Opinion 2024 and Beyond

[Punts]

Florent perfect sub imo

Don’t think he has enough impact consistently

 

[Millky95]

Call me crazy and I have 0 stats to back it up, just the vibe

But I always felt like Florrent's man was the small/medium forward that would kick multiple goals against us

 

[Swannie0307]

This is difficult because we made the GF last year & played in the finals this year BUT I think our coaches need to implement a better balance in attacking/defensive mindset & game style. We need to rely less on the turnover & counter attack game style & more on winning 1st possession & driving our attack through the midfield.

It's probably a mindset shift from coaches in the off-season in letting more of our players have an attacking approach, rather than just leaving it on the halfbacks to drive our attack. It probably means more susceptibility in defence but the trade-off is worth exploring imo.

We probably don't need massive change but a better balance between the turnover game style & winning 1st possession. Our contested numbers/midfield susceptibility is more to do with coaching/gamestlye than personnel imo. I'd love to see more players with the mindset of Papley & Gulden aggressive nature in hunting the ball. Hopefully having a fully fit Mills next year helps address it. He's got the best balance between attack/defence & has the football IQ to organise the midfield.

I also think our coaches tend to pigeon hole players too often, whether it be a rowbottom playing a negating role in the mids because of his great tackling/pressure skills, mills versatility shifting him all over the ground etc. It took Horse multiple season with Mills being played at halfback until he moved him into a full-time mid role where he had an AA year & we reached the GF. Some of the success stories of our players have been fluky, like blakey being used as a last resort in defence, ditto with florent.

Horse has been a great coach and ambassador for the club, but I honestly think it’s time for some fresh thinking, and a more attacking game style … we are bloody awesome when we take the game on, but unfortunately we only do it in short spurts. Also don’t think Horse is a great game-day strategist (e.g. rarely implements good plan B’s, poor/minimal use of the Sub) and I hate it when we’re playing great and build a big lead, only to put the cue in the rack too early (2022 prelim and R23 Crows quickly come to mind). Perhaps Horse can stay on in the club in some senior capacity, but bring on the big Cox in 2025 I say.

 

[Del198236]

How about Sheather or Wicks as a back up to Cunningham in that lock down small defender roll?
Both are quick and aggressive tacklers..
If Konstanty comes on as expected/hoped, he may well take that pressure forward role.

 

[Kiama Chris]

How about Sheather or Wicks as a back up to Cunningham in that lock down small defender roll?
Both are quick and aggressive tacklers..
If Konstanty comes on as expected/hoped, he may well take that pressure forward role.

I used to think of Wicks in that role but now see the pressure forward role as more important. Sheather for sure if he survives the cull. He has a lot of the right attributes.

 

[Swannie0307]

Think someone mentioned it earlier, but I quite like the idea of Jmac being moved to the halfback line. He’s strong and tough, reasonably quick and (according to the AFL stats) an elite intercept marker.
Amartey could be good down back as well?

 

[Kiama Chris]

Think someone mentioned it earlier, but I quite like the idea of Jmac being moved to the halfback line. He’s strong and tough, reasonably quick and (according to the AFL stats) an elite intercept marker.
Amartey could be good down back as well?

Amartey was tried in defence. It didn't work.

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

Btw Mckay and Grundy dont make a iota of difference had they been playing in the 2022 GF either.

That was systemic failure from the squad selection/preparation and other factors.

 

[Swannie0307]

Amartey was tried in defence. It didn't work.

But for how long? I think you’ve gotta give a player a decent run at it. Btw Amartey down back is more a suggestion if we don’t land McKay or another KPD.

 

[Crust]

I’d like to see a tweak of the game plan. V Carlton we went into all out attack in the last quarter, as we should have done. It was terrific, I thought the best we’ve played all year. That’s how I want to see us play next year.

Horse always puts the extra back to defend a lead but IMO that sends a message to the players that he doesn’t trust them. It also means that the ball can get stuck in our defensive 50 because the opposition has a spare in the middle. They then get repeat inside 50s and we leak goals. I get it that he would send the spare (Reid, Mills) back in the last few minutes but he seems to do that for the last quarter or more. If our play was good enough to get the lead why change it?

We certainly are more attacking than in previous years but I’d like to see that trend continue and increase.

 

[BloodySwan]

The Carlton match showed the reason players need to be flexible and not stay in the 1 position - which this board keeps calling for.

 

[BloodySwan]

But for how long? I think you’ve gotta give a player a decent run at it. Btw Amartey down back is more a suggestion if we don’t land McKay or another KPD.

About a 0.5-1 season in the VFL

 

[ErrolisGoldun]

I’d like to see a tweak of the game plan. V Carlton we went into all out attack in the last quarter, as we should have done. It was terrific, I thought the best we’ve played all year. That’s how I want to see us play next year.

Horse always puts the extra back to defend a lead but IMO that sends a message to the players that he doesn’t trust them. It also means that the ball can get stuck in our defensive 50 because the opposition has a spare in the middle. They then get repeat inside 50s and we leak goals. I get it that he would send the spare (Reid, Mills) back in the last few minutes but he seems to do that for the last quarter or more. If our play was good enough to get the lead why change it?

We certainly are more attacking than in previous years but I’d like to see that trend continue and increase.

100% agree, with the players we now have we are a quick skilful team and we need to have a more attacking game plan to reflect that.

Best way to defend is to attack and we need to let a few of our players off the leash. Let opposition teams worry about us rather than is worrying about them, Mills and Rowbottom are the prime examples.

Play accountable footy rather than defensive minded footy.

 

[Nuggetz]

Rampe & Parker sudden drop off at the end of the season scared me. Hope it's injury related.

 

[Swannie0307]

About a 0.5-1 season in the VFL

Fair enough

 

[wilsonmatic]

100% agree, with the players we now have we are a quick skilful team and we need to have a more attacking game plan to reflect that.

Best way to defend is to attack and we need to let a few of our players off the leash. Let opposition teams worry about us rather than is worrying about them, Mills and Rowbottom are the prime examples.

Play accountable footy rather than defensive minded footy.

I don't think this would happen under Horse really.

 

[GoTheSwannies]

Btw Mckay and Grundy dont make a iota of difference had they been playing in the 2022 GF either.

That was systemic failure from the squad selection/preparation and other factors.

Preventing Hawkins from kicking those two goals from ruck contests would have been a reasonable start. But we were well beaten all around the ground so there's a fair chance you're right even if we'd prevented those goals.

 

[Bonz]

Took a crack at our best 22 next year (if we secure Grundy)

Rampe - Melican - Florent
Llyod - McCartin - Blakey
Campbell - Warner - Gulden
Hayward - McLean - Heeney
Papley - McDonald - Amartey
GRUNDY - Mills - Rowbottom
Parker - Wicks - McInerney - Sheldrick
Sub: Fox
Emg: Cunningham, Reid, Stephens, Ladhams

That's a great team before if Sam Reid

20

Sam Reid

Age

33

Ht

196cm

Wt

96kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.3

3star

K

6.3

2star

HB

5.0

4star

M

4.7

4star

T

2.2

4star

G

1.1

4star

D

12.0

3star

K

6.0

2star

HB

6.0

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

0.0

1star

G

1.0

4star

D

9.4

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

4.0

3star

M

4.4

4star

T

1.8

4star

G

0.4

3star

is somehow fit and I doubt Cunningham is dropped.

Depth is decent as well - Stephens, Francis (was good this year), Clarke, Roberts (will be close to best 22 next year), Ladhams, Corey Warner (I rate him).

 

[Tedeski]

Took a crack at our best 22 next year (if we secure Grundy)

Rampe - Melican - Florent
Llyod - McCartin - Blakey
Campbell - Warner - Gulden
Hayward - McLean - Heeney
Papley - McDonald - Amartey
GRUNDY - Mills - Rowbottom
Parker - Wicks - McInerney - Sheldrick
Sub: Fox
Emg: Cunningham, Reid, Stephens, Ladhams

That's a great team before if Sam Reid is somehow fit and I doubt Cunningham is dropped.

Depth is decent as well - Stephens, Francis (was good this year), Clarke, Roberts (will be close to best 22 next year), Ladhams, Corey Warner (I rate him).

I fear Rowbottom may eventually struggle for a spot should we become more attacking going forward.
I'll never question his tackling ability but watching him the other night, I felt he was limited in what he could do to help get us back in the game.

I hope I'm not being too harsh but it was just an observation I have with him of late. Pace is a big problem.

 

[Kiama Chris]

I fear Rowbottom may eventually struggle for a spot should we become more attacking going forward.
I'll never question his tackling ability but watching him the other night, I felt he was limited in what he could do to help get us back in the game.

I hope I'm not being too harsh but it was just an observation I have with him of late. Pace is a big problem.

If we add someone to improve our midfield someone else will need to move out, either to another position (as Florent did) or out altogether. As things stand Rowbottom would be low man on the totem pole.
The cost of improvement.

 

[ErrolisGoldun]

I fear Rowbottom may eventually struggle for a spot should we become more attacking going forward.
I'll never question his tackling ability but watching him the other night, I felt he was limited in what he could do to help get us back in the game.

I hope I'm not being too harsh but it was just an observation I have with him of late. Pace is a big problem.

Pretty sure Rowy has been banged up late in the season. Wasn’t his normal self v Blues.

Hopefully gets sorted out in off season.

 

[Millky95]

Pretty sure Rowy has been banged up late in the season. Wasn’t his normal self v Blues.

Hopefully gets sorted out in off season.

Agreed. We saw him be aggressive vs Melbourne in 2022 and was fantastic

 

[Tedeski]

Pretty sure Rowy has been banged up late in the season. Wasn’t his normal self v Blues.

Hopefully gets sorted out in off season.

This tackling statistic is great but unfortunately the pounding his body takes can only be disadvantageous as his season/career goes on. Maybe the coaches have told him what it takes for him to be picked week in week out.

I'm uncomfortable with any player given this role.
I can't see him at his best come finals time.

 

[SuperMal]

Was close to our best until the bye. May we’ll have been playing sore after that and not helped by having to play every position on the field

Maybe - his form loss was dramatic

 

[SuperMal]

I actually think Jmac should Ollie’s role, potentially Florent goes to the wing again also.

Jmac is a brilliant defender and a decent size too.

Most certainly agree - a far better bet.