Could/should Josh Hunt get more time in the midfield?

[Poetic Justice]

Was interesting yesterday to actually feel good about Josh Hunt being back in the side. Last year his form lacked to the point where he was given a run in the twos to build it back up and it seems to have worked well for him to a point where I (and I'm sure many others do) think he is an automatic selection into our starting 18.

But having said that, could we use him more in the midfield? He has such a good grunt about him that means he could be a good tackling machine like Kelly, get the ball and get it moving. Not to mention that if you get him on the run off the wing at about 80m odd, he's a good chance to kick a driving goal from 50+m.

I felt watching yesterday that Cam Guthrie is definitely making a name for himself. Pretty cool/calm/collected and made me feel he was a bit of a Joel Corey mixed with Darren Milburn. Then we have Scarlett to come back in and our defense is starting to sure up a little.

What do you think?

 

[footscore]

he'd be awesome in the midfield wouldn't he
another Karmichael Hunt and he's so powerful, wonder why he hasn't been tried in midfield before?

 

[Senatorguesty]

I was thinking that while I watched the replay this morning (and noted in another thread) with the emergence of Guthrie and/or Gillies and our lack of a hard contested body in the middle I think the puzzle peice places itself. Hes a BIG booming kick too which would suit our forward line aswell right?
Like is it just me or is it almost a dead set certainty that its going to happen? I cant see a negative other than maybe a lack of a big enough engine from Josh?

 

[Poetic Justice]

I recall him being tried in pre-season matches in 2011 and looked quite good. Not sure what happened from there...

 

[vinum coupe]

I made that comment last year or the year before and was laughed at.
There is a possibility that he would just slow us down further if he played midfield though.

When he was first recruited he played midfield in the two's and he was a brute.

 

[winty]

Could be a huge weapon playing on a wing, especially with the wind tunnel that is Simmonds Stadium at the moment. Get the ball in his hands within 70m of goal when we're kicking with the breeze and he could kick a bag.

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

I'd imagine the coaching staff are very concerned about our clearance ability at present. I would think that having Josh as part of the midfield rotation is an option they would consider , has the mature body and grunt to make a go of it in bursts. His long kicking to Pods and Hawk would come in handy as well.

 

[_Me_]

chapman goes forward - hunt in the guts

 

[Cursed Cat]

interesting, a little bit surprised at the enthusiasm for Hunt's proposed move.

I like it, sign me up.

 

[Hoffy95]

Be great to give it a test run during a game we've wrapped up early.

 

[Poetic Justice]

Be great to give it a test run during a game we've wrapped up early.

If we get one this year....

 

[Ikan Bodoh]

He played a little bit in the middle in the NAB cup this year too.

Although I'm not sure exactly why I think he'd get exposed in there if he was doing it too often, but I think he'd be great as an impact player out of the middle once a quarter or so.

I'm also in the camp that he could spend some time on the wing given Guthrie and Smedts have looked ok in the back half and Wojcinski is coming back soon. He'd be a very damaging player if we could get him 5+ inside 50's a match given his delivery, not to mention the opportunity for some nice long bombs from outside 50 to break opposition floods.

 

[Hoffy95]

If we get one this year....

Collingwood.

 

[AM]

He played a little bit in the middle in the NAB cup this year too.

Although I'm not sure exactly why I think he'd get exposed in there if he was doing it too often, but I think he'd be great as an impact player out of the middle once a quarter or so.

I'm also in the camp that he could spend some time on the wing given Guthrie and Smedts have looked ok in the back half and Wojcinski is coming back soon. He'd be a very damaging player if we could get him 5+ inside 50's a match given his delivery, not to mention the opportunity for some nice long bombs from outside 50 to break opposition floods.

There's something to be said for using him in an impact role. Not sure he has the engine to fill that role or on the wing for more than that.

I'd much prefer we groom our younger players for midfield roles.

 

[sarah.13]

I think our major problem is the lack of outside mids who can burst clear and deliver.
This is where we miss Wojo and Varcoe.
Selwood and kelly can on occaison but delivery has been poor. Duncan is another who can but he is down on form.

 

[DanA]

Not got the endurance to run out a game in the middle. Could see him do well playing 20-40% game time in the middle though.

We had Duncan & Bartel play back as well as Scarlett. That suggests to me that there is room for Guthrie, Hunt & Scarlett to play down back.

 

[TheWoodenSlug]

I like it. Guthrie takes Hunt's spot down back, Chappy plays more forward and Hunt takes most of Chappy's midfield time. His pace might be an issue, but Chappy isn't quick himself so we aren't exactly losing pace, just not adding any. The only other problem would be his engine. Not too sure what his is like, anyone know?

But there are certainly plenty of positives to the move, most of which revolve around his size, strength and long kick. A strong body should help with the clearances through tackling and getting the ball to the runners, and with the J Pod and the Tomahawk marking everything up forward, a bloke who can kick it (accurately) from the back half into the forward 50 is gold.

Good move, I think.

 

[kanyewest]

I don't think he's smart enough around the ball to play in the midfield. He gives away free kicks too easily in contested situations and often appears as if he's waiting for another player to take the lead.

I think we need him down back at the moment anyway.

 

[Turbocat]

Like to see him tried. The boys boys down back have been doing a reasonable job and Hunt off the wing would be a powerful player. I have alway though he would be better as a SeeballGetball player

 

[Poetic Justice]

Like to see him tried. The boys boys down back have been doing a reasonable job and Hunt off the wing would be a powerful player. I have alway though he would be better as a SeeballGetball player

But seeballgetball then kick70metres type too, inside 50s baby!

 

[Pollywaffle]

Dont forget that a lot of his value is in the kickout situation. his big range makes outrider defenders nervous.

 

[cynical]

With so many young players in the side josh hunt should mostly play back but have stints in the midfield and forward line.

His physical presence would certainly make some of the softer midfielders wary of going in hard.

 

[GeeCat]

I don't think he's smart enough around the ball to play in the midfield. He gives away free kicks too easily in contested situations and often appears as if he's waiting for another player to take the lead.

I think we need him down back at the moment anyway.

Yeah, I tend to agree more with this line of thinking. I can see why in theory it could work – strong body/big frame, booming kick, aggressive tackling technique when he executes correctly – reads like a description of your prototypical clearance specialist. But again, I’d stress ”in theory”.

Just from previous observations during Hunt’s numerous trials as part of the midfield group, I haven’t walked away convinced he’d fit in. I think there’s a lot more than just having a ‘see-ball, kick-ball’ approach when playing in the guts, and that’s where Hunt’s flaws come to the fore. For starters, I don’t think Hunt’s work in the clinches would hold up – it seems that his brain doesn’t quite process options quick enough, and I think this decision-making ability is a crucial element (I think it would be easy to label it as simply lacking ‘footy smarts’, but having heard Hunt in numerous interviews etc he’s actually always come across as a rather astute thinker of the game). I also think that’s why he’s always been at his best as the overlapping option out of defence, where he has the relative luxury of being able to see the play unfold in front of him and have the time to assess his options before executing. Interestingly, this same trait (a quick-thinking footy brain for decision-making) is something I’ve sometimes noticed in Chappy too, who sometimes needs a second or two too many when working under the high-pressure settings of the midfield (and why I think Chappy has never had it in him for a full-time midfield gig). Alongside all of this, I too have noticed how Hunt seems to be a very ‘reactionary’ player. Maybe it’s the defender’s mentality instilled into him, but on the rare occasion that he’s been pushed into the midfield, Hunt does tend to sit off the packs and only throw himself in after a play has been made for the contested ball. In essence, he’s not been there to win the ball himself but rather form some sort of ‘reactionary unit’ who lay the big tackles to prevent an opposition clearance should they win the ball first. My worry with this is, if the time comes when Hunt himself needs to go, will he go? This would also play into his history of not always throwing his significant weight around when it counts or matters and often inconsistently displaying an aggressive approach to the man/ball – those sling tackles don’t count by the way. And if he’s stuck with that reactionary mindset during those 50-50 situations, doesn’t that negate all those virtues which ‘in theory’ should see him thrive in the midfield (big frame – not used effectively, booming kick to extract the ball is useless if he won’t get his hands on it to begin with)?

I don’t mean to sound like I’m writing off Hunt as a player - I think there’s still a place for him within the team and I am certainly not disregarding what he brings to the team – but I’ve been pretty interested to see just how positive many people’s reactions have been to this theoretical move to the midfield.

 

[Turbocat]

Good to see you posting Gee. Make a good case. I tend to put a lot of what you have observed as lack of time in their to be familiar with it and that we had so many good options for mid and not so many as the small defender that he was quickly put back there.

We have young players like Smedts & Guthrie now that need to be in the side.
Id just like to see him be tried in a some games and see how it goes.

 

[Vdubs]

Dont forget that a lot of his value is in the kickout situation. his big range makes outrider defenders nervous.

Not used there enough. BUT....
I said on another thread that it'd be well worth a try Josh in the middle. Plonk him there and he'll get his hands on the ball like a Ling or a Riccardi, and his booming left foot kick would be an asset. He does not need to travel the ground that much. I can recall Kelvin Matthews played a role like that for us, admittedly last millennium, but hugely effective, unstoppable, similar dimensions.I'd like to see Corey get some form back by running with similar vintage players, Black this week. Gillies should keep his spot for a while. T Hunt and Guthrie are brilliant on the HBF. We still have Mackie and Enright there as well.