Player Watch #30: Reece Conca

[Hans McGregor]

Honestly, just really happy for him.

 

[Goldust]

Was good with his work as a role play getting it 25 times with milesy as usual got it 29 times and was handy. par for both i would suggest, but you make it out like miles tears it up with taggers hanging off him and corey is being ordinary spudding it up, maybe next time i watch on a bigger screen and not on my phone.

I'll take the word of actual blokes who go to the VFL games and religiously at that and three of them told me CEllis was ordinary. Don't care what the club PR machine says on our website, who make anyones three possession, one tackle game sound glorious.
Funny how the goal posts change for this guy every week.
Now he's a role player, whereas weeks ago you lot were calling for him to be gun midfielder.
Tick tock ... the clock is ticking Corey.

 

[_RT_]

CEllis's are a mile long ... won't stop you from telling us how good he is every seven weeks when he plays a decent one.
I think I stated earlier - twice - every player has shortcomings, Miles included.
yet you continue to paint him as the only player on our list who is incapable of changing, improving, altering his game.
CEllis has this amazing upside yet one player on our list is incapable of getting better. Well it's hard to get better when you still get 30-plus possessions week in, week out in thew Twos with two blokes hanging off you at every contest.
If a spud like Conca ... who has improved .... can, I'm sure Miles can play role, or improve. But keep convincing yourself he's no good.

I have never said Miles can't improve what I've said is that he lacks flexibility to play different roles within games. He is an inside mid who is damn good at winning the ball, but he is never going to remove Martin or Cotchin from the side for obvious reasons. Behind those 2 are Edwards Lambert & Prestia as the next level. Hard to mount a case for Miles replacing any of them although I'm sure you'd try to mount a case for Prestia given your history regarding his spot in the line up.

Outside that you're looking at the likes of Caddy Conca McIntosh & Lloyd. The difference between them and Miles is their greater flexibility to play different roles. Caddy can play forward and through the midfield. McIntosh plays wing and in the backline. Lloyd has shown he can play forward and has proven handy through the midfield at both AFL & VFL level.

As I've said flexibility is the key and Miles doesn't have it unfortunately.

 

[This Is Anfield]

I have never said Miles can't improve what I've said is that he lacks flexibility to play different roles within games. He is an inside mid who is damn good at winning the ball, but he is never going to remove Martin or Cotchin from the side for obvious reasons. Behind those 2 are Edwards Lambert & Prestia as the next level. Hard to mount a case for Miles replacing any of them although I'm sure you'd try to mount a case for Prestia given your history regarding his spot in the line up.

Outside that you're looking at the likes of Caddy Conca McIntosh & Lloyd. The difference between them and Miles is their greater flexibility to play different roles. Caddy can play forward and through the midfield. McIntosh plays wing and in the backline. Lloyd has shown he can play forward and has proven handy through the midfield at both AFL & VFL level.

As I've said flexibility is the key and Miles doesn't have it unfortunately.

I admire your patience.

 

[_RT_]

He's conceded defeat in the CEllis thread and is now saying what we were all telling him preseason that Cellis has been passed by too many blokes. Amazing how he gets away with derailing threads with irrelevant stats. Agree his football knowledge is based on reading stats sheets and not by vision.

We were told all preseason that Ellis was a useless player who has little to no skill and would never make it. What I conceded yesterday is that like Miles the change in game plan that has occurred in the last 18 months may well cost players like Miles and Ellis their careers at Richmond. Miles because he lacks flexibility to play anywhere other than inside mid and Ellis because he doesn't seem to have the ability to play with the manic pressure that has become a prerequisite for getting a game in our side. It's quite possible that it also means the end for the likes of Brandon, Connor & Oleg as well.

So you stated your rose coloured glasses opinion he came out on top of a fringe player? Thanks for your time Luke as Reece isn’t permanently entrenched in the team and is only getting a gig bc our midfield depth and injuries have created an opening. Now lets not reduce this to a childish Internet war debate, but accepting
the hard facts that people are entitled to state their opinions .

At the beginning of the season Rioli Houli & Prestia were the only injured players on the list, everyone else was available for selection and Conca was picked in the round 1 side. Since then Houli & Prestia have came back and Conca has survived, Caddy and Vlastuin missed through injury & Caddy and Graham through suspension and Conca has still survived. So what injuries/lack of depth have created an opportunity for Conca?

Because some convince themselves - like the aforementioned RT - that they don't do this.
And he ain't the lone ranger.
I'm no d***head and know how this forum works.
The minute I attached myself to Miles there was no hope for him, dozens felt the need to tear him down ... thAT'S how it goes here. There are morons on here who say the sky is brown if I said it was blue as they simply hold a grudge (and they disregard the posts they might agree with, but have to engage when they don't and try and recruit others to wage their battle).
Let's talk Miles' inadequacies, deficiencies, shortcomings, whatever.
If a bloke can finish third and sixth in our best and fairest in 2015 and '16 and score more votes in 10 games than all but 10 blokes in 2014, well it stands t reason that there is a whole heap of deficiencies on our list.
The bloke has obviously been asked to go back and work on things and I would suggest the fact he's our best player week in, week out in the Twos and seriously ouplaying guys like CEllis, Menadue, Markov and the rest, he ain't some hack that some make him out to be.

Who has torn Miles down? An opinion has been put forward that Miles lacks flexibility to play anywhere but as an inside mid and given he has been constantly overlooked it would seem to hold weight, unless of course you're on the there is a vendetta against him bandwagon.

You have often mentioned Miles 3 top 10 finishes in the B&F as if this should guarantee him a spot in the senior side because it proves how great a player he is but as I showed Steve Morris had 3 top 10 finishes in the B&F and the majority of this board believed he was a spud by time he finished.

Maybe you're right and there was a whole heap of deficiencies on our last in those years that allowed the likes if Miles to star, but as the depth of the list has improved Miles' standing within the team has dropped where he is no longer the walk up start he once was given the better options now available.

I'll take the word of actual blokes who go to the VFL games and religiously at that and three of them told me CEllis was ordinary. Don't care what the club PR machine says on our website, who make anyones three possession, one tackle game sound glorious.
Funny how the goal posts change for this guy every week.
Now he's a role player, whereas weeks ago you lot were calling for him to be gun midfielder.
Tick tock ... the clock is ticking Corey.

Surely you're not saying that you're forming your opinions based on what others have seen. I mean if you're going to go after the kid so intensely you'd have done it based on what you're actually seeing and not what other say, unless of course others are backing your opinion that he is no good.

As for calling him a gun midfielder, when he lined up round 1 in the centre and played there the whole game he was arguably among the best 2 players on the ground alongside Miles, since then he has been moved away from that position for whatever reason and has not had the same impact on games.

Oh and just finally, given you take the word of those who go to the VFL religiously, I guess my opinion must carry a little more weight now given I've been to about 35 games and watched about another 10 via streams over the last 3 and a bit seasons, but then again I don't share your opinion that Ellis is a hack, Conca is fortunate to be on the list and that Miles would be a multiple AA if not for the vendetta that Hardwick has against him.

 

[TigerImposter]

We were told all preseason that Ellis was a useless player who has little to no skill and would never make it. What I conceded yesterday is that like Miles the change in game plan that has occurred in the last 18 months may well cost players like Miles and Ellis their careers at Richmond. Miles because he lacks flexibility to play anywhere other than inside mid and Ellis because he doesn't seem to have the ability to play with the manic pressure that has become a prerequisite for getting a game in our side. It's quite possible that it also means the end for the likes of Brandon, Connor & Oleg as well.


At the beginning of the season Rioli Houli & Prestia were the only injured players on the list, everyone else was available for selection and Conca was picked in the round 1 side. Since then Houli & Prestia have came back and Conca has survived, Caddy and Vlastuin missed through injury & Caddy and Graham through suspension and Conca has still survived. So what injuries/lack of depth have created an opportunity for Conca?


Who has torn Miles down? An opinion has been put forward that Miles lacks flexibility to play anywhere but as an inside mid and given he has been constantly overlooked it would seem to hold weight, unless of course you're on the there is a vendetta against him bandwagon.

You have often mentioned Miles 3 top 10 finishes in the B&F as if this should guarantee him a spot in the senior side because it proves how great a player he is but as I showed Steve Morris had 3 top 10 finishes in the B&F and the majority of this board believed he was a spud by time he finished.

Maybe you're right and there was a whole heap of deficiencies on our last in those years that allowed the likes if Miles to star, but as the depth of the list has improved Miles' standing within the team has dropped where he is no longer the walk up start he once was given the better options now available.


Surely you're not saying that you're forming your opinions based on what others have seen. I mean if you're going to go after the kid so intensely you'd have done it based on what you're actually seeing and not what other say, unless of course others are backing your opinion that he is no good.

As for calling him a gun midfielder, when he lined up round 1 in the centre and played there the whole game he was arguably among the best 2 players on the ground alongside Miles, since then he has been moved away from that position for whatever reason and has not had the same impact on games.

Oh and just finally, given you take the word of those who go to the VFL religiously, I guess my opinion must carry a little more weight now given I've been to about 35 games and watched about another 10 via streams over the last 3 and a bit seasons, but then again I don't share your opinion that Ellis is a hack, Conca is fortunate to be on the list and that Miles would be a multiple AA if not for the vendetta that Hardwick has against him.

Stop detailing this thread as the shortcomings in cellis were clearly spelt out to you , but you tried to mask it with another preseason story and injuries. Now you’ve changed your story yet again and are trying to tell us the game plan has caught up with him. Which contradicts all of your stories you were coming up with masked with tackling and other stats . Flip Flop.
I can bring them up , but any poster who read your tripe will know what was said. Now that your poster boy has embarrassed you you’ve come on here to have a swing , with of course nothing more than the same rubbish.
You probably have a better chance here at least Conca can keep his feet and has a harder edge about him.
The real concerns I have with him are more about durability and the lack of polish in his game plus decision making . This is pretty common among posters on here.
Conca still has been lucky that injuries and suspensions have created vacancies all season where he’s probably been able to hold his spot. He’s still on the fringe and I think most posters can see this. His form has barely been acceptable, but I think the club have rightly given him some games to see where he’s at bc he as we know hes had rotten luck with continuity due to injuries.Plus your poster boy has hardly challenged him for a spot.
Now I’m not getting into a slinging match with you as I think the folks on here have heard our testimonies on these two players and both players have really done nothing to change both of our views. Thank you for wasting another 15minutes of my life.

 

[_RT_]

Stop detailing this thread as the shortcomings in cellis were clearly spelt out to you , but you tried to mask it with another preseason story and injuries. Now you’ve changed your story and trying to tell us the game plan has caught up with him. Which contradicts all of your stories you were coming up with masked with tackling and other stats . Flip Flop.
I can bring them up , but any poster who read your tripe will know what was said. As for Conca either injuries and suspensions have created vacancies all season where he’s probably been able to hold his spot. He’s still on the fringe and I think most posters can see this. His form has barely been acceptable, but I think the club have rightly given him some games to see where he’s at bc he as we know hes had rotten luck with continuity due to injuries.

Said all along that I wanted to see how he went after a full preseason with no excuses and unfortunately for Ellis he hasn't been able to grab the chance afforded to him. Conca has taken the chance and as much as you continue to talk him down he has established himself in the 22 and hasn't got there because of injuries or suspensions either. Those injuries/suspensions that you keep referring to were filled by others and when the injured/suspended players were back Conca stayed. That's a fact, not an opinion.

 

[TigerImposter]

Said all along that I wanted to see how he went after a full preseason with no excuses and unfortunately for Ellis he hasn't been able to grab the chance afforded to him. Conca has taken the chance and as much as you continue to talk him down he has established himself in the 22 and hasn't got there because of injuries or suspensions either. Those injuries/suspensions that you keep referring to were filled by others and when the injured/suspended players were back Conca stayed. That's a fact, not an opinion.

Rubbish bc if our 22 from the GF were available round one Conca wouldn’t have played. Now go away as I’m not interested in your lies.
Mate if I wanted to buy snake oil I would go to this guy :

https://mesiti.com/about-pat/

 

[theflea]

Because some convince themselves - like the aforementioned RT - that they don't do this.
And he ain't the lone ranger.
I'm no d***head and know how this forum works.
The minute I attached myself to Miles there was no hope for him, dozens felt the need to tear him down ... thAT'S how it goes here. There are morons on here who say the sky is brown if I said it was blue as they simply hold a grudge (and they disregard the posts they might agree with, but have to engage when they don't and try and recruit others to wage their battle).
Let's talk Miles' inadequacies, deficiencies, shortcomings, whatever.
If a bloke can finish third and sixth in our best and fairest in 2015 and '16 and score more votes in 10 games than all but 10 blokes in 2014, well it stands t reason that there is a whole heap of deficiencies on our list.
The bloke has obviously been asked to go back and work on things and I would suggest the fact he's our best player week in, week out in the Twos and seriously ouplaying guys like CEllis, Menadue, Markov and the rest, he ain't some hack that some make him out to be.

Yes, but imo with circle work discussions like this, no one knows exactly what has been said before, context etc, so this just goes round and round everyone accuses each other of the same thing etc etc, and no one can tell who started doing this first at all. So this is why I said what I said. These circle discussions, get held over to the next topic and start all over again.

 

[wart101]

I have never said Miles can't improve what I've said is that he lacks flexibility to play different roles within games. He is an inside mid who is damn good at winning the ball, but he is never going to remove Martin or Cotchin from the side for obvious reasons. Behind those 2 are Edwards Lambert & Prestia as the next level. Hard to mount a case for Miles replacing any of them although I'm sure you'd try to mount a case for Prestia given your history regarding his spot in the line up.

Outside that you're looking at the likes of Caddy Conca McIntosh & Lloyd. The difference between them and Miles is their greater flexibility to play different roles. Caddy can play forward and through the midfield. McIntosh plays wing and in the backline. Lloyd has shown he can play forward and has proven handy through the midfield at both AFL & VFL level.

As I've said flexibility is the key and Miles doesn't have it unfortunately.

agree.

 

[Dystraction]

I agree. I thought his numbers were good. 20 disposals 80% efficiency. 7 tackles and a goal. Some of his possessions in close were really good, had the poise to dart left then right to get space and nailed the feed.

 

[mopsy]

I have never said Miles can't improve what I've said is that he lacks flexibility to play different roles within games. He is an inside mid who is damn good at winning the ball, but he is never going to remove Martin or Cotchin from the side for obvious reasons. Behind those 2 are Edwards Lambert & Prestia as the next level. Hard to mount a case for Miles replacing any of them although I'm sure you'd try to mount a case for Prestia given your history regarding his spot in the line up.

Outside that you're looking at the likes of Caddy Conca McIntosh & Lloyd. The difference between them and Miles is their greater flexibility to play different roles. Caddy can play forward and through the midfield. McIntosh plays wing and in the backline. Lloyd has shown he can play forward and has proven handy through the midfield at both AFL & VFL level.

As I've said flexibility is the key and Miles doesn't have it unfortunately.

Cotchin missed this week, Caddy has missed a few and Prestia missed the first 3 the logical and inform replacement for all of them was Miles.

We just lost a clearance battle against one of the lower sides by 20 odd and we were smashed in contested possesions.
It was one of scrappiest unskilled games ive seen all yr and thank god it was so.If freo had a semblence of system and a just a reasonable fwd line well it makes you wonder.
We continue to lose in these areas and we cant vfind a way to play a bloke who is close to elite in these very areas.
And dont give me any bull shit about he can only perform the one role fmd all clubs every week including us play blokes who can only perform one role.

Mcintosh hardly knows what a contested possesion is. Edwards while he has elite hands and gets his share of contested ball drifts in and out of games more than anyone. Hes hardly a good defensive player as well.Lloyd or Miles inside fmd its a non contest.Conca or Miles inside another non contest.I wont go on.
Most weeks we get beat in clearances and contested ball most of those you mention have played multiple games yet the best performed in the role in the area we have not done well in is consistently over looked and with out Cotchin this week boy did it show.

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

What team would win a clearance battle against big Sandy and Fyffe...?!?

 

[Rodney Dangerfield]

Cotchin missed this week, Caddy has missed a few and Prestia missed the first 3 the logical and inform replacement for all of them was Miles.

We just lost a clearance battle against one of the lower sides by 20 odd and we were smashed in contested possesions.
It was one of scrappiest unskilled games ive seen all yr and thank god it was so.If freo had a semblence of system and a just a reasonable fwd line well it makes you wonder.
We continue to lose in these areas and we cant vfind a way to play a bloke who is close to elite in these very areas.
And dont give me any bull shit about he can only perform the one role fmd all clubs every week including us play blokes who can only perform one role.

Mcintosh hardly knows what a contested possesion is. Edwards while he has elite hands and gets his share of contested ball drifts in and out of games more than anyone. Hes hardly a good defensive player as well.Lloyd or Miles inside fmd its a non contest.Conca or Miles inside another non contest.I wont go on.
Most weeks we get beat in clearances and contested ball most of those you mention have played multiple games yet the best performed in the role in the area we have not done well in is consistently over looked and with out Cotchin this week boy did it show.

You’re right about clearance numbers etc.
But it can’t be denied that we have also won 12 of the last 13 or something including a flag, and won this struggle on the weekend by 77 points. If we were losing games questions would need to be asked no doubt,but things are working pretty well I reckon.

 

[_RT_]

Cotchin missed this week, Caddy has missed a few and Prestia missed the first 3 the logical and inform replacement for all of them was Miles.

It all comes back to flexibility. Having guys like Conca Caddy even Corey Ellis in the line up while those guys were missing allowed us to move players around to fill the void.

We just lost a clearance battle against one of the lower sides by 20 odd and we were smashed in contested possesions.
It was one of scrappiest unskilled games ive seen all yr and thank god it was so.If freo had a semblence of system and a just a reasonable fwd line well it makes you wonder.
We continue to lose in these areas and we cant vfind a way to play a bloke who is close to elite in these very areas.
And dont give me any bull shit about he can only perform the one role fmd all clubs every week including us play blokes who can only perform one role.

Fremantle dominated the clearances and contested possessions and lost by 13 goals. Here is a few nice stats for you, we lost the clearances to Fremantle by 22 yet for the year we're only -21 in clearances for the year. We lost the contested possession count to Fremantle by 20, for the year we're running at -40 contested possessions. Finally for the year we're +9 for centre clearances and -30 for stoppage clearances.

Like I've said part of our game plan revolves around flexibility, having guys that can rotate through different roles, there isn't a single player in our side that plays only 1 role, all 22 are flexible.

Mcintosh hardly knows what a contested possesion is. Edwards while he has elite hands and gets his share of contested ball drifts in and out of games more than anyone. Hes hardly a good defensive player as well.Lloyd or Miles inside fmd its a non contest.Conca or Miles inside another non contest.I wont go on.
Most weeks we get beat in clearances and contested ball most of those you mention have played multiple games yet the best performed in the role in the area we have not done well in is consistently over looked and with out Cotchin this week boy did it show.

Think you've misunderstood what I was suggesting for the likes of McIntosh Edwards Lloyd & Conca. They are flexible in the roles they play, McIntosh can go down back or push up to the wing. Conca can play wing hb or in the middle, Lloyd has been playing in the midfield and on the wing in the last 12 months as well as through the forward line. Edwards plays inside/outside mid as well as forward. Miles has shown no ability to play those other roles.

 

[WATiger86]

We are 6-1 with a % of 150 and people are still wasting their time debating whether Reece should hold is spot over the likes of Miles or CEllis. FMD...

If you haven't noticed over the past 8 years, Reece is part of Dimma's 22 when fit. Sure he may slip out of the side by years end, but why not let the bloke get some continuity in his game and just sit back and marvel that our bottom 4 players are largely irrelevant to the result each weekend.

 

[Mogwai]

This thread is literally where the forces of two ignominious forces meet. On one side, you've got the idiots who have retained the old Richmond, a chronic 'play the kids' mindset and ideations that the grass is greener if you play Jake Batchelor over David Arseberry because Arseberry's always injured- that kinda thing. At the same time, they also call for Drummond because 2 ACLs have never hurt anybody and has only made players better. As i would call them, the #Ecos. Emotionally Conca Outs.

On the other hand, there's this other bunch with a misguided affection for this versatile midfielder (versatile enough to the hindrance of his own game) entering the prime athetic age bracket after persistent frustrating injuries like two key backmen on the list.

#eci all the way.

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

This thread is literally where the forces of two ignominious forces meet. On one side, you've got the idiots who have retained the old Richmond, a chronic 'play the kids' mindset and ideations that the grass is greener if you play Jake Batchelor over David Arseberry because Arseberry's always injured- that kinda thing. At the same time, they also call for Drummond because 2 ACLs have never hurt anybody and has only made players better. As i would call them, the #Ecos. Emotionally Conca Outs.

On the other hand, there's this other bunch with a misguided affection for this versatile midfielder (versatile enough to the hindrance of his own game) entering the prime athetic age bracket after persistent frustrating injuries like two key backmen on the list.

#eci all the way.

 

[Tango67]

in the end the club and coach with the best record over the last 20 games they have played choose to leave miles out and play Conca, i can see and understand why this is done but for those that can't how about just letting the people in charge continue doing a fantastic job....

 

[mopsy]

in the end the club and coach with the best record over the last 20 games they have played choose to leave miles out and play Conca, i can see and understand why this is done but for those that can't how about just letting the people in charge continue doing a fantastic job....

Why have a forum at all then?

Im sure you dont think the club gets everything right or agree with everything the club does.

Players like Miles and Conca are talking points because so many can not agree on either players merits.Imo the club a wrong about Miles and are doing the wrong thing by him when he so clearly dominates in the vfl and is clearly a mile in front of anyone down there who hardly knock the door but get games in front of him.

 

[Tango67]

I hear what your saying mopsy, Miles would get a game in most sides just not ours and that's due to his our team balance, his strengths we don't need yet his weaknesses do, he is a 1 trick pony and his trick is spread evenly amongst others.

 

[mopsy]

I hear what your saying mopsy, Miles would get a game in most sides just not ours and that's due to his our team balance, his strengths we don't need yet his weaknesses do, he is a 1 trick pony and his trick is spread evenly amongst others.

Give me the one trick pony who does his job extremely well over the bloke who does two things but is not great at either.

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

And give me the side that won the 2017 GF....

 

[NZ_Tiger]

Give me the one trick pony who does his job extremely well over the bloke who does two things but is not great at either.

No point winning the pill if his man runs free all day.

 

[This Is Anfield]

Give me the one trick pony who does his job extremely well over the bloke who does two things but is not great at either.

Milsey just hasn't been getting enough "dark greens" to satisfy the match committee.