Chips to the Midfield?

[Persevering Saint]

Interesting article on Sammy Fisher, looking to have more of a role possibly in the midfield this year.

http://saints.com.au/tabid/5315/Default.aspx?newsid=71192

 

[esaint66]

Would love to see either Gram or Chips move upfield, except i would rather Gram because he has a bit more pace and can nail those goals from outside the arc.

 

[goodie23]

He'd be a hard one to match up on, not that many 191cm midfielders in the game

 

[Squizz]

Would like to see Goose and Bakes return, with Eddy, Ray, Begley, Raph and Gilbo stepping up down back to support Max.

This would release Gram to the midfield and Sam F to a roaming forward role which we sorely missed last year aside from Roo. This is where Lynch will also fit in, but possibly not in his first year.

 

[TassieSaint]

A waste in the midfield. His height, marking ability and good 1 on 1 defending (people seem to forget he can comfortably take care of some of the games best forwards) would all be wasted in the midfield. In my opinion he'd make a good mid but no superstar, whereas he is already close to the games best defender.

Gram on the other hand is somewhat lacking in the above 3 skills but would be suited really well to a midfield role with his pace and goal kicking ability so I'd like to see him move up there.

 

[Persevering Saint]

Fair point Tas. But what about him possibly taking a role as a defensive forward, a la Hamill?

 

[TassieSaint]

Well he's no Hamill imo, but I wouldn't mind seeing him off half forward. There's no doubt we need a third tall up there but I still think he plays his best footy in the back half. Basically if it aint broke don't fix it (in regards to Chips, not our forward line) is my thinking.

Wouldn't mind seeing Goddard up rotated off HFF when not in the midfield and Gilbert did ok when up forward in patches last year and Lynch, Eddy, Raph all options. So yeah would prefer to see those blokes up there, not because they'd be better at it than Chips (would do alright though hopefully), but because he adds so much to our back half (the 3rd best in the league imo)

 

[Persevering Saint]

It seems to me to be a question of depth - with Ray and Begs coming in, I can see significantly more depth in the Backline than in our (often frustratingly) thin forward line. I REALLY don't want to see Milney alone in the goal square trying to take speccies again. This is precisely why people like Goddard and Chips are being bandied about for a possible role in the forward line.

So, do you think - despite his obvious value to the backline - he might be just more needed in our forward line, until players like Lynch can take up that role? Are our forward stocks that thin? And are our backline stocks really strong enough to afford him leaving them?

 

[TassieSaint]

It'd be robbing Peter to pay Paul I reckon (if that is the correct expression?). Take him out of our backline and we lose both our 2nd best defender and best (assuming BJ and Gram are up field) rebounder. Ray and Begley are alright players, but is playing them down back and Fisher up forward really any different to say playing the Clarkes up forward and Fisher down back? I don't reckon myself

FWIW, my best 22 (with those who are underlined the players who won't be rotating much):
B: Fisher Hudghton Blake
HB: Baker Maguire Gilbert
C: Gram Ball Montagna
HF: X. Clarke Riewoldt Goddard
F: Milne Koschitzke Schneider
R: King Hayes Dal Santo

Int: Armitage R. Clarke Ray Eddy

Half Back rotations: Baker, Gilbert, R. Clarke, Ray, Gram
Mid rotations: Goddard, Baker, X. Clarke, Gram, Armitage, Eddy, Ray
Half Forward rotations: Goddard, X. Clarke, Armitage, Eddy, Gilbert, R. Clarke

I think we have enough options all over the ground to keep Fisher where he plays his best footy.

 

[Squizz]

I REALLY don't want to see Milney alone in the goal square trying to take speccies again.

God no - Milne and Eddy were both in this position far too many times. Even though Woody had limited impact on the scoreboard, he did straighten us up and encourage quicker ball movement. Sam F is a lovely kick for goal which all should agree is not a strong suit of the boys.

 

[Rough_Edges]

Too important down back for us to be moved into the midfield. Pretty safe down back and uses it very well going into the midfield.

No need for him in there at this stage for mine.

 

[dan0z]

Too important down back for us to be moved into the midfield. Pretty safe down back and uses it very well going into the midfield.

No need for him in there at this stage for mine.

Are we the same person??

 

[Plugger35]

Too important down back for us to be moved into the midfield. Pretty safe down back and uses it very well going into the midfield.

No need for him in there at this stage for mine.

I agree that Fisher is best suited in defence. He can play a genuine shut down role on key forwards as well as play that loose man or quarterback type role to set up play down the ground.

No doubt he has the skills to be successful in a midfield role or up forward as well. He has good hands, is a good kick and a smart player who can read the play well. So it may still be worth throwing him into the midfield or up forward on the odd occasion depending on the match situation or the opposition.

However generally speaking I think he should remain in defence, playing a similar role to the one he has played so well the last few years.

 

[AFLOnline]

This would release Gram to the midfield and Sam F to a roaming forward role which we sorely missed last year aside from Roo. This is where Lynch will also fit in, but possibly not in his first year.

Not sure this is a great idea. Early in his career was TERRIBLE in the forward line, could hardly get a touch. I remember watching him and thinking 'wtf are you doing in our team?' However, as soon as he moved to the backline, people started noticing good things from him. It's where he should be kept and where he plays his best footy.

 

[Armitage2Riewoldt]

He's a gun in the backline, so why attempt to change him into something else?

Unless he turns out to be a revelation and is better than Joey, Dall, Ball and Lenny; which I can't see, he should stay roaming off half back picking up 25+ touches every week.

 

[Sainters66]

He's a gun in the backline, so why attempt to change him into something else?

Unless he turns out to be a revelation and is better than Joey, Dall, Ball and Lenny; which I can't see, he should stay roaming off half back picking up 25+ touches every week.

Agree. Can't see SF playing in the forward line. Better flexibility throughout the team would be useful though.

Expect to see both Gram and Goddard used more in the mid field this year.

 

[Rough_Edges]

Don't understand why you change Fishers spot as I have previously stated in this thread.

Further going into it.


He takes a good player and shuts that player down and also runs off and creates, meaning he doesn't have a forward tag on him, because his the one trying to shut down another player.

Just about our most important player with the job he does week in, week out.

 

[Jimmy 35]

we'll see, if are defenders get back to there best with no injuries and playing very well, wouldnt mind seeing Fish half foward line maybe pocket. Got great hands and a good kick for goal but we'll see what happens wont we?

 

[SaintsSeptember]

I think to an extent he could play forward, but switch to the backline if the opponents start scoriing ( a la Roughead against StKilda ). He has a great kick on him.

 

[Squizz]

Playing Sam F as a forward does not mean he can't play the same sort of floating role. It's not netball where there are player zones! He it fit enough to provide a chop out down back and then run forward to provide an option.

We have to get guys up front who can kick straight. Lack of conversion of relatively straightforward shots, an inability of forwards to kick 50m, and turnovers from indecisive ball movement through the midfield (possibly due to a lack of tall targets in F50) hurt us a number of times last year.

Sam was a forward when he came to the club. With Goose, Gilbo and Bakes expected to return fully from injuries and Ray, Begley and Dawson recruited to bolster the defence it is time to start trying to win some games out of the middle rather than out of defence.

 

[Rough_Edges]

S fish was such a hack up forward early in his career tho..

 

[Jimmy 35]

maybe he as improved since then?

 

[SaintsSeptember]

S fish was such a hack up forward early in his career tho..

Was he a hack or was he just an inexperienced young player who had Fraser Gehrig, Aaron Hamil, Nick Riewoldt and Kosi selected in the forward line in front of him?

 

[Jimmy 35]

jeez, imagine havin that forward line now!

 

[sainter]

I missed the second half of the season while I was overseas but I was under the impression that he did spend far more time up the ground this season. Whether that was as a rebounding defender or a midfielder I'm not sure but I think we'll be a far better team if we can get the likes of him, Goddard and Gram into our midfield rotations. It's the way footy has gone.