News Cats to inject backline pace

[AM]

He would be in big, big trouble whenever it came to a contest of strength, against almost anyone - and that costs you goals in your back line.
Doesn't help in the F50 either, but at least there he and his mates have a chance to do something about it.

Most teams attempt to free-up their ball carrying attacking back half player. With the practice being to have a plus one in the back half that’s not hard to achieve.

Plus it's a game-by-game strategic issue as well as building flexibility into the team.

 

[footscore]

He would be in big, big trouble whenever it came to a contest of strength, against almost anyone - and that costs you goals in your back line.
Doesn't help in the F50 either, but at least there he and his mates have a chance to do something about it.

he wouldn't be placed in that kind of situation too often though because of that very reason.
Think of how many small defenders there are who rely on their blistering foot speed to dictate most of the play in the back half?

Milburn was never a strong defender but he had innate timing to know when to risk moving off his opponent and helping out in a contest and it's something Mackie has learned over the years which Motlop could do so as well.
May as well learn as much as possible from the best while they are still playing.
Enright is very strong but he lacks foot speed but if Motlop were to play down back, I reckon Enright would be there to help out most times than not as he reads the play better than most.

 

[Vdubs]

He would be in big, big trouble whenever it came to a contest of strength, against almost anyone - and that costs you goals in your back line.
Doesn't help in the F50 either, but at least there he and his mates have a chance to do something about it.

We've seen Josh Hunt outmuscled/outbodied by much smaller opponents, but he won't be back pocket at least. Might need a minder to clean up after him.

 

[footscore]

Leon Davis made a successful switch to the back-line and he has a similar build and style to that of Motlop.

He did fail in big games consistently throughout his career though

 

[Vdubs]

Leon Davis is an AA forward, and an AA backman. Hope Motlop ends up anywhere near that standard.

 

[AM]

Leon Davis made a successful switch to the back-line and he has a similar build and style to that of Motlop.

He did fail in big games consistently throughout his career though

As did Yarran.

 

[FredLeDeux]

Most teams attempt to free-up their ball carrying attacking back half player. With the practice being to have a plus one in the back half that’s not hard to achieve.

Plus it's a game-by-game strategic issue as well as building flexibility into the team.

Playing him as the plus one is different to playing him as a "designated" HBF, and would of course help with the long outside run. But it may cost us in F50 goalkicking power, and Varcoe seems much better suited, being bigger-bodied, and already experienced in the role.
Still, the days of set positions are long gone, and versatility/flexibility are the new blacks, so we might see Motlop tried in the Varcoe role at some stages.

 

[Partridge]

he wouldn't be placed in that kind of situation too often though because of that very reason.
Think of how many small defenders there are who rely on their blistering foot speed to dictate most of the play in the back half?

Milburn was never a strong defender but he had innate timing to know when to risk moving off his opponent and helping out in a contest and it's something Mackie has learned over the years which Motlop could do so as well.
May as well learn as much as possible from the best while they are still playing.
Enright is very strong but he lacks foot speed but if Motlop were to play down back, I reckon Enright would be there to help out most times than not as he reads the play better than most.

Actually he was. For a long time. Scarlett, Enright and Milburn were an opposition coach's nightmare - defenders who could completely shut players out of the game AND get a ton of possessions themselves.

 

[footscore]

Actually he was. For a long time. Scarlett, Enright and Milburn were an opposition coach's nightmare - defenders who could completely shut players out of the game AND get a ton of possessions themselves.

No you misinterpreted what I meant, what I was saying is that Milburn was not strong as in 96kg's of brooding muscle who could out muscle any forward in a battle of strength, he used his exceptional judgement and reading of the play to get the better of opponents and was just as agile on ground as in the air.

Harley, Scarlett, Egan then Taylor were predominantly the stronger bodies for a number of years.

 

[Partridge]

No you misinterpreted what I meant, what I was saying is that Milburn was not strong as in 96kg's of brooding muscle who could out muscle any forward in a battle of strength, he used his exceptional judgement and reading of the play to get the better of opponents and was just as agile on ground as in the air.

Harley, Scarlett, Egan then Taylor were predominantly the stronger bodies for a number of years.

Yep that's a fair comment. Yeah Milburn was almost exactly as you would want a half back flanker to be. Except for Enright, who (amazingly) turned out to be even better.

 

[footscore]

Milburn was rated by Rodney Eade (who's watched many great players in his time) as the most underrated player of all-time.
Big compliment but can't deny how exceptionally brilliant he was, like you say, he was another Enright as most defenders today just wanna clear the ball out as quickly as possible whereas Enright and Milburn/Scarlett...they'd not only take opponents on but they would also be the brunt of many attacking plays for the Cats during the last decade as it started with those guys.

Luckily we got Mackie doing the exact same thing today and he's somewhat highly underrated by supporters of his own club and most others.
Was All-Australian material this season but there's no mention of him whatsoever.