Diggers

[Melly017]

People,
If you don't mind a question?

What has he done? He seems to be in the best players for the Bullants, yet no getting a run. Why?

 

[bibi01]

People,
If you don't mind a question?

What has he done? He seems to be in the best players for the Bullants, yet no getting a run. Why?

having diggers in the side makes us have a very tall fwd line
when he goes back to defence he seems to struggle a bit

it has been strange that he has not playeed much this year as we have gone into many games with a small defence and have tried to cover with whitnall, waite and prendergast at different stages.
and each week we have 1 or 2 talls missing from the starting 22

he also lacks a bit of pace at AFL level and having whitnall in the team may be seen as being too similar.

he has been very good at VFL level but they have been having an excellent season and playing really good football.
as with any fwd if you get the ball into the 50 quickly and often enough the fwd is going to look good, afl afl carlton have been very average and without quick ball movement into the 50 diggers can be found out.

 

[av76]

I think he has been unlucky. Not sure why he was dropped originally as I remember him doing some good jobs in the backline and wing and pulling down lots of marks. His VFL form has been good. You'd think they would give him a go and just let Whitnall play out the season in defence. Also think we should play tall this week so they have to put some of their talls in the back half. All I remember last time was all the Tiges talls playing in the forward half and watching Teague struggle.

Its difficult to determine who's in and out of favour at the moment as Pagan's probably experimenting quite a lot. Eg. Bowyer deserved another game more than others (e.g. sporn and Houlihan) but I think Pagan maybe experimenting a little. Maybe he's also playing some players in positions to make them look good so their trade value might do up. For example, it would be stupid to play Houlihan in the VFL until seasons end if they want to offload him. Just speculating, but my point is that it is pretty hard to read too much into team selections these last couple of weeks and until the end of the year.

 

[mojo31]

I think he has been unlucky. Not sure why he was dropped originally as I remember him doing some good jobs in the backline and wing and pulling down lots of marks. His VFL form has been good. You'd think they would give him a go and just let Whitnall play out the season in defence. Also think we should play tall this week so they have to put some of their talls in the back half. All I remember last time was all the Tiges talls playing in the forward half and watching Teague struggle.

Its difficult to determine who's in and out of favour at the moment as Pagan's probably experimenting quite a lot. Eg. Bowyer deserved another game more than others (e.g. sporn and Houlihan) but I think Pagan maybe experimenting a little. Maybe he's also playing some players in positions to make them look good so their trade value might do up. For example, it would be stupid to play Houlihan in the VFL until seasons end if they want to offload him. Just speculating, but my point is that it is pretty hard to read too much into team selections these last couple of weeks and until the end of the year.

6 games this year.
48 possessions, 21 marks and 2 goals.

That might have something to do with him being dropped.

 

[av76]

6 games this year.
48 possessions, 21 marks and 2 goals.

That might have something to do with him being dropped.

I'm sure it did! But stats like that doesn't account for game time and position played. Guys like Teague, Longmuir, Betts, Livo all have similar stats because of the position they played and the time on the ground. It also doesn't account for the return of players like Sporn who got both less stats before getting dumped and whose form was not as good in the VFL before being recalled.

I suppose you can argue they are all duds and would be dropped in other sides...but compared to other players being pulled in and out of the team, I'd still argue Diggers has been given a pretty tough run!

 

[celtic_pride]

Sounds like he's Gawn..
One of many to be delisted at seasons end.

 

[mojo31]

I'm sure it did! But stats like that doesn't account for game time and position played. Guys like Teague, Longmuir, Betts, Livo all have similar stats because of the position they played and the time on the ground. It also doesn't account for the return of players like Sporn who got both less stats before getting dumped and whose form was not as good in the VFL before being recalled.

I suppose you can argue they are all duds and would be dropped in other sides...but compared to other players being pulled in and out of the team, I'd still argue Diggers has been given a pretty tough run!

and what age are the players you are comparing Diggers to?
Diggers can be compared to Whitnall who is around the same age. Whits is playing okay so he is preferred.
Teague is a HBF so dont know about stats for him. Livo is a full back. Betts is a FP.
You need to ask yourself if Diggers deserves a spot over Fev, Waite, Fisher or Whitnall.
All are marking targets in the forward line. Whits has gone back in the last few weeks but they still have 3 targets up there.
Who is going to be dropped?
Waite, Fev or Fisher?

I can see why he is not playing AFL. Very good VFL player but not athletic enough to make it as a forward in the AFL. Lance without the smarts= Diggers.

 

[av76]

I suppose I'm comparing him to guys like Longmuir and Fisher. Longmuir's been pretty good these last two weeks and Fisher's return has been great. But at the time Fisher returned, Digby's form in the VFL (going by votes, goals and match reports) was much better than his and Longmuir hadn't done jack in the ones the previous weeks . I wouldn't drop Fisher on current form ...but two weeks ago I wondered why he was fast tracked ahead of Digby and why Longmuir wasn't dropped
Now with Thornton injured you'd think Diggers would get a game ahead of Houlihan, Sporn and Chambers given Digby's continued good form in the VFL so that Whitnall could have played in the backline without sacrificing too much height up forward.
I'm not saying he's a star and should be a walk up start...just that he's been a little unlucky.

Next week I'd play Digby at half forward (as a poor man's Whitnall, a description I agree with) and play Whitnall and Norman (who needs a few chance to prove himself before the year is out) in the backline.

 

[mojo31]

I suppose I'm comparing him to guys like Longmuir and Fisher. Longmuir's been pretty good these last two weeks and Fisher's return has been great. But at the time Fisher returned, Digby's form in the VFL (going by votes, goals and match reports) was much better than his and Longmuir hadn't done jack in the ones the previous weeks . I wouldn't drop Fisher on current form ...but two weeks ago I wondered why he was fast tracked ahead of Digby and why Longmuir wasn't dropped
Now with Thornton injured you'd think Diggers would get a game ahead of Houlihan, Sporn and Chambers given Digby's continued good form in the VFL so that Whitnall could have played in the backline without sacrificing too much height up forward.
I'm not saying he's a star and should be a walk up start...just that he's been a little unlucky.

Next week I'd play Digby at half forward (as a poor man's Whitnall, a description I agree with) and play Whitnall and Norman (who needs a few chance to prove himself before the year is out) in the backline.

Since Fisher has come back in the team has kicked 17 and 15 goals. Only 4 from Fev and none from Whits. Seeems to me to be a very good sign for the future.
Still not helping the midfield who are not accountable and dont win it enough.
Fisher, Waite and Betts have overall been good this year.
Digby is an okay player. We just have a few tall forwards and he is 5th in line. We just dont have that power type of player who can take a contested mark.
Digby is not that sort either and he cant play down back.
I just think they have signed his papers already and decided to go with younger blokes.

Other players might be getting a game because they are looking to keep them in the eye of other clubs to see if something can be arranged at the end of the season.

 

[lou22]

Diggers is finished at carlton