Attacking players

[WeeBlake]

The moving the ball out of defence thread got me thinking - who are our attacking players? The ones who take the game on, take risks, create opportunities? I don't mean tough, in-and-under, fearless types. I mean Brodie Smith types. So:-

Brodie Smith
Dangerfield
David Mackay (often, but not enough)
Douglas (sometimes, and usually when no-one else is)
Sloane (when he's having an outside game, which isn't that often)

After that I reckon the list gets thin. Otten used to. Porps used to. Vince maybe one game in seven. Walker, but he's usually forward of centre. Jaensch by reputation if not record. Brodie Martin when he gets a game. Tambling when he gets a game.

I think we don't have enough of these risk-taking types (and whether the problem is a hangover from the Neil era is a question for another thread). We need them in finals time, as Smith showed last year.

So, who have I missed? Who might be the answer?

 

[Footypie32]

The problem is we don't have a tall defender that can do this. I don't blame Truck or Talia, it's just not their style and they add plenty on the defensive side. I would love to try Jenkins down back at some point if we do get an injury. He loves to run and carry and has plenty of pace. Not sure of his defensive game though. Maybe one-day Siggins could develop into that player. Not sure of his speed, but seems to have good foot skills.
Other than those I mentioned, we may have to target someone in trade period. They certainly do grow on trees though.

 

[BrissyCrow]

The problem is we don't have a tall defender that can do this. I don't blame Truck or Talia, it's just not their style and they add plenty on the defensive side. I would love to try Jenkins down back at some point if we do get an injury. He loves to run and carry and has plenty of pace. Not sure of his defensive game though. Maybe one-day Siggins could develop into that player. Not sure of his speed, but seems to have good foot skills.
Other than those I mentioned, we may have to target someone in trade period. They certainly do grow on trees though.

I watched the Suns play on the weekend and a guy called Thompson played a great game on Riewolt. I was thinking that he was the type of guy we need to target in the trade. Woke up this morning to read that the Suns had resigned him.

 

[OrdinaryJoel]

The problem is we don't have a tall defender that can do this. I don't blame Truck or Talia, it's just not their style and they add plenty on the defensive side. I would love to try Jenkins down back at some point if we do get an injury. He loves to run and carry and has plenty of pace. Not sure of his defensive game though. Maybe one-day Siggins could develop into that player. Not sure of his speed, but seems to have good foot skills.
Other than those I mentioned, we may have to target someone in trade period. They certainly do grow on trees though.

Sam Shaw and Andy Otten are two that are capable of doing such rebounding from defense.

 

[Footypie32]

Sam Shaw and Andy Otten are two that are capable of doing such rebounding from defense.

Yeah maybe, but neither is a "key" defender. I'm thinking more in the Bock mold, but less wife-beaterp). ATM Shaw's disposal isn't up to scratch, but that may be a confidence thing. You could also say the same for Otten, but he lacks pace and you would hardly call his leg a weapon.

 

[PykeDream]

I watched the Suns play on the weekend and a guy called Thompson played a great game on Riewolt. I was thinking that he was the type of guy we need to target in the trade. Woke up this morning to read that the Suns had resigned him.

Improves our chances of snagging Gorringe in the off season though particularly as Zac Smith, Charlie Dixon, Sam Day, Tom Lynch, Steven May, Tom Nicholls, Rory Thompson are all being tried ahead of him.

 

[WeeBlake]

Yeah maybe, but neither is a "key" defender. I'm thinking more in the Bock mold, but less wife-beaterp). ATM Shaw's disposal isn't up to scratch, but that may be a confidence thing. You could also say the same for Otten, but he lacks pace and you would hardly call his leg a weapon.

Not sure it has to be a kpd. A kpd who is creative, like Scarlett or bock, is a luxury.

Sydney and hawthorn get a lot of their drive out of smaller players.

 

[RippaRiley43]

Yeah maybe, but neither is a "key" defender. I'm thinking more in the Bock mold, but less wife-beaterp). ATM Shaw's disposal isn't up to scratch, but that may be a confidence thing. You could also say the same for Otten, but he lacks pace and you would hardly call his leg a weapon.

Andy Otten's kicking is elite compared to some of Shaw's. Also, I am yet to see Shaw set the world on fire with his explosive run off half back.

 

[Allefgib]

The unfortunate thing about Sams kicking issues is the fact he had some excellent rebound 50 numbers last year...

 

[FR0GGY]

The unfortunate thing about Sams kicking issues is the fact he had some excellent rebound 50 numbers last year...

I'm not suggesting sams did, but does a rebound count if you make a clanger and kick it to the opposition and it comes straight back over your head? I suspect it doesn't count so may need to be careful going of raw stats.

 

[Allefgib]

I'm not suggesting sams did, but does a rebound count if you make a clanger and kick it to the opposition and it comes straight back over your head? I suspect it doesn't count so may need to be careful going of raw stats.

Either way is highly unfortunate!

 

[woopedazz]

I'm not suggesting sams did, but does a rebound count if you make a clanger and kick it to the opposition and it comes straight back over your head? I suspect it doesn't count so may need to be careful going of raw stats.

It does count as a rebound 50. His clanger count is through the roof as you said, which is why we see the rebound 50 become re-rebounded inside 50 entry.

 

[FR0GGY]

It does count as a rebound 50. His clanger count is through the roof as you said, which is why we see the rebound 50 become re-rebounded inside 50 entry.

Tennis

 

[Mighty Chinook]

Yeah maybe, but neither is a "key" defender. I'm thinking more in the Bock mold, but less wife-beaterp). ATM Shaw's disposal isn't up to scratch, but that may be a confidence thing. You could also say the same for Otten, but he lacks pace and you would hardly call his leg a weapon.

I really rate Shaw, and think his drive off half back is invaluable, however to me his kicking issues are technical. He has a really laconic action with a lot of moving parts, and a slightly unorthodox ball-drop. So any confidence issues he may have in a game probably compound this issue. But unlike Talia and even Otten/Rutten, he's not afraid to grab the ball and break the lines a bit before dishing out a pass. I'm confident his kicking will improve.

 

[iamcorky]

Id say Otten is the clear choice for defensive rebounding. Bloke has fairly good all round skills and is the best option despite his lack of big booting

 

[WeeBlake]

Here's an article about Hawthorn's problem with over-reliance on mere grunt. I think we have a lot of the same problems:-

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/is-the-game-running-away-from-hawthorn-20130402-2h58j.html

 

[The Sloane Ranger]

Id say Otten is the clear choice for defensive rebounding. Bloke has fairly good all round skills and is the best option despite his lack of big booting

Not to mention his lack of pace & mobility

 

[johnnypanther]

Otten & Shaw each have different strengths and although i like Otten, the problem as i see it is that collectively as a defence unit (Otten, Truck, Talia, Reilly plus 2 others) has a distinct lack of pace and run and consequently, IMO i would select Shaw in lieu of Otten unless the opposition team plays 4 smalls in which case i would use Reilly as the 3rd "tall" and have 3 other small (quicker) defenders.

 

[Paladin]

Otten & Shaw each have different strengths and although i like Otten, the problem as i see it is that collectively as a defence unit (Otten, Truck, Talia, Reilly plus 2 others) has a distinct lack of pace and run and consequently, IMO i would select Shaw in lieu of Otten unless the opposition team plays 4 smalls in which case i would use Reilly as the 3rd "tall" and have 3 other small (quicker) defenders.

Agree although Otten played well v Ess when you group him with Talia and Rutten we struggle to get the ball out of defence. Hendo and Reilly can play 3rd tall until Shaw gets up to speed.

 

[Allefgib]

How many sides will we need two big kpds against who are high quality?

Talia, Shaw and Otten all at their best is a very capable set of defenders.

 

[PykeDream]

How many sides will we need two big kpds against who are high quality?

Talia, Shaw and Otten all at their best is a very capable set of defenders.

I think in the future a Talia-Otten-LT/Shaw backline would work well.

Talia would be our gorilla, Otten and LT both use the ball well but can defend that slightly smaller forward, in turns. Much like what Geelong are attempting with Lonergan-Taylor-Rivers.

Would be a perfect match up for Hawthorn (Roughead-Franklin-Gunston) and Freo in particular.

Can't see how we can replace Rutten a like-for-like (Hartigan); two defenders of that size in the modern day backline are too slow and dispose of the ball inadequately.

 

[CrowAboutIt]

I don't understand why people are talking about our pillars in defence as being responsible in the rebound? Yes there are a few out there that provide it like bock and Taylor but tbh it doesn't mean anything if we have the right structure..

For example why would it matter if truck gets the ball someone blocks smiths' run and he can get it
Given to him to dispose of it.. IMO one of the main point of coaching is to realise your weakness' and to adapt/cover it.. Did any of u see the ruckman from the hawks standing next to the geelong player on the mark? U don't always have to be in he perfect situation or have the perfect player holding the ball but u can control what happens