Bulldogs Ballarat Practice Match.... Your thoughts.

[GVGjr]

And Weightman isnt a legit small forward if you expect them to be more crumbing focused. Is this a case where the Bevo versatile mantra works against us?

There is some merit in that. It's great having versatile players but you do need specialists as well. We appear to be preferring hybrid types.

[Mantis]

I think you will find guys like Sam Mitchell/Greg Williams who needed to adjust their games due to their lack of pace took about 5 - 6 seasons. West is a similar type to those two. They all dominated junior footy but just took time to adjust.

I'm not sure I will.

Sam Mitchell was drafted in 2001, In 2002 he played the 1st 1/2 of the year in the VFL and scored 10 BOG's from 11 games to win the Liston Trophy. He played 20 games+ in years 2 & 3 and after a few injuries in year 4 played 22 games in season 5 and averaged 26 touches per game.

Whilst he started playing VFL when he was more mature (debuted when 21) Greg Williams in his 2nd season averaged 30.7 touches per game and came equal 4th in the Brownlow. He won the Brownlow in his 3rd season.

[1eyedog]

And Weightman isnt a legit small forward if you expect them to be more crumbing focused. Is this a case where the Bevo versatile mantra works against us?

Neither are / were Vandermeer, Gowers, Lloyd or McNeil they're all hybrids / mediums. Cavarra was maybe but not a great one. We've put zero energy and resources into a good or promising small crumber and that's what we've desperately lacked. All our energy in this space has gone into hybrid-mid / flankers who can cover ground ok and follow a 'defensive pressure' directive. That's a defensive small forward which is not what I'm talking about.

There's been no-one at this club since Judas (does Aker count?), who can do all the above yet crumb so effectively and efficiently the opposition is anxious everytime it hits the ground around them. It seems every other club has had one except us and with the quality of the tall timber we have up front now we need one more than ever.

Our strategy under Bevo has been If we don't mark it and it hits the ground let's hope our hybrids don't let it out too easily and it will be the same this season.

[Bullies]

I'm not sure I will.

Sam Mitchell was drafted in 2001, In 2002 he played the 1st 1/2 of the year in the VFL and scored 10 BOG's from 11 games to win the Liston Trophy. He played 20 games+ in years 2 & 3 and after a few injuries in year 4 played 22 games in season 5 and averaged 26 touches per game.

Whilst he started playing VFL when he was more mature (debuted when 21) Greg Williams in his 2nd season averaged 30.7 touches per game and came equal 4th in the Brownlow. He won the Brownlow in his 3rd season.

What I was more referring to was that they had been in the system a number of years before they were drafted at 21 and it can turn quickly if they have football smarts despite people saying they are to slow.

[bornadog]

Neither are / were Vandermeer, Gowers, Lloyd or McNeil they're all hybrids / mediums. Cavarra was maybe but not a great one. We've put zero energy and resources into a good or promising small crumber and that's what we've desperately lacked. All our energy in this space has gone into hybrid-mid / flankers who can cover ground ok and follow a 'defensive pressure' directive. That's a defensive small forward which is not what I'm talking about.

There's been no-one at this club since Judas (does Aker count?), who can do all the above yet crumb so effectively and efficiently the opposition is anxious everytime it hits the ground around them. It seems every other club has had one except us and with the quality of the tall timber we have up front now we need one more than ever.

Our strategy under Bevo has been If we don't mark it and it hits the ground let's hope our hybrids don't let it out too easily and it will be the same this season.

Even though we haven't had a genuine small forward under Bevo, we have been one of the highest scoring teams. Other than 2017/18, we have been in the top 5 each year ranking from 2nd to 5th most scores.

This year is the year we want a crumber with all the tall timber around.

[jeemak]

Even though we haven't had a genuine small forward under Bevo, we have been one of the highest scoring teams. Other than 2017/18, we have been in the top 5 each year ranking from 2nd to 5th most scores.

This year is the year we want a crumber with all the tall timber around.

is the scoring a function of time in fifty/ opportunities? Would we have been more efficient with capable crumbing smalls? Now I get you can only score so much in a game, and not sure what the tangible difference a top rated crumbing small would have done to the number.

[bornadog]

is the scoring a function of time in fifty/ opportunities? Would we have been more efficient with capable crumbing smalls? Now I get you can only score so much in a game, and not sure what the tangible difference a top rated crumbing small would have done to the number.

I agree we need a small crumbing forward

[jeemak]

I agree we need a small crumbing forward

Oh that is nasty!

I wasn't saying that at all! In fact, like in many of my posts I wasn't saying anything at all!