Player Watch #5: Brandon Ellis - off to GC pick 39 as compo

[TigerImposter]

The best description of him is he’s a flat track bully. His poor record in big games is bewildering.

 

[Meteoric Rise]

A few thoughts on this issue about Brando not going hard. In my recollection it has only really ever been when the expected contact is coming from behind in an overhead marking situation. It is no use dressing it up as something it isn't or pretending it doesn't happen. It is a weakness in his game and just has to be weighed up with all his pros and cons. It is also a weakness he will likely never be able to correct. He would not have any control over it. There are just one in every so many footballers whose brain won't let them back into a dangerous situation. Lance Franklin has a similar weakness if you watch him carefully although it may not be so pronounced these days as when he was younger.

I played a lot at full back in country footy in the days where you could basically near kill a player from behind in a marking contest and risk mostly just a free kick, or at worst a 15 metre penalty. It was common for full backs to use this to their advantage and I certainly exploited it where I could. And you would notice early on in a match some opponents were unaffected by it, some would be a bit more tentative from then on and some you would not even contact if they expected contact from behind because they would make sure they weren't there at the moment of truth. Not many, but some. When I played full forward I had little or no fear of being hit from behind, and it had nothing to do with bravery or choices, it was just that my brain let me ignore pressure from behind and focus on the ball. Most players can do this. Some people's brains just don't let them. I have always had a bad fear of heights, and no amount of willing myself to overcome this ever works. Sometimes the fear is rational and sometimes irrational, but it is always there. And it would be the same for Brando with any pressure from behind in a marking contest when he has to sit under the ball or back into it. So it is best to just accept it. He is doing well to forge an AFL career with this in his make up. The selectors would rightly consider it amongst all his strengths and weaknesses.

Some of the times this weakness in Brando's game is exposed it can easily result in a two goal turnaround, so it is reasonably major when it occurs. But he would not be the first or last to make an AFL career by being strong in other areas.

Does anyone ever notice him jumping out of the way when he expects contact from the front? I have never noticed this.

 

[kempinsky]

Yep, couldn’t get into game last night. But I agree with flea, that effort posters are ripping into him about wasn’t entirely his fault. One thing I’ve noticed with Brando is he doesn’t quite adapt to wet conditions. He plays a lot more conservative - it’s like he doesn’t want to make mistakes with the wet ball whereas that kind of goes against tigers system of chaos ball in wet conditions. I was watching a few other tigers hack their kicks forward last night and thought that if ellis did that, there’d be a few posters here losing their minds over his poor disposal.

 

[Grrr]

A few thoughts on this issue about Brando not going hard. In my recollection it has only really ever been when the expected contact is coming from behind in an overhead marking situation. It is no use dressing it up as something it isn't or pretending it doesn't happen. It is a weakness in his game and just has to be weighed up with all his pros and cons. It is also a weakness he will likely never be able to correct. He would not have any control over it. There are just one in every so many footballers whose brain won't let them back into a dangerous situation. Lance Franklin has a similar weakness if you watch him carefully although it may not be so pronounced these days as when he was younger.

I played a lot at full back in country footy in the days where you could basically near kill a player from behind in a marking contest and risk mostly just a free kick, or at worst a 15 metre penalty. It was common for full backs to use this to their advantage and I certainly exploited it where I could. And you would notice early on in a match some opponents were unaffected by it, some would be a bit more tentative from then on and some you would not even contact if they expected contact from behind because they would make sure they weren't there at the moment of truth. Not many, but some. When I played full forward I had little or no fear of being hit from behind, and it had nothing to do with bravery or choices, it was just that my brain let me ignore pressure from behind and focus on the ball. Most players can do this. Some people's brains just don't let them. I have always had a bad fear of heights, and no amount of willing myself to overcome this ever works. Sometimes the fear is rational and sometimes irrational, but it is always there. And it would be the same for Brando with any pressure from behind in a marking contest when he has to sit under the ball or back into it. So it is best to just accept it. He is doing well to forge an AFL career with this in his make up. The selectors would rightly consider it amongst all his strengths and weaknesses.

Some of the times this weakness in Brando's game are exposed it can easily result in a two goal turnaround, so it is reasonably major when it occurs. But he would not be the first or last to make an AFL career by being strong in other areas.

Does anyone ever notice him jumping out of the way when he expects contact from the front? I have never noticed this.

There was an incident not long after the first when he was coming in towards the centre off the wing and they just received the ball, 99% of our players would have gone straight at the man hoping that the pressure at someone coming at them at speed to tackle would make them hurry their disposal. It is what the team buy into an Richmond have specialised in it. Jack Graham would have taken the bloke out, Ellis saw the player and back peddled and made it look like he was protecting the space for the over the top handball.
Your post above was interesting about players and instinctive 'bravery' levels, and like you say there are some players with absolutely no fear, and there are varying degree's of. The AFL is a really harsh environment, and while you have to acknowledge the very good year Ellis has had, and you have to acknowledge the positives of Ellis against the negatives, opponents in finals in particular, are going to get inside his head.
I said a few weeks ago that the next four or five weeks against top 4 sides will inform our judgement of Ellis. Not a good start. And I do not enjoy laying into players, and have generally been reasonably positive about Ellis and all our players, before someone accuses me of laying in the boots.

 

[Del65166]

Be interesting to see if he holds his spot over Kmac who didn’t tear it up in the VFL

 

[_RT_]

Nobody liked the first quarter incident and have rightly condemned it, but I've seen no mention of Ellis flying back to spoil a contest with about 90 seconds left.

 

[Meteoric Rise]

Nobody liked the first quarter incident and have rightly condemned it, but I've seen no mention of Ellis flying back to spoil a contest with about 90 seconds left.

That is because that is an expected action for most AFL players, albeit no doubt a good one. The noticeable discomfort in the backing under the ball situation is not something you expect to see from most AFL players, thus the comment.

 

[Grrr]

Nobody liked the first quarter incident and have rightly condemned it, but I've seen no mention of Ellis flying back to spoil a contest with about 90 seconds left.

Yes he does do it at times. Opponents will only remember the the other one though.

 

[TigerImposter]

It’s inexcusable if a player chooses when to go and when not to. It’s totally unfair to your teammates and coaches. This is the issue with him for me as well as his poor record in big games.

 

[Bazzar]

Brando coming off consecutive coaches vote games has a quiet one and the flat track posting bullies are out in force... lol, so predictable.

 

[Cdog71]

I saw that Grrr, him coming off the line near the restart of the quarter and I think that is the seat of the question.
Whether thats acceptable.
I dunno if that would fit in with the way North are playing.

If his challenges only come about in the most intense or finals like intense situations and he’s a 50/50 to overcome them, would someone who’s looking to contend for finals and those situations want him?
We didn’t in last years finals.

There’s a difference between being aggressive and being reckless to being prepared to pay the price.
And when the game is there to be won or lost you need players who are prepared to pay to win their moment.

I guess it’s whether or not the FD think it’s worth it...there’s 23 games before you get to the finals, but it’s a team for finals that’s the reason the club picks
you.

 

[Bazzar]

I fondly remember that brutal attack on Danger and the ball in the '17 QF.

 

[tropicaltiger]

HE's a flincher but otherwise nice solid game... 14 possessions only but set it up well at 92 percent efficiency and a lot of defensive running to choke up Collingwoods exits....

adding a bit of mayo here to highlight the bad wrap brando gets, but jack graham gets 18 at 66% and gets a standing ovation. by the way jack graham did have a very nice and well rounded game.

 

[Sol23]

He’s a squib and always gets found out in big physical games!

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

Loving the Haters getting a chubby over his second or third average game for the year.
Sad f***ers need to get a life.

Not too fussed about his game last night to be honest.
Only noticed him once.
Sadly that once was for there for everyone to see including his team mates.
Would you see Grimes/Vlas/Astbury etc.You know the same players with similar games under their belts flinch like he did last night?
I can put up with his sloppy disposal or Panicked kick but to do what he did last night is a trait that is way to common when it comes to Ellis.

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

Since we’re celebrating the 50 years of the Hollywood Moon walk I will conclude with:
One small step for Brando , one large leap for the RFC.

Hollywood moon walk.
HeHehe classic.lol

 

[Grechy]

Heaps of premiership teams had squibs. I was a massive squib playing footy. Not all heroes wear capes. He has other attributes which keep him in the side.

 

[Bazzar]

Not too fussed about his game last night to be honest.
Only noticed him once.
Sadly that once was for there for everyone to see including his team mates.
Would you see Grimes/Vlas/Astbury etc.You know the same players with similar games under their belts flinch like he did last night?
I can put up with his sloppy disposal or Panicked kick but to do what he did last night is a trait that is way to common when it comes to Ellis.

He's not the first and wont be the last to have a moment like that. The overreaction is priceless

 

[Cdog71]

I fondly remember that brutal attack on Danger and the ball in the '17 QF.

Me too and I’m sure he’ll have opportunities to decide to do that again.
I respect Brando and I respect the fact it takes a choice and he chooses to.
Thats courage making yourself do something your brain doesn’t want you to do.
It’s when he doesn’t have time to choose sometimes he doesn’t make a choice either way and it’s whether that no action is acceptable.
I dunno that it is.

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

He's not the first and wont be the last to have a moment like that. The overreaction is priceless

Overreaction?
Really?
If an oppo did it we'd be lambasting him until no tomorrow.

 

[TigerImposter]

HE's a flincher but otherwise nice solid game... 14 possessions only but set it up well at 92 percent efficiency and a lot of defensive running to choke up Collingwoods exits....

adding a bit of mayo here to highlight the bad wrap brando gets, but jack graham gets 18 at 66% and gets a standing ovation. by the way jack graham did have a very nice and well rounded game.

When Brando plays big bodied midfielder we can then discuss the relevance of your post. Annoying and stupid comparison as they’re totally different players. The only comparison you could make between the two is their hardness at the ball and courage.
This would tell you that Brando is at the soft end of the scale whilst JG is at the opposite end.

 

[tropicaltiger]

When Brando plays big bodied midfielder we can then discuss the relevance of your post. Annoying and stupid comparison as they’re totally different players. The only comparison you could make between the two is their hardness at the ball and courage.
This would tell you that Brando is at the soft end of the scale whilst JG is at the opposite end.

only comparing how they get rated on an internet forum not on their playing styles or roles. brando gets coaches votes and his game is rated by some on here as good.... but still flawed.

jack needed... and has a good game and he's put back on that best thing since sliced bread pedestal.

 

[Grrr]

I fondly remember that brutal attack on Danger and the ball in the '17 QF.

That was a 50/50 ball that he could not not go at. They happen all game every game, just he got there a split second before Danger and got in good position to lay the bump.

 

[_RT_]

Yes he does do it at times. Opponents will only remember the the other one though.

Seems some posters on this board are like that too.

Only remember the times he doesn't go as hard, and then become oblivious to the times when he does put his head over it.

If we were to go through the game incident by incident I'd say we could find examples of where noted hard at it types put in a couple of short steps of which Ellis would get crucified.

 

[dustysnecktattoo]

That was a 50/50 ball that he could not not go at. They happen all game every game, just he got there a split second before Danger and got in good position to lay the bump.

And it was great to see but go ahead and talk it down like a miserable campaigner