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But with the experiance side we're getting back our 2 premiership defenders in Brown and Reid. Swan is going to rip it up this season being injury free and our midfield is still being led by Scott Pendlebury and we still have Cloke up in the forward line. Then we have those middle guys that are about to mature into the experienced bracket in Elliott, Greenwood, Sidebottom, Adams. Right now we have enough experience to build around, our focus should be developing the first round draft picks we've invested in over the last few years. Goldsack shouldn't get in the way of that.
But with the experiance side we're getting back our 2 premiership defenders in Brown and Reid. Swan is going to rip it up this season being injury free and our midfield is still being led by Scott Pendlebury and we still have Cloke up in the forward line. Then we have those middle guys that are about to mature into the experienced bracket in Elliott, Greenwood, Sidebottom, Adams. Right now we have enough experience to build around, our focus should be developing the first round draft picks we've invested in over the last few years. Goldsack shouldn't get in the way of that.
Goldsack will be a big part of how our kids develop.But with the experiance side we're getting back our 2 premiership defenders in Brown and Reid. Swan is going to rip it up this season being injury free and our midfield is still being led by Scott Pendlebury and we still have Cloke up in the forward line. Then we have those middle guys that are about to mature into the experienced bracket in Elliott, Greenwood, Sidebottom, Adams. Right now we have enough experience to build around, our focus should be developing the first round draft picks we've invested in over the last few years. Goldsack shouldn't get in the way of that.
Also factor in 2 of the 16 won't be match fit or will be underdone by round 1 (Young & Caff)Come round 1 we still only have 16 players on the list with 50+ games experience. Yes, some of the kids have exceeded expectations and would probably claim places in most peoples "best 22" sides but they still need to be nurtured and developed. The reason kids like Pendles, Sidey, Beams, Reid, N Brown and Thomas slotted so well into the 2010 premiership team is the number of senior players who carried much of the heavy lifting during the H&A season. Goldsack and Blair rightfully will get opportunities ahead of some of these kids and if/when one of these kids demands their senior spot so be it but Blair a lot more vulnerable than the Sack.
IIRC both Keeffe and Young were dropped to the VFL in 2014, while in the leadership group. Admittedly not for long. But it is no absolute guarantee of senior selection every week.
I have to disagree with you there Vicky Park. Goldsack would be a lock in selection in the first 22 side each week unless he has a serious loss of form. Leadership is so important in modern day footy that you can't afford to have any of your leadership group not playing each week. I always thought last year that Keeffe and Young were poor choices for the leadership group as they were never guaranteed senior selection in the team.
Goldsack stats
2014 - 20 games - 10 goals - 11.2 disposals/game - 3.2 marks/game - 4.3 tackles/game
2013 - 13 games - 6 goals - 12.3 disposals/game - 3.2 marks/game - 3.4 tackles/game
Career - 124 games - 47 goals - 11.2 disposals/game - 3.3 marks/game - 3.3 tackles/game
For a player who is in the side for his "defensive pressure" I wouldn't see less than 1 tackle per quarter of a game as a terrific result. Also averaging about 0.3 goals per game across his career but if you look at the last two years he's increased that average to a whopping 0.5 goals per game! I could make many comparisons to other players at other clubs but without boring people silly with stats, I'm just wondering what exactly he is in the team for and even more importantly how he's been elevated into the leadership group! If Buckley is talking the talk re not playing "one dimensional" players surely Goldsack will be one of the first to feel his wrath with a demotion to the VFL… Or is he a protected lock in now that he's in the leadership group?
Interesting that Bucks said something along the lines of "if they don't impact the scoreboard they won't be in the team" when talking about forwards the other day.
That means either one of two things for Goldy;
1. He's not going to play as a forward
2. He is going to play as a forward but isn't a certainty to keep his spot.
Goldsack doesn't kick goals as a forward, and all the defensive pressure in the world doesn't make up for that.
If he's to play, he has to play a defensive role, in the defensive half of the ground.
Yes you can, but you also have to still actually score at a regular rate yourself.You can impact the scoreboard without kicking goals.
Goldsack causes many goals directly from his turnovers but some fans only notice the guy who is on the end of his hard work and give him all the credit.
I would be interested in Ballantyne and Walters goal average if they spent half their games in the backline.Yes you can, but you also have to still actually score at a regular rate yourself.
Other highly rated forwards with good defensive skills like Ballantyne and Walters at Freo actually score as well as placing pressure on.
Goldsack averages about 0.5 goals a game, or 1 goal every 2 games, that's not good enough for anyone starting on a forward line, no matter how much pressure they are creating.
I can't see how Goldy goes into the leadership group then keeps playing this role, he needs to assist in other areas to make us a better team.
Yes you can, but you also have to still actually score at a regular rate yourself.
Other highly rated forwards with good defensive skills like Ballantyne and Walters at Freo actually score as well as placing pressure on.
Goldsack averages about 0.5 goals a game, or 1 goal every 2 games, that's not good enough for anyone starting on a forward line, no matter how much pressure they are creating.
I can't see how Goldy goes into the leadership group then keeps playing this role, he needs to assist in other areas to make us a better team.
Goldsack has spent hardly any time in the backline over the past two seasons, yet has a return of 16 goals in 33 games. Yes it's largely irrelevant to look at stats before that, but in those 2 seasons he's spent as much time forward as just about anyone else.I would be interested in Ballantyne and Walters goal average if they spent half their games in the backline.
Can't agree with you here Matty. A good defensive forward like Goldy is vital, even if they only kick a goal a game. The goals he creates with his turnovers and defensive efforts are worth their weight in Gold(sack).Goldsack has spent hardly any time in the backline over the past two seasons, yet has a return of 16 goals in 33 games. Yes it's largely irrelevant to look at stats before that, but in those 2 seasons he's spent as much time forward as just about anyone else.
I'm not having a go at Goldy here, I just think he's better off elsewhere in the side.
In one of our games earlier on in the year I remember the commentators were raving about Goldsacks pressure acts. Leigh Matthews was also one of the commentators and he made a comment something along the lines of "it's all well and good to be a good tackler but you can't tackle if you have got possession of the ball". He was basically alluding to the fact that Goldsack is a good defensive player but needs to actually do more offensively and needs to get much more possession.
I love the Sack but I do agree with Leigh Matthews on this point, if Goldsack is going to remain a permanent best 22 at the club then in my opinion he needs to start having an influence with ball and not just as a defensive pressure player.
In one of our games earlier on in the year I remember the commentators were raving about Goldsacks pressure acts. Leigh Matthews was also one of the commentators and he made a comment something along the lines of "it's all well and good to be a good tackler but you can't tackle if you have got possession of the ball". He was basically alluding to the fact that Goldsack is a good defensive player but needs to actually do more offensively and needs to get much more possession.
I love the Sack but I do agree with Leigh Matthews on this point, if Goldsack is going to remain a permanent best 22 at the club then in my opinion he needs to start having an influence with ball and not just as a defensive pressure player.
-----------------------------------Sounds a bit like the sequel to the Bourne trilogy, this thread.
As others have indicated, Goldsack's versatility (ability to play a number of roles forward and back, including an ability to play defensive stopper roles on athletic forwards) probably justifies his spot in the side. Blair doesn't have the same degree of flexibility (midfield aursts / up forward) and has stagnated.
Just my two cents.