Recruiters Eye: One position or Jack of all trades

[mjp]

When you’re selecting players - who are you looking for? That multi position threat who seems to play well in various roles…or the guy who lines up in the same spot week-in, week out and gets the job done?

Do you want the mid who has shown he can go forward and ‘find’ a goal or are you after the one who stays in the midfield cos he’s the best chance the team has of winning a stop. Are you chasing rebar pure intercept defender…or the guy who has a license one week…but next game is clamping the best oppo forward. Do you want the key forward who plays deep every week…or the one who is in the cage…then hitting the wings. Do you value versatility or specificity?

what are you looking for? Do you mark down single role players…or are the guys who get constantly shifted around really being moved because they battle to concentrate when left in one position…

[GVGjr]

My preference is to have the specialist. A midfielder who rotates mainly on and off the bench.
It's handy to have a midfielder who can find a goal up forward but a pure midfielder or a pure forward appeals a bit more to me.

Like with anything in senior football you do need a little of both. A handful of specialists supported by some versatile players works well.

[mjp]

My preference is to have the specialist. A midfielder who rotates mainly on and off the bench.
It's handy to have a midfielder who can find a goal up forward but a pure midfielder or a pure forward appeals a bit more to me.

Like with anything in senior football you do need a little of both. A handful of specialists supported by some versatile players works well.

So you’re drafting Cotchin ahead of Dusty?

[jeemak]

A starting mid who can also kick goals as a resting forward is the ultimate. Especially given many of them come into the game in the forward half of the ground so having that ability is the quickest way of finding confidence and belonging at the level, while prime midfield spots will always be scarce.

Going from being an inside midfielder to outside or forward specialist isn't for everyone. Would Rhylee West have been retained for as many years as he was with us if he wasn't Scott West's son? Maybe, I don't know, but his retention and progression is an amazing story given his athletic profile........

A single role forward or defensive player doesn't bother me too much. Being a forward first or a defender first doesn't mean you can't develop other areas as you progress in the system but you start in the system knowing you have preferred roles.

[Virgin-Dog]

I prefer the player who has shown enough ability in a single role to justify selection, while also having demonstrated some versatility in other roles. So a mid who has forward nous, or a defender who can push up to a wing.

We've had a good run of drafting these types - Richards was an elite running defender who showed midfield promise. Freijah was a gut running wing who did well when thrown forward (and had some decent games on the inside).

I don't want a jack of all trades who can't find their suitable position. I want a player whose ceiling in their primary role is high, but who has shown they are not a one trick pony. It often stunts a player's development when they can only play a single role but can't get that opportunity at senior level. A specialty mid is great when they're the absolute best of the best, but if they aren't quite good enough to solidify a spot immediately, then they'll likely struggle on a flank/wing while trying to develop their game to a point they can demand selection in their preferred role.

[Uninformed]

So you’re drafting Cotchin ahead of Dusty?

If that is the comparison you would have to say the versatile one.

[GVGjr]

So you’re drafting Cotchin ahead of Dusty?

I always thought Martin was a mid who adapted forward
In all honesty I would have probably gone with Cotchin purely based on how he interviewed.

[NAUGHTY100]

I tend to agree , you want your players to be able to play different postions , but that does not mean they play a different role every week , you want stability but they also have to be versatile .
Always handy having a defensive player that can go forward at times and kick goals for you , or a mid who can rest forward and be good for a goal or 2 a game .
Some players need that stability , knowing their role inside the team , but if the occasion arises that he has to move forward or back , then he has to have that versatility to be able to do so and still preform , so your definatly drafting a Bontempelli over a Tom Mitchell , who at his best was arguably the top stay at home mid in the comp , but kicked very few goals , where as a Bontempelli is the ultimate versatile player , winning games with brilliant midfield preformances or going forward and kicking the winning goal for his side.

[Bulldog Joe]

Surely with drafting, there needs to be some adaptability.

The role played at 18s is surely not as easily managed at senior level.

I really want our draftees to grow and develop beyond anything shown at junior level.