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- #201
I agree on Erin, if she’s not fully right then place her as a permanent forward where her footy smarts and goal kicking ability would likely beat most, if not all defenders.One thing I am a bit surprised about is our (and other teams) use of the most highly skilled players.
In a competition with a generally low skill level, it's crucial to have players with the best skills in the center and in the forward line.
The best ball winners need to be giving it to the best kicks who then distribute to strong targets with finishing ability. Since almost every player in the competition has the scrappy, defensive, tackiling skills nailed down, there is no reason to waste talented players in defence where those skills won't be seen. Considering most teams use a heavy defensive flood there is no reason for a teams best kick or best mark to play in defence. Half the players can't get their hands near it in the air right now.
I'd consider a structural change with Randall playing as a forward. She's dominant in the air where pretty much no other player is, she would clean up down there and has good skills and a good tank to provide options. Given the current state of Phillips I would also use her there for the same reasons.
Then in the midfield I'd be relying on our juniors as much as possible. Marinoff, Scheer and Jones. With these players having seen junior pathways, their skills are much better than most. Having players like Jones in the forward line is wasting them, they're relying on less skilled players to distribute accurately to them, which just isn't going to happen. And less experienced players aren't going to be as comfortable executing shots at goal, compounding the issue. Anyone who is a skilled distributor should be playing maximum midfield time.
So I think we'd look elite with Randall and Philips in the forward line, and with Marinoff and other young guns in the center. Our best skilled players distributing to senior heads with elite overhead skills. Most other teams don't have the ability to unleash that combination.
Then fill out the rest of the team with less skilled players, especially in defence where at this point you really only need scrappers
Randall I can see her use being better at the defensive end with her marking and general kicking where she plays the interceptor role quite well, and then start the rebound from defense.
Overall our defense is reasonably sound, considering the opposition only had 8 scoring shots for the entire game. It’s really more of general composure with the forward entries and composure when kicking for goals.