Team Mgmt. 2017 Team selections, injuries and availability

[Lore]

So you're probably aware of the spreadsheets I keep posting everywhere. Well this will be something of a home for it I guess.

Spoiler: 2016 version

 

[blitzer]

In terms of our structure the glaring issue that I believe is weakening our team is playing 3 genuine small forwards (2 of which can't take an overhead mark).

My ideal forward line balance would only have 2 genuine small forwards with 2 medium and 2 talls. eg
2 smalls: Fantasia, Tippa, Colyer (if played in forward line), Green, Begley (he may be medium I'll see how he plays)
2 medium: Laverde, Langford, Francis
2 talls: Daniher, Hooker, Stewart, Bellchambers (if played primarily as a forward)

What would make this strategy even more appealing is when more of the medium sized options can run through the midfield as well (which at the moment wouldn't include Francis).

The other thing that is fundamentally wrong with our team which can't be fixed at selection yet is we need a solid core of inside midfielders that will compete for 4 quarters for contested ball. Freo is a great example: They had a core of Fyfe, Neale and Mundy against us. You might say our equivalent right now is Heppell, Watson and Goddard. However its obvious that Watson isn't what he was and both Goddard/Watson will be gone by the end of 2018.

I think this is such a big issue for us that we may need to go needs basis with our first pick and pick up the best quality inside midfielder but that is a debate for another thread.

Players like Stanton and Zaharakis aren't so much structurally bad selections as they are players not playing very well. We need running players and link men but they just aren't doing their role.

 

[Ambrosia]

What I don't understand with our side just how little pressure we apply to the opposition. In a league we're every other side places a huge emphasis on pressuring the ball carrier we seem happy to rely on a plus one to win the ball back in defence.

 

[lamaros]

I'm happy with how we are structuring this year.

I think our big failing is the midfield is one of the worst in the AFL, and it's exposing our defence badly.

 

[BrunoV]

Was replying to this in the expectations thread but I think it's better served over here.

Dropping Stanton and Kelly (and presumably Baguley) from the backline would leave us with Gleeson, McKenna, McGrath, McNiece (R) and one of Jerrett or Morgan. That's a fairly unaccountable set of players with no-one to really direct them into position except Hurley. The last two don't even do consistently well in the VFL, so it'd be the gift of all gifts to be playing either of them over the old guys.

Watson and Hocking, well presumably Myers comes in for Watson. Hocking wasn't playing anyway except for one game when Green and Howlett both had injuries. Bird is 28, so I doubt he comes in for a youth policy. So some combination of Goddard? (how far are we taking this youth policy?), Zerrett, Heppell, Parish, Zaharakis, Colyer, Langford, Mutch and Clarke. I know you don't like Colyer but he is far from the first player I'd be dropping. If he's not accountable enough then play him forward (apparently that gets you a free pass for two-way running).

Howlett is essentially a small forward, he's only played one game so far and that was to cover injury (and then got injured himself). I guess they could bring Begley in instead. The forward line is pretty settled compared to the rest of the ground.

Not sure what any of them will learn if the opposition are going from the centre circle to the goals in a matter of seconds though.

I'd pull the pin on Watson, Hocking, Howlett, Baguley and Stanton. Kelly holds on for a few more weeks because he is playing so well and we need some stability in defence.

Zaharakis and Colyer either lift their respective work rates or they can go as well. At this point in time both are single dimension footballers whose deficiencies create problems that need to be addressed by other players.

Gleeson and McKenna could be said to have "deficiencies that cause problems for the rest of the side" but they are developing players who do the job but make errors doing the job (unlike Zaharakis and Colyer who do half of the job that should be expected of any wingmen). The more time they spend in defence with Hurley, Hartley and Ambrose the closer they will get to rounding out their respective games.

Josh Green can't run, does not add to the midfield and does not give anything of value defensively. You can't isolate "small forwards" from the midfield discussion when our midfield is getting belted and the small forwards give us nothing in the midfield rotation. Now if I understand David King correctly we should take the two best small forwards and run them in the middle more to overcome our contested ball problems rather than selecting players who can do the job.

That's 6 players who will almost certainly be in the side this week who are basically cooked or otherwise not changing their stripes. At a bare minimum we're wasting three spots.

 

[ghostdog]

I voted "We're too sentimental, gotta be ruthless." But the club royally ruined some of these guys careers and we owe them a year of AFL game time at minimum for what we did to them. This year was always going to be a payback/transition year and nothing more. Worsfold essentially gets two mulligans which is fine by me.

As much as I love Watson, Stanton, Hocking etc they are just not good enough anymore, and will rightfully/unfortunately be shown the door come seasons end.

Worsfold will move them on and he owes them nothing, he didn't get them into this mess but he is giving them an honorary end to their careers which they ALL deserve.

Being a Falcons fan, we fired our coach at the end of 2014 and had a huge overhaul of players since and made the Superbowl (that we should have won) in his 2nd year.

This was done by cutting the players that didn't fit his ideal team makeup, obviously you cannot just cut players in the AFL like you can American sports but the Falcons team of 2016 had 18~ out of 53 players still on the team 2 years removed from the last regime.

Bottom line, a new coach needs time to get players that suit his gameplan and Worsfold has not yet been fully afforded that luxury.

While I understand the sentiment I do feel that simply dropping a host of older players simultaneously is a bit rash; it presumes these guys have nothing to offer. The mantra that we should simply play the kids also has its risks. We're mediocre now - if we only played the kids we'd be back to the same situation as last year only the quality youngsters we have don't have the experience of the older players to learn from in real match conditions. Instead we have an inexperienced team that simply loses a lot. I'm not saying that we shouldn't turn players over, of course we should. But it should certainly be a measured approach that we take. Also, a lot of people seem to be expecting that the older players should be playing at the same pace and skill level as they did before the ban. I'm not willing to write them off that quickly. There's a lot of footy and a lot of possessions to have before they really hit their straps again. These older players can help the youngers more easily adapt to Woosha's gameplan.

Also, I lolled at Hawthorn when they axed Lewis and Mitchell. I dread losing Watson under the same circumstances. If anyone deserves to go out on his own terms, it is that man.

 

[ant555]

I will say it again.

Development year.

They will be having a bit of a look at most players.

It would seem Hocking, Bird and J Merret have already been decided on and will most likely only play if needed.

Jobe and Stants doing their victory lap.

McGrath will play half back all year. No plan to move him into the middle at this stage.

Will be hoping to get as much game time into Myers as possible as he is Jobes most likely replacement.

Expect McKernan to be simply back up. Most likely to stay on the rookie list next year as back up too.

Not sure where they see Zaka. I see him doing nothing but have no heard anything from inside the club.

Langford to play as much midfield as possible be it in the VFL or AFL.

 

[citizen-erased]

Selections
I don't get what Dea brings and i feel we're rushing McKenna because we did that last year out of necessity and aren't sure if sending him back to VFL will sting him and stutter his development.
Other than, the selections haven't bugged me too much. Will be a test and learn year with our line up.

Defence
I don't mind the current backline. I feel we shouldn't be so concrete in the decision that Hooker is a forward when we need a better defender to sure up games. Hogan goes back. As did Gunston & Roughead. And Riewoldt.
Hartley & Hurley, plus Hooker when needed, is solid for the talls.
McGrath - godsend.
McNiece looks like Baguley Mk2.
Ambrose is a loss. Reckon we're 2 games better had he not injured himself, plus another game had Hartley played against Carlton.
I have impatience for Ridley. Really liked him as a kid. His injury was shattering. I reckon he'd be close to best 22 by midseason had it not happened.
Development : Need to work out what role Gleeson will play and whether he is a viable defensive option. Happy to sit and wait for McKenna and Morgan to continue to develop.
Recruiting: Would love another lock down defender (Luke Brown) and a rebounder (Jones, Wigg).

Midfield
Story of effort vs the list talent. I think we are ok for talent. Wouldn't mind another couple of inside types who can tackle and clear the ball as our best options aren't exactly young.
Parish is showing 2nd year blues. Merrett has been off his best. I wonder how much they have taken a step back with the older boys back. Would love Heppell to embrace their leadership and knowledge from 2016 and have them supported by the experience of Heppell, Watson, Goddard and Myers, rather than dictated too.
Loving more Goddard on the ball.
Zaka needs a new role imo as well. Something to change it up and get him focused and playing with intent. Runs around with too little output these days.
Our ruck stocks concern me. Slow, zero presence and offer little defensively or offensively.
Development: Sooner we get more time into Langford and Laverde in there, the better. Same applies to Francis. Reckon he could give Oliver a run for his money if he had the tank (funnily enough the same thing Oliver was missing early on).
Recruiting: Brodie Grundy would top the list for me. He's mobile, has excellent work rate around the ground, and acts as another midfielder. The modern game is about more than good tap work and then lumbering around.
Rate a signing like Grundy over Hopper/Fyfe for us. We have kids getting ready to step into the midfield. We have nothing coming through rucks short of a project kid in Draper.

Forward
Funnily enough, after years of hating it, i like it.
I like Hooker up forward, though shouldn't be averse to sending him back when needed (see above).
I called Green a passenger on Anzac Day. From that point, he has certainly proven he plays a role.
Tippa & Fanta have been excellent. Cant knock either.
We are better with a third tall. When Francis is in, or McKernan is rucking and he goes down there, we have the room the rest of the forwards seem to like.
Less Langford and Laverde here. They may look comfortable there, but they are potentially the answer to our needs in the middle for clearance/quality ball user mids.
Keen to see Stewart get a run as FF and Hooker play back to see if the option is viable when the need arises.
Development: Begley is the one here. Love the idea of Begley and Francis swapping time on the ball with time in forward 50, or even Begs forward and Francis back.
Recruitment: Short of Tom Lynch coming up for sale, nothing. The smalls are young enough and i think we can cover the loss of one of Tippa/Green/Fanta with Zaka/Colyer/Parish helping out. even McGrath getting a bit more forward.

Shorter version:
Drop Dea.
Play McKenna in VFL
Hooker forward or back? Why not both based on need
Need a ruck more than anything else
Langford/Laverde = midfielders
Begley/Francis = proper utilities
McNiece = Bags Mk2.
Small forwards good
Could do with a small and medium defender
Find a new role for Zaka
Find a role for Gleeson

Shopping list:
Tom Lynch (if available)
Brodie Grundy
Luke Brown
Harrison Wigg

 

[Skipper_]

Drop Green for a mid and see how Zaka does as a small forward.

 

[Beerfish]

Drop Green for a mid and see how Zaka does as a small forward.

I'd predict an increase in unverifiable pressure acts.

 

[Killer_Mike]

Selections
I don't get what Dea brings and i feel we're rushing McKenna because we did that last year out of necessity and aren't sure if sending him back to VFL will sting him and stutter his development.
Other than, the selections haven't bugged me too much. Will be a test and learn year with our line up.

Defence
I don't mind the current backline. I feel we shouldn't be so concrete in the decision that Hooker is a forward when we need a better defender to sure up games. Hogan goes back. As did Gunston & Roughead. And Riewoldt.
Hartley & Hurley, plus Hooker when needed, is solid for the talls.
McGrath - godsend.
McNiece looks like Baguley Mk2.
Ambrose is a loss. Reckon we're 2 games better had he not injured himself, plus another game had Hartley played against Carlton.
I have impatience for Ridley. Really liked him as a kid. His injury was shattering. I reckon he'd be close to best 22 by midseason had it not happened.
Development : Need to work out what role Gleeson will play and whether he is a viable defensive option. Happy to sit and wait for McKenna and Morgan to continue to develop.
Recruiting: Would love another lock down defender (Luke Brown) and a rebounder (Jones, Wigg).

Midfield
Story of effort vs the list talent. I think we are ok for talent. Wouldn't mind another couple of inside types who can tackle and clear the ball as our best options aren't exactly young.
Parish is showing 2nd year blues. Merrett has been off his best. I wonder how much they have taken a step back with the older boys back. Would love Heppell to embrace their leadership and knowledge from 2016 and have them supported by the experience of Heppell, Watson, Goddard and Myers, rather than dictated too.
Loving more Goddard on the ball.
Zaka needs a new role imo as well. Something to change it up and get him focused and playing with intent. Runs around with too little output these days.
Our ruck stocks concern me. Slow, zero presence and offer little defensively or offensively.
Development: Sooner we get more time into Langford and Laverde in there, the better. Same applies to Francis. Reckon he could give Oliver a run for his money if he had the tank (funnily enough the same thing Oliver was missing early on).
Recruiting: Brodie Grundy would top the list for me. He's mobile, has excellent work rate around the ground, and acts as another midfielder. The modern game is about more than good tap work and then lumbering around.
Rate a signing like Grundy over Hopper/Fyfe for us. We have kids getting ready to step into the midfield. We have nothing coming through rucks short of a project kid in Draper.

Forward
Funnily enough, after years of hating it, i like it.
I like Hooker up forward, though shouldn't be averse to sending him back when needed (see above).
I called Green a passenger on Anzac Day. From that point, he has certainly proven he plays a role.
Tippa & Fanta have been excellent. Cant knock either.
We are better with a third tall. When Francis is in, or McKernan is rucking and he goes down there, we have the room the rest of the forwards seem to like.
Less Langford and Laverde here. They may look comfortable there, but they are potentially the answer to our needs in the middle for clearance/quality ball user mids.
Keen to see Stewart get a run as FF and Hooker play back to see if the option is viable when the need arises.
Development: Begley is the one here. Love the idea of Begley and Francis swapping time on the ball with time in forward 50, or even Begs forward and Francis back.
Recruitment: Short of Tom Lynch coming up for sale, nothing. The smalls are young enough and i think we can cover the loss of one of Tippa/Green/Fanta with Zaka/Colyer/Parish helping out. even McGrath getting a bit more forward.

Shorter version:
Drop Dea.
Play McKenna in VFL
Hooker forward or back? Why not both based on need
Need a ruck more than anything else
Langford/Laverde = midfielders
Begley/Francis = proper utilities
McNiece = Bags Mk2.
Small forwards good
Could do with a small and medium defender
Find a new role for Zaka
Find a role for Gleeson

Shopping list:
Tom Lynch (if available)
Brodie Grundy
Luke Brown
Harrison Wigg

Well written post.
I know theirs only so many midfield roles at VFL level but I would really like for Begley to get more minutes before the years out.

He's playing that awkward Langford role of playing half forward that drifts through the middle. He looks to me like a player that hunts the ball and needs time on ball.

 

[YEMOC NAYR]

Drop Green for a mid and see how Zaka does as a small forward.

Why does Zaka deserve to take greens spot? He deserves to be in the 2s.

 

[pepsi]

Not surprisingly we are the worst performing midfield according to some stats:

http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/the...m/news-story/40ab28df7e0237b650a0b2cd75c41e33

 

[citizen-erased]

Well written post.
I know theirs only so many midfield roles at VFL level but I would really like for Begley to get more minutes before the years out.

He's playing that awkward Langford role of playing half forward that drifts through the middle. He looks to me like a player that hunts the ball and needs time on ball.

Once Langford returns (possibly this week) to afl, perhaps he can go in for a bit before laverde returns

 

[Killer_Mike]

Once Langford returns (possibly this week) to afl, perhaps he can go in for a bit before laverde returns

I hope so.

Unfortunately I'm not expecting much from Laverde this year though. they are projecting round 15 at best and we can assume he will come through the VFL.

 

[JayJ20]

I found this to be a bit interesting.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/the...m/news-story/40ab28df7e0237b650a0b2cd75c41e33

We are last in the competition for clearances and contested possession. Second last for inside 50s.

It's definitely a big issue for us at the moment, but I think running guys like Walla, Fantasia and McGrath through the midfield wouldn't provide all of the answer. Those numbers make it even more mystifying as to why Myers was used in defence.

 

[Saint]

There are still some holes in our list and we can't solve them all this year, and while we're a finals chance, we put the best side on the park for this year. We're already playing plenty of kids and they got lots of opportunities last year.

Playing a final is massive for player development (and belief) so we should be pursuing that until it's out of reach. Even big make or break games late in the year to make finals are important in player development.

But......once we can't make finals, Stanton, Kelly and Watson all get the chop for the rest of the year. Happy to have them do another pre-season to see if Stanton and Watson in particular can get back what they're missing, but perhaps to get more leadership in the backline from the younger guys we need to take Kelly out and see who steps up?

Zaharakis is no good now, but could come good by the end of the season and we're crying out for a player like him at his peak, as well as Meyers. I guess their personality rather than their form would tell you what playing them in the VFL will do for their game.

As is, I'm happy with progress, I just hope things change if we slide down the ladder a bit. Don't forget we've got North, Swans and Hawks below us, Wouldn't be surprised if two of those were above us, come season's end.

 

[hurlygurdy]

Pretty stunned people are lumping Watson in the same boat as Stanton and Hocking. I don't see any reason why Watson wont build form this year as he settles back in. I am worried that a vegetarian diet might not offer enough fuel though. AFL demands every last ounce of fitness and energy from players and meat is the ultimate fuel.

I don't think our midfield can make use of Leuy's tap work. They haven't spent enough time working with him and each other. As such, i'd bring in TBC and Smack. Between the two of them they can provide a solid contest in the ruck and then both offer more up forward than Leuy and Green who they would be replacing. That offers a better structure up forward and gives variation to our midfield setup. I think Smack is ideal for taking on second ruck duties as he is less likely to be beaten in the air and then he offers the extra grunt at ground level. He would have to take on the opposition number one ruck sometimes as well, but that is the only weak point in the plan. Meanwhile, this setup allows our midfielders to simply concentrate on making the opposition accountable at stoppages. We can setup defensively every time rather than trying to feed off Leuy's hard work. That's a much clearer framework which will suit a midfield group that has barely played together.

Myers replacing Stanton in the midfield group will be significant. His big body will add grunt to contests around the ground which will take some load off BJ and Watson. He isn't faster than Stanton, but being so much stronger he has more time. We just need to get the right group of players to each contest and i think we will have the correct balance of big bodies and speed.

 

[MightyDons4]

I'll take options 1, 2, 4 & 6.

 

[astrowizzle]

Bellchambers is the least physical of the trio. He's a look like ken play like barbie kind of big man. Bellchambers is useless at ground level whereas McKernan and Leuenberger are ok at this. Bellchambers doesn't tackle - Leuenberger and McKernan are big tacklers. Bellchambers is the better mark of the trio. Leuenberger has the best aerobic fitness of the trio. Leuenberger is the worst forward of the trio.

My opinion is:
Leuenberger can only play ruck and is a first ruck.
Bellchambers doesn't have the tank to play four quarters consistently as a number one ruck but is too immobile to be a 2nd ruck - so he's just a backup ruckman for mine.
McKernan also cannot cope with playing four quarters of ruck so isn't a number one ruckman, he is very mobile and capable in multiple roles so is a decent 2nd ruckman option.

If we play only one ruckman I'm going with leuy. If we play two it's leuy and smack.

I must be watching the wrong players. Luey looks like Jane and plays like princess laya. I know bellchambers is a show pony pretty boy but I reckon by the end of the year he will offer far more in terms of hitouts than either of the other 2. At least he can jump more than 3cm off the ground which luey can't.

 

[citizen-erased]

I must be watching the wrong players. Luey looks like Jane and plays like princess laya. I know bellchambers is a show pony pretty boy but I reckon by the end of the year he will offer far more in terms of hitouts than either of the other 2. At least he can jump more than 3cm off the ground which luey can't.

Neither choice is that exciting tbh.

I'm starting to think we just upgrade Draper and throw him to the wolves.

 

[revival_mode]

Neither choice is that exciting tbh.

I'm starting to think we just upgrade Draper and throw him to the wolves.

Sink or swim, bitch

 

[Cold Sober]

We are treading water

 

[adsla69k]

Always happy to see McGrath in the team. When your shit for so long all you have is the young kids that bring hope. Will crack my most expensive bottle of red wine ($21.99) when Mutch gets named.

 

[Kong]

I believe we should be playing McKernan, either as starting ruckman (with Daniher for support, as Worsfold seems to prefer), or as backup ruckman and resting 3rd tall forward.

He offers us so much more around the ground than Bellchambers and Leuenberger.

 

[eth-dog]

I believe we should be playing McKernan, either as starting ruckman (with Daniher for support, as Worsfold seems to prefer), or as backup ruckman and resting 3rd tall forward.

He offers us so much more around the ground than Bellchambers and Leuenberger.

Yeah but he's crap in the ruck and does nothing up forward as a second ruck. He's literally had half a good year at AFL level amongst 7 and a half years of crap