Team - Round 2

[Desipura]

Re: Team - Round 2

The game changes every year, as do the players in it and by the mid point of the season when all teams are grinding away we will be in a much better position to determine the state of affairs.

Yep, we got jumped last weekend and were made to look extremely poor, but it isn't the end of our season. We still have plenty of time to get things right, but if by end of rd13 things still aren't going as planned some tough decisions will need to be made.

By the end of round 13, we may well be 8-5 or 9-4 with losses against the top teams, what happens then in your opinion? Is that a pass mark?

[Greystache]

Re: Team - Round 2

FWIW I think the problem with Tom is not his positioning but his defensive attitude.

Watch when Picken comes into make a spoil. He doesn't just make a spoil....he makes a statement. His defensive punches tend to clear the area not just fall at the feet of the pack.

Watch Tom make a spoil. Up goes the arm in a hopeful attempt to make contact with the ball. There's no agression, no intent. Even if he does make contact with the ball it often isn't enough to stop his opponent marking.

I always say to my son when he plays.....spoil with attitude.

End of lesson.

Or when Lake gets caught under the ball, the ferocity he pushes back on his opponent with would move a semi-trailer.

[Mantis]

Re: Team - Round 2

By the end of round 13, we may well be 8-5 or 9-4 with losses against the top teams, what happens then in your opinion? Is that a pass mark?

You would think that it would be, but it would be nice if we could win a game or 2 against the better teams for no other reason than to prove that we can.

[stefoid]

Re: Team - Round 2

Yeah....Luke Ball and Jude Bolton are known for their kicking skills

Some have suggested we play Crossy as the sub. Considering one of his major strengths, what do we gain by having him as a substitute? Makes no sense to me.

Exactly

[Desipura]

Re: Team - Round 2

You would think that it would be, but it would be nice if we could win a game or 2 against the better teams for no other reason than to prove that we can.

It may well be a pass mark, however it will not prove that we can match it with the top teams if they are the only losses we have had.
Put it this way, I would not go into this years finals any more confident of winning the big one (if we did happen to win enough games for a top 4).
I still think we will be around the mark, its that next step that I am not so sure about. It is early days, perhaps we can find that extra improvement at some point in time during the year in readiness for another finals tilt.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Team - Round 2

Even last year Tom was being hidden away from the good KP forwards, the few times he had to match up on even someone average (eg Gumbleton) he got exposed. If he's to really help the structure of the team he has to be able to play on the best mobile KP forwards to allow Morris to play on the mid sized. We tried him on Drew Petrie against North in a practice match and he got torn apart. As I said, I doubt Markovic can do any better, I just think there's an opportunity for him if he can impress the next week or two.

It's not about when he's got the ball in hand, I think he's improved considerably in that regard, it's when the ball's kicked in and he's one out against a decent forward, I still very much have my heart in my mouth. I want him to be able to defend first, rebound second, if he can't defend I don't see the benefit of a 196cm rebound player.

Great post. I agree wholeheartedly. Williams is a better player, his ball handling skills have improved a lot and he's more than capable by foot. However, he still doesn't have the defensive game required. Which, as you said, opens the door for Markovic slightly.

Any chance that Williams could be pushed forward in such a case?

Hall plays at CHF, thus giving an option we currently don't have with Murphy playing down back. Also, it'll make the delivery more thoughtful - they can't just 'bomb' it to Barry. They have to spot up targets, and Barry himself is very good at this.

Williams is quick, has relatively good skills and can take a mark. Is it time to roll the dice, play Williams at FF and trial Markovic in his position down back - with support from Morris/Lake?

Personally, I want to see more changes like this during the year. Especially against quality sides.

I would love to see Hall play at CHF.

[G-Mo77]

Re: Team - Round 2

I always say to my son when he plays.....spoil with attitude.

End of lesson.

Love it!

I see Williams as more of a help defender rather than a one on one. He's still fairly new to the game after a lot of injury interrupted seasons so all is not lost.

[BulldogBelle]

Re: Team - Round 2

Great post. I agree wholeheartedly. Williams is a better player, his ball handling skills have improved a lot and he's more than capable by foot. However, he still doesn't have the defensive game required. Which, as you said, opens the door for Markovic slightly.

Any chance that Williams could be pushed forward in such a case?

Hall plays at CHF, thus giving an option we currently don't have with Murphy playing down back. Also, it'll make the delivery more thoughtful - they can't just 'bomb' it to Barry. They have to spot up targets, and Barry himself is very good at this.

Williams is quick, has relatively good skills and can take a mark. Is it time to roll the dice, play Williams at FF and trial Markovic in his position down back - with support from Morris/Lake?

Personally, I want to see more changes like this during the year. Especially against quality sides.

I would love to see Hall play at CHF.

Sorry to criticise your suggestion but...

Williams- would only suit a long bomb full forward role. He doesnt know how or where to lead, and doesnt have the football smarts to be a FF. If he is one on one he may be able to pluck a few marks down deep, but otherwise we are dreaming

Hall - at CHF? He is 34! We got a great return from him last year at FF, and I wouldnt want to run him into the ground playing further up the groud...

He played a great game in 2008 against Hawthorn in Tasmania which we won...against Buddy I thought that he had really come of age in that match

Markovic- from all accounts it appears he has football smarts and could potentially hold down the FB position, but we need to remember he has only played 1 senior game. I would love if this allowed Brian to play more of a rebounding role, and play as a loose man in the back half...

[Mofra]

Re: Team - Round 2

Markovic- from all accounts it appears he has football smarts and could potentially hold down the FB position, but we need to remember he has only played 1 senior game. I would love if this allowed Brian to play more of a rebounding role, and play as a loose man in the back half...

If Markovic continues to prove at least competant it does give us a little extra flexibility - no longer playing Morris as an undersized KPP.
He plays on the smalls that solve our lockdown BP problem, and playing smaller will save on wear and tear on his body.
Even if it's only an option a handful of times a year Markovic would be doing his bit for the team.

[SlimPickens]

Re: Team - Round 2

AFL website have Roughead in Wood out. Emergencies Wallis Minson Moles

[Greystache]

Re: Team - Round 2

AFL website have Roughead in Wood out. Emergencies Wallis Minson Moles

Cheers Slim.

I see that as a positive risk, great to see.

[SlimPickens]

Re: Team - Round 2

Cheers Slim.

I see that as a positive risk, great to see.

Pretty telling for minson, although early in the year

[the banker]

Re: Team - Round 2

If Markovic can hold down full back, it gives us a lot of flexibility with Lake as zoning off back or potential lethal weapon forward. That could change a lot of things for us by the end of the year. It could be that Markovic's development becomes more important than Jones' or even Rogheads.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Team - Round 2

AFL website have Roughead in Wood out.

That's terrific. The club seems to be following the wise course of action and is developing our talented young kids.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Team - Round 2

Sorry to criticise your suggestion but...

Williams- would only suit a long bomb full forward role. He doesnt know how or where to lead, and doesnt have the football smarts to be a FF. If he is one on one he may be able to pluck a few marks down deep, but otherwise we are dreaming

You're assuming Williams cannot play forward, but there's no evidence for it. Which is why it's something I'd like to see us try, because using the same methods to constantly fail underlines stupidity.

If the Williams' experiment failed, then nothing's lost, but we clearly have problems that need addressing.

Hall - at CHF? He is 34! We got a great return from him last year at FF, and I wouldnt want to run him into the ground playing further up the groud...

Hall is a fine player but arguably, indirectly, he's the problem. Our mid sized forwards (Eg. Higgins) don't and won't get the opportunities whilst Hall is still plunked at FF. It's fact; it happened again last week, with the ball being directed to Hall around 12? times. That's ridiculous - we still haven't learnt anything from last year.

Nobody is suggesting Hall runs to the half back line, but I don't want to see him leading from FF for an entire game. Why can't Hall play between 30m-70m?

He played a great game in 2008 against Hawthorn in Tasmania which we won...against Buddy I thought that he had really come of age in that match

I've heard this a few times and it's simply not right. Williams showed some good signs, but got lost in traffic several times.

Buddy kicked 5 goals. He won the duel.