Betts. Time for a breather

[Blue Bawls]

Eddie with least impact on the game again. Having started so promising, in recent times he just looks out of it. A couple of weeks in the Ants before finals.

 

[jonoman89]

He really has dropped off. But he doesn't deserve to be dropped.

Wiggo and Cloke however...

 

[blue gunslinger]

Agree - game versus Melb may be what he needs
Don't flirt with team structure. He is always a threat at crumbing and keep their backline honest. not in good form but if fit - plays

 

[MBIB]

No reason to drop him he still tackled and chased and bobbed up with a goal.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Geez, he isn't a kid struggling to keep up, who you send back to give them confidence. He spends half his time in starvation corner and gets his hands to the ball about 40 times per game. It's just that he is often touching it to try and effect a turnover as his forward defensive pressure is enormous. When evaluating these things don't just look at stats, look at where he is, where he should be, and how much time he has. He doesn't exactly get the ball getting a nice little dish off in space.

 

[FieryNayta]

Wiggo and Cloke however...

If we're going to drop anyone from todays side, it has to be one of these two. How frustrating was it when they took an important grab, only to kick the ball directly to an oposition player. Must have happened almost 10 times between them.

Betts has enough credits in the bank, and being a small forward is all about oportunity. The ball might not have fallen his way today, and that's why small forwards are inconsistent by nature.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

No reason to drop him he still tackled and chased and bobbed up with a goal.

2 goals and he again drew players away from Fev. It's all about team contribution, not just individual contribution. Safe as houses Eddie.

 

[HBF]

He really has dropped off. But he doesn't deserve to be dropped.

Wiggo and Cloke however...

I thought Wiggo was pretty good across HB today, and perhaps this is is role to play on the smaller forwards, although you'd keep him away from the real speedsters. A good matchup for an Angus Monfries for example.

Cloke was servicable without being outstanding, but he still played a role in the game.

 

[blue gunslinger]

In a game v Melb I guess it is worth playing these fringe players to see what they have anyway

 

[Tony Lynn 15]

No reason to drop him he still tackled and chased and bobbed up with a goal.

Errr, make that two goals.

 

[The Coach]

Drop Betts - NO

 

[Warsaw]

Still got his quota of 2 goals. Just fine.

 

[mediumsizered]

Betts is second in the competition for goal assists, so despite not kicking a lot of goals himself in recent weeks, he is still playing an important role (he had 3 goals assists against Geelong last week) in getting the score on the board.

 

[Blue Dimension]

I thought Wiggo was pretty good across HB today, and perhaps this is is role to play on the smaller forwards, although you'd keep him away from the real speedsters. A good matchup for an Angus Monfries for example.

Cloke was servicable without being outstanding, but he still played a role in the game.

Wiggins kicking was below par. He was strong in the contests but can't kick to save his life.

If he had a boot on him he'd be a decent player but it's the same thing over and over with him as it has been for the 6-7 years he's been at the club.

 

[Beloved]

The only place that he has dropped off is goal kicking. He is still incredibly active with is goal assists.

Two goals today was good.

 

[BlueTouchPaper]

2 goals today, and will reach a 40 goal season... Just 'cause he doesn't get touches doesn't mean he's not around the ball. Exerts the most defensive pressure of any player on the ground. Period.

 

[pickman]

I thought Wiggo was pretty good across HB today, and perhaps this is is role to play on the smaller forwards, although you'd keep him away from the real speedsters. A good matchup for an Angus Monfries for example.

Cloke was servicable without being outstanding, but he still played a role in the game.

My thoughts exactly. I thought Wiggins did really well in the contest but did let himself down with his disposal.

 

[Zolli8]

Ideally you drop Cloke, and Wiggins but who do you bring in - Hampson? Warnock? Garlett? Yarran? Austin?

 

[aic-poppy]

What a rubbish thread!

 

[parrot]

No way! He might not be scoring as many, but his defensive pressure, and the opportunities he creates for others is invaluable. Plus the opposition need to devote a fair bit of attention to him other wise he'll kick 4-5 in no time.

 

[ParaBellum]

Betts will kick 5 against the Dees and play himself back into form.

 

[Blue Bawls]

Geez, he isn't a kid struggling to keep up, who you send back to give them confidence. He spends half his time in starvation corner and gets his hands to the ball about 40 times per game. It's just that he is often touching it to try and effect a turnover as his forward defensive pressure is enormous. When evaluating these things don't just look at stats, look at where he is, where he should be, and how much time he has. He doesn't exactly get the ball getting a nice little dish off in space.

I'm not criticising his work ethic (this isn't a Stevo thing) and I'm a huge fan of his, he just seems more subdued. I saw all those things too, but in the last three or four games he's had a lot less impact than he usually does. He's not winning the ball off the pack as much, which is a crumbing forward's role, and the defenders he chases seem to have a couple of metres on him now.

All I'm suggesting is a rest to freshen him up. Give Garlett a run. Not only does it put a little more spring back in Eddie's step, but we get some match time into a couple of others to give us added depth.

 

[gbatman]

Eddie looked to be struggling, a rest would be good. Robbo might need a rest as well.

Eddie looked slow and tired didn't cover much ground, didn't get up the ground and looked flat, might have a niggle or soreness. I recon Robbo might have soreness.

 

[serenityNow]

i hate hearing this rest shit.

He's a senior player.......he doesnt get rested he gets dropped.....and he dont deserve to be. His forward pressure is second to none, his ability to turn over the ball in our favor is second to none, his ability to make something from nothing is second to none. Plus his still chiming in with a couple.

As for the give Robbo a rest comment..........give us a spell


We're coming up to our first finals campaign in 8 years and people wanna rest all these players and wrap them up in wool and whisper gentle ocean sounds in their ear.

Side stays pretty much unchanged for mine. except i would like Warnock to get a look in against the Dees at Clokes expense.

 

[Bluebear]

Eddie with least impact on the game again. Having started so promising, in recent times he just looks out of it. A couple of weeks in the Ants before finals.

Has been quieter......but least impact on the game?

What....based on possessions alone?

He chased and harrassed and Port coughed it up plenty of times with Eddies hard work.

His keeping the ball alive created a number of scores.

He didn't get the bounce a couple of times where he would have run onto an easy roved goal, but he is our main source of forward pressure.

I'd go the other way with him, and rather than rest him, throw him into the C sq a bit more. Every time he goes in there things happen.