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Analysis Alex Pearce

Defender or Forward?

  • Total voters
    118

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Throughout most of the season we ran with only two talls and Ibbo as the third tall. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think Macca, Johnson and Dawson only played together twice this year (GWS & Demons games).

This setup was mainly because of injury and suspensions but in the first half of the season quite a few saw this slightly shorter lineup as a reason we were able to move the ball quicker out of the backline.

So what do we think will happen next year? Back to the traditional three talls (Dawson, A Pearce, Johnson) or are Dawson and Alex fighting for the same spot?
 

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Unique Name said:
Throughout most of the season we ran with only two talls and Ibbo as the third tall. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think Macca, Johnson and Dawson only played together twice this year (GWS & Demons games).
This setup was mainly because of injury and suspensions but in the first half of the season quite a few saw this slightly shorter lineup as a reason we were able to move the ball quicker out of the backline.
So what do we think will happen next year? Back to the traditional three talls (Dawson, A Pearce, Johnson) or are Dawson and Alex fighting for the same spot?
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I don't think Alex Pearce and Dawson are fighting for the same spot. In 2016, Alex Pearce and Tanner Smith are fighting for the CHB spot. If Dawson is out injured, Smith and Pearce occupy the key spots.
 
Freomaniac said:
I don't think Alex Pearce and Dawson are fighting for the same spot. In 2016, Alex Pearce and Tanner Smith are fighting for the CHB spot. If Dawson is out injured, Smith and Pearce occupy the key spots.
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So you think we will go back to the three tall backline Dawson, Johnson and either Alex or Tanner?

I think Alex is lightyears ahead of Tanner so I don't see Tanner getting many games.
 
Unique Name said:
So you think we will go back to the three tall backline Dawson, Johnson and either Alex or Tanner?
I think Alex is lightyears ahead of Tanner so I don't see Tanner getting many games.
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Yes we will and here is why. Think West coast. They have Darling, Kennedy and NicNat. Thats 2 tall fowards and a ruck. Imagine if Port got Dixon. Port Have Schulz, Westoff and Ryder as talls up foward. Pearce has shown that he will make it. Smith I am hoping will make it too.
 
apparentlydead said:
Geez, Tanner must have improved since I last saw him play.

Which was admittedly over a year ago.
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Last season I thought he was a lost cause, but he definitely picked it up this season, particularly late in the year.

Looks solid unit now and did some good close-checking jobs. Could be handy with another year's development in him.
 
DudleyDocker said:
Last season I thought he was a lost cause, but he definitely picked it up this season, particularly late in the year.

Looks solid unit now and did some good close-checking jobs. Could be handy with another year's development in him.
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Has he learnt how to kick yet?

Not that it is a pre-requisite for a key defender. Also, he had a turning circle of a battleship.

Happy to hear that he has developed beyond my expectation.

OT: re young Alex...pretty sure I called him the most natural key defender that I had seen since Luke McP, and equal in potential to Jake Carlisle, who I rate strongly in one of his first Peel games.

Talk of playing him forward, unless in a pinch, is a waste imo. Potential AA CHB right thar.
 
DudleyDocker said:
Last season I thought he was a lost cause, but he definitely picked it up this season, particularly late in the year.

Looks solid unit now and did some good close-checking jobs. Could be handy with another year's development in him.
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And impressed in the annual give the kids a game versus Port where he held his own despite the ball being in their forward fifty most of the time.
 

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apparentlydead said:
Has he learnt how to kick yet?

Not that it is a pre-requisite for a key defender. Also, he had a turning circle of a battleship.

Happy to hear that he has developed beyond my expectation.

OT: re young Alex...pretty sure I called him the most natural key defender that I had seen since Luke McP, and equal in potential to Jake Carlisle, who I rate strongly in one of his first Peel games.

Talk of playing him forward, unless in a pinch, is a waste imo. Potential AA CHB right thar.
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He is actually not a bad kick now, definitely not great but seems to take good options and can hit targets. In the Port game at one stage he had an absolute clanger of a fumble, then quickly recovered, got the ball and delivered it lace-out.

He will never be Sonny Walters, but is several grades better than Zac D!
 
DudleyDocker said:
Last season I thought he was a lost cause, but he definitely picked it up this season, particularly late in the year.

Looks solid unit now and did some good close-checking jobs. Could be handy with another year's development in him.
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impressed me port game, A pearce good at back a big option swing forward if the need is there ( e.g. mccarthy beyond our reach).
 
apparentlydead said:
Nope..maybe 2 or 3 games....which we lost!
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Bummer - the first half of the season was a joy to behold, particularly the first derby :)

I was wondering if you had got to see Alex Pearce play, one of the brightest points of the season for sure.

Also, Peel making finals on the back of some of the young kids really starting to develop. I have always thought AP was destined for good things, and I think his little Tassie mate Brady Gray is also going to be something special. He is a hard as a cat's head and never takes a backward step. I can see him and AP being cult figures at the club in the next couple of seasons - there's just something about both of them.
 

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apparentlydead said:
Yep, Brady will be a jet too. You wouldn't want to be between him and the ball.

Heard really good things about Alex's AFL games and will dig up the replays soon.
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Good to see your wit and humour back on these boards AD ( for 'after death' ) :)
Definately watch the first 8/9 rounds, exciting stuff - all games are up on the AFL site.
You'll lick your lips with some of the teasers AP provides - and well worth watching the round 22 ? Kids charity match V port. Brady Greys job on wingard was pretty special
 
scon said:
Harley's run and delivery could transform ZD from KPD to KPF.
The Glove could win the Coleman:straining::thumbsu:
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I know it's funny, but Schoenmakers was Dawson mk2. Now look at him.
Maybe Dawson could do a Schoenmakers and become a forward again.
He'd have to mark the ball instead of fisting it across the line though.
 
Clems Knee said:
I know it's funny, but Schoenmakers was Dawson mk2. Now look at him.
Maybe Dawson could do a Schoenmakers and become a forward again.
He'd have to mark the ball instead of fisting it across the line though.
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He would have to be re-trained to fist it to Ballas or Walters instead of the boundary line.
 
jusjoshin said:
He would have to be re-trained to fist it to Ballas or Walters instead of the boundary line.
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Oh wow i had to reread what you said a few times because my mind went to the gutter....14 hr night shift will do that to you [emoji14] [emoji6]

Sent from my GT-I9506 using Tapatalk
 

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