Daniel Cross

[Sedat]

Before anyone starts, I feel like shooting Bambi even starting this thread, but I feel it is one worth discussing.

I'll start by saying that Crossy has been a mighty warrior for our club for the last 7-8 years and has been one of my favourite players since the early '00's. But at the moment he is currently playing a role that is simply not helping the team. His once great asset, his clean hands in traffic, have let him down badly this season. As a result, his stoppage work has suffered, and his work in distributing the ball (by both hand and foot) has been below par all season - more often than not he places the next link in the chain under increased pressure through either poor decision-making or poor basic skill execution.

Boyd has clearly taken over as our key inside midfield weapon (and his hands in close traffic are just about the best in the AFL), closely followed by both Coons and Griff (who can both win their own ball and have gone up a notch this season). When 100% fit we then have Picken and Ward providing the additional hard bodies in the midfield, with Picken also doubling as our chief run-with option. There is also the younger version of Cross, Sam Reid, waiting to have a clear run in the senior and will be 100% match fit within a month. So where does all this leave Crossy? I'm personally very worried that he is losing relevance in the modern game, and opposition teams are actually structuring up to ensure that he gets his hands on the ball, focusing their defensive structures on the next option further upfield in the hope/expectation that Crossy will choose a poor option/not distribute the ball cleanly.

There are some options available to him. Brady Rawlings has been a revelation in the back pocket this season and possesses similar attributes to Cross. He's not that quick off the mark either but seems to have been effective in this role. Might be a possibility for Cross, and could release the likes of Gilbee, Harbrow and/or Hargy further upfield. A possible downside is that we add someone with questionable disposal skills into an area that needs precision disposal. The other option (and one that Cross would probably be more suited to) is the run-with role, and with Picken still 6-8 weeks away it is an immediate opportunity and pressing need in the team. None of Clinton Jones, Kane Cornes, Kieran Jack, Brett Kirk or Cameron Ling would ever challenge the back markers at the Stawell Gift. And Crossy's legendary running ability is a precious asset in this role. His ability to ready the play is still above average and would be well suited to such a role (provided he doesn't go ball-hunting and remembers that stopping his direct opponent is his no.1 role). He could also release Picken to become a defensive forward or a negating defender, both roles that Picken is capable of adopting.

I'm really interested to hear other poster's thoughts on Crossy. I just can't see him continuing in his role of inside midfielder and actually providing any real value to the team performing this role.

[LostDoggy]

Would hate to lose Cross, inside mids are gold and his hands in traffic are at least as good as Boyds. He is also a very good courageous mark and a great 3rd man up option. His kicking has its limitations but he has learned to work around them

[LostDoggy]

Good thread, Sedat. I really don't see this as a 'bagging a player' thread although I'm sure many will see it as such, more the type of questions analysts and coaches are asking themselves all the time to maximise the output and balance of their list.

Will be interesting to see the reactions and thoughts of others.

For what it's worth, I think Daniel has taken on the coaches' instructions of 'kicking more' to the detriment of his 'A' game. He often seems in two minds, and by the time he goes to kick (often when a simple handball may be a better option) he is usually under pressure. It doesn't help that he has a very long wind-up when trying to hoof it a long way, which allows opposition players to close him down. He is probably a victim of being TOO obedient (probably as an over-reaction to Rocket's frustrations with his previous reluctance to kick) -- once he regains the balance between following instructions and his instincts, he will again be a very valuable member of the midfield rotation. I just hope he does this sooner rather than later.

[Mofra]

Would hate to lose Cross, inside mids are gold and his hands in traffic are at least as good as Boyds. He is also a very good courageous mark and a great 3rd man up option. His kicking has its limitations but he has learned to work around them

I can't agree with the hands in traffic assessment - he was ok previously, but his disposal by hand has been woeful this year, and the game against the Saints was probably the worst I've seen his disposal for some time. I wouldn't agree that inside mids are gold - we have quite a few of them that is evident when the injury list is a bit shorter.

His ability overhead hasn't deserted him - he's a brilliant mark in traffic for his size, but if his handballing is a little off we struggle as his kicking has never been a strong point and the time it takes him to get boot to ball (when he does kick it) is far too long.

I think he is actually coming under some pressure to hold his spot.
Reid has earmarked a round 9 return, Ward & Picken will be knocking the door down for selection soon, Moles is fringe now, Wood gives us some run that has been lacking this season, and I haven't shut up shop on Hill's season either.

[EasternWest]

Before anyone starts, I feel like shooting Bambi even starting this thread, but I feel it is one worth discussing.

Nothing wrong with raising a valid issue for discussion. Anyone who gets into you for your fair appraisal and comments is out of line.

By the way, you're insane and should be kicked off this board for such heresy.

Crossy just seems down in confidence to me. It's like he's hearing the knockers who for so long have insisted that he can't kick and now believes it himself. I for one think (and I think that you may have said the same thing Sedat, though I stand to be corrected) that he's nowhere near as bad a kick as many say (though he's not terrific either) and he just needs to back himself more to grow some confidence.

I hope!

[Mantis]

This type of thread (and this one is a good one) has been around for quite a while now - the only thing thats changes is which name is thrown up.

What is common is that we are all getting frustrated that the same players make the same mistakes when we are under pressure. Be it Crossy fumbling or handballing to anyone, Gia not backing himself in, Johnson's field kicking letting him down, Gilbee missing the vital goal, Eagleton not getting involved and kicking poorly or even Mitch making a costly skill error..... We are seeing no improvement in the decisions these players make at crucial times or in their skill execution and it's bloody frustrating.

Personally I think it's time these 'senior' players stand up to be counted when we really need them or they move aside for a new breed who might do things a little different and perhaps even better.

[EasternWest]

This type of thread (and this one is a good one) has been around for quite a while now - the only thing thats changes is which name is thrown up.

What is common is that we are all getting frustrated that the same players make the same mistakes when we are under pressure. Be it Crossy fumbling or handballing to anyone, Gia not backing himself in, Johnson's field kicking letting him down, Gilbee missing the vital goal, Eagleton not getting involved and kicking poorly or even Mitch making a costly skill error..... We are seeing no improvement in the decisions these players make at crucial times or in their skill execution and it's bloody frustrating.

Personally I think it's time these 'senior' players stand up to be counted when we really need them or they move aside for a new breed who might do things a little different and perhaps even better.

I've never seen anyone bag Eagle, Mantis. Have you?

Good post, I think you're right. The song changes, but the dance is often the same.

[bornadog]

Crossies hands have been terrible this year and along with his woeful kicking, he needs to either find some form or as Sedat suggested, be moved to a new role, like taking over over Picken's role. He has done this with some success over the years, e.g. against Simon Black, but has been carved up by Lenny Hayes (but who hasn't).

[LostDoggy]

But at the moment he is currently playing a role that is simply not helping the team. His once great asset, his clean hands in traffic, have let him down badly this season. As a result, his stoppage work has suffered, and his work in distributing the ball (by both hand and foot) has been below par all season le of inside midfielder and actually providing any real value to the team performing this role.

Cross has never been a clean handler of the ball hence his removal from centre ball-ups some time ago. Couple this with his failure to distribute cleanly when he does gain possession, he is becoming a problem.

His last two appearance v the Saints has seen him get smashed and the MC must be starting to wonder whether he brings the right stuff to the table in his current possession. Sedat's comparison with Ling as a run-with player is valid as neither possess much in the way of pace but share an enthusiasm for the contest as well as the determination to succeed.

Eagleton, likewise has failed to register in the big games v Geelong and St Kilda and I would prefer to see him at Willy as soon as Ward gets back on deck. He simply cannot hack it against the big guns.

[Sedat]

I can't agree with the hands in traffic assessment - he was ok previously, but his disposal by hand has been woeful this year, and the game against the Saints was probably the worst I've seen his disposal for some time. I wouldn't agree that inside mids are gold - we have quite a few of them that is evident when the injury list is a bit shorter.

Mofra/EJ, I reckon you guys are selling him short - Crossy had close to the best and quickest hands in traffic in the AFL from 2005 to 2008. Unfortunately this once great asset of his has gone sharply downhill in the last 18 months, and he has spent far more time than not double-grabbing and fumbling in the clinches. As for his disposal and decision-making, this has also gone downhill at an alarming rate during this time. Even in our comfortable win over the Crows two weeks, my mate and I noticed him choose 3-4 terrible options by hand that put the handball receiver completely under the pump.

Couldn't agree with Mofra more in relation to the inside midfield options we have at our disposal. This is one area that we have ample cover for in the medium to long term. St Kilda had no hesitation in letting go of a favourite son (Ball) and replacing him in the starting line-up with a younger, cheaper and better version (Armitage). I don't think Crossy has regressed as far as Ball has but he is unquestionably trending backwards in many areas - if he hasn't done so already, I think he'll reach the crossroads and will be forced to redefine his role if he is to survive and (more importantly) add value to the team for the rest of 2010 and beyond.

[Jasper]

I had this very conversation with a friend on the weekend.
Do we need to change the dynamic of our midfield when it appears that the same guys are giving us the same results for 3+ years now.
Awfully close, but no cigar when the whips are cracking.

Our best midfield last year was mid-season when Sam Reid was in there.
He is an easy swap for Eagleton.

Right now I would also prefer to see a young quick guy like Easton Wood over Crossy.
Surely worth putting Harbrow in for some short stints too.
Akermanis at Brisbane made his name in the back pocket and gradually worked his way thru the midfield and ended up a quality forward. I can see a similar career arc forming right there.

[Scorlibo]

I actually think he has had his best start to a season in his career. He is doing all the in and under stuff so efficiently that no one has noticed him, perfect! Hasn't had any standout performances, but that's not his go anyway.

[chef]

I actually think he has had his best start to a season in his career. He is doing all the in and under stuff so efficiently that no one has noticed him, perfect! Hasn't had any standout performances, but that's not his go anyway.

I agree, I thought he's been travelling pretty good too. The only worry I have is he is looking a bit slower this year.

[LostDoggy]

I agree, I thought he's been travelling pretty good too. The only worry I have is he is looking a bit slower this year.

I reckon 50% of our players have looked a bit slower this year.

I think the pace of the game has jumped forward so much that no one expected this.

[chef]

I reckon 50% of our players have looked a bit slower this year.

I think the pace of the game has jumped forward so much that no one expected this.

This is always the worry with older teams.