Preview Round 2, 2019: Essendon v St.Kilda - Marvel Stadium, Saturday 30th March, 4:35PM AEDT

[VDS66]

Well I haven’t seen him with his kit off. Only seen him live when playing or tv. Looks like a Steven baker build to me.

Some humans are built a certain way. It's genetic.

Gotta say that Buddy always look to have a bit of a gut.

 

[VDS66]

His posts have been all over the shop. Been from one extreme to the other and everywhere in between!

Might be bipolar...

 

[Joffaboy]

In the long run will Clark be more of an inside or outside mid?

Inside, and a very good one.

 

[VDS66]

You'd think Steven will spend less time forward and more time on ball this week.

Where do you think he's best utilised?

In clearances or on the outside?

I see the problem that we lack a clearance player.

Until we address this and allow Stuv to run free, we will tread water.

 

[VDS66]

Inside, and a very good one.

Is it time to bring him in and rotate Stuv, Clark and Steele?

 

[g_TRAIN]

Dunstan had 18 touches at 50% in 90mins gametime. All in the midfield. So hes had 9 effective disposals. If thats what we are accepting from our mids as a club. Then we are in for world of hurt.

Having said that his contest at the end of the game may buy him another week. One more game like that and i think he will struggle to get back in the team barring any injury.

Out dunstan
In goat

Only change i think will happen.

Dunny has a massive crack and you can see he cares but he's just not performing to the level at the moment.

I would drop him as well.

 

[VDS66]

Dunny has a massive crack and you can see he cares but he's just not performing to the level at the moment.

I would drop him as well.

We have a few players like that TBH.

Keeping the seat warm until a better replacement comes along.

 

[aussierulesrules]

Where do you think he's best utilised?

In clearances or on the outside?

I see the problem that we lack a clearance player.

Until we address this and allow Stuv to run free, we will tread water.

He was top 6 in the AFL last year for centre clearances and the new rules should help him even more to break free from centre bounces and stream towards goal.

Hopefully Longer is back to being as fit as he was talked up to be before he did his string, and that he finds form quickly, because we could do with a whole lot of the sort of service he gave our midfield when we played Gold Coast last year. When he was putting it out into space to let the likes of Stuv and of course Gresh at the end run onto it with space ahead of them.

 

[St Pauls]

He was top 6 in the AFL last year for centre clearances and the new rules should help him even more to break free from centre bounces and stream towards goal.

Hopefully Longer is back to being as fit as he was talked up to be before he did his string, and that he finds form quickly, because we could do with a whole lot of the sort of service he gave our midfield when we played Gold Coast last year. When he was putting it out into space to let the likes of Stuv and of course Gresh at the end run onto it with space ahead of them.

I actually think a Longer and Marshal combo could be really good.

 

[plugger66]

He was top 6 in the AFL last year for centre clearances and the new rules should help him even more to break free from centre bounces and stream towards goal.

Hopefully Longer is back to being as fit as he was talked up to be before he did his string, and that he finds form quickly, because we could do with a whole lot of the sort of service he gave our midfield when we played Gold Coast last year. When he was putting it out into space to let the likes of Stuv and of course Gresh at the end run onto it with space ahead of them.

Unfortunately a ruckman has to have more to his bow than just hitting the ball. I think stats last week showed hit outs had no bearing on results. We will never improve having a ruckman in the side who can’t take a mark and does around the ground. I don’t think type of ruckman has ever been in vogue in afl footy. Our ruck stocks are clearly the worst in the afl that is why we need to give Marshall a go. Need a contest which he will give but he will mark it both forward and back and will actually impact the game with stats

 

[bird_man]

Where do you think he's best utilised?

In clearances or on the outside?

I see the problem that we lack a clearance player.

Until we address this and allow Stuv to run free, we will tread water.

He's our best clearance player so we've got no choice but to get him in there right now.

Gresh looked promising in there with his clearance work so as he develops Stuv may be able to get on the outside a bit more, but I think we are just desperate for a Hunter Clark to make his stamp.

 

[VDS66]

He's our best clearance player so we've got no choice but to get him in there right now.

Gresh looked promising in there with his clearance work so as he develops Stuv may be able to get on the outside a bit more, but I think we are just desperate for a Hunter Clark to make his stamp.

Might be time roll the dice and start getting minutes into Clark.

I wonder if we are being conservative to try and get some wins under our belt first?

 

[aussierulesrules]

I actually think a Longer and Marshal combo could be really good.

If they were both fit and in form our midfield would love it.

 

[StFly]

Unfortunately a ruckman has to have more to his bow than just hitting the ball. I think stats last week showed hit outs had no bearing on results. We will never improve having a ruckman in the side who can’t take a mark and does around the ground. I don’t think type of ruckman has ever been in vogue in afl footy. Our ruck stocks are clearly the worst in the afl that is why we need to give Marshall a go. Need a contest which he will give but he will mark it both forward and back and will actually impact the game with stats

I'd disagree, we looked a shell of a team when Spida went down for instance, so a quality ruck missing is just as important as a FF or FB in winning matches if the team dynamic is shattered in doing so.

All the current game of footy is doing is making it obvious that the ruck needs to do more than the initial tap to be relevant, whereas the great rucks will already be doing this and more to be the archetype desired and in the same vein the style to surpass or promote growth into. I also wouldn't say they're the worst in the AFL either, I'd say in the scheme of things it's the entire midfield group lacking in the centre as I really only rate say Ross & Stuv as players currently able to actually read a tap and react regardless of the player actually tapping the ball. Then the rest of them need direction to understand thoughts lead to immediate action and do not require confirmation that you took too long and chased arse instead.

 

[StCicatriz]

In the long run will Clark be more of an inside or outside mid?

reminds me a bitch of cotch. its like dal and cotch mixed into one. so hopefully inside mid!

 

[plugger66]

I'd disagree, we looked a shell of a team when Spida went down for instance, so a quality ruck missing is just as important as a FF or FB in winning matches if the team dynamic is shattered in doing so.

All the current game of footy is doing is making it obvious that the ruck needs to do more than the initial tap to be relevant, whereas the great rucks will already be doing this and more to be the archetype desired and in the same vein the style to surpass or promote growth into. I also wouldn't say they're the worst in the AFL either, I'd say in the scheme of things it's the entire midfield group lacking in the centre as I really only rate say Ross & Stuv as players currently able to actually read a tap and react regardless of the player actually tapping the ball. Then the rest of them need direction to understand thoughts lead to immediate action and do not require confirmation that you took too long and chased arse instead.

Spider and longer. That’s like plugger and winbanks. And I totally agree a quality ruck is important. Unfortunately the 2 that have played the most in the ruck that are on our list most likely won’t get there. If you after someone who at least has the skills of spider then you try to see if Marshall can get there. The more I read what you say the more you seem to agree with me. A quality ruck is vital and in today’s footy there is more to ruck work than hitting the ball. I’ve also say that.

 

[Yawkey way]

Unfortunately a ruckman has to have more to his bow than just hitting the ball. I think stats last week showed hit outs had no bearing on results. We will never improve having a ruckman in the side who can’t take a mark and does around the ground. I don’t think type of ruckman has ever been in vogue in afl footy. Our ruck stocks are clearly the worst in the afl that is why we need to give Marshall a go. Need a contest which he will give but he will mark it both forward and back and will actually impact the game with stats

Grundy has embarrassed himself a couple of times recently in the jlt and first round trying to finess hitting targets etc.

He’s a fanatastic ruckman because of his ruck work and his marking, the cheap kicks and fancy stuff is best left to the players around him who are in the side to do just that. Billy longer is on his day a very good ruckman, what he doesn’t do is mark the football. Despite the write ups I didn’t see him do it often at vic metro so unless he discovers how to take a grab he doesn’t offer much more than pierce imo. Marshall at this stage isn’t a great tap ruckman but he’s competitive and can get back to help out or take a grab up forward. I can’t see why he’s not our first choice but hey I’m not down watching training maybe he’s getting rag dolled, who knows.

I can’t fault the effort pierce put in last week he simply isn’t good enough and really I wonder how much improvement he has left at this stage.

 

[triggering bro]

Clark looks like your typical inside-outside mid to me. Similar to Pendlebury & Bont. Good hands, evasive & highly skilled.

 

[BrutThough]

I think what's often forgotten when talking about Longer is that he makes makes our midfield better. He, himself, may not be able to do anything but win a hitout but our midfield performs better when he is in the side. And a stronger overall midfield is going to get us further than adding 10 possession to the ruckman.

 

[bennymc7]

What I would like to happen..

In- Acres, Clark, Marshall
Out- Savage (Newnes to go to hbf), Dunstan (purely think Clark is better), Pierce

What I think will actually happen

In- Brown, Marshall
Out- Joyce, Pierce

 

[plugger66]

I think what's often forgotten when talking about Longer is that he makes makes our midfield better. He, himself, may not be able to do anything but win a hitout but our midfield performs better when he is in the side. And a stronger overall midfield is going to get us further than adding 10 possession to the ruckman.

I’m not sure that’s true. Both him and hickey had a very similar win loss record. Maybe hickey was fractionally better. You will be able to pick games and so will I but the fact remains we lost hickey to a 3 year contract and chose to give longer one. Now it’s longer pierce or Marshall. 2 of them hit the ball and that’s pretty much it. The other is raw but we know can mark it and influence the game around the ground. Do we say pierce won the ruck last week because we won the clearances. Of course not but he did provide a contest. That’s about it though

 

[triggering bro]

I’m not sure that’s true. Both him and hickey had a very similar win loss record. Maybe hickey was fractionally better. You will be able to pick games and so will I but the fact remains we lost hickey to a 3 year contract and chose to give longer one. Now it’s longer pierce or Marshall. 2 of them hit the ball and that’s pretty much it. The other is raw but we know can mark it and influence the game around the ground. Do we say pierce won the ruck last week because we won the clearances. Of course not but he did provide a contest. That’s about it though

Not overly relevant to this particular argument but did you see Hickey’s stats over the weekend? 2 disposals & 20 hitouts! His partner in crime Vardy not much better with 3 disposals & 14 hitouts.

 

[plugger66]

Not overly relevant to this particular argument but did you see Hickey’s stats over the weekend? 2 disposals & 20 hitouts! His partner in crime Vardy not much better with 3 disposals & 14 hitouts.

Hickey hated 2 rucks. They will learn that soon he will be playing seconds shortly or on his own in the ones

 

[saintsrfreak]

Fantasy time, imagine a 27 Dean Cox-like Rowan Marshall being chopped out in the ruck by the 22 year old, resurrected Paul Salmon that is Max King. I think we can lock the 2023 - 2028 premierships in now boys

 

[MOLTEN GANGLANDS]

Hickey hated 2 rucks. They will learn that soon he will be playing seconds shortly or on his own in the ones

I don;t know how to tag you so I just quoted your last post. But the question is, if you were coach, does Clark play this weekend?