Do we omit Maxwell if we make it to the grand final?

[loki04]

Brown has shown ability defending leading forwards this year but 1v1 is actually quite a poor defender regularly giving away frees to the opposition regularly and relying on holding rather than trusting his strength and winning 1v1s body on body. Not a rebounder and doesn't offer the rebound of a Reid and doesn't take those same intercept marks as Reid and Maxwell do.

Brown is a good but not great key defender and I would play all of Reid, Keeffe and Maxwell ahead of him assuming all are at full health and in their best form. Is Brown safe this finals series? I think his form has been good enough of late to suggest he retains his position and as a proven finals performer I'm comfortable playing him.

Brown does exactly what is asked of a FB, he's not there to rebound, all defenders give away free kicks the cox free was utter bs because Cox was watching brown and not the ball, he defended extremely well vs them on the lead all night and usually does this good enough. As for body on body that will come with strength.

Maxwell is NOT a KPP or a rebounder of any note and Reid plays a completely diff game.

 

[Knightmare]

Brown does exactly what is asked of a FB, he's not there to rebound, all defenders give away free kicks the cox free was utter bs because Cox was watching brown and not the ball, he defended extremely well vs them on the lead all night and usually does this good enough. As for body on body that will come with strength.

Maxwell is NOT a KPP or a rebounder of any note and Reid plays a completely diff game.

Tarrant/Keeffe are both full backs. They can both do the same role better. Both are higher level shutdown players.

I'm not only talking this weekend about Brown. He was good this weekend but during the season has been giving away frees with consistency in 1v1s.

You are correct in your analysis of Maxwell's game but he doesn't need to be a key defender to play alongside Reid + Tarrant/Keeffe.

 

[loki04]

Tarrant/Keeffe are both full backs. They can both do the same role better. Both are higher level shutdown players.

I'm not only talking this weekend about Brown. He was good this weekend but during the season has been giving away frees with consistency in 1v1s.

You are correct in your analysis of Maxwell's game but he doesn't need to be a key defender to play alongside Reid + Tarrant/Keeffe.

No but you are advocating Maxwell swapped for Brown therefore someone has to play Browns role ie FB, Taz has rarely played FB this year nix buddy. Having Brown play there allows the coaches to be flexible with Taz and co in many roles, a lot of defenders give away holding free's even Taz happens when opponents are bigger and stronger.

Keefe will be coming off a knee reco and taz retired next season, Brown will be coming into season 2 after years out with knee injuries.

In fact I don't think Brown has had more then 4 goals kicked against him all year??

 

[Go_Brad_Dick]

Well my solution for GF if its too embarassing to leave out the captain is to play him as sub.
Pity someone more deserving will have to miss out but thats the way it goes.
Let Pendles captain for 3 and half qtrs, and bring him on late in the last if we are well in front.

 

[Somebody]

No he generally comes back well from a break, and will be valuable to have a quality versatile player fresh for the grannie. No need to even mention his leadership value.

 

[themulletking]

i thought we looked sharper with our ball movement without maxwell. seemed to be less " oh no i've got the ball, quick, bomb it as far as possible"

 

[davywap]

This thread will be closed by 10.30pm Saturday night.

Should we keep it open for at least another week?

 

[davywap]

Well my solution for GF if its too embarassing to leave out the captain is to play him as sub.
Pity someone more deserving will have to miss out but thats the way it goes.
Let Pendles captain for 3 and half qtrs, and bring him on late in the last if we are well in front.

This is quite possibly the worst idea I've ever read, leaving him out all together would probably be a better idea.

 

[Alexander323bc]

Personally, I felt that we were a lot more balanced with Maxwell not in the team. Personally.

 

[MeisterBot]

Any chance for Maxwell as a tagger? Would he be capable of it?

If he stayed close to someone like Mitchell or Lewis, he might be able to limit their influence.

You could put him in for Elliott and make Fasolo the sub (had a couple of shockers) or Didak (managing his injury) possibly. Use someone like Sidebottom or Blair in the forward line.

Have to admit though, our ball use looked much cleaner with him not there last night.

 

[Alexander323bc]

Any chance for Maxwell as a tagger? Would he be capable of it?

If he stayed close to someone like Mitchell or Lewis, he might be able to limit their influence.

You could put him in for Elliott and make Fasolo the sub (had a couple of shockers) or Didak (managing his injury) possibly. Use someone like Sidebottom or Blair in the forward line.

Have to admit though, our ball use looked much cleaner with him not there last night.

Did he not tag Thompson from Adelaide in a final a few years back and towelled him?

 

[DaVe86]

Very interesting discussion I reckon and one that should not be swept away because it is a controversail idea.

With Tarrant resuming in defence, and with Reid and Brown going well, Maxwell actually becomes one too many talls i reckon. Harry has looked better as a loose man, whilst Toovey is also playing on talls occassionaly...and there is still Goldsack.

With Tarrant and Brown playing on key players, it has allowed Reid to float a bit more and peel off his man. This has typically been Maxwell's job.

I think with the 3 talls down back, we are probably a bit more balanced without him.


That said, running into battle in a GF, you want a guy like Maxwell on your side. He has been terrific in the last 3 GF's and generally has a great finals record.

He is one player I am happy to carry into a big game because he will give his all and can be relied upon. Even if he has to go forward to play a defensive forward role...or be subbed if he has no match-up.

Either way, I think the captaincy should go to Pendlebury next year. Maxwell has been a terrific captain and will always be remembered as a premiership captain. But I think the time has come to hand the reigns to Pendlebury who is clearly ready for the job.

 

[Kirby]

Bucks confirmed on the couch that he will play in the GF if we make it.

 

[Go_Brad_Dick]

We will make it and thats a great shame, hopefully he will take a leaf from Presti's book and omit himself on account of giving the team a better chance of winning. Grand Finals don't come around often and clubs should have the courage to make tough decisions to give the team the best chance of winning. Hopefully Maxwell stays out.

 

[RuFiO]

I really don't think we needed Bucks confirmation that Maxy would play if we made it to the Grand Final

 

[unplugged]

I really don't think we needed Bucks confirmation that Maxy would play if we made it to the Grand Final

I guess some people did. This thread wouldn't exist otherwise.

 

[half_back_flank]

We will make it and thats a great shame, hopefully he will take a leaf from Presti's book and omit himself on account of giving the team a better chance of winning. Grand Finals don't come around often and clubs should have the courage to make tough decisions to give the team the best chance of winning. Hopefully Maxwell stays out.

Lol.

Players like Maxwell win GFs (see 2010 and 2011 even after breaking a knuckle), would you seriously rather Elliot play when Maxwell is a much superior player and has much much much superior leadership?

Do a Presti? I'm shocked that there are people out there with this sort of thought process.

 

[half_back_flank]

I really don't think we needed Bucks confirmation that Maxy would play if we made it to the Grand Final

I'd say the same before i saw this thread.

 

[blaze036]

Maxwell comes in for elliot, shaw moves to the wing or HF.

Maxwell >>>>> Elliot (or sinclair). His a big improvement on the 22nd best player he would push out, and every player who has played with him says his leadership on field helps the team quiet a big

 

[soreplums]

Can also play as a defensive forward on birchall/ suckling

 

[DaVe86]

Can also play as a defensive forward on birchall/ suckling

That's probably how I'd use him. Or just go into the middle and try and sit on Hodge and bang in hard.

 

[uthmani]

I'm surprised we haven't used Maxwell as a tagger on some of the bigger midfielders. I can remember him playing on Thompson of Adelaide a while back and that turned out to be a great move by MM.

 

[loki04]

I'm surprised we haven't used Maxwell as a tagger on some of the bigger midfielders. I can remember him playing on Thompson of Adelaide a while back and that turned out to be a great move by MM.

They did try it again in the following pre season and Maxwell got burnt and didn't touch it either, it has to be a select type of player any of the more agile and quicker mids are a no go.

 

[DaVe86]

They did try it again in the following pre season and Maxwell got burnt and didn't touch it either, it has to be a select type of player any of the more agile and quicker mids are a no go.

Which is why I reckon he would be a good suit for Hodge who is short of match fitness and has only played about 4 games this year or so. Hodge by his own admission is not overly quick either...and Maxwell will be a good match up for him when he pushes forward which Hodge will do often.

I like Maxwell in big finals. If we were to make the GF against Hawks, I'd want Maxy there and in the thick of the action. Reckon it would be a great move to put him on Hodge who can realisitcally only spend 40% or so on the ball with his current level of match fitness...yet is still capable of tearing us apart.

 

[loki04]

Which is why I reckon he would be a good suit for Hodge who is short of match fitness and has only played about 4 games this year or so. Hodge by his own admission is not overly quick either...and Maxwell will be a good match up for him when he pushes forward which Hodge will do often.

I like Maxwell in big finals. If we were to make the GF against Hawks, I'd want Maxy there and in the thick of the action. Reckon it would be a great move to put him on Hodge who can realisitcally only spend 40% or so on the ball with his current level of match fitness...yet is still capable of tearing us apart.

Doesn't matter what any of us think whether he should or shouldn't because there is NO way known that the captain will ever be dropped regardless of form, it is a hypothetical more as in if he wasn't captain what then.

Funny it's almost a general consensus that the back line looked better without him and now we are trying to create a role for him....