Opinion Scully is a two way running weapon and should stay a mid

[_GT_]

on the back of some observations by Raymann, it maybe that we are considering move forward for Scully. I cannot believe we would actually go with this, certainly not in the same way we moved Greene forward. To me it just doesn't make any sense when we have a number of forward options other than Scully.

Then, I read this today: http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-02-10/mind-blowing-running-stats-from-giant-freak

There is nothing surprising in this, but it just drives home what a treasure we have in this young man. I say, leave him in the midfield! Someone convince me why it makes sense to shift him forward!

 

[dlanod]

I find myself only shrugging. I don't see the big deal if he plays of a HFF or a wing - both push so far up the ground it's largely academic. Maybe it gets a more inside midfielder into play, e.g. this way we bring in a Setterfield rather than a ZGL.

 

[Giant Strides]

I'm with _GT_ in believing that Scully's skills - and the point of difference that he makes for GWS - is best utilised from the wing position; although I do acknowledge dlanod's point that a HFF position would see him able to employ his skills in a similar manner. However, it's not exactly the same role - the whole point of putting pressure on in the F50 is to be there, and I'd prefer Scully coming into the forward line to be the extra man. The other aspect is that if both Lachie & Scully are moved to new positions, we've got to used two new players in those positions, which risks the team suffering reduced performance while two players learn their roles.

 

[_GT_]

I'm with _GT_ in believing that Scully's skills - and the point of difference that he makes for GWS - is best utilised from the wing position; although I do acknowledge dlanod's point that a HFF position would see him able to employ his skills in a similar manner. However, it's not exactly the same role - the whole point of putting pressure on in the F50 is to be there, and I'd prefer Scully coming into the forward line to be the extra man. The other aspect is that if both Lachie & Scully are moved to new positions, we've got to used two new players in those positions, which risks the team suffering reduced performance while two players learn their roles.

Great point on Whitfield also moving. It is important not to become stagnant and to continually evolve players and the team. Too much change though can be unsettling and take a team backward before going forward. That is the rserve of a rebuild, and we are definitely not in a rebuild!

 

[Determinant]

I am a fan of almost any move that puts Tommo on the wing, but would prefer it through Lachie than through Tom.

 

[Orange Agent]

Don't mind seeing things mixed up a bit, the back 6 will certainly have a different look and having more speed in the F50 would help Patton a lot. It's a long season, if things aren't working the old plan A is still in the cupboard.

 

[van peebles]

Will become a sweeper down back as he gets older.

 

[PMBangers]

I think the more the HFF role becomes defensive as HBF role becomes attacking someone with Scully's speed, agility and endurance is better utilised there than on the wing, which recently has become a more attacking role. IF we play Scully at HF and someone like Whitfield on the Wing on the same side it allows them to cover one side of the ground with better pace and endurance than pretty much any other pairing of HF/Wing in the league

 

[kulak]

Incredible two-way running machine. Pretty good at other aspects of the game but none of them stand out in the same way.

Wingman only IMO. He currently attacks and defends, it’s like having an extra player. No point pinning him to one end of the ground.

Much like I feel Griffen is a contest winning inside mid only. At some point his unique physical traits will drop off and he will lose his point of difference.

But at the moment he is 26, and 150 games played, he will be at the top of his game for a few more years at least.

 

[Ichabod Noodle]

Mind-blowing running stats from Giant 'freak'
Jennifer Phelan

Tom Scully is clearly the best runner in the AFL
TOM SCULLY'S post-football ambition to run a marathon shouldn't be an issue for the GWS midfielder, if his remarkable 2017 running statistics are anything to go by.

It's no surprise Scully blew the competition away last season when it came to raw, gut-running numbers. He's been considered one of the League's elite runners since his 2010 debut.

It's also a feat not lost on the game's experts, with former Brisbane Lions captain Jonathan Brown last year describing him as the "best two-way runner" he'd ever seen.

Champion Data says Scully, in 2017, was only rotated 18 times after half-time, and played 91 per cent of all games, which was the highest of any player.

For the first time, the statistics provider has made "player tracking" data, which includes categories like total distance run, maximum speed, number of sprints and distance covered at high speed, accessible to people outside the clubs.

And, unsurprisingly, Scully has been a consistent feature throughout some of these sub-groups.

In most distance covered, Scully occupied the top four spots of the top 10, as well as sixth, eighth and 10th.

The furthest he ran in 2017 was 18.34km against Collingwood in round eight.

Brisbane midfielder Nick Robertson broke up the Scully domination by running 17.63km in round 19 for the fifth overall furthest distance, while West Coast's Andrew Gaff bobbed up twice at seventh and ninth.

It wasn't just total distance where Scully shone.

He completely dominated the field when it came to the most distance covered at high speed, posting the top 12 performances in the competition across the entire season.

At best, Scully covered 4.81km at high speed (again, in round eight). You have to go all the way down to 13th to find another name, which was Fremantle's Brad Hill (4.06km).

"Tom Scully is a freak runner and he can cover the ground at speed," this year's AFL Prospectus, published by Champion Data, said.

While Scully's ridiculous endurance sets him apart from other midfielders, he hasn't just evolved into an athlete who occasionally finds the ball.

In 2017, the former No.1 draft pick won a second-straight All Australian nomination, finished fifth in the best and fairest, and his kick rating was ranked elite at +4.6 per cent, which was the first time that figure had been in the positive in his career.

So, while the meticulous preparer continues to make an impact as a hard-running midfielder who can find the goals, his tracking numbers suggest he shouldn't have too much trouble suiting up for that marathon when his playing days are done.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-02-10/mind-blowing-running-stats-from-giant-freak