PART 2

                              

Here's part 2 of this weeks game analysis from round 8 of AFLW, where we look at:

• Port Adelaide going from even numbers to being outnumbered to having the outnumber
• Saints going inside forward 50 too fast resulting in the immediate turnover
• Elite team work rate from Port Adelaide
• Geelong break the Lions defense with speed!
• Collingwood hand back defenders giving them less players to move the ball with

For full access to this game analysis, register for a level 1 membership from https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.

AFLW ROUND 8 GAME ANALYSIS PART 1

                               

Back to normal scheduled programming in the AFLW and with 2 rounds to go there is still potential for plenty of ladder movement with 6 genuine 50/50 games to play that can shape the top 8.

My eventual pick is for Melbourne to take Essendon's spot in the 8 in the next 2 weeks for clinch a finals birth.

On to this weeks game analysis which is 10 clips over 2 posts looking at:

• Bulldogs using patient slow play ball movement, simply taking what the defense is giving them
• Carlton not recognising a 1v1 at the top of the goal square anywhere near fast enough
• Poor Carlton forward craft
• Blues and Dogs have a good old fashioned "spare off" - who wins?
• Dogs leaves last Carlton player to cut off transition

For full access to this game analysis register for a level 1 membership from https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.

COACHING MODERN FOOTBALL CHAPTER 5: EXPLOITING THE STAND RULE

                                                           

Chapter 5 looks at the stand rule that most leagues have in place and how you can exploit it to your advantage, and a big one at that.

From a coaching and playing point of view, I personally love the stand rule as it really opens up your ball movement and can help even the worst of teams get some easy territory if utilised correctly. 

It contains 3 clips to show how this used to great affect in games followed by 4 training activity videos for your own coaching toolbox.

If follows the previous 4 chapters:

#1 - Forward Press Defense

#2 - Lane Running

#3 - Midfielder Running Patterns

#4 - 666 Connection

It is now available from the register page as a stand alone product which when purchased is then emailed to you in a PDF, meaning you don't have to be a member to gain access.

If you're a local/amateur football coach then you're well aware that apart from your assistant coaches, there is distinct lack of readily available resources form where you can learn about different concepts used in football.

All coaches watch and read about footy and the different tactics and strategies that are used by are left wondering what is it exactly and how can I teach my players to do that?

That exact question is what I set out to answer in this mammoth series.

My plan going forward is to release a different chapter every Monday and Friday for 2 reasons:

1 - I want space the release time of each chapter enough to give you time read, digest and then get a handle on each chapter before the next one comes out to ease the mental load compared to receiving all of these chapters at once and then wondering where do I start? 

and;

2 - I also want to make all, or most, chapters available for all coaches before pre-season for 2025 commences so you can factor these new concepts into your plans for next season.

Make 2025 the season you positively turn your coaching practices upside down and re-energise your passion for teaching, coaching and leading your players.

COACHING MODERN FOOTBALL CHAPTER 4: 666 CONNECTION

                                                  

Chapter 4 is a big one as it introduces a new concept for most coaches - what I term 666 Connection.

This chapter is filled to the brim with information and explanations of how what it looks like, how it develops and how to train it via 11 game clips, 14 images and then 2 videos on training this with your team.

If follows the previous 3 chapters:

#1 - Forward Press Defense

#2 - Lane Running

#3 - Midfielder Running Patterns

It is now available from the register page as a stand alone product which when purchased is then emailed to you in a PDF, meaning you don't have to be a member to gain access.

If you're a local/amateur football coach then you're well aware that apart from your assistant coaches, there is distinct lack of readily available resources form where you can learn about different concepts used in football.

All coaches watch and read about footy and the different tactics and strategies that are used by are left wondering what is it exactly and how can I teach my players to do that?

That exact question is what I set out to answer in this mammoth series.

My plan going forward is to release a different chapter every Monday and Friday for 2 reasons:

1 - I want space the release time of each chapter enough to give you time read, digest and then get a handle on each chapter before the next one comes out to ease the mental load compared to receiving all of these chapters at once and then wondering where do I start? 

and;

2 - I also want to make all, or most, chapters available for all coaches before pre-season for 2025 commences so you can factor these new concepts into your plans for next season.

Make 2025 the season you positively turn your coaching practices upside down and re-energise your passion for teaching, coaching and leading your players.

AFLW CONDENSED FIXTURE GAME ANALYSIS PART 10

 

Last but not least, part 10, where we look at:

• North Melbourne creating the outnumber advantage in transition offense
• Sydney not using the numbers around them and kicking to a near-empty forward 50
• St Kilda displaying a triple layer of forward press defense for the first time (that I've seen anyway)
• Adelaide power run their way out of stoppage to a huge number advantage  

For full access to this game analysis post, register for a level 1 membership from https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.

AFLW CONDENSED FIXTURE GAME ANALYSIS PART 9

                               

2nd last part of the condensed fixture with another 5 clips in 8mins, where we look at:

• The Dogs not communicating or being cohesive enough on defense
• West Coast not using their numbers around the ball
• Hawthorn team defense formation
• Suns set up the forward press defense trigger but the rest of the team doesn't follow
• Suns create an excellent 2v1 opportunity but fail to utilise it

Fore full access to this game analysis, register for a level 1 membership from https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.

AFLW CONDENSED FIXTURE GAME ANALYSIS PART 8

The condensed fixture is finally over and let's not do this again please.

The last weekend brought 3 videos worth of clips and today brings 5 clips in 8mins looking at:

• Port Adelaide forward press defense
• Port Adelaide using a specific technical tactic that every AFLW player should be taught to use
• Bulldogs all getting past the ball before the ball has even made the aerial contest
• Bulldogs not using the 100% short option and going longer to a 2v4 number disadvantage instead
• Bulldogs not working the ball forward by hand or run and kicking shallow to free Essendon defenders in their own forward 50
• Bulldogs not looking short corridor and going lateral wide instead

For full access to this game analysis post,register for a level 1 membership from https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.

COACHING MODERN FOOTBALL CHAPTER 3: MIDFIELDER RUNNING PATTERNS

                                           

Last week I launched my biggest ever project titled "Coaching Modern Football - Coaching Concepts That Matter in Today's Football".

I managed to release the first 2 chapters being "Forward Press Defense"and "Lane Running" last week with another 2 coming this week.

Today is Chapter 3 - Midfielder Running Patterns.

In it you'll be shown some new running patterns being used a lot by Collingwood in games and in different phases of the game.

I will also provide some training tips and activities for teaching this to your own players.

This chapter has 3 game clips showing this in real games + 1 training activity video, along with 7 images that details specific aspects of this concept.

It is now available from the register page as a stand alone product which when purchased is then emailed to you in a PDF, meaning you don't have to be a member to gain access.

If you're a local/amateur football coach then you're well aware that apart from your assistant coaches, there is distinct lack of readily available resources form where you can learn about different concepts used in football.

All coaches watch and read about footy and the different tactics and strategies that are used by are left wondering what is it exactly and how can I teach my players to do that?

That exact question is what I set out to answer in this mammoth series.

My plan going forward is to release a different chapter every Monday and Friday (as per this week) for 2 reasons:

1 - I want space the release time of each chapter enough to give you time read, digest and then get a handle on each chapter before the next one comes out to ease the mental load compared to receiving all of these chapters at once and then wondering where do I start? 

and;

2 - I also want to make all, or most, chapters available for all coaches before pre-season for 2025 commences so you can factor these new concepts into your plans for next season.

Make 2025 the season you positively turn your coaching practices upside down and re-energise your passion for teaching, coaching and leading your players.

COACHING MODERN FOOTBALL CHAPTER 2: LANE RUNNING

                                                   

Earlier this week I launched my biggest ever project titled "Coaching Modern Football - Coaching Concepts That Matter in Today's Football" and chapter 1 was all about forward press defense.

Today I release Chapter 2 - Lane Running.

In it you'll learn what it looks like in games during different stages of play, and more importantly, how it is developed in the heat of games which then gives you a framework of what activities you should be using for this during training.

This chapter has 5 game clips showing this in real games, along with 5 images that details specific aspects of this concept.

It is now available from the register page as a stand alone product which when purchased is then emailed to you in a PDF, meaning you don't have to be a member to gain access.

If you're a local/amateur football coach then you're well aware that apart from your assistant coaches, there is distinct lack of readily available resources form where you can learn about different concepts used in football.

All coaches watch and read about footy and the different tactics and strategies that are used by are left wondering what is it exactly and how can I teach my players to do that?

That exact question is what I set out to answer in this mammoth series.

My plan going forward is to release a different chapter every Monday and Friday (as per this week) for 2 reasons:

1 - I want space the release time of each chapter enough to give you time read, digest and then get a handle on each chapter before the next one comes out to ease the mental load compared to receiving all of these chapters at once and then wondering where do I start? 

and;

2 - I also want to make all, or most, chapters available for all coaches before pre-season for 2025 commences so you can factor these new concepts into your plans for next season.

Make 2025 the season you positively turn your coaching practices upside down and re-energise your passion for teaching, coaching and leading your players.

AFLW CONDENSED FIXTURE GAME ANALYSIS - GOLD COAST v ESSENDON

                                

I haven't done a single game focus for a while and even though I don't intend on actually doing them like I used to, some games just present more things to highlight then others and in this case the Gold Coast Suns caught my attention.

Along with a few other teams, the Suns have been one of the bigger disappointments this season for various reasons in that they've turned over a good 3rd of their team from last season, lost Whitford who was the most improved player in the league last season by a huge margin and they just don't have the depth to cover those sorts of outs.

On top of that they still don't really have a recognisable game style even in their 6th year in the comp, apart from "Rowbotton get the clearance" which to be fair is pretty good starting point?

Essendon came in just 3 years ago but are actually stacked with seasoned talent from other teams and are actually a very experienced team and the difference between the 2 teams was clearly evident over the weekend, especially in regards to work-rate which also ties in game intelligence ore than everyone thinks - Gold Coasts's GPS readings wre probably higher, as happens to most losing teams, but they're running to the wrong spots, their positioning to start with is poor, or both.

In these 5 clips I take a look at:

• Excellent Essendon game intelligence
• Gold Coast defender not being aggressive enough
• Suns with poor inside 50 numbers of a inside forward 50 ball up
• Gold Coast with poor numbers again in general play
• Suns not looking to go off the line an attack on offense 

For full access to this game analysis, register fora level 1 membership from https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.

AFLW CONDENSED FIXTURE GAME ANALYSIS PART 7

                           

The condensed fixture is rolling and so am I so today we have 8 clips in 13mins where we look at:

• The Dogs going inside forward 50 off a very slow play but then not sealing the exits on defense
• West Coast high game intelligence
• West Coast suffering from traditional football training practices
• Port Adelaide kick out strategy
• Carlton wing run
• Geelong overlap play
• Sydney forward press defense

For full access to this game analysis post, register for a level 1 membership from https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.

COACHING MODERN FOOTBALL CHAPTER 1: FORWARD PRESS DEFENSE

                                             

Today is the launch of my biggest ever project titled "Coaching Modern Football - Coaching Concepts That Matter in Today's Football."

Chapter 1 on learning, teaching and training forward press defense is now available from the register page as a stand alone product which when purchased is then emailed to you in a PDF, meaning you don't have to be a member to gain access.

This chapter has 4 game clips showing this in real games, along with 9 images that details specific aspects of this concept and then 4 different training activities to put this into practice.

If you're a local/amateur football coach then you're well aware that apart from your assistant coaches, there is distinct lack of readily available resources form where you can learn about different concepts used in football.

All coaches watch and read about footy and the different tactics and strategies that are used by are left wondering what is it exactly and how can I teach my players to do that?

That exact question is what I set out to answer in this mammoth series.

I'll be releasing this 1 chapter at a time to give you time read, digest and then get a handle on each chapter before the next one comes out - this will ease the mental load compared to receiving all of these chapters at once and then wondering where do I start? 

Make 2025 the season you positively turn your coaching practices upside down and reenergise your passion for teaching, coaching and leading your players.

AFLW CONDENSED FIXTURE GAME ANALYSIS PART 6

                             

I've no idea where this ends but we're up to part 6 of the AFLW condensed fixture game analysis series and I'm proud of myself for keeping up with this!

Today we have 6 clips in 8mins, including 2 structural breakdowns ending in goals in games decided by less than a kick while also looking at:

• Hawthorn kick out tactic stolen from their men's program
• Sydney defenders commit too high and have zero impact
• GWS with off the line options they refuse to even look at
• GWS not using their numbers out of stoppage
• GWS not being patient enough to utilise their DNA - a handball receive
• Saints wing structure breakdown

For full access to this game analysis post, register for a level 3 membership from https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.

FOOTBALL COACHING CHAPTERS SNEAK PREVIEW

                                               

Earlier this week I posted about something pretty major that I've been working on, something that coaches have never had access to before and today I'll give you a preview of chapter 1, or the first chapter that I finished (I'm up to finish my 13th chapter out of about 20.) 

Here it is:

CHAPTER #1 - FRONT PRESS DEFENSE

The forward press defense was popularised by Richmond during their premiership years where then Sydney started using it very soon after and now a bunch of clubs use it regularly.

This needs to be a full team mentality as every needs to be all in on this for it to work, otherwise huge holes will be visible in your team defense, and is why it might scare of more teams from using it more often.

That being said I think the advantages that it can provide your team are too good ignore so I'd definitely want tit to be in my team's defensive toolbox.

Pressure from behind is possibly the "least" pressure you can apply as the ball carrier as they still have eyes on what's unfolding in front of them, space to play through and are relatively perfectly balanced to execute a kick or handball.

Applying pressure from in front of them disrupts all of this by taking away their time and space to do any of this, forcing them to re-route their decision making while under probably physical pressure with the play in front of them blocked.

If they are able to dispose of the ball the handball will be high and loopy to get over the player applying frontal pressure which then gives time for the next layer of front press defense to bet there and so on until they turn the ball over.

A kick will be rushed and high as well and again easily defended by.

I mentioned pressure from behind above and you still need it as if everyone from the defensive side of the ball simply charges forward then you're vulnerable if they make it through so the chaser's from behind still need to perform that, but the hope is that the front pressure delays the opposition ball movement and they can "catch up" and apply actual  physical pressure, saving defensive players from leave their post if they can.

Lastly, you need to determine specific triggers for when this is to happen so that there is a shared mental model of this among all teammates.

Specific language that greatly assist in teaching this includes "press forward" or simply "press", "boundary close-in" and "all-in" or "trading up".  

In the 4 videos below, you'll see exactly what this can look like at different times of the game as well as the triggers for when to "go".

What follows are the 4 videos with coaching insights from each and then 4 training activities that you can train this through, again with coaching points in designing and teaching it.

This is the template for all chapters and goes into excellent detail for each of the game aspects I've chosen to highlight.

This will be a most valuable tool for any football coach who wants greater details or a different set eyes on something they already know about, or for those who want to expand from their current coaching base.

I'm leaning towards releasing this chapter-by-chapter which will give you time to read, digest and process before the next one comes out and you're not flooded with too much new information all at once, causing massive cognitive overload!

It was stop me from rushing to get all this finish for a single release so I reckon early next week could be the first release so keep your eyes open.

BRISBANE LIONS 50 MARKS TRAINING ACTIVITY

                                                         

Brisbane averaged over 100 marks per game in season 2024, capping that off with a ridiculous 158 in the Grand Final itself leading to a whopping possession of 53% for the game!

If each mark and then kick on average is 5secs in length (just making this up), then that's over 13mins with the ball in hand with complete control of the game, and a game model planned specifically around this as well.

It definitely fits the mantra of you have the ball, they have the ball or its in dispute.

And when you watch them it's not they're constantly trying to pick off 50% options, it's mostly to players in space, or enough space to take an uncontested mark off the back of the player movement in front of the ball.

Most local teams are territory-based over possession-based but it doesn't have to be that way.

Train to maintain possession, train it under game conditions, give players plenty of opportunities to explore this game style over the pre-season and build their confidence, and competence, with it via your practice design.

Playing the short, fast and forward game also allows you to regain your defensive formation behind the ball and as you progress the ball up the ground, it also enables you to then squeeze that defensive up as high you want and play a forward half game.

If you kick long and lose possession immediately then you're forward and midfield runners are caught in the middle from chasing the initial kick and nowhere near set up to defend the rebound, and then your defense is extremely vulnerable.

Here's a pretty easy way to do it...

For full access to this premiership winning training activity, register for a level 3 membership from https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.

WHAT COACHING LEVEL DO YOU WANT TO REACH IN 2025?

                                                         

I'm ALWAYS adding to and hopefully upgrading my coaching knowledge, having I've literally just completed my AFL Level 2 Coaching Course.

And with that being said I'm still on my mission of delivering high quality coaching content for local/amateur coaches of ages/ability/experience to assist them up constant upskilling of themselves.

For the last month or so I've been putting together what I'll call "chapters" of content, with each detailing 1 specific aspect of football and how its played in 2024.

These chapters will provide you with all you need to add them into your teams game model for next season and beyond, giving a huge advantage over your opposition stuck in long down the line rubbish from a bygone era.

After a introduction of what that the tactic or strategy is, I then use game vision that I've compiled, and images from that vision to detail the process of how AFL teams go about developing and then executing on them during different parts of the game.

I then give some tips and/or training activities on how you can take this tactic/strategy, introduce it to your own team, train it up and have it ready to use on game days next season. 

I'm not entirely sure how this will end up being put together - it could be an actual book if I can work my way around the video part of it (I have some idea's on that but don't know if they're applicable!) - but it will like nothing else on the market.

So far I've finished chapters on:

• Front Press Defense
• Lane Running
• Mids Angling in and Out at Contest
• 666 Connection
• Exploiting the Man on the Mark Rule
• Team Formations
• Getting Length
• Center Bounce Clearance 
• Forward Craft
• Wing Play

and am currently finishing off:

• Playing Between the Lines
• Kick Out Strategies

With the bigger chapters covered I then have about 8 - 10 more smaller one's to add in.

So keep an eye out for this when it drops, hopefully in the next month, and if you've got requests for anything specific, then simply let me know and I'll see if I can put something together on it.

AFLW CONDENSED FIXTURE GAME ANALYSIS PART 5

                               

Another 4 days another 27 games of AFLW to cover!

Part 5 has 9 clips in 11mins where we look at:

• Melbourne not using the trigger to press forward to defend
• Essendon just needing to use 1 more handball
• Melbourne using the trigger to press forward to defend
• Freo tick lead
• Sydney not using the short option they normally do
• Sydney crumbers not in optimal position
• Bulldogs ruck pushes forward
• Carlton not scanning enough going inside 50
• Brisbane creating space for each other

For full access to this game analysis, register for a level 1 membership from https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.

2024 GRAND FINAL GAME ANALYSIS

                     

As I was at the game watching Saturday and watching as a fan, I forced myself to "coach" watch a replay of the first half yesterday and then so 2 - 3 times!

From that I took some stats and video and being essentially hogtied to the couch all day yesterday after a big weekend, I posted an X/Twitter thread on it so here it is.

I'll get to the 2nd half at some point but the margin got bigger in that time and there was no fightback from the Swans so I don't think anything will come from it.

In the end it was an absolute midfield masterclass from the Lions but our totally out-of-character blast kicking in the first quarter was ridiculous and there were at least 2 times players were pleading for forward handballs that were intercepted in the air by Brisbane.

Click the link below and have a gander.

https://x.com/AFLTraining/status/1840254023485489612

AFLW CONDENSED FIXTURE GAME ANALYSIS PART 5 - GEELONG v HAWTHORN

                        

Without the wife's IPad (they shipped themselves off to nanny's for the weekend), I'm analysing games the old school way but nothing if not adaptable.

This focuses on last nights game between the Cats and the Hawks, especially the Hawks a few things they do in the defensive and forward halves.

For full access to this game analysis post, register for a level 1 membership at https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.

AFLW CONDENSED FIXTURE GAME ANALYSIS PART 4

I won't have the wife's IPad until Monday night so good luck to me keeping up with this + the men's Grand Final Saturday (which I'm going to!) but we'll keep rolling as we look at Richmond/Port Adelaide and Carlton/North Melbourne over 2 video below, specifically:

• Port not using their free player to create handball overlap
• Richmond's elite front press defense
• Richmond inside 50 player movement sequence and goal
• Richmond's transition offense
• Port's transition offense
• Carlton not using their free player to create handball overlap
• Carlton being far too aggressive on defending kick out

For full access to this game analysis post, register for a level 1 membership from https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.

AFLW CONDENSED FIXTURE GAME ANALYSIS PART 3

The AFLW Festival of Football continues and we're up to part 3 of the game analysis from these games where today over 3 videos we look at:

• Sydney creating space to get "first down"
• Sydney not using their numbers around the ball
• Sydney defensive mechanism at center bounce clearance
• Bulldogs not using their extra player
• Pies not being able to find their 2v1 advantage
• Dogs not going off the line...again
• Monster Riley Wilcox wing run
• Dogs not recognising a huge potential advantage
• Collingwood trying to generate speed on the ball out of thin air

For full access to this game analysis, register for a level 1 membership from https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.

ALFW CONDENSED FIXTURE GAME ANALYSIS PART 2

                           

This condensed fixture is making post on a weekend and Youtube being a pest meaning I had to post these in tinier vids than normal but the coaching goodness is still there!

Today we have 11 clips in 12mins looking at:

• Port Adelaide's very predictable and 1-dimensional kick outs x 2
• Port not using their numbers around the ball then kicking to a severe outnumber
• Gold Coast not finding "2nd down"
• Gold Coast not taking grass off center bounce clearance
• Gold Coast refusing to play off the line
• Gold Coast losing their width, and thus passing options, and forced to a severe outnumber as well
• A better way for the Saints to go inside forward 50  off a Jesse Wardlaw mark
• Hawthorn team defense formation
• Melbourne wing creates space for player and then ball movement out of defensive 50
• Freo not giving the Melbourne what they want and putting them in a panic

For full access to this game analysis post, register for a level 1 membership from https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.

ALFW CONDENSED FIXTURE GAME ANALYSIS

                               

There's now way I can keep track of the rounds during this time so condensed fixture it is!

The game are coming thick and fast and so will the game analysis, being putting on the speed dial.

So in saying that here are 11 clips in 11mins looking at:

• Collingwood center bounce clearance
• West Coast not taking the ground afforded to them
• West Coast not looking off the line
• West Coast engaging Sab off the ball
• Brisbane going corridor to a 1v1 50/50!
• Bulldogs "That'll Go Beyond This Week" moment
• A 2nd Bulldogs "That'll Go Beyond This Week" moment
• Blues Forward Press Defense x 2
• Carlton 1v1 corridor option v wide leading ball goes out of bounds option
• Bonus Carlton ball movement, or lack thereof clip, below this vid

For full access to this game analysis post, register for a level 1 membership from https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.

AFLW ROUNDS 2/3 GAME/TRAINING SCENARIOS

In this post we have 3 game/training scenario's from rounds 2 and 3 of AFLW.

#1 - Lane Running fro Defensive 50

#2 - Using Your Outnumber Advantage 7v6

#3 - Using Your Outnumber Advantage 8v7

For full access to this game/training scenario, register for a level 4 membership from https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.

AFLW ROUND 3 GAME ANALYSIS PART 2/2

In part 2 of the game analysis from AFLW round 3 we look at:

• North Melbourne creating and utilising the outnumber advantage
• GWS going inside 50 on fast play
• Gold Coast not getting length on fast play

For full access to this game analysis, register for a level 1 membership from https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.

AFLW ROUND 3 GAME ANALYSIS PART 1/2

                           

We're already essentially a quarter of the way through the regular season of AFLW (ridiculous I know after just 3 rounds) and we're looking at another ladder logjam like we had in the men's comp this season with 7 teams on 8pts, 1 on 6 and another 5 on 4, taking up places 4 - 14th on the ladder with %'s ranging from 163 to 54. 

This means we're already getting to 8pt games that looking back 8 weeks from now, could have spelt the end of finals chances for some teams.  

This week coming we have Rich/Car both on 8pts but 75% apart, Freo/Melb on 8/4pts respectively and Syd/GWS on 4/6pts, not to mention Coll/WB who are both win-less and GC/Gee who were both finals bound 3 weeks ago but are both languishing on just 2pts each!

Let the good times roll I say:

• The Dogs not looking corridor where their numbers, kicking long and directly to the opposition
• Collingwood in possession, then giving up possession and getting negative territory from it before a stoppage
• Brisbane free player not making herself obvious
• Sydney ruck setting the standard for the 2nd quarter
• Poor Sydney center bounce set up and execution

For full access to this game analysis, register for a level 1 membership from https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.