Preview Blues v Swans - Friday @ SCG

[bedford]

It was pretty clear , Roberts struggles can actually at some point be his fault . I am
sure he isn't happy with his ball use.

Worse than him atm

 

[bedford]

The goal he kicked (when everyone was missing) on the weekend showed good forward craft.

craft

 

[bedford]

It wasn't

It should've been , we are too soft

 

[robbieando]

It should've been , we are too soft

Not our call

 

[The King!]

Worse than him atm

absolutely , however not many worse by foot in the league right now.

But we should put the kid in a position to succeed, and maximise his attributes.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

Cleary's playing the pressure forward role as far as I can see, but is being drip-fed inside minutes as well, presumably with an eye to the future. I think he's going about as well as we could hope and is one of the few positives to come out of this season so far.

Re McInerney, my mail is he was read the riot act a few weeks ago and given the chance to start at some centre bounces to prove himself. IMO he's not done that, but maybe they're satisfied that he's getting enough of the ball and thinking his ball use will lift eventually. As I said I personally don't like it. I think he gets ragdolled and is ineffective on the inside.

For what its worth, I don't agree with your earlier statement that Sheldrick was given plenty of chances.

He was OK in the pre-season games & then got axed and sent into purgatory after one AFL game (vs Hawthorn).

I'm still of a view that AFL, like any sport, is a confidence game & players who feel like they're always one mistake away from the axe will never flourish.

 

[Bloods86]

absolutely

But we should put the kid in a position to succeed

So you're saying we should trade him to the Lions now?

 

[bedford]

Not our call

Still soft , did we fight it

 

[Nuggetz]

He can do that in the midfield though. Either him or Blakey surely enough is enough play one as a midfielder. What have we actually got to lose? Let’s find a bit about players this year results are a bit secondary now

Who do you move to defence? I don't think we need him in the midfield. I'd rather trial Sheldrick in the mids. Roberts has had good defensive moments.

 

[caesar88]

For what its worth, I don't agree with your earlier statement that Sheldrick was given plenty of chances.

He was OK in the pre-season games & then got axed and sent into purgatory after one AFL game (vs Hawthorn).

I'm still of a view that AFL, like any sport, is a confidence game & players who feel like they're always one mistake away from the axe will never flourish.

When you factor in the two pre-season games though, it was really three games. Three chances with full games and big midfield minutes to basically earn himself a spot and make himself undroppable and he didn't take them. You can't squander opportunities like that as a fringe player, especially when others take theirs.

I don't know the reason why he struggled, maybe he was nervous and too desperate for a spot, or he is a slow starter to the season or something. I think he only has himself to blame for being behind the eight ball once again this season, but hopefully he gets a chance this weekend. I think we owe it to ourselves to see what sort of a player we have on our hands with Sheldrick, and our chances to do so are lessening as the season progresses (particularly if Mills enters the selection equation in the coming weeks...)

 

[Kbroome]

When you factor in the two pre-season games though, it was really three games. Three chances with full games and big midfield minutes to basically earn himself a spot and make himself undroppable and he didn't take them. You can't squander opportunities like that as a fringe player, especially when others take theirs.

I don't know the reason why he struggled, maybe he was nervous and too desperate for a spot, or he is a slow starter to the season or something. I think he only has himself to blame for being behind the eight ball once again this season, but hopefully he gets a chance this weekend. I think we owe it to ourselves to see what sort of a player we have on our hands with Sheldrick, and our chances to do so are lessening as the season progresses (particularly if Mills enters the selection equation in the coming weeks...)

I would say he was a little hard done by with a pretty good outing in the GCS PS game and here are all the games he has played at the senior level this year


When he gets decent enough time he racks it up (if we say that he would usually have 75% TOG in normal games)

13 touches in 33% TOG
13 touches in 38% TOG
12 touches in 24% TOG
9 touches in 48% TOG

45 touches in a slightly misrepresented 143% TOG which we could say is basically 2 games. I would say that alongside his GCS game show he is showing Coxy its just that he can't get bulk jump off the page numbers as he is sub week in week out.

 

[caesar88]

I would say he was a little hard done by with a pretty good outing in the GCS PS game and here are all the games he has played at the senior level this year
View attachment 2315181

When he gets decent enough time he racks it up (if we say that he would usually have 75% TOG in normal games)

13 touches in 33% TOG
13 touches in 38% TOG
12 touches in 24% TOG
9 touches in 48% TOG

45 touches in a slightly misrepresented 143% TOG which we could say is basically 2 games. I would say that alongside his GCS game show he is showing Coxy its just that he can't get bulk jump off the page numbers as he is sub week in week out.

From memory he had no issue finding the ball in the pre-season Gold Coast game but he butchered it pretty badly all game. Even the Mongrel Punt called it out as a reason he'd struggle to retain his place.

As for those numbers as sub, I find it hard to assess sub performances really. It's like one performance compacted into a little mini game, where you're playing with a different fitness & fatigue level to everyone else on the field. In the same way I find it easier to imagine Aaron Francis kicking 3 goals as a sub than I do him kicking 3 goals playing as a permanent full forward every week, I don't think it's a given that if you simply doubled or tripled Sheldrick's TOG that his impact would be doubled or tripled across the full match. If that makes sense?

 

[Bloods86]

I would say he was a little hard done by with a pretty good outing in the GCS PS game and here are all the games he has played at the senior level this year
View attachment 2315181

When he gets decent enough time he racks it up (if we say that he would usually have 75% TOG in normal games)

13 touches in 33% TOG
13 touches in 38% TOG
12 touches in 24% TOG
9 touches in 48% TOG

45 touches in a slightly misrepresented 143% TOG which we could say is basically 2 games. I would say that alongside his GCS game show he is showing Coxy its just that he can't get bulk jump off the page numbers as he is sub week in week out.

First few appearances his ball use and decisions were pretty poor, has improved in the last couple so I want him to get a full game.

 

[Kbroome]

From memory he had no issue finding the ball in the pre-season Gold Coast game but he butchered it pretty badly all game. Even the Mongrel Punt called it out as a reason he'd struggle to retain his place.

As for those numbers as sub, I find it hard to assess sub performances really. It's like one performance compacted into a little mini game, where you're playing with a different fitness & fatigue level to everyone else on the field. In the same way I find it easier to imagine Aaron Francis kicking 3 goals as a sub than I do him kicking 3 goals playing as a permanent full forward every week, I don't think it's a given that if you simply doubled or tripled Sheldrick's TOG that his impact would be doubled or tripled across the full match. If that makes sense?

Yes thats why I said it was a little misrepresented, however I don't think its too much of a crazy assumption to say that Sheldrick could come in and average 20 touches a game for us its just whether or not that 20 touches per game really makes much of a difference when JJ does pretty much the same thing alongside Rowbottom McInerney etc

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Still soft , did we fight it

Part of the old GWS academy zone was reclassified as an NGA-only zone back in 2017

AFL - News, Fixtures, Scores & Results - AFL.com.au

Australian Football League. All the latest AFL news, video, results and information

www.afl.com.au

 

[Kbroome]

From memory he had no issue finding the ball in the pre-season Gold Coast game but he butchered it pretty badly all game. Even the Mongrel Punt called it out as a reason he'd struggle to retain his place.

As for those numbers as sub, I find it hard to assess sub performances really. It's like one performance compacted into a little mini game, where you're playing with a different fitness & fatigue level to everyone else on the field. In the same way I find it easier to imagine Aaron Francis kicking 3 goals as a sub than I do him kicking 3 goals playing as a permanent full forward every week, I don't think it's a given that if you simply doubled or tripled Sheldrick's TOG that his impact would be doubled or tripled across the full match. If that makes sense?

100%

You can even see it in the DE% stat from the screen shot: 75%+ in the last 3 weeks

 

[bedford]

Part of the old GWS academy zone was reclassified as an NGA-only zone back in 2017

AFL - News, Fixtures, Scores & Results - AFL.com.au

Australian Football League. All the latest AFL news, video, results and information

www.afl.com.au

Find it hard to navigate

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Find it hard to navigate

The area in brown was carved out, so GWS could only claim NGA player access not full academy access.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Who do you move to defence? I don't think we need him in the midfield. I'd rather trial Sheldrick in the mids. Roberts has had good defensive moments.

Plonk Francis back there until a defender is back or give Edwards whatever a go. Rather get rid of Lloyd period

 

[wolftone57]

I will be gobsmacked if Sheldrick doesn’t start, it is a lay down for mine.
Amartey straight in if fit and Adam’s may well come in, particularly if wet.

Melican leaves a massive hole….we may see Snell debut. 195cm defender, Hamling 194 McCartin 194 can do the job, in the wet as well.

Heeney forward.

We still lose but we get to see something hopefully….first 10 minutes will tell a story

Lloyd for mine must go. Paton goes .would Florent be a chance to miss?

How did Snell go in the Resies last week?

 

[wolftone57]

I will be gobsmacked if Sheldrick doesn’t start, it is a lay down for mine.
Amartey straight in if fit and Adam’s may well come in, particularly if wet.

Melican leaves a massive hole….we may see Snell debut. 195cm defender, Hamling 194 McCartin 194 can do the job, in the wet as well.

Heeney forward.

We still lose but we get to see something hopefully….first 10 minutes will tell a story

Lloyd for mine must go. Paton goes .would Florent be a chance to miss?

ollie played well last week. One of the few putting in some effort in the first half.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

100%

You can even see it in the DE% stat from the screen shot: 75%+ in the last 3 weeks
View attachment 2315201

He'll get plenty of Sherrin - thats almost a given.

The knock has been on his kicking - which admittedly was pretty shonky early on this year. But as you point out, its been improved in recent weeks.

The other primary benefit I see - he's a goal kicker. At least one in each of the last 4 games. Particularly from forward 50 stoppage, he has the happy knack of being able to snaffle the pill and get a shot at/on (not sure which to use - bedford ?) goal. With our scoring problems, thats more than handy.

Anyway, team selection isn't far away now. I reckon he'll be named on the 5-man bench, so the jury will remain out on whether or not Cox should be sacked immediately.

 

[kickthething]

I'm concerned at the form of Roberts given the pivotal role he plays in our team. As the organiser coming out of defence, he controls the tempo and the direction of our play. Last year, especially during our golden run, he was a revelation, especially with his penetrative kicks. This year, he is making mistakes, leading to turn overseas and goals. He also is missing opportunities to switch the play and doesn't seem to be aware of runners coming through, often holding up the ball. Combined with Lloyd and JMac, he is stiffling our offensive rebound, something that was a strength for most of last year.

Now I dont know whether this is under instruction, loss of confidence and form or a bit of both but it might be good for him to have a change of role, stint as the sub or even back to reserves. Sure, he's still finding the ball bit but as another poster alluded to, opposition coaches wouldn't be losing too much sleep at the prospect of Roberts getting 30 touches.

I think it a combination of things that are different this year that are all putting him under the pump a bit….

• The ball is coming in more often with a lot of pressure
• Lloyd and Florent are putting him under more pressure this season due to their ineffective performances

which also slow down play and allow defensive structures against us to get set. Last season it was not the case.
- Ball is turning over more in the mid field putting meaning their is no real respite, he is constantly being put under the pump and exit options are not working that hard up the field.

He is scrambling pretty well and defending pretty well, it’s the disposal that is under way more pressure and is impacted. I don’t agree most of his mistakes are not under pressure, I reckon most are, and as a result of some of the above the perceived pressure takes over as well.

Give me some harder workers and quicker thinking and running players than Lloyd and Florent and you will see marked improvements throughout the field.

 

[wolftone57]

If we rush Mills and/or Amartey back as soon as they become a "Test", without at least 1 game in the VFL, we have learned absolutely nothing from the past. Mills probably needs a couple.

Hamling will get dropped before Francis, but I'd go...

Out: Francis Paton
In: Ladhams Sheldrick
Sub who knows, maybe give Mitchell a go, Hanily, or Kirk for a debut

A few others deserve to be dropped but I don't find "the reserves guys can't be any worse" a convincing argument, especially given our reserves.

Hamling to defence.

Hanily was obviously good last week. Kicked 3.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

I will be gobsmacked if Sheldrick doesn’t start, it is a lay down for mine.
Amartey straight in if fit and Adam’s may well come in, particularly if wet.

Melican leaves a massive hole….we may see Snell debut. 195cm defender, Hamling 194 McCartin 194 can do the job, in the wet as well.

Heeney forward.

We still lose but we get to see something hopefully….first 10 minutes will tell a story

Lloyd for mine must go. Paton goes .would Florent be a chance to miss?

Dean Cox in his presser this week basically said (when asked about Adams): "The reserves were crap and Taylor was part of the crapiness".

I don't think Adams is coming in.