Great Challenges = Great Opportunity

[mjp]

There seems to be all sorts of stuff happening with our outside mids right now. It sounds like in the match sim yesterday we featured the following players in that role:

- A 200cm+ first round father-son recruit who played as a key forward throughout his draft year.
- A 190cm mid-round, mature age draftee who primarily played as a VFL forward during 2024.
- A 180cm mid-round selection from country WA who has spent his first few years learning to play as a small forward.

Meanwhile, two x recruits from other clubs who were seemingly recruited SPECIFICALLY to play as outside runners have been moved to the forward line and (apparently) both performed 'well' in their new role.

It really does seem to be a bit of a raffle right now and it is almost as if it is a player driven not role driven selection (as each of the 3 players noted above are quite different in terms of size and skillsets)...

SO:
- Does this mean we have the chance to really find a bit of an unexpected diamond in the rough?
- Does it mean we have a few players who we have literally no idea what to do with as they have fallen down the order at their preferred position (I include the two x outside mid exiles who have moved forward in this group).
- Does it mean we have no idea what is going on but apparently 'someone' has to play there?

This all seems a little bit odd to me.

[Rusty12]

Feels like a little bit of all 3 of those, and I have no idea

[Happy Days]

My preference is for you to just tell me what to think but I haven’t been able to get Artie’s game against GWS last year out of my head. I wouldn’t have thought he got a ton of it but he was genuinely impactful when he did, and it was by far the most encouraged I’ve felt by him as an AFL player.

I don’t know if it means I’d pick him for round one but I’m definitely the most intrigued by it out of the three choices.

[hujsh]

Artie feels like he has 'It' but maybe I'm just too young to really remember Cam Faulkner

[jazzadogs]

Poulter and Baker definitely got longer contracts than warranted and we are now just trying to find somewhere that they could be of use. I'm sure they will fall back to the wing at some point during the year, but I'm glad we're looking at alternatives.

They're both good VFL players and mediocre AFL players, who have the occasional good day. Every list/squad needs some players like that, but I don't see the future being particularly bright for either of them.

[BOYDSKICKEDAGOAL!FAK!!]

Agree - they’re depth, not everyone has to be best 22

[mjp]

I haven’t been able to get Artie’s game against GWS last year out of my head.

8x touches.
1 goal 1.
0 tackles.
2 clangers.
1 goal assist.
1 free for, 1 against.
1 contested mark.
67% game time.

I mean - I know he was OK but I do think the excitement caused by his game that day way over-states the real impact.

[Bornadog]

I don't take too much notice of where players are playing in match sims as I don't know what the coaches are trying to achieve.

Croft to me played an outside role because he is playing a non contact role (I am guessing) at this stage after he recovers from last years injuries.

Others like Poulter and Baker are probably part of an experiment to see how they go, or filling a role while the match sim is on. We will find out more in the preseason games v Hawks and Bombers

[jazzadogs]

8x touches.
1 goal 1.
0 tackles.
2 clangers.
1 goal assist.
1 free for, 1 against.
1 contested mark.
67% game time.

I mean - I know he was OK but I do think the excitement caused by his game that day way over-states the real impact.

Most sprints on the ground though...

I think a lot of the goodwill towards his game came from him playing the same 'over excited puppy who doesn't know how to slow down' style as VDM, but with a bit more class with ball in hand. (and we won which made everyone view the game positively)

[GVGjr]

There seems to be all sorts of stuff happening with our outside mids right now. It sounds like in the match sim yesterday we featured the following players in that role:

- A 200cm+ first round father-son recruit who played as a key forward throughout his draft year.
- A 190cm mid-round, mature age draftee who primarily played as a VFL forward during 2024.
- A 180cm mid-round selection from country WA who has spent his first few years learning to play as a small forward.

Meanwhile, two x recruits from other clubs who were seemingly recruited SPECIFICALLY to play as outside runners have been moved to the forward line and (apparently) both performed 'well' in their new role.

It really does seem to be a bit of a raffle right now and it is almost as if it is a player driven not role driven selection (as each of the 3 players noted above are quite different in terms of size and skillsets)...

SO:
- Does this mean we have the chance to really find a bit of an unexpected diamond in the rough?
- Does it mean we have a few players who we have literally no idea what to do with as they have fallen down the order at their preferred position (I include the two x outside mid exiles who have moved forward in this group).
- Does it mean we have no idea what is going on but apparently 'someone' has to play there?

This all seems a little bit odd to me.

I'd say the Croft on a wing effort might have been more to do with getting some extra running into his match-sim session. There is a chance we are done with it....for now.
Davidson has surprised. His combine times indicated he was athletic and had endurance, his success yesterday was more about skills and efforts. That's a good combination.
We've had a look at Arty was a forward and even as a defender and this might be the better option now that he is fit and healthy.

Baker needs to ask to go to the backline and lock down on an opposition player and the run off him. That missed effort yesterday with the goal kick was shocking
I don't know what match they have struck under Poulter but he is performing well in a role I wouldn't have previously considered for him

I think we are rolling the dice for the wingers and have determined Poulter and Baker are more or less standby's.
And to top it off, I wouldn't be surprised if Gallagher gets a run there in the next couple of weeks.

[Mofra]

We have 57 HFs on the list and just took one with out first round pick, so yeah I find it weird that Baker & Poulter are shoved their too... after picking up Matt Kennedy last trade period. And isn't Garcia 'flying'?

Truck has a wing sewn up and I'd love Artie to make it, he does everything except find the football which unfortunately is a big part of playing wing. Davidson is the surprising one for me given the reports he was our best performed wing yesterday, he certainly has that combination of speed, endurance and size clubs love in a recruit.

[Dogs 24/7]

8x touches.
1 goal 1.
0 tackles.
2 clangers.
1 goal assist.
1 free for, 1 against.
1 contested mark.
67% game time.

I mean - I know he was OK but I do think the excitement caused by his game that day way over-states the real impact.

He's going to need to be very convincing to earn his way into the R1 calculations. He hasn't done anywhere near enough to warrant a senior role yet.
He does have that burst of speed and seems to have an okay kick but he's going to need to learn how to tackle, drift back and provide the defenders some support and then push hard up the ground and deliver to the football too the forwards.
I have some doubt's but I hope I'm wrong.

I think our interest in Peatling and then missing out on him is an indication we know we have a significant gap.
Poulter and Baker just haven't worked.

[SonofScray]

We have 57 HFs on the list and just took one with out first round pick, so yeah I find it weird that Baker & Poulter are shoved their too... after picking up Matt Kennedy last trade period. And isn't Garcia 'flying'?

Truck has a wing sewn up and I'd love Artie to make it, he does everything except find the football which unfortunately is a big part of playing wing. Davidson is the surprising one for me given the reports he was our best performed wing yesterday, he certainly has that combination of speed, endurance and size clubs love in a recruit.

Everything except find the football, not ideal

Emotional damage from feedback my dad used to give me in U12s.

Arty hasn't been able to get his hands on enough of the ball and I think a lot of our views get skewed by the way he approaches the contest, there is a level of intensity and classic small forward craftiness that gets the excitement levels up. We've played some dour, insipid footy in recent years and he fits the trope of a footballer that could shift that for us.

I recall Dahl having a similar impact in the BMAC era. First player with a nose for goal and a bit of additional spring in his step to emerge and have an impact in a while at that point in time. Arty hasn't quite got there yet, but we see his promise. Needs some continuity and probably a bit of extra physical development, which might not come?

[SquirrelGrip]

There seems to be all sorts of stuff happening with our outside mids right now. It sounds like in the match sim yesterday we featured the following players in that role:

- A 200cm+ first round father-son recruit who played as a key forward throughout his draft year.
- A 190cm mid-round, mature age draftee who primarily played as a VFL forward during 2024.
- A 180cm mid-round selection from country WA who has spent his first few years learning to play as a small forward.

Meanwhile, two x recruits from other clubs who were seemingly recruited SPECIFICALLY to play as outside runners have been moved to the forward line and (apparently) both performed 'well' in their new role.

It really does seem to be a bit of a raffle right now and it is almost as if it is a player driven not role driven selection (as each of the 3 players noted above are quite different in terms of size and skillsets)...

SO:
- Does this mean we have the chance to really find a bit of an unexpected diamond in the rough?
- Does it mean we have a few players who we have literally no idea what to do with as they have fallen down the order at their preferred position (I include the two x outside mid exiles who have moved forward in this group).
- Does it mean we have no idea what is going on but apparently 'someone' has to play there?

This all seems a little bit odd to me.

It's not exactly the first time we've investigated something different on the wing. Croft is an extension of in recent years potential tall wings JOD and Lobb, plus I'm sure there was discussion on this board about English there too. For mine, Poulter and Baker are just filling gaps until we find a premiership wing. Poulter is the tall version - something we hope Davidson with his supposed big tank will fill. Arty if he actually got the ball seems to be the profile of a good outside runner.

Last year we of course started our high half forward mid (often Richards) on the back flank, with the player starting on the wing (e.g. Dale, Bramble) then going straight back. Players like McNeil and Caleb then moved up to the wing as the outside mid. Maybe we outsmarted/confused ourselves.

Our coaches do seem to look for that point of difference based on our list. Given our surplus of athletic talls (Darcy, JUH, Naughton, Croft, Lobb, JOD), the idea of athletically gifted talls playing on a wing sounds good in theory (N Riewolt, Richo). January practice matches are the time to try it. Could this be our point of difference?

[mjp]

Our coaches do seem to look for that point of difference based on our list. Given our surplus of athletic talls (Darcy, JUH, Naughton, Croft, Lobb, JOD), the idea of athletically gifted talls playing on a wing sounds good in theory (N Riewolt, Richo). January practice matches are the time to try it. Could this be our point of difference?

Happy for you to use the Riewoldt + Richardson examples - but we aren't talking about experienced senior players moving up the ground and essentially playing as 'high' centre half forwards and providing outlet support...we are talking about a kid making his way. He's not going to demand the ball as an outlet player...what first year (sorry, second) year player does???

And whilst both Riewoldt and Richardson had great games/seasons on the wing, those were desperation moves for teams that were struggling to win inside 50's. The Saints had more team success with Riewoldt as a forward...the Tiges with Richo had basically zero team success...

[SquirrelGrip]

Happy for you to use the Riewoldt + Richardson examples - but we aren't talking about experienced senior players moving up the ground and essentially playing as 'high' centre half forwards and providing outlet support...we are talking about a kid making his way. He's not going to demand the ball as an outlet player...what first year (sorry, second) year player does???

And whilst both Riewoldt and Richardson had great games/seasons on the wing, those were desperation moves for teams that were struggling to win inside 50's. The Saints had more team success with Riewoldt as a forward...the Tiges with Richo had basically zero team success...

Let's use JOD and Croft as the examples here. I too can't imagine they will have dominant Richo/Riewoldt seasons. But if they have the defensive running ability to cover back and intercept mark, then potentially they provide something to the team that we don't have. It's going to be a more defensive role than Riewoldt/Richardson.

Realistically we'll probably end up with Williams, Freijah and maybe Davidson, whilst not giants, are certainly tall enough to play the role we are looking for. But again, at this time of year I'm happy that we are trying a few things to see how they play out.