Warne-Smith's tips for young players (IV)
Play on the centre-line
A football team often loses a match through playing [weak] men on its centre line. All the good scoring moves should come from these men so it is most important that the right types of players should be chosen for the centre positions
Generally, the centre man selected is the most accomplished footballer in the side and one who is able to turn easily and pass kick accurately. He should be of medium height for often in play he will be surrounded by the big ruckmen of the other side. Fast and clever men are required on the wing but here it does not matter if they are quite small. Once these centre positions are filled satisfactorily the next best thing is for the men in them to use their ability to the best advantage to the side.
If these players try to be too clever and run that extra yard or so with the ball or try to dodge and turn too much and do not watch where or how they kick the ball they will not be of much value to the side. This, of course, applies to every player in a team but I have mentioned it again because centre-line men are more often at fault than the others. In their kicking to the forwards, the wing and centre men should kick high to the man who is a good mark, low and ahead of the forward running cut to meet the ball and follow as near as possible a straight line ahead or to the goal.
There the space to play in, except in circumstances which I will explain later, is between the half-back and half-forward lines. The wingmen should never roam across and past the centre toward the other side of the ground. At the bounce in the centre, the centre player takes as his opponent the other teams rover. The wingmen should never crowd in on the rucks. You may have noticed that they do but it is very bad football. It causes congested play with the rucks, rovers, centres, and wing players all fighting each other for the ball. If the wingmen stand back and have an understanding with the rucks or rovers to knock or kick the ball over to them [illegible] a great opening to break clear appears
In general play, the centres have two things to remember. One is that when their half-backs have the ball, they run out into position just as if they were forwards. The other is to act as defenders when the opposing backs have the ball and to prevent their man from giving a lead.
Now I have just a little to say on "follow-on" play, as it is termed. This is the most delightful form of system to watch and is most effective. Centre-line players should always be looking for the opportunity to try it. Here is an example:
The half-forward has run near the centre to take the ball. As he gets it the wingmen or the centre man runs past him and straight toward goal in readiness to take either a hand-pass or a short kick. When they have received the pass they continue on running, the ball is hand-balled or passed farther ahead, and the centremen keep on following it right up to goal. In fact, any time a player has the ball about the centre, the nearest man of his own side to him should begin the movement.
The only danger of follow-on play is that when centre-line men run on toward goal their opponent is left in the middle of the field. He becomes a "loose man" and a great danger if his own backs happen to obtain the ball. He should be minded by a ruckman, or rover, in the absence of one of the centre-line players.
The secret of forward play
A breakdown in forward play will be disastrous to your team. No matter how well the backs or centre play - if the forwards cannot kick goals matches will be lost. This does not mean that every forward player should strive to kick goals himself. If he does the forward line will fail because it is only by co-operation between all the players in this part of the field that success will be achieved.
Now, how do we train the forwards to work together? First of all, on practice nights, these players should have separate training. Spread them out on half of the ground in the positions they will occupy in a match. Have another player or two about the centre of the ground passing a ball to them. Then let the forwards play to each other, making straight for goal just as if they were in a match. When you pick up sides, always pit the backs against the forwards. By these means the forwards learn to understand each other's play and the way each man likes to have the ball kicked to him.
This training in itself is not sufficient to have successful forwards unless it is backed up by some plan of action for a match. Every forward must know which way the others are likely to run to lead away from their opposing backs. There are several ways to bring this about. The full forward may like to lead straight out toward the half-forward line to receive a pass. When he does, one full-forward, but not both, should always run in toward goal in case the pass is missed. If the full-forward prefers to stay near goals, the pocket players must keep near the boundary line to leave room for him to move about in. Should the ball be kicked high in the air toward goal, and the full-forward goes for the mark, one pocket player comes near to pounce on the ball after a dropped mark. The other one stays right out of the play.
The idea behind these movements is to keep congestion away from the full-forward line, but at the same time it allows one player to be close to the man going for the ball to back up. The half forward players work to create an open space by either standing close to the centre half-forwards or near the boundary fence. How to do this was explained to you in a previous article on back play. Once the forwards have made up their minds how they will help each other, they must keep to their plan in a match.
To be able to kick accurately is, of course, most essential. Constant practice at the goals from a standing-still position and on the run at all angles to them must be taken. In a match, you do not want to be downhearted if you miss a goal. There is a reason for this happening. Probably you have dropped the ball crookedly, or have looked at the man on your mark or at the goals as you made the kick. If you try and think why it has been a bad kick, mid then rectify the trouble next time, you will not miss again. Do not change your type of kick during a match because of on inaccurate kick for goal. If you do, you will be wondering whether to dare a punt or a drop-kick shot instead of concentrating on the correct way to do either one.
It does not matter which style of kick you adopt. Some good forwards are very successful with a punt, and others have been accurate with dropkicks. I would prefer a punt as the best method because it is an all-weather kick, but the main thing is to keep to the one you prefer in practice.
Followers and rovers
The followers in a football team generally consist of two big ruckmen and one rover. Their part in the game is mainly to follow the play around the ground.
At the bounce in the centre, the ruckmen must try to hit the ball to their rover so that he may kick toward goal. After a ‘ball-up’ decision or a ‘throw in’ from the boundary these three players should be at hand to carry on in a similar manner. In this work the rucks and rover are a little team within themselves
The rover has an understanding with the ruckmen as to where he will stand for the hit out from the throw in or the bounce. If the rover is wise he will continually alter the position to keep his opponents guessing, but he must make his ruckmen aware of his movements. The two ruckmen also help each other by first of all deciding which ruckmen of their two opponents they will mind, who is the better man to go for a mark, and by not fighting each other for the hit out.
Because those three players have to understand each other's movements so well it follows that a team should always keep the same combination together. As following the play all the time takes a great deal of energy a team generally has two sets of followers to relieve each other. This should be done at least once during a quarter, and sometimes more, the main idea being always to keep the players reasonably fresh until the end of the game.
A captain often finds difficulties here. All players like to keep going "on the ball". The change followers are ‘itching’ for their turn, so to keep them all contented and able to fight out a hard last term make sure that one set never follows for more than half a quarter. The changing over should be made when the followers are close to their relief men. If players have to change from one end of the ground to the other unnecessary running about is forced on them. Also, their opponents will become loose men for the time.
The positions ruckmen and rovers occupy when not following varies in every side. The ideal team has one in a back pocket, one on the half-forward wing and one in a forward pocket, according to where each man is suited best. Followers in general play always try to be a help and not a hindrance to the position men in their team. In your team, the followers should remember this and play on the following lines. When attacking they all should not rush down to the forward lines. If they do their opponents will follow them and the forward line becomes crowded, which you know should be avoided. So let one ruckman stay near the centre, let one come down no farther than the half-forward line, and let the third follow the play.
At the other end of the ground, when your side is defending, see that the followers keep a close guard on their opponents. Your rucks should always be on the lookout to shepherd their position men. They should never compete with the other big men in the side for marks.
The rover is always near the play to whip up the ball off the ground, to run out into position, and to be alert for any follow-on play. Each one of them also must try to cover up gaps in the field. A half-back, or a centre-line player, may follow up his own play and leave his position. It is then that the rucks drop into this gap and stay there until the position returns. Lastly, the followers must never allow a position man to mind their own opponents after a mark or free kick. If they do without picking up the position man's opponent the side will be disorganised.
Play as a team
You may have read some of these hints on football during the season, and possibly your marking, handling, turning, and kicking has improved. You may even be able to kick with both feet—I hope you can—and have a good knowledge of position play.
But have you acquired the right temperament and character for the game? Can you honestly say that you can control your temper right through a match? When a player bumps you hard or passes some sarcastic remark do you become wild and seek to return the knock and so forget about keeping in front of your man and making the ball your objective?
If you do you will never be a good footballer. You will only be a hindrance to the teamwork your side for in football, or in any game for that, self-control is the first lesson a player must learn.
There is another class of player; the one who likes to be clever and to show off. You see him always turning and dodging and while he is at this he is losing opportunities to pass the ball on. At other times because he is fast he runs too far with the ball. He may try to bluff the umpire by throwing up his arms for free kicks and sometimes he is successful. But this sort of thing does not pay for long. The umpires soon know the players who are crying wolf.
Then there is the silly trick of cribbing over the mark and holding an opponent after he has taken a mark. One could find many other instances of so-called cleverness. A player who is tempted into these cunning little acts and who tries to parade the fact that he is a better player than the others earns the dislike of everyone. He is in the same category as the player who cannot control his temper and is of little value to the team.
To become downhearted easily is another failing. A player drops a mark or his opponent beats him for the ball and he begins to worry about it and loses his confidence. He feels that the next time the ball comes along he will fall again. Why should he? If a player is fit and can play well at practice other opportunities will occur in a match. The opponent is only a player like himself. He will probably misjudge the ball next time, and if a player always keeps on trying and forgets about himself he must at length be successful.
There is another quality in football which makes for success. It is determination. Coupled with that is a spirit of never give up. Everything you set out to do must be accomplished no matter how hard it is. If you are feeling tired and think you cannot go any faster remember that your opponent is probably thinking the same thing too. So grit your teeth and make yourself give that little extra effort because it can be done. If you do not your opponent will and you will be beaten
Remember also that a match is never lost until the final bell. Five goals can and have been kicked in the last five minutes to win a game. If everyone in the team keeps on striving their utmost, this feat is always liable to happen Lastly go out on the field not to give that little extra for yourself, not to play a great game so that you will be a little hero but do It all for your team.
Footnotes
Title: Champion's hints for young players
Author: Ivor Warne-Smith
Publisher: The Argus (Melbourne, Vic: 1848-1957)
Series: Every Friday in the Junior Argus supplement, pp.7/8.
Dates: Friday, 14 May 1937 to 27 August 1937.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11101634
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11114091
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article 11078951
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