Player Watch #18: Shaun Atley -

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Moti

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Shown that he can't find it enough at this level as a mid (yet). Needs to take the game on more from half back- having said that its hard to do that when your mids put on no defensive pressure and you get burnt going the other way.
Wing is not a genuine mid. Put him in the guts regularly and he will gravitate towards the ball and the ball to him.
 

scooby1279

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He said on Marngrook that his best role is on the half-back line creating run and carry. I'd have loved for him to say he's champing at the bit to become the attacking ball-carrying mid we all crave, but he didn't. :( Looks like we've got to throw big money at a free agent, or invest a first round pick to get an attacking mid if we want to get one, cos he isn't on our list currently. One genuine jet mid, with McMillan, Atley, McDonald and Higgins shooting around the place and we start to look much more dangerous, the one-paced midfield currently is just painful to watch.
thats pretty poor from Atley, tells me he doesn't want to take his footy to the next level.
 
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thats pretty poor from Atley, tells me he doesn't want to take his footy to the next level.
It was in the context of "where do you play your best footy?" after he'd discussed his move up ground and how he felt he'd underperformed in the role.
 

Tas

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There can be only one...
It must be hard playing in the middle all game and only getting 14 disposals, I think I could get more falcons than that in a game if I put my mind to it.
 

LeFtBehinD

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thats pretty poor from Atley, tells me he doesn't want to take his footy to the next level.
Keep in mind, he's probably told that by the club every week because they want him as a half back.

I've given up on trying to understand why we haven't tried to make him into a centre player, especially when we have 10 half backs.
 

roos_fanatic08

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Shown that he can't find it enough at this level as a mid (yet). Needs to take the game on more from half back- having said that its hard to do that when your mids put on no defensive pressure and you get burnt going the other way.
he has been in the centre square about 15 times in his whole career. How can he prove himself as an inside mid when he isn't playing in the guts.

Having Ats on the wing would be like Cunnington playing there. Cunners would have not much influence playing that role.

Atley was a natural centre square midfielder as a junior.
 

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It was in the context of "where do you play your best footy?" after he'd discussed his move up ground and how he felt he'd underperformed in the role.
Seemed to me he was also saying that he was pretty happy to be moved back to the half-back line, maybe I was reading into it, but that was the gist that I got from it. I didn't get a sense of a burning desire to become the replacement (albeit less injury-prone) Daniel Wells.
 
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Twinkletoes

Sorry to disappoint. :( This was in a draft interview he did before he was drafted.
Well what the bloody hell was he saying the other night? Have a listen if you can find the vision. Others picked up on it here too. Weird! Thread title adjusted to reflect this news.

Seemed to me he was also saying that he was pretty happy to be moved back to the half-back line, maybe I was reading into it, but that was the gist that I got from it. I didn't get a sense of a burning desire to become the replacement (albeit less injury-prone) Daniel Wells.
Agree cp.
 

Royal Flush

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Brad would it kill you to play Atley in a different position for maybe a quarter? Even when your plan A isn't working , no one would criticize you for it, if we are failing were failing. Please don't destroy the career of a promising young kid. Or are we all just so ill informed fans that don't know much about the strategic planning that goes on behind closed doors?


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Agree with posts that he should be played in square and hunt ball and break lines. Will never be A grade as HBF because his kicking is not damaging enough. But don't think Scott will do this unfortunately. Think we will have to wait for the change of coach before we see it.
 

Reginald0

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To be a decent Mid
You need Hand skills
Ats is shall we say. An Adequate handballer Jacobs and Froggy far superior
No hope of being a successful Mid any time soon
 
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