Is Sammy playing injured?

[Sewell_Is_Da_Man]

.... Can't think of any other reason why he's been playing 80% of game time across half back?

It absolutely baffles me why one of THE best clearance players in the comp isn't in the centre square at almost every bounce. Sure, he's not getting any younger but the guy is still an absolute jet when thrown in the guts. Last weeks last quarter and this weeks last quarter is testament to that... Can anybody shed any light? I seriously feel like sending Clarkson a please explain... Not that it would do much good of course...

 

[Jedstar]

My personal opinion is they're just keeping him fresh for the all important second half of the season. Still managed a lazy 29 disposals today. He's actually a great player across half back.

 

[Mighty P]

I prefer him in the middle, I believe he is most useful in the centre. That siad, I reckon the coaches are possbily preparing for the future without Sammy? Just a thought. But I totally agree, we should leave him in the middle.

And I hope we continue to play Simpkin, he showed something tonight. Can't believe we waited til round 6 to bring him in.

 

[jive]

I think he's playing extremely well off halfback. We'll put him in the centre when we need to, but it gives us a really good option when Birchall is getting a hard tag.

It's good to see us win the clearances when he's not in there too.

 

[Sewell_Is_Da_Man]

He's still racking up the numbers across half back but I agree with Mighty P, he is at his best in the middle. We need him there, full stop. He seems to be moving less freely & his kicking has been a little off lately which is why I can only assume that he might be carrying something? Makes no sense to me otherwise...

 

[SSSSSS]

Probably just managing his workload. We have a tough 7 weeks. He will get a rest and probably more midfield time as the season goes on.

 

[Cyril the Squirrel]

• Need to manage his workload. It's a long season.
• Need to blood more through the middle. Succession planning for the future and limits our reliance on the individual.
• Need a balance of speed and grunt in the middle (i.e., limit combinations of Hodge + Sewell + Lewis + Mitch on the ball)
• Need more damaging possessions off half back (especially with Suckers out).

 

[Big A]

HBF instead of The General.
This is better, we need him out there as he is A General.
This way, say, if he plays at 75% work rate for 4 matches, it's like him having one off over 4 weeks.

 

[pacman]

The difference he makes when he goes into the middle is unbelievable.
I'm OK if they want to play him across a half back flank but when a team gets on a roll against us put him in the guts!

 

[MrFujiMoto]

Ratts started experimenting with this when he came on board from memory. It may be getting more of a workout with us losing 2 of our playmakers out of the back line. Might also have something to do with opposition having to tag him which means 2 of their tagging players are on our back flank, hopefully giving us a free run from the middle going forward

 

[WWSD]

Expect to have Mitchell, Sewell, Lewis and Burgoyne all starting in the midfield this week.

 

[The Jet From Poowong]

I am loving the rotations. there are so many benefits in doing this.
Sammy is a machine but one we want firing at the right times.

 

[Hauker]

It's a clever move by the coaching staff, makes us less predictable. It hasn't cost us any wins at this point and helps manage the players workloads.

 

[Sewell_Is_Da_Man]

A lot of valid points & I agree that it is a positive that we've managed to win games without a heavy reliance on Mitch. However, when the heat was on yesterday in the second quarter it seemed obvious to me that he should have been put in the guts. His cool head was needed in the middle to take control again & steady the ship. It all worked out in the end but I have no doubt that his influence in the middle would have made more of an impact, just makes no sense.

I can understand a 30/70 or even 50/50 split of HB/Midfield whilst rotating a host of others but to play strictly as a half back flanker for 3 quarters & then having a cameo appearance in the middle in the last makes me think something isn't right. Don't like it.

 

[Rowie6]

.... Can't think of any other reason why he's been playing 80% of game time across half back?

It absolutely baffles me why one of THE best clearance players in the comp isn't in the centre square at almost every bounce. Sure, he's not getting any younger but the guy is still an absolute jet when thrown in the guts. Last weeks last quarter and this weeks last quarter is testament to that... Can anybody shed any light? I seriously feel like sending Clarkson a please explain... Not that it would do much good of course...

I thought it may have been because of his pace and opposition taking advantage of his leg speed.

 

[The Jet From Poowong]

A lot of valid points & I agree that it is a positive that we've managed to win games without a heavy reliance on Mitch. However, when the heat was on yesterday in the second quarter it seemed obvious to me that he should have been put in the guts. His cool head was needed in the middle to take control again & steady the ship. It all worked out in the end but I have no doubt that his influence in the middle would have made more of an impact, just makes no sense.

I can understand a 30/70 or even 50/50 split of HB/Midfield whilst rotating a host of others but to play strictly as a half back flanker for 3 quarters & then having a cameo appearance in the middle in the last makes me think something isn't right. Don't like it.

you do realise winning the ball in the middle and at contests wasn't the issue. when we needed to step on the gas in the final quarter to put a break on them, he went into the centre and the game was won in 5 mins.

 

[50metres]

.... Can't think of any other reason why he's been playing 80% of game time across half back?

It absolutely baffles me why one of THE best clearance players in the comp isn't in the centre square at almost every bounce. Sure, he's not getting any younger but the guy is still an absolute jet when thrown in the guts. Last weeks last quarter and this weeks last quarter is testament to that... Can anybody shed any light? I seriously feel like sending Clarkson a please explain... Not that it would do much good of course...

But they have also identified that, with injuries to Matt Suckling and, early in the year, Luke Hodge, they have lacked some creativity in the back half and it would appear they have turned to Mitchell to rectify the problem.

It is clear that he is playing as a ''centre-back'' midfielder, and the Hawks are obviously comfortable giving him the football in the back half, due to his imaginative decision-making, precise ball and his ability to see what is unfolding and choose the best option. He sits fourth in the competition for handball receives. Grant Birchall, the game's most dangerous half-back, sits at No.2, and is the No.1 for rebounds out of Hawthorn's defence. Mitchell shares the No.3 position with Brent Guerra. Josh Gibson sits at No.2.



Read more here:
http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/...going-back-20130503-2iyig.html?skin=text-only

 

[savagelunchbox]

You'll notice during crunch time that Sammy and the other elites are in the middle for the bounces. No need to use up petrol tickets when you're leading and playing well with the 'lesser' midfield players.

 

[Henry Jr]

Last year against the Crows and Swans in the finals, we were overun by their legspeed. Looks like this year an effort has been made that more players are rotating thru our midfield to share the load thus, keeping our premium mids fresh for that final quarter.

 

[Bardo State]

Cyril the Squirrel summed it up

Get Mitch's body ready for the crash and bash stuff at the pointy end and give more centre square experience to some of the younger guys. Also helps keep a few guys with pace on the ball at pretty much any point in time and to be fair, he has had a ripper start to the year. Uses it well, cool head, picks the right option, reads the play very well.

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

Get Mitch's body ready for the crash and bash stuff at the pointy end and give more centre square experience to some of the younger guys. Also helps keep a few guys with pace on the ball at pretty much any point in time and to be fair, he has had a ripper start to the year. Uses it well, cool head, picks the right option, reads the play very well.

This.

 

[The Jet From Poowong]

Last year against the Crows and Swans in the finals, we were overun by their legspeed. Looks like this year an effort has been made that more players are rotating thru our midfield to share the load thus, keeping our premium mids fresh for that final quarter.

This is very apparent. Keep your strongest ready for the fight in the last quarter if needed.
The additional benefit is that we prolong Mitch's career by a year or two, and we give the next generation of mids more responsibility to show leadership in the middle.

 

[Davo23]

• Need to manage his workload. It's a long season.
• Need to blood more through the middle. Succession planning for the future and limits our reliance on the individual.
• Need a balance of speed and grunt in the middle (i.e., limit combinations of Hodge + Sewell + Lewis + Mitch on the ball)
• Need more damaging possessions off half back (especially with Suckers out).

Exactly, when the game is there to win, the midfield is:

1.Mitchell
2. Hodge
3.Burgoyne

The best damn extractors!

 

[SSSSSS]

Exactly, when the game is there to win, the midfield is:

1.Mitchell
2. Hodge
3.Burgoyne

The best damn extractors!

Passer-Destroyer-Creator combo right there.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

it's evolution, baby!