Opinion 2024 and Beyond

[S120]

Massive Parker fan and have been for years.

I’m worried that we could potentially ( hope not ) see an rok situation if he is going forward.

Hayward , heeney and Parker up front with the Talls makes us very slow and the ball might walk out.

Parker has the marking ability no doubt but his speed has never been a threat , if he is unable to to put pressure on and his opponent walks away the move forward could potentially end him quicker than give him longevity like the forward role some think it will

Re: the mix of mediums, I agree it's an issue and I see a solution for it that requires a few things that would need a bit of time to have an effect at seniors level, but I think they'd both sort us out moving forward.

Firstly, Hayward into defence.

I've really like Hayward when he has had brief time in defence over the last 3 years. We get an additional intercepting threat in defence which is where the competition has gone the last 24 months. He would need time to develop his defensive game more, but I'd back that he'd be competitive over time defensively.

Secondly, replacing Hayward in the forward line is, ideally, Konstanty.

Tricky here of course because we'd be relying on a young guy to come on but he's exactly the type we need up there to counterbalance the talls and less quick mediums. Very dangerous around goals at U18's level and excellent speed and tackling. We need him to have a big offseason.

 

[Kiama Chris]

I actually like the balance of 3 talls, 2 mediums, 2 smalls. Take into account bench and ruck cut out time. Also occasional CBA. Assume 82% TOG.
Play. Bench Other
KPF1. 82. 18
KPF2. 82. 18
KPF3 64. 18. 18
MF1. 82. 18
MF2. 76. 18. 6
SF1. 82. 18
SF2. 76. 18. 6
What matters is the playing time total of say 544% or 5.44 players. There is room for an additional half a player in the forward line.
So those who would like to see Parker spend more time there it is certainly possible without changing the existing set-up.
Or someone else.

 

[mtooler]

Both Florent and Cunningham are locks in the b22

One will be locked onto the interchange bench then.

 

[mtooler]

Not sneaky. We just don't AFL draft KPDs. When was the last one?
Sure we rookie draft. We trade. But we don't AFL draft KPDs. I'd like us to get ZZ as some of our KPDs have no upside. But I am not trying to be sneaky. I just look at our AFL drafting history, and Beetson has been around for so long, that you see patterns. Do we not AFL draft KPDs because the opportunity cost of a mid or KPF is much better?
We don't rookie mids except Cat B.
We don't AFL draft KPDs.
These in the last 10-15 years under Beetson are facts. There must be a reason be it salary cap(we can go cheap on KPDs to pay more in other areas). I don't know but I see patterns in our trading and drafting.

Yes agree, absolutely a method to our list structure and how it is built. My hope is this be the year we deviate given the difficulty of snagging a KPD this year and the outrageous cost of draft capital for Esava or salary of McKay. We could do a lot worse than Murphy/ZZ, Archer Reid is my third choice as another KPF is handy and looks like he has something to play with.

 

[mtooler]

Don't know that I agree but this was a very interesting point.

It kind of harkens back to the no small forward days over a decade ago when Goodes was the closest we had to a small forward, pre papely rookie times. It will be interesting to see where the zone sets up strongly, F50 like Tigers or Corridor like Eagles premiership team, or us slingshot D50.

 

[mtooler]

I really hope we don't play Adams forward. That is not his ideal position and his ideal position is somewhere we really struggle with.

Father time isn't on Longmire's side with Adams, he doesn't have a few seasons where he can start him off out of position I think.

 

[mtooler]

Factoring in bench time is always the key in working those rotations, along with where the ball is on the field eg if we're stuck in defence for a period.
I hope Wicks stays fit and plays well enough to keep Kon in reserves.

Agree, is that happens it will be good for our side.

 

[mtooler]

Re: the mix of mediums, I agree it's an issue and I see a solution for it that requires a few things that would need a bit of time to have an effect at seniors level, but I think they'd both sort us out moving forward.

Firstly, Hayward into defence.

I've really like Hayward when he has had brief time in defence over the last 3 years. We get an additional intercepting threat in defence which is where the competition has gone the last 24 months. He would need time to develop his defensive game more, but I'd back that he'd be competitive over time defensively.

Secondly, replacing Hayward in the forward line is, ideally, Konstanty.

Tricky here of course because we'd be relying on a young guy to come on but he's exactly the type we need up there to counterbalance the talls and less quick mediums. Very dangerous around goals at U18's level and excellent speed and tackling. We need him to have a big offseason.

Hayward has pressure on him for the 22 I think. Everyone can't fit into it, if he were to go back in D50 then it adds to the Florent/Cunningham log jam of pressure. Good problem to have.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

One will be locked onto the interchange bench then.

Ollie deservedly got 5th in the B&F.

 

[caesar88]

I still feel like Parker spending time forward late this season was more to do with him carrying injury than an indication of our 2024 plans for him

 

[Del198236]

Ollie deservedly got 5th in the B&F.

Agree.. And Cunningham deservedly finished 10th
Thats why I reckon they're both locks for the b22.. that and Im not sure there is a replacement for either

 

[Kiama Chris]

Agree.. And Cunningham deservedly finished 10th
Thats why I reckon they're both locks for the b22.. that and Im not sure there is a replacement for either

Yep. Form and fitness allowing, 100%.
Ollie's role easier to replace than Harry's.

 

[Dubsforsam1]

FB: Rampe Melican Florent
HB: Blakey McCartin Lloyd
C: McInerny Gulden Warner
HF: Papley McDonald Heeney
FF: Wicks McLean Reid
R: Grundy Adams Parker

Int: Rowbottom Campbell Cunningham Sheldrick Jordan (sub)

E: Ladhams Hamling Francis Roberts Amartey

 

[caesar88]

Ollie deservedly got 5th in the B&F.

6th*

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

6th*

pedant*

chuckles….

 

[The King!]

Horse will play Parker as the main midfielder until he drops completely off the cliff.

He would help the 2012 premiership move house on a day with great beach weather

 

[caesar88]

Horse will play Parker as the main midfielder until he drops completely off the cliff.

He would help the 2012 premiership move house on a day with great beach weather

I don't know that that's true Kingy.

ROK won the Norm Smith that day and was playing NEAFL less than two years later.

Hanners was probably actually the best on ground that day, and he was traded at the age of 27.

Sam Reid was dropped end of 2021 before he'd even turned 30.

Kieren Jack got booted from the midfield halfway through only his second year struggling.

Etc.

I think if Parker's in the midfield it will be because Horse thinks he's still a quality mid.

 

[The King!]

I don't know that that's true Kingy.

ROK won the Norm Smith that day and was playing NEAFL less than two years later.

Hanners was probably actually the best on ground that day, and he was traded at the age of 27.

Sam Reid was dropped end of 2021 before he'd even turned 30.

Kieren Jack got booted from the midfield halfway through only his second year struggling.

Etc.

I think if Parker's in the midfield it will be because Horse thinks he's still a quality mid.

Its the offseason .... go easy on me geez

 

[Edmund hunt]

Would Ladhams get any playing time or would we use McLean as our tap ruck behind Grundy?

On SM-A515F using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[caesar88]

Its the offseason .... go easy on me geez

Gotta keep a fellow world leader honest

 

[Kiama Chris]

Would Ladhams get any playing time or would we use McLean as our tap ruck behind Grundy?

On SM-A515F using BigFooty.com mobile app

Be surprised if Ladhams plays behind Grundy. McLean, Reid and Amartey are all capable second rucks and very good forwards.
Ladhams has work to do to re-establish himself as the club's #2 ruckman IMO.

 

[Del198236]

Be surprised if Ladhams plays behind Grundy. McLean, Reid and Amartey are all capable second rucks and very good forwards.
Ladhams has work to do to re-establish himself as the club's #2 ruckman IMO.

Yep.. I reckon Ladhams really pissed off the coaches when he got himself suspended in a VFL game and missed finals.

If all are fit and have a full pre-season.. who will get the nod?
Reid - fwd/ruck.. 2nd half of 2022 was very very good
McLean - fwd/ruck.. 2nd half of 2023 was very good
Amartey - fwd/ruck.. played a few halves that were very very good, if he completes his 1st pre-season, he'd be expecting to turn those halves into games into half seasons into seasons
Buller - fwd/ruck.. VFL form was very very good, will benefit a truckload from his 1st pre-season, also the tallest
Logan - fwd.. likely to be the best of all of them

If what we hear from the coaches is true and all spots are up for grabs.. Then expect a lot of competition
Considering the expectation is that all 4 (excluding Reid) will improve with age and experience.. Thats a pretty exciting tall fwd line

then theres Ladhams

 

[Kiama Chris]

Yep.. I reckon Ladhams really pissed off the coaches when he got himself suspended in a VFL game and missed finals.

If all are fit and have a full pre-season.. who will get the nod?
Reid - fwd/ruck.. 2nd half of 2022 was very very good
McLean - fwd/ruck.. 2nd half of 2023 was very good
Amartey - fwd/ruck.. played a few halves that were very very good, if he completes his 1st pre-season, he'd be expecting to turn those halves into games into half seasons into seasons
Buller - fwd/ruck.. VFL form was very very good, will benefit a truckload from his 1st pre-season, also the tallest
Logan - fwd.. likely to be the best of all of them

If what we hear from the coaches is true and all spots are up for grabs.. Then expect a lot of competition
Considering the expectation is that all 4 (excluding Reid) will improve with age and experience.. Thats a pretty exciting tall fwd line

then theres Ladhams

Exactly. As a forward Ladhams is unstructured. He's OK when we have the ball locked in but applies near zero pressure and kinda gets in everyone's way.
Stretch improved significantly over the season, is disciplined, makes decent second efforts and with more time in the gym might well take the position of second-in-line, ie if Grundy is injured, at least for short periods.
The cut-out will come from one of those three.
I suspect the kind of pressure Ladhams will be under might well do his head in completely.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

Exactly. As a forward Ladhams is unstructured. He's OK when we have the ball locked in but applies near zero pressure and kinda gets in everyone's way.
Stretch improved significantly over the season, is disciplined, makes decent second efforts and with more time in the gym might well take the position of second-in-line, ie if Grundy is injured, at least for short periods.
The cut-out will come from one of those three.
I suspect the kind of pressure Ladhams will be under might well do his head in completely.

Agree re both BigMac and Ladhams.

Have no doubtMcAndrew will have spent a lot of his off season in the weights room. While his ruck work shone at centre bounces it was weaker at round the ground ball ups and throw ins where he sometimes out bodied. Some additional muscle will help. I hope he has a training partner and his runs around the park include running and bouncing the ball and some kick to kick.

Whatever BigMac does I hope Peter has doubled in effort. Awful to say but I think his career is at the crossroads. Unless he he has put in the work he will be behind the 8 ball when the pre season gets under way.

 

[Del198236]

Agree re both BigMac and Ladhams.

Have no doubtMcAndrew will have spent a lot of his off season in the weights room. While his ruck work shone at centre bounces it was weaker at round the ground ball ups and throw ins where he sometimes out bodied. Some additional muscle will help. I hope he has a training partner and his runs around the park include running and bouncing the ball and some kick to kick.

Whatever BigMac does I hope Peter has doubled in effort. Awful to say but I think his career is at the crossroads. Unless he he has put in the work he will be behind the 8 ball when the pre season gets under way.

I like Stretch.. Hes clearly got a lot to learn about how to play footy, but his effort are in line with McLean. Love his second efforts when the ball is in dispute, also love his tackling efforts (easy to see his Rugby Union background)
Hes definitely had a good run with coaches / mentors.. Dean Cox - one of the best ever, Hickey would have been a great mentor, and now Grundy..
Hes put on 20 kg in two years! Listed at 101kg beginning of 2023, will be interesting how much heavier he is beginning of 2024.
Agree Ladhams career is at a crossroads - needs to put in a huge effort or, at worst this contract is his last, at best will make another list but only ever be backup.