Drugs Are Bad Mackay?
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- May 24, 2006
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Who should play on our other wing?
Isaac Cumming has been playing good, solid football and seems like a banker.
The other wing has been problematic.
Sholl started there but struggled after a decent 2024. I think he rushed back from a knee injury during preseason, not wanting to miss the Continuity Train. Regardless, there were doubts about him (on here) in the role anyway. He's a great arc-to-arc runner and finds space. Exactly what we want a wingman to do, but he tended to go missing in any tough game. Didn't ever feel like he'd impact a final, assuming we ever get there.
Nankervis then got an opportunity and has struggled. Appears much more comfortable across half back sadly.
Curtin has pinch-hit there when Cumming or Nankervis have been on the bench. A few glimpses but I'm not sure it's a long term role for him.
Before looking at other options, I think the role itself is tough to play in our structure. We tend to hack kick from stoppages. Our wingmen don't get much of a look in. They need to be marking options - both intercept and as part of our transition play - if they want to see the ball with the way we play.
Getting smart players like Taylor and Rachele around the stoppages will help here hopefully.
The role itself is tricky because it's not a see-ball, get-ball instinctive position. Hold shape (hi Murph), read the play, find space. It's not suited to many players.
Options
Jones had a good 2023 prior to injury and hasn't really fired a shot since. I think he's more a tough, contested player than a space-finding wingman. Ended up on the wing because he proved not good enough in the middle. I like him as a back pocket option but he doesn't seem like a natural wingman.
Dowling doesn't seem like a typical speedy wingman but did handle the step up to AFL level well last season. A bit like Nank, it would be a case of just trying to get a good player into the 22 somehow rather than playing to a specific strength.
Our half backs Hinge and Milera have never had any success whatsoever when playing further up the field.
I don't think we'd play Dawson there under any circumstances. Midfield, forward or behind the footy. He's as likely to play ruck as wing.
Leftfield Options
Charlie Edwards has been showing glimpses across half back in the SANFL. Is wing a role he could slide into?
I actually liked Soligo on the wing early in his career. We couldn't fit him in the midfield rotations initially due to hierarchy and our non-stop awesomeness so he had to bide his time on the wing. Even though he's obviously emerged as a very good mid, I thought he showed an aptitude for the wing. Had an inside/outside balance to his game.
ANB? A bit like Cumming, he just seems like a rock solid pro. Has been good without being outstanding. Could his smarts be utilised on the wing?
Cook? He's been named an emergency once or twice but it feels like his career is going nowhere. He's played a little bit on the wing in some AFL matches previously and does OK, gets a few touches, looks comfortable for half a quarter. Then immediately is shunted back up forward where he doesn't touch the ball for 3 weeks. Strange player.
Thoughts? Recall Sholl? Persist with Nank? Try to turn Curtin into that player?
Other options?
Isaac Cumming has been playing good, solid football and seems like a banker.
The other wing has been problematic.
Sholl started there but struggled after a decent 2024. I think he rushed back from a knee injury during preseason, not wanting to miss the Continuity Train. Regardless, there were doubts about him (on here) in the role anyway. He's a great arc-to-arc runner and finds space. Exactly what we want a wingman to do, but he tended to go missing in any tough game. Didn't ever feel like he'd impact a final, assuming we ever get there.
Nankervis then got an opportunity and has struggled. Appears much more comfortable across half back sadly.
Curtin has pinch-hit there when Cumming or Nankervis have been on the bench. A few glimpses but I'm not sure it's a long term role for him.
Before looking at other options, I think the role itself is tough to play in our structure. We tend to hack kick from stoppages. Our wingmen don't get much of a look in. They need to be marking options - both intercept and as part of our transition play - if they want to see the ball with the way we play.
Getting smart players like Taylor and Rachele around the stoppages will help here hopefully.
The role itself is tricky because it's not a see-ball, get-ball instinctive position. Hold shape (hi Murph), read the play, find space. It's not suited to many players.
Options
Jones had a good 2023 prior to injury and hasn't really fired a shot since. I think he's more a tough, contested player than a space-finding wingman. Ended up on the wing because he proved not good enough in the middle. I like him as a back pocket option but he doesn't seem like a natural wingman.
Dowling doesn't seem like a typical speedy wingman but did handle the step up to AFL level well last season. A bit like Nank, it would be a case of just trying to get a good player into the 22 somehow rather than playing to a specific strength.
Our half backs Hinge and Milera have never had any success whatsoever when playing further up the field.
I don't think we'd play Dawson there under any circumstances. Midfield, forward or behind the footy. He's as likely to play ruck as wing.
Leftfield Options
Charlie Edwards has been showing glimpses across half back in the SANFL. Is wing a role he could slide into?
I actually liked Soligo on the wing early in his career. We couldn't fit him in the midfield rotations initially due to hierarchy and our non-stop awesomeness so he had to bide his time on the wing. Even though he's obviously emerged as a very good mid, I thought he showed an aptitude for the wing. Had an inside/outside balance to his game.
ANB? A bit like Cumming, he just seems like a rock solid pro. Has been good without being outstanding. Could his smarts be utilised on the wing?
Cook? He's been named an emergency once or twice but it feels like his career is going nowhere. He's played a little bit on the wing in some AFL matches previously and does OK, gets a few touches, looks comfortable for half a quarter. Then immediately is shunted back up forward where he doesn't touch the ball for 3 weeks. Strange player.
Thoughts? Recall Sholl? Persist with Nank? Try to turn Curtin into that player?
Other options?
