Toast Boris and Scarlo. The dynamic duo.

[4quarter_cat]

I was reflecting on our much improved defensive structures this year, and a thought occurred to me.

Is it possible that have 2 of the best defenders to ever play the game on our coaching panel might be part of the reason.

The loss of Boris on the field hasn't really hurt us. If anything we're more dynamic now, not less. I put this down to improvement of the group as a whole. What do others think?

If there is already a thread for this please mods just merge.

 

[Geelong Dynasty]

Whatever it is, I likey.

 

[Daniel McL]

I'm sure their coaching has helped absolutely.

For me it's that + we simply have a better structure down there this year.

2016:
Lonergan, Henderson, Taylor, Kolodjashnij, Enright, Mackie, Ruggles/Bews.

Felt we were too slow & too tall, even though it worked a lot last year.

2017:
Lonergan, Henderson, Stewart, Mackie, Tuohy, Bews, sometimes Taylor, sometimes Kolodjashnij.

Think we are better balanced with the two talls, two mediums and two smalls. Whenever Taylor has gone back we've been fantastic as well. The inclusion of Tuohy, and with Bews' offensive game improved it has helped us a lot.

 

[Hinkley29]

The development of Bews and inclusion of Stewart has given us run and carry out of defence that we never had last season.

The inclusion of 2E has given us an elite kick out of defence that we never had last season.

That is the biggest difference IMO.

 

[Hinkley29]

Unpopular opinion Alert:

Am I the only one who wonders if Domsy should be left out of the team this week? Especially if McGovern doesn't play?

One of the biggest factors in our win on the weekend was how we attacked from our back half with run and ball movement. Domsy, whilst a fantastic one on one defender, is a poor user of the ball and when the ball is in his hands it invariably slows down our movement. The other teams know this and actively leave him free when we win the ball in defence in the hope that we will give him the ball.

I know it would be the most unpopular decision of all time to leave him out (and the impact of this on the playing group has to be taken into consideration) but is it the right call? Does his strengths outweigh his deficiencies?

 

[Geelong Dynasty]

Unpopular opinion Alert:

Am I the only one who wonders if Domsy should be left out of the team this week? Especially if McGovern doesn't play?

One of the biggest factors in our win on the weekend was how we attacked from our back half with run and ball movement. Domsy, whilst a fantastic one on one defender, is a poor user of the ball and when the ball is in his hands it invariably slows down our movement. The other teams know this and actively leave him free when we win the ball in defence in the hope that we will give him the ball.

I know it would be the most unpopular decision of all time to leave him out (and the impact of this on the playing group has to be taken into consideration) but is it the right call? Does his strengths outweigh his deficiencies?

Bold move, unpopular move and almost heartless move, but maybe the right move, I'd hate to be on the selection panel for that one.

 

[CatsDoItBetter]

Unpopular opinion Alert:

Am I the only one who wonders if Domsy should be left out of the team this week? Especially if McGovern doesn't play?

One of the biggest factors in our win on the weekend was how we attacked from our back half with run and ball movement. Domsy, whilst a fantastic one on one defender, is a poor user of the ball and when the ball is in his hands it invariably slows down our movement. The other teams know this and actively leave him free when we win the ball in defence in the hope that we will give him the ball.

I know it would be the most unpopular decision of all time to leave him out (and the impact of this on the playing group has to be taken into consideration) but is it the right call? Does his strengths outweigh his deficiencies?

He's got a pretty good matchup in Walker this week. But otherwise I do agree it doesn't matter what's popular pick the team that they think can win. It would again be a massive call if they play the tigers in the grand final. Lonergan doesn't have a good matchup for them. The giants ok the other hand he does and I think this week against the crows he does.

 

[xtatik222k]

Unpopular opinion Alert:

Am I the only one who wonders if Domsy should be left out of the team this week? Especially if McGovern doesn't play?

One of the biggest factors in our win on the weekend was how we attacked from our back half with run and ball movement. Domsy, whilst a fantastic one on one defender, is a poor user of the ball and when the ball is in his hands it invariably slows down our movement. The other teams know this and actively leave him free when we win the ball in defence in the hope that we will give him the ball.

I know it would be the most unpopular decision of all time to leave him out (and the impact of this on the playing group has to be taken into consideration) but is it the right call? Does his strengths outweigh his deficiencies?

I totally agree. Lonergan has almost been the biggest liability backman this year.

 

[Hinkley29]

I totally agree. Lonergan has almost been the biggest liability backman this year.

I don't think that he is a liability, but he does alter the way we play (whether that is for better or worse is up for debate).

 

[Fyre]

Unpopular opinion Alert:

Am I the only one who wonders if Domsy should be left out of the team this week? Especially if McGovern doesn't play?

One of the biggest factors in our win on the weekend was how we attacked from our back half with run and ball movement. Domsy, whilst a fantastic one on one defender, is a poor user of the ball and when the ball is in his hands it invariably slows down our movement. The other teams know this and actively leave him free when we win the ball in defence in the hope that we will give him the ball.

I know it would be the most unpopular decision of all time to leave him out (and the impact of this on the playing group has to be taken into consideration) but is it the right call? Does his strengths outweigh his deficiencies?

Still left with Walker, Jenkins and Lynch to deal with. I think he has to come back in and Taylor will also need to stay down back.

If the Cats jump that hurdle, he'd probably be an out for me GF day if I was picking the side. Tough call but wouldn't be needed for either the Tigers or the Giants.

 

[xtatik222k]

I don't think that he is a liability, but he does alter the way we play (whether that is for better or worse is up for debate).

I just mean he's caused issues in games where the pressure has been seriously on the team. The speed of the game has gone past what he's capable of. I worry that he'll be left flat-footed against the Crows and cost us in the backline.

 

[iameviljez]

Am I the only one who wonders if Domsy should be left out of the team this week? Especially if McGovern doesn't play?

One of the biggest factors in our win on the weekend was how we attacked from our back half with run and ball movement. Domsy, whilst a fantastic one on one defender, is a poor user of the ball and when the ball is in his hands it invariably slows down our movement. The other teams know this and actively leave him free when we win the ball in defence in the hope that we will give him the ball.

I know it would be the most unpopular decision of all time to leave him out (and the impact of this on the playing group has to be taken into consideration) but is it the right call? Does his strengths outweigh his deficiencies?

If this was an emotionless game of Football Manager (for those who also love the soccer simulation game series), then I would completely agree with you. However, in Real Life, I would not do it - not now. We *should* have done it earlier this year.

We can't do it now, to a player who has given up a kidney while representing the club, is a hugely respected and well-liked member of the side, on the eve of his retirement. That would have massive ramifications through the rest of the group - as well as just being a genuine dick move. He hasn't been playing badly, he doesn't deserve to be dropped, and while the team balance looks so much better with the Hendo-Taylor combination, it's too damaging to do it now.

 

[Zeroman]

Lo

If this was an emotionless game of Football Manager (for those who also love the soccer simulation game series), then I would completely agree with you. However, in Real Life, I would not do it - not now. We *should* have done it earlier this year.

We can't do it now, to a player who has given up a kidney while representing the club, is a hugely respected and well-liked member of the side, on the eve of his retirement. That would have massive ramifications through the rest of the group - as well as just being a genuine dick move. He hasn't been playing badly, he doesn't deserve to be dropped, and while the team balance looks so much better with the Hendo-Taylor combination, it's too damaging to do it now.

'The other teams know this and actively leave him free when we win the ball in defence in the hope that we will give him the ball.'
- massive red flag.

Lonergan has the stature to withdraw himself, even if it took another sausage roll to do it.
I was hard on Bartel last year, and posted on the Syd board congratulations on their win before the game. It was obvious we were to be smashed.

Giving a premiership cup for the club's best team on the day may be harder than giving a kidney, but no less courageous.

Mackie and Lonergan have done so well in their ego-less exit. Great personal pride for them, in a positive way, in that. Exit in fondness, not in a loner gwone.

Tom would make a packet after footy with the right guidance, especially with an aptitude in public speaking.

However I don't underestimate Scarlet shaking things up. We shall only wish Tom the best in his final matches in the coming weeks. Let's assume Scarlet knows what he is doing.

 

[supahoops]

Lonergan has been one of our more in-form players in the latter part of the season. Adelaide is the one team where our talls all playing is a no-brainer, and I don't think we are overly top heavy given how mobile Smith, Stanley, Henderson and Hawkins are. One of the six taking up a rotation throughout the game and we've got a good mix..

 

[iameviljez]

Lonergan has the stature to withdraw himself, even if it took another sausage roll to do it.
I was hard on Bartel last year, and posted on the Syd board congratulations on their win before the game. It was obvious we were to be smashed.

I've never seen a player retire in the middle of the finals before. That's a bit much!

 

[Zeroman]

Hindsight is one thing, being blinded by ego with no sense of reality is entirely different altogether.

 

[you pick one]

Unpopular opinion Alert:

Am I the only one who wonders if Domsy should be left out of the team this week? Especially if McGovern doesn't play?

One of the biggest factors in our win on the weekend was how we attacked from our back half with run and ball movement. Domsy, whilst a fantastic one on one defender, is a poor user of the ball and when the ball is in his hands it invariably slows down our movement. The other teams know this and actively leave him free when we win the ball in defence in the hope that we will give him the ball.

I know it would be the most unpopular decision of all time to leave him out (and the impact of this on the playing group has to be taken into consideration) but is it the right call? Does his strengths outweigh his deficiencies?

If Jenkins or Walker were the one out you would have a stronger argument.

 

[Sttew]

Is it possible that have 2 of the best defenders to ever play the game on our coaching panel might be part of the reason.

The loss of Boris on the field hasn't really hurt us. If anything we're more dynamic now, not less. I put this down to improvement of the group as a whole. What do others think?
.

The loss of Boris hasn't hurt us because of one man - Zac Tuohey

 

[Bring back Moloney]

Moving on from this becoming a Lonergan thread... I agree with the OP.

Watching Bews' improvement this year, I can't help but think it's all been driven by Scarlett. The way Bews has been grabbing the ball in traffic and backing himself to run it out of defence has screamed SCARLETT to me all year.

 

[iameviljez]

Moving on from this becoming a Lonergan thread... I agree with the OP.

Watching Bews' improvement this year, I can't help but think it's all been driven by Scarlett. The way Bews has been grabbing the ball in traffic and backing himself to run it out of defence has screamed SCARLETT to me all year.

I loved that moment when he beat Mills in a crucial one-on-one against Sydney. The symbolism of Pick 86 beating Pick 3 was brilliant.

 

[4quarter_cat]

Moving on from this becoming a Lonergan thread... I agree with the OP.

Watching Bews' improvement this year, I can't help but think it's all been driven by Scarlett. The way Bews has been grabbing the ball in traffic and backing himself to run it out of defence has screamed SCARLETT to me all year.

Thats just it BBM, I see the influence of Scarlett on both Stewart and Bews big time, and inklings of Boris in the changes Thouy has brought to his game this year.

We are going to miss Lonergan and Mackie big time. But with Boris and Scarlett at the helm I can't help but feel confident the defence will stay tight, and continue to bring alot of run off half back into the future.