Remove this Banner Ad

Preview Changes: R4 vs Brisbane

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

I'm hoping for the following:

Crouch > Poholke
Walker > Himmelberg
Seedsman > McAdams
Atkins > Gibbs

Gibbs is probably not the best choice, but when we've lost both our wingers (as bad as they were), need some kind of balance.

Personally, I really hope the seniors step up and provide a guiding light to the juniors. Would hate to turn out like Carlton where the kids were thrown to the wolves.
 
ROB is only in need of some help because our midfield is so crap.

He could handle the shorter quarters no worries, getting his chop out when the ball is in our forward line (Walkers fine for boundary throw ins in out F50) unfortunately the ball rarely goes in there and when it does it comes straight back out due to our 1v3 brilliant setups we employ.

So it means ROB is always "busy" in the middle and our D50.

I'm not suggesting ROB won the day, but I think the fact that Witts grabbed the ball numerous times out of the ruck contest and kicked forward has resulted in many people blaming him for our poor midfield performance. It's just rubbish. Yes those occasions were bad and ROB needs to improve his rucking craft to not be physically destroyed like that. But, to look a little more into this.

Gold Coast clearances +13
Deduct Witts +5

So, at ruck contests, when the ball was put to the mids, we went at -5. We went +15 in hitouts and apparently won the To Advantage stat in that. So, with more hitouts to advantage, and more hitouts overall, our mids still lost the contested battle at the stoppage, but not by much in terms of quantity. Where we got smashed and have generally been smashed is in the damage caused by our clearances. Our opponents run and gun from the stoppage, we hack forward. It's been like this for more than this year and I'm not really sure whether it's the coaches or the players. At a minimum, the coaches accept the group they put in there in the same way they accept zero drive from our back half.

Our issue is desire or ability to run to defend or attack. This results in less contested possessions due to be outnumbered and even less uncontested possession that flows from losing the contest to superior numbers. And from there, our issue is that when we do win, the quality and purpose of our possessions are so much worse. Our effective possessions rarely result in a player running free in space or breaking through a line, they're to contests. We run, but only as a reaction.
 
Our 2s side got beaten by 90 points too, tough ask to bring anyone in on that.

But I think he's gone.

Again, this is our culture. Looking for reasons to keep seniors in the side. Sholl had a great preseason, was mentioned the week before as being one of our better players. But, of course, one miss rules a line through the name and he's got to start again and get numerous good games without a miss, whilst our defensive group is crying out for more drive. And had Brown or Kelly been in the 2s, we'd still have been beaten by 90 points.
 
Sounds crazy but why not bring Berg and Frampton up forward, Lynch keeps his spot rotating across wind and HF off the bench, Tex is dropped a FOG is shifted to HF and midfield. Crocker and McAdam are the other 2 forwards.

Out: Atkins, Seeds, M Crouch and Tex

In: Berg, Frampton, McAdam and Poholke/Gibbs

If I was going with Berg and Frampton, and I quite like the thinking, it's not going to include Lynch and Fog. The benefit is competing aerially and getting the ball to ground. Lynch and Fog aren't the guys for that, but one should play as the 3rd, mobile tall. I guess it depends on how married to the 'Tom Lynch Link Man' role you are as to who you choose to keep in.
 

Log in to remove this Banner Ad

I'm hoping for the following:

Crouch > Poholke
Walker > Himmelberg
Seedsman > McAdams
Atkins > Gibbs

Gibbs is probably not the best choice, but when we've lost both our wingers (as bad as they were), need some kind of balance.

Personally, I really hope the seniors step up and provide a guiding light to the juniors. Would hate to turn out like Carlton where the kids were thrown to the wolves.
I’m all for play the kids, play the kids, but agree senior players need to carry the load which we are not doing, my only concern with getting to many kids into the side is beltings don’t help their confidence, and it may take time for them to recover and some may not recover and reach the player they should be. Unfortunately this mean carrying some senior players on rotation, Tex/Lynch, Atkins/Seedsman,Crouch/ Crouch etc
 
Would have preferred Lynch and Walker out. Hartigan to CHB. McAsey up forward with Fog and Himmelberg off the bench. Play Mcadam and Davis along with McHenry or Stengle when available and give Gallucci one last shot.

I’d like to see that. Very young forward line might lack some leadership but we have to push on
 
Looks like Tex having a rest.

Gibbs, McAdam and Himmelberg look like the ins.

Interesting that we have the worst midfield in the competition but no one in that little clique ever pays a price.
Also think M Crouch will be dropped as well
 
ROB is only in need of some help because our midfield is so crap.

He could handle the shorter quarters no worries, getting his chop out when the ball is in our forward line (Walkers fine for boundary throw ins in out F50) unfortunately the ball rarely goes in there and when it does it comes straight back out due to our 1v3 brilliant setups we employ.

So it means ROB is always "busy" in the middle and our D50.
ROB ruck work has not been impressive either this year. His other stuff has been fantastic. When has the last time he punch the ball forward?
 
Out: Atkins, Seedsman, Murphy and Walker

In: Himmelberg, McAdam, Hartigan and Poholke

FB: [16] Luke Brown, [12] Daniel Talia, [29] Rory Laird
HB: [39] Tom Doedee, [15] Kyle Hartigan, [33] Brodie Smith
C: [25] Ned McHenry, [28] Ben Keays, [1] Chayce Jones
HF: [9] Rory Sloane, [32] Darcy Fogarty, [23] Shane McAdam,
FF: [20] Ben Crocker, [27] Tom Lynch, [34] Elliott Himmelberg

FOL: [43] Reilly O'Brien, [2] Brad Crouch, [5] Matt Crouch,
IC: [10] Myles Poholke, [35] Fischer McAsey, [17] Will Hamill, [8] Jake Kelly,

Keays in the midfield to tag. McAsey as a swingman. Lynch as deep forward, offering multiple leads.
 
I’m all for play the kids, play the kids, but agree senior players need to carry the load which we are not doing, my only concern with getting to many kids into the side is beltings don’t help their confidence, and it may take time for them to recover and some may not recover and reach the player they should be. Unfortunately this mean carrying some senior players on rotation, Tex/Lynch, Atkins/Seedsman,Crouch/ Crouch etc
devils advocate, what damage does it do to younger players to be surrounded by "no bruise" footballers who arent able to get themselves to elite standard of fitness and aren't prepared to do the hard work on the field. would it make more sense to trust in the younger players to create their own culture, under guidance and support of coaches (not that we bloody have any)and allow those players to struggle but when they slowly rise on the other end it is something they created, as opposed to being nursed until they are ready.
 
ROB ruck work has not been impressive either this year. His other stuff has been fantastic. When has the last time he punch the ball forward?

That's structure/coaching, our rucks have done this for years.
 

Remove this Banner Ad

devils advocate, what damage does it do to younger players to be surrounded by "no bruise" footballers who arent able to get themselves to elite standard of fitness and aren't prepared to do the hard work on the field. would it make more sense to trust in the younger players to create their own culture, under guidance and support of coaches (not that we bloody have any)and allow those players to struggle but when they slowly rise on the other end it is something they created, as opposed to being nursed until they are ready.
There are arguments for both sides, it’s hard to make a call unless you know the makeup of he young player involved, some can make the transition unaffected some struggle, it’s not as simple as just give them a game, that’s where good development coaches come in
 

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Out: Atkins, Seedsman, Murphy and Walker

In: Himmelberg, McAdam, Hartigan and Poholke

FB: [16] Luke Brown, [12] Daniel Talia, [29] Rory Laird
HB: [39] Tom Doedee, [15] Kyle Hartigan, [33] Brodie Smith
C: [25] Ned McHenry, [28] Ben Keays, [1] Chayce Jones
HF: [9] Rory Sloane, [32] Darcy Fogarty, [23] Shane McAdam,
FF: [20] Ben Crocker, [27] Tom Lynch, [34] Elliott Himmelberg

FOL: [43] Reilly O'Brien, [2] Brad Crouch, [5] Matt Crouch,
IC: [10] Myles Poholke, [35] Fischer McAsey, [17] Will Hamill, [8] Jake Kelly,

Keays in the midfield to tag. McAsey as a swingman. Lynch as deep forward, offering multiple leads.
Would rather Butts instead of Mr “I cant kick to save myself” Hartigan..

And I would rather Frampton over Himm.. I just dont see it with the Berg.. dont see much in frampton either TBH.. but I think Frampton provides more aggression..
 
Our midfield coaches dont allow those sort of shenanigans.
Our midfield plans is best described like this;

Guys, I'm going to try to drop the ball at my feet. Hopefully we will manage to then hold the ball in a pack so we can re-set and have another ball up. Then I'm going to try to drop the ball at my feet. Hopefully....
 

Remove this Banner Ad

Preview Changes: R4 vs Brisbane

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Back
Top