Changes Round 5 vs Hawks

[threenewpadlocks]

The question only just occurred to me because I have been watching some of the Adelaide-Carlton game:
Is Hynes as a 20yo a bit like a young Patrick Cripps? Big bodied, good in close but not especially quick.

If his trajectory followed that of Cripps we'd have a pretty decent player. I doubt he'd ever be as good as Cripps (or win even one Brownlow lol) but he seems to have some of the same physical and playing characteristics.


EDIT: Just noticed Cripps is 195cm! That's 5cm taller than Hynes. Quite a difference.

Not a bad comparison at all.

I think Hynes is a bit more creative and has better in his decision making. I think his kicking, while merely average, is better than Cripps' somewhat poor kicking.

I think Hynes is more of a natural forward with a natural forward's nouse, that is, he simply "knows where the goals are" when needs to snap a goal via a handball receive inside forward 50.

I think he's an exceptionally fit player too, who doesn't appear to have had any real injury issues in his late junior career or knock on wood with us so far. Cripps obviously has relied on keeping himself fit, his form has not been fit, and his form declines with a lack of fitness more than other players. Hynes will make himself available most weeks, and his body will let him be the best possible version of the player he can be.

On the other hand, I don't think he has anywhere near the out-and-out ball winning instincts of someone like Cripps (or indeed, what we saw of Sanders on the weekend). If he plays onball, he won't necessarily have the insticts to read the general flow of the play, or take on positioning in central stoppages, to get to the ball first, before the opposition or a teammate. And like you say, while he is strong and tall to most mids, he is not exceptionally so (unlike Cripps). His 190cm is only 2cm taller than Kennedy's 188cm, for example, so we can expect his absolute strength to be that much more than Kennedy's. And I'm not sure he's as good as a defensive tackler and pressure player as Cripps.

 

[Zeno The Great]

Obviously a very divisive figure on the board Gags. For me if there are 2 players on our list who ive seen more than enough to know they are sub AFL standard it's him and gardner. I think hes had ample opportunity, doesn't get anywhere near enough of it for a midfielder and butchers it honey church style. That final v the hawks he challenged jamarra for worst on ground...and that was not easy!

I'm no fan of McNeil and he had to be dropped, but I've seen traits from him that he can play at AFL level, he just does it rarely.

Would have much preferred some of the other options suggested above.

Anyway going to be very tough with some good players out but hopefully our improved defensive system holds up and we get the win.

 

[threenewpadlocks]

Season two Patty Cripps was already a gun, so starting a little behind, but yeah that does feel like the mould he is in. Seemed to be some talk pre-draft was that he was quite powerful but he doesn't seem to have that burst, at least from the small sample size we've seen of him thus far

Think Matt Kennedy is ideally the player you'd love him to develop into. Strong one on one player that you can play forward of centre as well as through the midfield. Obviously the Cripps' and Tom Green's and that really high calibre are going to be handy in any era but it feels currently that there probably isn't room for more than one of this type in your midfield. Think unless you are the very top of the league, you need to have extra strings to your bow

Yep precisely.
Green was by far the pure best stoppage mid last year - better than Rowell and Serong - yet was only about the 15th best midfielder in the league overall, which would not be most team's best midfielder (and not even for his own with Callaghan). It shows you how you have to have these tricks. Even a few tricks - like Serong has, beyond the stoppage as a outside ball accumulator and neat user - would have Tom Green be a top 5 mid, like Serong.

 

[TiAn_]

Gallagher was shoehorned into a midfield role at AFL level very early on. The coaches obviously rate him. I do too, and have since his draft year. He’s going to be a solid AFL player.

 

[my plums]

At the end of the day, there isn’t many other options other than Gags right now. Sort of had to play him. Hoping he kills it!

 

[SackofTaters]

Emmett taps to Gags from a Ruck Throw, kicks it straight to Darcy 30 out . Goal Bulldogs.

Cop that Hokball.

Oh well, a mean can dream.

 

[Mofra]

I don't understand the Gallagher hate? And trust me, I've got a great record for bashing our own players.

I still think he's actually ok kicking at goal on the run. I'm hoping past turnovers are from composure issues and that fades as he plays more.
His power/weight ratios are off the charts so I can see why we'd want to keep and develop him

 

[Doggies_13]

Surprised with the Jacques rest one game after the bye. I get it’s a 6 day break but we have another two in a row. Would have thought maybe rest him for Geelong.

Gags is an okay inclusion we didn’t have a lot available in the VFL and he does most things well it’s just his disposal that lets him down. He can play a role which is all we need from him.

 

[Mojorisin]

I still think he's actually ok kicking at goal on the run. I'm hoping past turnovers are from composure issues and that fades as he plays more.
His power/weight ratios are off the charts so I can see why we'd want to keep and develop him

Im hoping like we've seen with Baker Gallagher has calmed down abit since his last senior game and doesnt bite off too much, instead playing to his limitations. If he picks when to use his speed more wisely and doesn't try to pick off difficult kicks he will go along way to covering all the issues others have pointed out.

 

[Angak]

Surprised with the Jacques rest one game after the bye. I get it’s a 6 day break but we have another two in a row. Would have thought maybe rest him for Geelong.

Gags is an okay inclusion we didn’t have a lot available in the VFL and he does most things well it’s just his disposal that lets him down. He can play a role which is all we need from him.

I suspect with hawks small forwards Bevo is looking for more of lockdown role. Maybe gags play a lockdown role on watson.

 

[Golden_6]

I suspect with hawks small forwards Bevo is looking for more of lockdown role. Maybe gags play a lockdown role on watson.

It's certainly possible. Bramble would be far more damaging remaining in his current role.

 

[Mofra]

I suspect with hawks small forwards Bevo is looking for more of lockdown role. Maybe gags play a lockdown role on watson.

Budarick & Sellwood would be far better options, as guys who are actually playing as small defenders at AFL level.

Asking a guy who just played VFL midfield to step up and take one is the most dangerous small forwards in the AFL is a huge ask.

 

[Blewdog]

Gallagher one of the worst kicks of the ball I've ever seen. Our depth is so crap.

 

[glenashley]

I like Gaggs because I think he offers a point of difference - not vanilla.

I get he's got a bit to work on but maybe he can take the Williams route who IIRC had people calling for his delisting early on till he worked on his weaknesses.

 

[Libbaaaa]

Surprised with the Jacques rest one game after the bye. I get it’s a 6 day break but we have another two in a row. Would have thought maybe rest him for Geelong.

Gags is an okay inclusion we didn’t have a lot available in the VFL and he does most things well it’s just his disposal that lets him down. He can play a role which is all we need from him.

Coming home game for Jaques against the Cats so if he doesn't come back in next week you know we really dropped him this week.

 

[bigbulldog67]

I think Hynes has top 10 midfielder in the comp potential to be honest. He shows promise of an elite stoppage and vision game. Finds space inside effortlessly, reminds be a bit of Pendles the way he glides through traffic. Elite hands too and a good kick.

My only concern is whether he has the intensity to get to that level, can be a bit lazy at times but to be fair that can be said about a lot of 20yos who take that extra time to realise just how ‘on’ they have to be at the top level. I thought his intensity & aggression in the VFL last week was the best I’ve seen so obviously it was made out to him as something to improve

 

[LondonBulldog]

So happy for Gags. Bevo is a fan as he fits the "no d*ckheads" policy. I get some inside on Gags. Probably over did the 2025 preseason and run into injuries for a lot of the 2026. Just getting right now. Has all the attributes the modern game. Explosive, tackles hard, runs hard. Just needs to put it all together. Will be likely used in bursts this week in a variety of positions including defense.

 

[doggiesin08]

Gallagher one of the worst kicks of the ball I've ever seen. Our depth is so crap.

He’s the best power athlete at the club though so maybe he’ll wrestle with Lloyd Meek for the ball-ups around the ground.

Honestly the turn around in Baker gives me a small amount of confidence for players like Gags with clear strengths and clear weaknesses that the coaches will narrowed in on how to play them.

 

[HK_Bulldog]

I'm a Gags fan. Hope he does well. Has the physical attributes but lacks polish, kinda like VDM and Baker. Has the knack of squeezing a shot out of nowhere, if only he could get most of them through the middle.

 

[Foxman98]

I'm a Gags fan. Hope he does well. Has the physical attributes but lacks polish, kinda like VDM and Baker. Has the knack of squeezing a shot out of nowhere, if only he could get most of them through the middle.

Think Baker is a great comparison

His effort has always been fantastic just been his decison making and skill execution that let him down similar to Bakes pre last year,

He seemed more composed in the 2s last week and think he can have a Baker like impact if he just plays his role and does the simple thing instead of over doing it

 

[HK_Bulldog]

I think Hynes has top 10 midfielder in the comp potential to be honest. He shows promise of an elite stoppage and vision game. Finds space inside effortlessly, reminds be a bit of Pendles the way he glides through traffic. Elite hands too and a good kick.

My only concern is whether he has the intensity to get to that level, can be a bit lazy at times but to be fair that can be said about a lot of 20yos who take that extra time to realise just how ‘on’ they have to be at the top level. I thought his intensity & aggression in the VFL last week was the best I’ve seen so obviously it was made out to him as something to improve

Its early days but hasn't really shown anything to indicate top 10 potential. Not even sure he'll reach top 6-8 at our club let alone Top 10 in the comp. As you say, lacks the intensity at this stage of typical A-graders. I also haven't seen any real elite traits that make me go 'Wow!" But early days, jury still out.

 

[Struggle]

Can't remember a player kicking it into the man on the mark as much as Gallagher

But it can be turned around, Baker used to put every second kick out on the full and now he's locked into our 23. Hopefully he's found a way to play within his limitations and can contribute

 

[MYOB]

Happy to be proven wrong, but Gags disposal will cost us at some stage in this game.

 

[Sentinel]

Can't remember a player kicking it into the man on the mark as much as Gallagher

But it can be turned around, Baker used to put every second kick out on the full and now he's locked into our 23. Hopefully he's found a way to play within his limitations and can contribute

That and having his kicks smothered, it's weirdly noticable above others.

 

[dogwatch]

From Footywire. Huge difference in age and experience.