Haven't seen yesterday's game yet, but one of Boyd's most impactful games last year was against Carlton when he worked in tandem with Cooney to work Judd over at the stoppages - Boyd only got it low 20's that game but was superb in his ability to close down Judd and win important ball going the other way. I'm not a massive fan of his 35+ possession games because it means that Cooney or Griffen have it in their hands less times - I'm actually convinced that the opposition structure up deliberately so that natural ball hunters like Boyd and Cross have it in their hands as often as possible.
Of course they do. Only in footy of all sports is the actual number of possession rated so highly, as opposed to the quality of your possession.
Does anyone care how many times a guy gets the ball in field hockey? People only care what you do with it. I never remembered my soccer coaches telling me to aim to get it 80 times a game, just what to do when I did get it. Which paper reported how many times Wayne Rooney got the ball on the weekend? None. (I'm not saying it's not important -- soccer coaches do track these things and you don't want some guys -- like Xavi or Messi -- getting it a lot, but it's just not a big part of the way people evaluate a players' worth.) Same in basketball -- you actually WANT the ball in the hands of the worst users as they'll likely turn it over so you structure your defence accordingly to let them have it.
Just like basketball, turnovers are a major source of scoring in modern footy, so I'm sure that's exactly what opposition coaches are doing -- if, as an Eagles coach, you know that Boydy getting the ball means that you'll score more likely than not from the turnover (or at least get the ball back -- with a 30% kicking efficiency rating that means he actually won the ball 14 times for the Eagles) why wouldn't you let him get it 50 times in traffic?
''It's a product of the position you play as well. I like to think I am in tight and getting a bit of contested ball"
Its not the disposals from the tight contested play that gives me the tom tits, it is when he is open and clear and heading into our half when he kicks it straight to the opposition. I have seen this numerous times.
You never see blokes like Pendlebury do this .... they make every opportunity count when banging it into their forwards.
You don't develop courage by being happy in your relationships every day. You develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity. ― Epicurus
You don't develop courage by being happy in your relationships every day. You develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity. ― Epicurus
Boyds kicking disposal is the only thing holding him back from being elite. I'm not sure he can work on it. Maybe he should take less responsibility kicking the ball and start trying to feed off to our better ball users.
But then again, I'm an Internet poster and Bevo is a premiership coach so draw your own conclusions.
This is a massive deficit and really makes me think that elite and Boyd can never go in the same sentence. This argument has gone around on this forum before. The only option in the midfield is Cooney. Cross, Smith, Libba, Wallis, Sherman and Picken are all in the same boat as Boyd.
But then again, I'm an Internet poster and Bevo is a premiership coach so draw your own conclusions.
Boyd to play the Picken role. Wallis to be Boyd and Picken to either small forward or small defender.
Just throwing it out there.
We will never win a flag with Boyd and Cross as the main mids ( no disrespect intended) and this year should be all about the kids.
Boyd kicked like Mick Mcguane on painkillers and Gia who is normally a beautiful deliverer was just pinging it on the boot.
You don't develop courage by being happy in your relationships every day. You develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity. ― Epicurus