Non-Influencial 'Gun' Players

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TwiggleyFanClub

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Oct 10, 2008
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We are allowed to have different opinions. Was completely anonymous in the last nine and a half minutes against Collingwood. His only touch was kicking the ball out on the full which directly led to a Collingwood goal. Not saying he isn't an excellent player- he is. But he's not as influential as many of your own supporters would lead you to believe and unfortunately he went missing with the game on the line on Saturday. :thumbsu:

Like all of the GWS midfield guns last weekend against the Hawks.
Am I doing this right?
 
How is Tom Mitchell simultaneously:
a) The least influential gun
b) The reason why the Hawks won't make finals this year through his injury

This thread in its entirety is peak BigFooty.

Mitchell's individual possessions are not necessarily the most damaging.

BUT you get 30-40 of them a game PLUS big tackle and huge clearance numbers. It sure as hell adds up and the total is underrated.

I guess the conundrum is this: I'd take Mitchell's output over most players'. But I'd prefer most other players' impact IF they had the same output (which almost no-one does).
 

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Nugett

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Is this a polite way of stating a player that is perceived as overrated?

If so Gary Ablett Junior. Yes he might get 50 possessions a game, only about 20, have any real impact.
 
Jul 14, 2005
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I think Macrae gets more kudos than due.

O'Meara will get the 3 brownlow votes for the absurd numbers he racked up against us, but it was Shiels doing the damage

Most of his touches were in the first half too, when the Hawks were getting smacked.

It’s fair enough he’ll get the 3 votes, but I don’t think he was the most influential player on the ground.

Worrying pattern of how badly he fades in the second half of games overall, too.
 

DelRe

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After seeing Scott West, Lachie Hunter and Jack Macrae mentioned I get the sense this is just largely a measure of midfielders that don’t kick goals and therefore aren’t considered influential enough. Not necessarily an unreasonable position given Beveridge himself has said he wants more goals from his midfield.
 
Aug 30, 2011
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After seeing Scott West, Lachie Hunter and Jack Macrae mentioned I get the sense this is just largely a measure of midfielders that don’t kick goals and therefore aren’t considered influential enough. Not necessarily an unreasonable position given Beveridge himself has said he wants more goals from his midfield.

Macrae is a damaging player, he hits targets in dangerous space and can draw the players around him. Lachie Hunter is just an accumulating winger with poop disposal and little hurt factor. Complete opposites.


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Oct 5, 2009
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dont really see how high contested possession players can be considered non influential. smashing their bodies into the contest to grab the ball for the outside types. most attacks start at half back too so if you have guys who can get it 30 times there, that's 30 times the opposition doesn't have it on half forward.

regardless, bryce gibbs.
 
Macrae is a damaging player, he hits targets in dangerous space and can draw the players around him. Lachie Hunter is just an accumulating winger with poop disposal and little hurt factor. Complete opposites.


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That about sums it up. Although Hunter's disposal by foot under 20m is great. Any further though... And the less said about his handballs the better.
The post saying he doesn't run both ways is possibly the most incorrect thing someone could say about him though. He frustrates a lot of Dogs supporters, but I'd say pretty much unanimously we're always grateful for the insane running he does to get back and help the backline. Every game, without fail.

Macrae is a genuine gun who *s teams up real hard and does not belong in this thread.
 

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O'Meara fits this thread perfectly
you still salty about missing out on him? Or how bog average/probably not even AFL standard Hunter Clark is?
 

Coops93

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I tend to think Oliver doesn't have a great impact, and this thought was only vindicated to an extent when I read an article that showed he's the least effective player in the comp at going inside 50.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/af...k=1c8f24abdc920e7661f2bf1551b102c6-1557875380

WORST KICKS INSIDE 50
1. Clayton Oliver (Melbourne): 45 kicks — 8.9 per cent retention rate

2. Rory Sloane (Adelaide): 31 kicks — 12.9 per cent retention rate

3. Ed Langdon (Fremantle): 30 kicks — 16.7 per cent retention rate

4. Hugh McCluggage (Brisbane Lions): 34 kicks — 17.6 per cent retention rate

5. Travis Boak (Port Adelaide): 38 kicks — 18.4 per cent retention rate

Also feel the same about O'Maera, as has been mentioned. He gets a bit of it but I never think he's turned the game or has carried the Hawks. The game v Carlton is a perfect example. He had incredible numbers but Shiels was quite clearly the best player for the Hawks on the day.
 

Alwaysacrow

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These so called non influential players only get noticed when they are missing from the team through injury or suspension. That's when we realise how important they are to their team.
 

Beer n Skittles

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Macrae is a damaging player, he hits targets in dangerous space and can draw the players around him. Lachie Hunter is just an accumulating winger with poop disposal and little hurt factor. Complete opposites.


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I'm of basically the exact opposite opinion. I've only watched the dogs live this year, and maybe Macrae comes across better on the tv, but live it looks like his possessions always put the receiver under pressure. That's been a bit of an issue for them this year, pressure building throughout a possession chain until they turn it over.

Then Hunter is the one who relieves that pressure with a cool head & smart ball use. Bontempelli should be too but he's seemed a bit less cool under pressure this year IMO.

Edit - Especially noticeable when we tagged Hunter, and not having him involved caused the dogs to turn the footy over far more often than usual.
 
Jun 29, 2006
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Some people must think less of guys that arnt meant to be ball winners.
You want blokes like Lloyd to become a ball ferret ? At his size ? He'd stick his head in a pack and be rag dolled out with one hand. He's got mongrel but a man needs to know his limitations.
Just off the contest, fast reliable decision making and excellent distribution.
You need a few of all types.
Tom Mitchell I can understand due to him being an inside mid.

One bloke that never worried me thru his entire career was Marc Murphy. If he had it 15 times in the first qtr it wasn't necessarily bad news.
 

NonPhixion

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Cripps is the ****en best player in the competition. I don’t care what anyone says, right now, he is no.1.

Danger is still the best imo. He’s definitely top 3 though and yeah idk why he has been suggested. Surely trolls
 
May 5, 2016
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How can you get the footy 30 times a game on be non-influential?

I'd much rather a player get 32 and go at 50% DE, then a guy who gets it 13-14 times and goes at 90% DE.

Of course the more you get it, the less you're going to use it well. To say a player like Laird or Mitchell are 'non-influential' is absolutely ridiculous.

Well it depends whether the touches that ARENT effective, are costing you the other way.
 

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