Preview Changes vs Nth Melbourne

[Ham]

Hit outs to advantage per ruck contest.

Just saying, are even his hitout numbers inflated?

Against essendon he had 38 hitouts from 88 contests - 43% of the time he gets the hitout

Goldstein - 25 from 56 - 44%
Draper 22 from 51 - 43%


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[Chances Are]

A coach proposing that to our recruitment panel won't get a second interview.

Unless his name is Malcolm Blight.

 

[Firewalker]

North are going to be the team ‘to scrutinise the hell out of this week’ for the Footy media this week, that crazy media attention galvanised the Dogs over the line this week & Essendon the week before, but it would be their best performance to get North over the line, not that the Crows can’t lose this it’s just North showed today they are that putrid… that said a rocket up them all week from everywhere, questioning of futures and LDU playing his one superhuman game for the year as usual against the Crows… it’s a fascinating/morbid watch this week.

 

[huludicidal]

We really should be debuting 3 players this week.

Fair enough that Curtin began the season in the SANFL after spending some time injured in his first preseason with a jarred knee, and then an ingrown toenail. But he’s played 3 SANFL games now, and we’re playing the worst team in the AFL (well, the worst team other than ourselves anyway). Milera is a half back flanker and is injured. Smith is a half back flanker, has been putrid in 5 of 6 games, and is clearly now carrying an injury. Curtin must play.

Dowling has been smashing the door down as our best performed player outside of the AFL side. Sure, Crouch comes in for the injured Berry as a straight swap, but Dowling can take the role of any of McHenry, Cook, Jones or even Smith if we inexplicably leave Curtin out of our defense.

The 3rd debutant should be one of Oscar Ryan or Zac Taylor. Both have far more upside, now and into the future, than any of Hamill, Smith, McHenry, Cook and Jones. Continuing to ignore Taylor at the expense of any of these players, and especially rolling with a combo of Smith (blatantly cooked and never going to be part of any finals campaigns moving forward), Hamill (we already delisted him once - do we really think he’s ever getting back on the senior list?) and McHenry (the entire club needs to be shut down if he’s even offered a 1 year deal for 2025) over either of these guys is lunacy.


Gut feeling: only Dowling gets picked as a debutant. Smith is risked despite being injured because our “season is on the line”. McHenry inexplicably retains his spot. Tex is rested because it’s only a 5 day break between this game and the Showdown and this rest would be preplanned prior to the season commencing.


Likely changes (ie not even remotely what I would do):

Out:
Berry (inj), Sholl (omitted), Cook (omitted), Tex (managed)

In:
Crouch, Dowling, Pedlar, Burgess

Sub:
Pedlar


Dan Curtin’s manager’s phone already ringing off the hook from both WA clubs. Nicksy licking his lips at the prospect of regaining club legends Harry Schoenberg, Jordon Butts and Lachie Murphy for the Showdown, cos you know, they aren’t proven turds at all.

 

[George CantStandYa]

We really should be debuting 3 players this week.

Fair enough that Curtin began the season in the SANFL after spending some time injured in his first preseason with a jarred knee, and then an ingrown toenail. But he’s played 3 SANFL games now, and we’re playing the worst team in the AFL (well, the worst team other than ourselves anyway). Milera is a half back flanker and is injured. Smith is a half back flanker, has been putrid in 5 of 6 games, and is clearly now carrying an injury. Curtin must play.

Dowling has been smashing the door down as our best performed player outside of the AFL side. Sure, Crouch comes in for the injured Berry as a straight swap, but Dowling can take the role of any of McHenry, Cook, Jones or even Smith if we inexplicably leave Curtin out of our defense.

The 3rd debutant should be one of Oscar Ryan or Zac Taylor. Both have far more upside, now and into the future, than any of Hamill, Smith, McHenry, Cook and Jones. Continuing to ignore Taylor at the expense of any of these players, and especially rolling with a combo of Smith (blatantly cooked and never going to be part of any finals campaigns moving forward), Hamill (we already delisted him once - do we really think he’s ever getting back on the senior list?) and McHenry (the entire club needs to be shut down if he’s even offered a 1 year deal for 2025) over either of these guys is lunacy.


Gut feeling: only Dowling gets picked as a debutant. Smith is risked despite being injured because our “season is on the line”. McHenry inexplicably retains his spot. Tex is rested because it’s only a 5 day break between this game and the Showdown and this rest would be preplanned prior to the season commencing.


Likely changes (ie not even remotely what I would do):

Out:
Berry (inj), Sholl (omitted), Cook (omitted), Tex (managed)

In:
Crouch, Dowling, Pedlar, Burgess

Sub:
Pedlar


Dan Curtin’s manager’s phone already ringing off the hook from both WA clubs. Nicksy licking his lips at the prospect of regaining club legends Harry Schoenberg, Jordon Butts and Lachie Murphy for the Showdown, cos you know, they aren’t proven turds at all.

They won’t rest Tex even if it’s the right thing to do, no way are they going to do anything that could see us lose to North.

The place will implode from the scrutiny around the comp, then we follow it up with Port, Brisbane and Pies, they wouldn’t be banking on winning any of those.

 

[FR0GGY]

Here's a big change for this week's game in Hobart - I'm not going.

First time in 10 years down here that I wasn't jumping out of my skin to get to the Crows game.

My kids (adults) are the same.

Well done Matty, you've taken the joy out of it completely.

Let the club know

 

[Mostyn]

If he was recruited to eventually play as a midfielder then he should be playing around the ball, wing or half back. If we are playing him deep in defense then we have no plan.

He was an All Australian CHB.

Why do we think we recruited him to be a 197cm midfielder?

 

[Mostyn]

Sure. But how about doing that in the role we drafted you for?

Which is what?

Personally, I think we saw the opportunity to get top of the draft talent for a mid first round pick.

I don't think we were trying to get best possible mid. I think we were getting best possible player.

We sure that he's not Lever or Weitering?

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

He was an All Australian CHB.

Why do we think we recruited him to be a 197cm midfielder?

So was Kane Johnson

Surely we didn't salivate over his skillset with the view of him being a Jordon Butts upgrade

 

[George CantStandYa]

He was an All Australian CHB.

Why do we think we recruited him to be a 197cm midfielder?

Because that would mean we used another top 10 pick on a KPD and given the state of our midfield that would be madness.

Might also be because he also played midfield and the club made a note of that.

You need to do better trying to back up the club’s decisions

 

[George CantStandYa]

Which is what?

Personally, I think we saw the opportunity to get top of the draft talent for a mid first round pick.

I don't think we were trying to get best possible mid. I think we were getting best possible player.

We sure that he's not Lever or Weitering?

Mid first rd pick? He was pick 6!!!

 

[Pugsley]

Mid first rd pick? He was pick 6!!!

Numbers are difficult for some.

 

[CrowBloke]

North are going to be the team ‘to scrutinise the hell out of this week’ for the Footy media this week, that crazy media attention galvanised the Dogs over the line this week & Essendon the week before, but it would be their best performance to get North over the line, not that the Crows can’t lose this it’s just North showed today they are that putrid… that said a rocket up them all week from everywhere, questioning of futures and LDU playing his one superhuman game for the year as usual against the Crows… it’s a fascinating/morbid watch this week.

A loss to NM is entirely possible down there; Clarko could well find a way for his rubbish to beat ours.

Re: your profile pic ...
An AFL Coach walks into a bar with a fly on his head.
Barman asks: "Where'd that come from?"

Fly says: "Not sure. It started as a wart on my butt".

 

[BigBoSS_Riot]

Mid first rd pick? He was pick 6!!!

In a draft with no concessions, no priority picks, no F/A compensation, no F/S picks and no academy picks, 6/18 would be around the middle. Not quite, but close.

In the 2023 draft, pick 8/29 is very much not the middle. And it isn't close.

 

[tinman]

Here's a big change for this week's game in Hobart - I'm not going.

First time in 10 years down here that I wasn't jumping out of my skin to get to the Crows game.

My kids (adults) are the same.

Well done Matty, you've taken the joy out of it completely.

I went to the Fremantle game in Perth. I know exactly how you feel. It was painful to watch

 

[NSolis]

Because that would mean we used another top 10 pick on a KPD and given the state of our midfield that would be madness.

Might also be because he also played midfield and the club made a note of that.

You need to do better trying to back up the club’s decisions

Has the club said somewhere that he was recruited to play midfield? My assumption was he was recruited to be a defender with an offensive skillset and the fact that he had some midfield experience was a bonus that showed his potential and versatility. The AFL isn't exactly overflowing with 197cm midfielders and the talk I remember around draft time was that he was the best KPD in the draft.

Looking at the club's press release his position is named as defender, the first sentence refers to him as the best KPD in the draft, and there's no mention of midfield. Obviously everything we've done with him since the draft also indicates he's a KPD in their eyes.

 

[Harris1991]

He was an All Australian CHB.

Why do we think we recruited him to be a 197cm midfielder?

 

[Harris1991]

If he is anything other than a midfielder then we have blown another 1st round pick.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

He's the same as all our other draftees. Can play midfield but we'll play them anywhere but first

There is certainly a chance that other clubs saw a dynamic, versatile tall who could play midfield and we saw our next Daniel Talia

12

Daniel Talia

Age

33

Ht

197cm

Wt

98kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.0

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

5.0

4star

M

4.4

4star

T

1.8

4star

MG

169.9

3star

D

10.4

3star

K

7.9

3star

HB

2.5

2star

M

4.5

4star

T

1.1

2star

MG

187.6

3star

D

11.4

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

4.4

4star

M

2.2

3star

T

3.4

5star

but with a few more tricks.

Ultimately we'll start him off against key forwards because that role will take the longest for him to develop in. Thankfully we won't have to consider picking him for a while. Maybe next year with Dowling he'll get a look in.

TOP WA Draft prospect Daniel Curtin has the attributes to grow as an elite AFL midfielder if he is snared by a club that wants to develop the versatile tall in that role, according to state talent manager Adam Jones.

Curtin, who is viewed as a top five prospect at this year's AFL Draft and could land as high as No.2, was Western Australia's standout player at the national under-18 championships playing back, midfield and briefly forward.

He was named at centre half-back in the All-Australian team but impressed recruiters when moved on-ball for periods in matches against South Australia, Vic Country and Vic Metro.

The 195cm teenager is among the players in West Coast's sights with the club's first pick, which has slid back from pick No.1 after the stirring win against the Western Bulldogs.

The club needs to recruit more elite midfield talent after adding Reuben Ginbey and Elijah Hewett last year, with Jones believing Curtin has both the attributes and the passion for the role.

"His composure as a big bloke on-ball, his ability to side-step players, and that big body around the contest, you could see that translating to the next level as a midfielder no doubt," Jones told AFL.com.au.

"His skill level is exceptionally high as well and he has the athletic capabilities. He's a really good runner for his size, so if he's going to play midfield he's going to need that.

"His stoppage craft was very, very good for a player who hadn't played a lot in that role and with his ability to learn how to spread and be a two-way elite runner, I see some really good growth there."

Jones consulted with AFL recruiters before moving Curtin into the midfield during the national championships, knowing that the state program's objective was to help players get drafted and key defence had been the 18-year-old's best position up to that point.

Recruiters were keen to see him in the role and were subsequently impressed when he racked up 26 disposals and six clearances against South Australia.

 

[George CantStandYa]

Has the club said somewhere that he was recruited to play midfield? My assumption was he was recruited to be a defender with an offensive skillset and the fact that he had some midfield experience was a bonus that showed his potential and versatility. The AFL isn't exactly overflowing with 197cm midfielders and the talk I remember around draft time was that he was the best KPD in the draft.

Looking at the club's press release his position is named as defender, the first sentence refers to him as the best KPD in the draft, and there's no mention of midfield. Obviously everything we've done with him since the draft also indicates he's a KPD in their eyes.

It was definitely asked in one of their interviews and they said he could also play midfield.

But let’s say the assumption was just to draft him as KPD and ignore the possibility of developing his midfield possibilities given he played it, what’s your thoughts? A smart move not to explore it? A smart move to use another top 10 pick on a defender?

It’s also interesting to note some of his early feedback he’s struggled one on one and it’s not a strength.

 

[NSolis]

It was definitely asked in one of their interviews and they said he could also play midfield.

But let’s say the assumption was just to draft him as KPD and ignore the possibility of developing his midfield possibilities given he played it, what’s your thoughts? A smart move not to explore it? A smart move to use another top 10 pick on a defender?

It’s also interesting to note some of his early feedback he’s struggled one on one and it’s not a strength.

Ignoring the possibility of developing his midfield skills would be silly. I think there's a pretty big gap between that and looking at playing him in defence initially though, given he's a 19 year old tall and has played most of his football as a defender. We looked at playing Fogarty as a midfielder as well - it's a possibility, but speculative at this stage.

My thoughts on watching Curtin so far this year is he looks less 'ready' than most of the first round draft picks we've picked up recently, and that his best position initially will almost certainly be a rebounding defender given he's got excellent skills and is a strong mark but has struggled a bit defensively. It's fairly hard to hide people in defensive roles at AFL level, and he will obviously need to have an opponent. That along with the fitness issues pre-season is why they haven't rushed him into the team like they generally do with first round picks.

Obviously the idea that all our young players have to do a long stint in the SANFL before getting a look-in is nonsense and hasn't been how the club operates at all for a long time.

edit: Actually, probably overstating it to say it's hard to hide people in defensive roles. A better way to put it is that there are limited roles like that and they are quite important to the team. It would be easier to pick Curtin if they felt he could handle an opponent as a third defender.

 

[Greenfinger]

Can’t believe those writing cook off . He’s had 15 games ffs . Would rather we persist than bring in our 50 game plus spuds

 

[Dangerousfield]

They won’t rest Tex even if it’s the right thing to do, no way are they going to do anything that could see us lose to North.

The place will implode from the scrutiny around the comp, then we follow it up with Port, Brisbane and Pies, they wouldn’t be banking on winning any of those.

So you're telling me we're likely to be 2-8!

Wonder how Nick's and the club would spin that?

 

[George CantStandYa]

Ignoring the possibility of developing his midfield skills would be silly. I think there's a pretty big gap between that and looking at playing him in defence initially though, given he's a 19 year old tall and has played most of his football as a defender. We looked at playing Fogarty as a midfielder as well - it's a possibility, but speculative at this stage.

My thoughts on watching Curtin so far this year is he looks less 'ready' than most of the first round draft picks we've picked up recently, and that his best position initially will almost certainly be a rebounding defender given he's got excellent skills and is a strong mark but has struggled a bit defensively. It's fairly hard to hide people in defensive roles at AFL level, and he will obviously need to have an opponent. That along with the fitness issues pre-season is why they haven't rushed him into the team like they generally do with first round picks.

Obviously the idea that all our young players have to do a long stint in the SANFL before getting a look-in is nonsense and hasn't been how the club operates at all for a long time.

edit: Actually, probably overstating it to say it's hard to hide people in defensive roles. A better way to put it is that there are limited roles like that and they are quite important to the team. It would be easier to pick Curtin if they felt he could handle an opponent as a third defender.

Fogarty wasn’t playing as mid, if he did as a junior it was no where at the level Curtin did. Didn’t Curtin play as a mid at the championships for part of it?

So why aren’t we developing him as a half back?

And if you’re going to see how he goes as a mid, now would be the time when he’s stuck in the SANFL not when he’s playing AFL because we know it won’t happen.

But the thought that we’ve drafted another key defender with a top ten pick and in particular one who struggles one on one is just dumb and so Crows.

 

[NSolis]

They have tried him in a few positions at SANFL level already. But yes I agree, now is the time to try him in a different roles and see how he goes, with an eye to getting him some AFL exposure likely as a rebounding defender. One of those roles is certainly as a KPD. No matter where he ends up playing developing the defensive side of his game will be helpful, and I don't subscribe to the view that playing KPD in the SANFL is going to ruin his career, as long as it's not the only way we are considering using him.

On Fogarty, his draft profiles were pretty similar as I recall. Mostly a forward, has played some mid, could end up in either role at AFL level, that sort of thing. And we did try him a bit in the midfield at times. Obviously as he developed it became pretty clear he was a forward.