Does Gumby and Sylvia change the game plan at all?

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Thread starter #1
With Sylvia we've added a hard running midfielder half forward who loves a goal. With Gumby we've added the lead up foil for Pav who can also take a big grab.

Thinking about Lyon's comments post GF about giving up some to get some (score) I'm wondering whether these acquisitions will, at least at times, see us able to play a more traditional game plan.

Eg Pav deep forward surrounded by a couple of smalls coming up into the space, Gumby leading up and back with the flankers and wingers working forward into the space, stretching the opposition going both ways, but with a more attacking mindset. I'd also think Sylvia will rotate with Fyfe and possibly Walters through the midfield, changing things up and stretching both the opposition defence and midfield.

Thoughts?


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jedi mind tricks

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#2
Having Sylvia in the team shouldn't alter the game plan but Gumby might as he and Pav create a taller spine than when it was just Pav or no Pav at all.

I agree with Lach about the forward set up and it will be interesting to see the forward formation and running patterns come pre season training.

Looking forward to this.
 
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#3
Happy to agree with this hypothesis Lach, but I took Ross's remarks to mean that we would set up more offensively at stoppages rather than always setting up defensively, which was our current plan.
We averaged 15th out of 18 teams for inside 50's per game this year.
I think/hope the biggest change is going to be around the stoppages, and these recruits will help us capitalise when we get it forward more
 

theGav56

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#4
Should significantly change the entry to the forward 50. We have marking power and need to use it. A longer kicking game definitely on the cards. I expect some extended goal kicking practice for the Fyfe with Sylvia in the side.

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clogged

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#5
I think what it does in the main is provide experience in the general season on how to attack, as opposed to their recruitment being the crucial element in a big final. My theory is that had Pavlich (or any player that resembled a half decent key forward) played all season, Freo would have kicked 100+ points per game on average, and that may have meant more assuredness in front of goal from some of the lesser goal scorers. Instead, the side had to play a more defensive game during the season to cover for the lack of a key forward, and when the time came to kick goals so few had the ability to stand up.

When the crunch comes, so many Freo players go into their shell in front of goal, or worse don't even look to score a goal. If more options up forward give them more confidence to attack the goals, then the side almost could line up structurally the same in the grand final and pull it off.
 

pokerspiv

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#6
Being able to play Pavlich close to goal will certainly make our existing game plan of bombing it to the goal square a lot more effective :p
 

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#7
The 2 inclusions definitely add fire power. We should be a 2-3 goal better side and without Pav we still have enough skilled goal kickers to tick over that 100 points.

I don't think the game plan in the defence side of things will change but at least those kicks forward will have a marking target on the end of them, how many times did we go forward relying on Mzungu, Walters and Fyfe to win high ball in.
 

Purple_Passion

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#8
I think with the addition of Gumby we will see Pav play a little deeper.

The inclusion of Gumby and Silva definitely adds more fire-power, hopefully we can hit 100+ points on a regular basis next year, can't wait...BRING IT ON!
 

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#9
I think clogged makes a very good point. Too often we've depended on too few IMO.

The two additions are naturally attacking players and that can only help our game style. RL can instil a defensive mindset into attacking players so we should lose nothing defensively. And our attack should only be better with Silvia and that second KPF we've been waiting for.
 

Righteo

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#11
I don't think there'll be major changes to how we play, we certainly have much greater firepower now that's for sure.

There will be some changes that occur as a by-product of their inclusions, notably we won't or shouldn't be seeing Ballantyne or Mayne competing valiantly under a high ball against 2+ defenders with Gumbleton anchored up forward with Pav. The resting ruckman will benefit from this also, can see Sandi and Clarke jagging more goals next year against 3rd talls.
 

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sherrif

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#12
The 2 inclusions definitely add fire power. We should be a 2-3 goal better side and without Pav we still have enough skilled goal kickers to tick over that 100 points.

I don't think the game plan in the defence side of things will change but at least those kicks forward will have a marking target on the end of them, how many times did we go forward relying on Mzungu, Walters and Fyfe to win high ball in.
We might play a bit more direct and kick longer with Gumby and Sylvia in attack and playing to their potential. The flow on effect of their additions could be Mayne being marked by a smaller player and providing another avenue to kick long to. I also think we could play Clarke as a floating half forward (rather than playing deep when he plays forward) , which would enable him to use his athleticism to roam and provide a marking option around the ground. I really like the additions of these two if Gumby's body holds up and Sylvia reaches his potential. Really happy we still have both our first two picks, and more than likely enough salary cap space to make a play for a significant free agent (Westhoff or Frawley) at the end of next year. With the salary cap space we should also be able to resign all our key out of contract players with front loaded contracts. Happy days.
 

jedi mind tricks

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#13
We might play a bit more direct and kick longer with Gumby and Sylvia in attack and playing to their potential. The flow on effect of their additions could be Mayne being marked by a smaller player and providing another avenue to kick long to. I also think we could play Clarke as a floating half forward (rather than playing deep when he plays forward) , which would enable him to use his athleticism to roam and provide a marking option around the ground. I really like the additions of these two if Gumby's body holds up and Sylvia reaches his potential. Really happy we still have both our first two picks, and more than likely enough salary cap space to make a play for a significant free agent (Westhoff or Frawley) at the end of next year. With the salary cap space we should also be able to resign all our key out of contract players with front loaded contracts. Happy days.
I remember Clarke often training as a roaming forward last pre season however not much came about from this. This next season it could well work with Clarke having the ability to intercept rebounding kicks from the oppositions back line.
 

peppy la pew

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#14
The 2 inclusions definitely add fire power. We should be a 2-3 goal better side and without Pav we still have enough skilled goal kickers to tick over that 100 points.

I don't think the game plan in the defence side of things will change but at least those kicks forward will have a marking target on the end of them, how many times did we go forward relying on Mzungu, Walters and Fyfe to win high ball in.
totally agreed seppo, as gravy alluded to, we will not change too much strategically, re: defensive setups.

But , we have a massive pre season to work on a forward, goal kicking setup that is unknown through out the league.

Am really excited with the Gumby trade, If he is fit then **** yeah.

Silvia is a very sweet cherry on top of the mids. :thumbsu:
 

Fred Ziffel

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#15
With Gumbleton and Sylvia in the forward line it will mean Chopper draws the third or even fourth defender, if not the third then Sylvia will.

This will have a huge impact on our forward line and in particular Mayne.

My tip Gumbleton and Sylvia will kick 60+ goals and Chop an extra 10.

I don't want to go overboard but Pav could do anything out of these additions. If he goes to the square, I can't see them double teaming him.
These are excellent additions.
I can't believe it's happened to be honest.
 

Arcassius

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#19
I think seeing Fyfe resting forward and Mundy resting back - we're going to rotate our midfielders on the ground more often. Sylvia adds to this - floating forward when not in the onball group, and it probably adds value to Sutty and Mz who are elite runners (and will hurt Ballas/Mayne - the manic sprinters)
 

Outshined

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#20
I'm not sure we'll see too many drastic changes, maybe just a few minor tweaks that come with having another genuine forward target. Ideally as most have alluded to, the very least Gumby does is bring the ball down to the hands of our smaller guys, but from what I've seen, his lead up work will be pretty valuable too. Isolating Pav will be a bonus. We really suffered in the grand final when we took possession, looked up and saw no one available, simply bombing it away to Hawthorn's advantage.

Sylvia is an awesome get in light of the IC cap. Another big body that can rotate through the midfield to lower our rotations, and he'll also add forward line potency. We've done well if Gumbleton stays fit.
 

The Bomb

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#21
Guys don't get to excited about Gumby just yet, He has only played about 40 games over the last 7 seasons, in 2013 he actually looked like he had lost a fair bit of his agility, took some awesome grabs, dropped some sitters. When he dropped the mark the defenders ran away with ease, he struggled to keep up with the pace of the game.
He really needs some serious amount of game time and confidence. You will have times when you think WOW, but you will also have times where you just want him out of the side. The most frustrating player I have ever seen play at Essendon.
Good Luck and I hope he has a awesome time with you guys and you guys get to love the bloke like us Essendon fans do. Ripping bloke, best you could ever wish to meet.
 

Alfonz

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#22
I went through the list for every game of 2013. Counting Mayne and Johnson as "talls", we played 18 games with 7 talls, 6 games with 6 talls, and 1 game with 5 talls.

If we bring Gumby in, we will be looking at 8 talls in Dawson/McPharlin/Sandi/Zac/Pavlich/Gumby/Mayne/Johnson. We did not do that once in 2013. There will be a fairly significant change to team structure if Gumby plays. And we have reduced rotations on top of this. There will have to be changes to our gameplan. It will be much harder to maintain the manic running required for our defensive lockdown. Our PA column should go up, but hopefully so will the PF column.
 

Dormammu

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#23
Wouldn't be surprised if Pav and Gumby rarely appear together on the same teamsheet. Both are restricted by injuries and multiple operations (and age in Pav's case) and are therefore unlikely play out a full H&A season.

So the strategy may be to use Gumby as a cut-out for parts of the season so that Pav is fit and firing for the finals. A similar approach may be adopted for Sandilands (using Griff, Hannath and Clarke) and to a lesser extent for McPharlin (Silvagni, Smith).

Sylvia is a different proposition. I like him, but he's not an automatic starting 22, which he acknowledges. He'll be expected to spend some time as an inside mid so he'll have to significantly adjust his game to fit in with our structures, set-plays etc (unlike say D.Pearce, who's an outside player, and therefore required less time to adjust).

And no doubt he's picked up some bad habits at Melbourne which he's going to have to discard. Quickly.

How will he be used? What will he add? Another avenue to goals for sure, but at his age and with his experience perhaps he'll be more of a Mr. Fixit, plugging unexpected holes that crop up forward, mid and even back.

It's not glamorous, but until we can find a way to keep our injury list under control he'll be money well spent.
 
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