Bail's new tagging role

[Bartram_Class]

I don't like it.

He had Kennedy last week, Mitchell yesterday. Didn't do too badly, but it means taking one of our few players who can weave a way through traffic and forcing him to concentrate on the defensive side of his game, a far easier task.

If Jones is going to stay in the side, put him on the likes of Mitchell, and free Bail up to play half-back, wing. The difference between their tagging abilities won't be much, but Bail is a far better decision-maker and has the turn of speed to work a way through the zone.

 

[Demon 86]

I agree. Or failing that make Jones number one midfielder- for Casey.

Bail is quite good running with the ball in his hands, and Jones is not- the logic is so sound that Dean Bailey will never think of it.

 

[Captain Jack]

I disagree... Never liked Jones as a tagged, but I'm enjoying Bail's work there.

 

[melbournemartin]

Jones fails when put as a tagger on fast players. Putting him on Mitchell at stoppages would be okay. Bailey doesn't like him at centre bounces though, which I thought would have been his main strength, so I'm not really sure what he's doing in the team.

This is purely a learning thing for Bail. He was top-notch last night overall but seeing Mitchell with 31 possessions to his name isn't great.

 

[lose]

thought he was close to our best at half time... didnt really seem to be applying a hard tag but

 

[eskimo]

Bail has the ability to not only stop a player, but also hurt them going the other way. He ran off Mitchell a lot in the first half yesterday, and created a bit going forward for us. I like him playing that role. If he can negate one of the oppositions main midfielders, and still get 15 touches going the other way then it's a big win for our team.

The one negative Bail had was that he didn't find the ball enough. When he is tagging someone like Mitchell he gets taken to the ball, and he can lose his opponent in traffic with his turn of speed. One of the better coaching moves I've seen from our coaches.

 

[Crusty Demon]

Bail has the ability to not only stop a player, but also hurt them going the other way. He ran off Mitchell a lot in the first half yesterday, and created a bit going forward for us. I like him playing that role. If he can negate one of the oppositions main midfielders, and still get 15 touches going the other way then it's a big win for our team.

The one negative Bail had was that he didn't find the ball enough. When he is tagging someone like Mitchell he gets taken to the ball, and he can lose his opponent in traffic with his turn of speed. One of the better coaching moves I've seen from our coaches.

Totally agree. I think it's the one smart move that Bailey has made so far this year. We need more defensive midfielders in the team, because we still have a lot of downhill skiers in the midfield as displayed yesterday. Jones was trialled last season as a tagger, but is simply not smart enough to do the role. Bail seems like a smart footballer. Can stop a good opponent(Kennedy and Mtchell) from having an influence, and can occassionaly hurt you going the other way. I think it's worth pursuing. McKenzie coming back might free up Bail a little bit....

 

[Demon 86]

As much as I thought Bail was good yesterday, he didnt stop Mitchell having an influence. In fact he didnt curtail him in the slightest, he still had 30 touches and about 5000 clearances. Bail did however hurt him in the other direction in the first half.

 

[Tulip]

Jones fails

Never a truer word

 

[master bate]

I really like Bail as a tagger. Thought he was very good against Sydney and went ok yesterday.

However I agree we would have been better served by having Jones tag Mitchell yesterday and having Bail elsewhere if we stuck with the 22 yesterday. Although Jones out of the side altogether and someone who can play on a wing (Morton, Scully heck even try Strauss or Blease) might have been the best option of the lot.

 

[BigSexc]

better than having jones as a tagger... has there ever been a player as maligned by the supporters and loved by the club..?

 

[BigSexc]

I really like Bail as a tagger. Thought he was very good against Sydney and went ok yesterday.

However I agree we would have been better served by having Jones tag Mitchell yesterday and having Bail elsewhere if we stuck with the 22 yesterday. Although Jones out of the side altogether and someone who can play on a wing (Morton, Scully heck even try Strauss or Blease) might have been the best option of the lot.

oh however would rather jones in the side over Strauss. 100%

 

[Demon 16]

As much as I thought Bail was good yesterday, he didnt stop Mitchell having an influence. In fact he didnt curtail him in the slightest, he still had 30 touches and about 5000 clearances. Bail did however hurt him in the other direction in the first half.

From a development perspective playing him on a quality mid without tying him down as a hard tag is ideal.

Would require patience from the galleries at times however.