Many teams over the years have created dynasties with unique game plans that were too complicated for their rivals. The following are the three most effective game plans from the 2000s to today and my thoughts on which is the best.
Brisbane 2001-2004
The Brisbane game plan really wasn’t complicated, but it was devastatingly effective. The Lions tended to rely on their superstar players in Michael Voss and Jason Akermanis to get the clearance, then spread just wide of the centre square before kicking long and high to champion tall forwards Alastair Lynch, Jonathan Brown and Daniel Bradshaw.
Many teams didn’t orchestrate a third man up, so barely any defenders could defend one-on-one against such brilliant forwards for a whole match. The system was effective in that time but nowadays would be broken down with a third man up strategy.
Geelong 2007-2014
Mark Thompson came up with a near-perfect plan that encompassed hard running, crazy tackling and pressure, dare and use of voice. It is still employed by Chris Scott today.
The Geelong midfielders relied on their teammates calling for the ball in packs. They would handball it to the voice and their marvellous handballing skills would help them to run out of packs, where they would run and handball the ball down the middle in numbers. Geelong’s tall forwards would then open up the forward line, where their players pressured opponents so the opposition could never clear or transition the ball out of defence.
The system works well unless a team like Collingwood in 2010 pressures them into turning over the ball.
Collingwood 2010-2011
Mick Malthouse came up with a system that worked perfectly for hard runners. The plan was that the Pies would spread right out to the boundary and use precise kicks to work their way up the ground. The forwards would lead up and lock the ball inside their forward fifty. They produced the best press footy has seen – known as the box press.
In defence they orchestrated a third man up, who would play spare and, along with running half backs in Heath Shaw, Harry O’Brien and Ben Johnson, they would transition and rebound the ball out of the defensive fifty. They scored constantly through turnovers forced by the full ground press.
The plan could only work for a couple of years because of the heavy toll it took on the body. The plan was partly thwarted by Hawthorn and Geelong in 2011 by their players instantly spreading wide to the boundary.
I rate Collingwood’s plan the most effective because it wasn’t completely thwarted. In the second half of the 2011 preliminary final they prevailed by mixing up their spread. Sometimes they took a chance by cutting through the middle, leaving Hawthorn not sure about instinctively covering the boundary spread.
The plan worked brilliantly in that game but was very hard to reproduce.
Honourable mentions:
• Sydney 2005/2006, 2012
• West Coast 2005/2006
• Essendon 2000/2001
• Collingwood 2002/2003
• Hawthorn 2008, 2012/2013/2014
• Port Adelaide 2004, 2007
• St. Kilda 2009/2010
• Fremantle 2013
dave
Guest
Chicken or egg? The game plan and coaching must have had something to do with all those Brisbane players being so good. Are you suggesting that they where just great players and even if my nana was coaching with her own gameplan they would have won 3 in a row?
barneythecrab
Guest
Good work MeToo I also agree. went from handbaggers to men with extreme strength in a pre season.
Sean Mortell
Roar Guru
Lroy if it was about the players in the team it would have been Brisbane at number one, but my article was on the game plan, so that's why Geelong and Collingwood are ranked 1 and 2 ahead of Brisbane at 3.
Straight Ball
Guest
Me Too, you do good work.
Lroy
Guest
I grew up playing Aussie rules in Perth.. supported the Cardinals.. (Falcons today).. saw the 1977 thrashing of Victoria in the first state of origin game.... was there in 84 when a half forward flanker named Ablett kicked 8 goals in another state of origin game.. it was like he was a 16 year old playing against under 12's The point Im making is.. I have seen a lot of good, bad, and great football teams and players since seing my first live game in 1976 at Fremantle oval where West Perth held of a fiece South Fremantle side (Maurice Rioli, Steven Michaels) on their way to winning 13 in a row (still a record). All I know is, nobody comes close to that Brisbane Lions side of 2001-2004. Even in 1999 their AVERAGE winning margin at the Gabba was 60 points!!! I took a girlfreind to see them play my beloved West Coast Eagles, and the Lions were 8 goals in front at quater time and didnt let up.. Final margin was about 150 points. I have never seen a more comprehensive thrashing at any level, even junior footy than on that dark day. Worst part is.. Eagles were in front at the 15 minute mark!!! Geeong, North from a few years earlier, , even my own Eagles of 2005-2006 dont come near that Lions side. Im not sure even the great Hawthorn team of the 1980's could have beaten them.. seriously.. 3 Bronwlow medalists running around in the same midfield?? When has that ever happened before? Game plan, Fark, what game plan do you need when you have 12 all Australians in the side??
Gecko
Guest
A big part of the Geelong 2007-2014 game plan that needs to be mentioned above is taking the 'defence as a launching pad' approach to a whole new level. The whole Geelong defence tended to mark and play on, while other teams were relying more on the traditional spoiling. The whole Geelong defence were superb rebound kickers, hitting targets 50m upfield. It was Geelong's capacity to score from rebounds in defence that set them apart from other teams as much as their daringness to back their skills and play through the middle of the ground. Clarkson saw Geelong doing this and took it to a new level (recruiting Burgoyne as a kicker fronm defence and later Lake as a rebound marker).
Me Too
Guest
I mentioned Brisbane's transgressions. If the AFL had come down harder at the time we may never have got to the Essendon situation. And Geelong's players that underwent Dank's program have benefited for ever after. No group of Cat's players since Dank left has ever seen such rapid progression as that group. And Geelong have never been quite as dominant since, as no new players have enjoyed the same advantage. We see Essendon also continuing to benefit as a whole, with Jobe's own career continuing on well - he blossomed rapidly from a slow mid-tier player to one of the competitions elite. It's all conjecture of course, but looking at the evidence it's pretty easy to join the dots. Dank-Robinson-Thompson - common factors at both clubs. Abnormally sudden growth in player strength. Hardly a leap of faith to believe Dank was pushing boundaries at Geelong. Chapman's treatment pre the 2009 gf was jumped on and outlawed as soon as the afl got wind of it. What else went on?
dave
Guest
No mention of Gerard Neesham (dockers 1st coach)who's possession game plan was ridiculed and he eventually lost his job? I have seen most teams playing a similiar game for the last 10 years or so,but for the rookie dockers it just didnt work. It was back in the days when full forwards still won games of their own boot. Maybe he was ahead of his time,maybe if he had been given more time Freo could have dominated for years,who knows? All i remember is the comments on how radical his game plan was and how it wouldnt stand up to traditonal footy etc. Everyone laughed at the game plan and now its pretty much the norm. Will we see another turn around back to old style footy?
Jax
Guest
Agree Dean, Hawks deserved more than an honourable mention
Avon River
Guest
North had them covered both years anyway.
Simoc
Guest
Have to agree. Even as a Docker I have never seen a team as precise as Hawthorn last Friday. They played great footy. Get on the man, back off, ball on the noggin. I have seen great play previously from Geelong and Brisbane but the body size and hard running seemed to be the difference. With Sheedy and Malthouse coached sides the players appear to be very well drilled in attack situations with players taking up positions like a chessboard.
IanW
Guest
It's pretty similar to a number of other fine plans used in a number of other football codes :) That plan works in those, too :)
Chaos
Guest
True, but I was actually refering to in 96 and 99 they had home finals taken off them by AFL due to the MCG requiring a game to be played there. They proceeded to get flogged by Essendon and Carlton whilst they should have played at Subiaco. However the MCG would have loomed in 1999 as the PF against Essendon. They would have played the Swams in the SCG in the 1996 PF if they had won the hypothetical Subiaco game.
Lazza
Guest
I believe Mick Malthouse said that he copied that style from watching Barcelona’s marvellous pressing and possession style football. Unfortunately, it seems that many AFL coaches have adopted the 1980’s British Soccer philosophy where it’s all about body shape, work ethic, athleticism and physicality. Works well until you come up against a team with skill and smart tactics.
Dylan
Guest
But that's the issue even the Eagles side faces, they don't get many chances to play at the MCG and adapt their tactics to an oval that is the most different to the one they play at. Even the Dockers and every non Vic team faces these problems.
Adam Julian
Roar Guru
Geelong's is the best to watch and possibly the easiest to imperilment I would think. The Mick Collingwood appoarch at Carlton won't work, they got a good midfield so need to play more like Geelong in style. A lot of the things that Len Smith said still have a lot of merit to.
Brendon the 1st
Guest
Wasn't Brisbane also using blood transfusions mid match? There's no Dank at Geelong now and still seem to be doing well.
Chaos
Guest
I would have loved to have seen that team play more attacking football. Especially 96-99 when they weren't going anywhere in the finals (MCG/Home final issue aside).
Chaos
Guest
Just have to mention the 'man to man style back the stars to win the contests' of Eagles of 2005/06 vs the 'keepy-off tactics of the Swans' in same era essentially nullified each other. Hence the very very close results in those finals series between the two teams. If you say the Essendon era you have to include 1999/2000/2001. That Dean Wallis brain fade in 1999 PF. Port is also more 2001-2004.
Dylan
Guest
I know the sides mentioned are of from the modern era, but the Mick Malthouse led West Coast unit between 1991-1995 deserves a mention ? One of the best defensive units of it's time and would match up with teams from today's Football. 1991: F: 2485, A: 1532 Number 1 Defense 1992: F: 2206, A: 1752 Number 1 Defense 1993: F: 1912, A: 1651 Number 1 Defense 1994: F: 2078, A: 1572 Number 1 Defense 1995: F: 2079, A: 1692 Number 1 Defense F: 10,780, A: 8199 No team in that stretch came close to the Eagles in terms of defensive football and results actually came, 2 premierships, 3 grand Finals and Finals in all those Seasons and in fact that unit never slipped below the top 3 for best defense in Mick Matlhouse's reign, 1990: 3rd best (1920) 1996: 3rd best (1758) 1997: best defense (1770) 1998: second best defense (1773) 1999: second best defense (1937)