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CibbuanoWorsfold defends high-handball game plan
July 1st 2008 06:03
WEST COAST's high-handball count against Hawthorn at the MCG on Friday night was a necessary tactic to try break down the Hawks' rolling defensive zone, according to coach John Worsfold.
The Eagles recorded a staggering 240 handballs compared to 158 kicks in their 57-point loss to the Hawks.
"We didn't cope with Geelong's defensive zone the previous week and we knew Hawthorn are probably the best team at doing that defensive zone all down the ground, so we went in with a plan to try to attack that," Worsfold told 6PR.
"Put it this way ... the previous week we were accused of not having the ball, I was quite happy to have it a bit more this week.
"It's just that classic one, if we would have kicked it out of the backline any earlier ... we would have turned it over and we might have been blown out of the water like we were against Geelong.
"I thought the tactic to try to run the ball past a big part of that zone was effective in a big part of the game.
"I couldn't have asked the players to do any more of what we asked them, and that was a great sign for us that our young players and our senior players went out with a new style that we wanted to have a go at and they gave it everything."
Midfielder Matt Priddis racked up a match-high 45 possessions, 30 of which were handballs.
Priddis has been critcised for receiving too much easy ball but Worsfold said the 23-year-old was a hard worker and an integral part of West Coast's midfield.
"No one gives you the footy out there, you have to go out and win it," Worsfold said.
"Whether it's 35 or 45 possessions he does an enormous amount of work out there for us and brings other players into the game.
"He may not have looked like Greg Williams out there but we don't expect him to because we know he's not Greg Williams. You can't question his work ethic."
The Eagles recorded a staggering 240 handballs compared to 158 kicks in their 57-point loss to the Hawks.
"We didn't cope with Geelong's defensive zone the previous week and we knew Hawthorn are probably the best team at doing that defensive zone all down the ground, so we went in with a plan to try to attack that," Worsfold told 6PR.
"Put it this way ... the previous week we were accused of not having the ball, I was quite happy to have it a bit more this week.
"It's just that classic one, if we would have kicked it out of the backline any earlier ... we would have turned it over and we might have been blown out of the water like we were against Geelong.
"I thought the tactic to try to run the ball past a big part of that zone was effective in a big part of the game.
"I couldn't have asked the players to do any more of what we asked them, and that was a great sign for us that our young players and our senior players went out with a new style that we wanted to have a go at and they gave it everything."
Midfielder Matt Priddis racked up a match-high 45 possessions, 30 of which were handballs.
Priddis has been critcised for receiving too much easy ball but Worsfold said the 23-year-old was a hard worker and an integral part of West Coast's midfield.
"No one gives you the footy out there, you have to go out and win it," Worsfold said.
"Whether it's 35 or 45 possessions he does an enormous amount of work out there for us and brings other players into the game.
"He may not have looked like Greg Williams out there but we don't expect him to because we know he's not Greg Williams. You can't question his work ethic."
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