See but I don’t think the issue is the way the attack is designed, the plays we’re running. We’ve seen over the past few weeks or so that the shapes do actually work, these guys can create space for the outside backs. The issue is in the whole game approach.
I’ve heard Adam himself talk in a now deleted podcast (Brett Finch hosted it) about the transformation he oversaw of Melbourne’s attack for 2017. Basically the way he puts it, the key thing was Bellyache showing the willingness to transition from the conservative play Melbourne had been known for before that, to a faster, more open style where they were prepared to attack from their own half. Bellyache being happy that the defence was good enough that he was happy to accept more sets defending the try line if the side made more errors, as it was likely to. The tradeoff of better ball more often to the wide strike players they had was worth it. I somehow doubt Adzy totally revolutionised the attacking system in three months - the biggest change was the overall approach, the mindset. The game plan.
The game plan has been the issue for us this year, not that the players are constitutionally incapable of doing stuff in attack or don’t understand how to run the shapes they’ve learned. They know. The game plan has had them in handcuffs. The game plan is overwhelmingly the responsibility of the head coach.
