- Nov 16, 2015
- 5,505
- 9,013
- AFL Club
- Western Bulldogs
Sorry, 3rd best behind the Pies and the Saints.
Forgot about The Boss’ dour Saints.
Forgot about The Boss’ dour Saints.
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Never took him for a Double Cruiser man.
Surely the footy should have been on the big screen...I watched both . The royal event on the big screen, the footy on my ipad, on the coffee table. Win win.
Didn’t have the numbersSurely the footy should have been on the big screen...
No current season stats available
Stats are interesting things. They don't capture whether an ordinary pass required an extraordinary effort on the part of the receiver to complete it, just that it was completed.In fairness to Gardner, he hit the target with 10/12 disposals and had 3 score involvements which are both above average stats when compared to all of our key defenders.
I think his role has changed because it had to. He is bereft of pace, burst and general. The 6 6 6 rule further exposed this where it's no longer possible to put an extra back as cover. His combination with others of moderate pace is no doubt a big part of the reason that teams have been able to waltz out of CBs in recent years. It also happened to coincide with Tim English's development phase and Gawn et als dominance where we were a less than 50/50 chance of being able to control the taps.
- The diminishing Jack Macrae. What's happened to this bloke? He was pretty solid last night - possibly one of his best games of the season - and a few even put him in their Ching votes. But right now he is just a shadow of the player he was 2-3 years ago, the one who racked up 30Ds a game for about 100 games in a row. I'm hoping there's some truth in the rumour that he is dealing with a rib injury of some sort. I'll be sad if this is the best we'll ever see of him from here on. He just doesn't seem to have the impact of past years. Is it his changed role? Or has he had his role changed because he is injured or in decline? He's only 28 and by rights he should be able to carry on for another 2-3 years at least. If he's genuinely on the way out our midfield woes are even worse than we've supposed. I've posted some stats below.
I don't think this is remotely accurate at all. The 6-6-6 rule has been around since the beginning of 2019 and Jack has accomplished 3 AA's since then and been a part of dominant midfield groups throughout that period. His stats across the board are actually nearly identical to his last season with the exception of uncontested possessions (down to 16 from 20).I think his role has changed because it had to. He is bereft of pace, burst and general. The 6 6 6 rule further exposed this where it's no longer possible to put an extra back as cover. His combination with others of moderate pace is no doubt a big part of the reason that teams have been able to waltz out of CBs in recent years. It also happened to coincide with Tim English's development phase and Gawn et als dominance where we were a less than 50/50 chance of being able to control the taps.
It seems that part of the solution is to effectively hide him on HFF at restarts and allow him to transition into a more central role from there. Unfortunately the lack of pace essentially has no remedy and he gets burnt on turnovers by faster players in general play. If we turn it over less then it's less of a problem and I suppose that's the ideal.
Timmy's improvement and emergence might be able to mitigate our clearance player's overall lack of pace moving forward and allow Macrae a more regular presence there but I think we're still left with the overall problem of a lack of pace with our most experienced clearance players at CBs and stoppages generally.
A few names have been put up as Libba's eventual replacement, West and Garcia amongst them. I wonder if it isn't in fact Macrae, even if just for a couple years.
Short answer, the days of Libba, Macrae and Bont as the first choice stoppage unit are behind us and unless Timmy becomes utterly dominant we'll see it less and less. At the moment, Macrae is the most expendable of the 3 and has to reinvent himself in the interim (or until Libba retires). It's not easy. He's been fantastic for us over the journey.
Spot on and this is the reason we need to draft the best two onballers in the current draft. Its were the game is won and lost most times. We really should be in transition this year. I'd actually start playing Ed Richards in the middle.I think his role has changed because it had to. He is bereft of pace, burst and general. The 6 6 6 rule further exposed this where it's no longer possible to put an extra back as cover. His combination with others of moderate pace is no doubt a big part of the reason that teams have been able to waltz out of CBs in recent years. It also happened to coincide with Tim English's development phase and Gawn et als dominance where we were a less than 50/50 chance of being able to control the taps.
It seems that part of the solution is to effectively hide him on HFF at restarts and allow him to transition into a more central role from there. Unfortunately the lack of pace essentially has no remedy and he gets burnt on turnovers by faster players in general play. If we turn it over less then it's less of a problem and I suppose that's the ideal.
Timmy's improvement and emergence might be able to mitigate our clearance player's overall lack of pace moving forward and allow Macrae a more regular presence there but I think we're still left with the overall problem of a lack of pace with our most experienced clearance players at CBs and stoppages generally.
A few names have been put up as Libba's eventual replacement, West and Garcia amongst them. I wonder if it isn't in fact Macrae, even if just for a couple years.
Short answer, the days of Libba, Macrae and Bont as the first choice stoppage unit are behind us and unless Timmy becomes utterly dominant we'll see it less and less. At the moment, Macrae is the most expendable of the 3 and has to reinvent himself in the interim (or until Libba retires). It's not easy. He's been fantastic for us over the journey.
I don't agree. I think that as the 6 6 6 was bedded in over the initial period it became obvious that to maximise it's benefits, quick mids at CBs was the way to go. 2019 first year, 2020 covid year with shorter games. By GF 2021 it was clear that our 3, especially Macrae, was unsustainable against the likes of Melbourne who had pace to burn and a dominant ruck. Now it's not just Melbourne.I don't think this is remotely accurate at all. The 6-6-6 rule has been around since the beginning of 2019 and Jack has accomplished 3 AA's since then and been a part of dominant midfield groups throughout that period. His stats across the board are actually nearly identical to his last season with the exception of uncontested possessions (down to 16 from 20).
There's also a chance it has something to do with a slight change in game style. Our mids have always shared the ball around considerably in the midfield so there may be more of a directive to be more direct with the footy due to our taller options.
I agree with the first 2 sentences, partially with the 3rd, not with the last.Spot on and this is the reason we need to draft the best two onballers in the current draft. Its were the game is won and lost most times. We really should be in transition this year. I'd actually start playing Ed Richards in the middle.
I think his role has changed because it had to. He is bereft of pace, burst and general. The 6 6 6 rule further exposed this where it's no longer possible to put an extra back as cover. His combination with others of moderate pace is no doubt a big part of the reason that teams have been able to waltz out of CBs in recent years. It also happened to coincide with Tim English's development phase and Gawn et als dominance where we were a less than 50/50 chance of being able to control the taps.
It seems that part of the solution is to effectively hide him on HFF at restarts and allow him to transition into a more central role from there. Unfortunately the lack of pace essentially has no remedy and he gets burnt on turnovers by faster players in general play. If we turn it over less then it's less of a problem and I suppose that's the ideal.
Timmy's improvement and emergence might be able to mitigate our clearance player's overall lack of pace moving forward and allow Macrae a more regular presence there but I think we're still left with the overall problem of a lack of pace with our most experienced clearance players at CBs and stoppages generally.
A few names have been put up as Libba's eventual replacement, West and Garcia amongst them. I wonder if it isn't in fact Macrae, even if just for a couple years.
Short answer, the days of Libba, Macrae and Bont as the first choice stoppage unit are behind us and unless Timmy becomes utterly dominant we'll see it less and less. At the moment, Macrae is the most expendable of the 3 and has to reinvent himself in the interim (or until Libba retires). It's not easy. He's been fantastic for us over the journey.
A few classic Gardner moments of him spoiling a contest only for it to be our man he spoiled or he didnt completely kill the ball leaving his man all by himself 10m off the play.No, Gardner's second half was definitely not better than his first.
He may have gotten into the play more but that doesn't mean it was better.
He also made more costly mistakes. His last quarter was a bit of nightmare for him unfortunately. He really needs to learn to play more conservatively as a defender, and that sometimes it is a much better option to not over commit to a contest and prepare to fight the next one.
How many times can one bloke make the same type of mistake over and over again and not adjust his approach?
I wouldn't like to trade him to be fair.Macrae’s lack of pace and acceleration has been exposed in finals. The Dees in particular were working through his man and Dunkley’s, as neither could keep up.
We really need to move Macrae to HHF and allow him to then join the midfield. Unfortunately that is also Daniel’s best position too and neither have much pace.
We won’t get much for either via trade but having both in the team is increasing a lack of leg speed issue. Our early picks this year need to be spent on bringing in inside pace and power; either in the draft or via trade.
I wouldn't like to trade him to be fair.
I think he's now in the unfortunate position of bidding his time (in the 22 but on the periphery) until Libba retires or suffers an LTI and he takes his role or English becomes so dominant that his pace (or lack thereof) ceases to be the factor it has become. Any significant improvement or development in Bedendo or Cleary, or a miraculous injury free run from VDM, may even put him outside the 22.
That may not suit him and he may find the warmer climes of GC attractive. I think he'd be a really good fit for GC, not that I'd like to see it happen
Smith has limitations though. Look at the way Petrucca and Oliver play. Richards has the most attributes of anyone on our list. Yes he is playing great footy at half back, yet what could that be like in the middle? Smith is an outside runner who struggles in a "hot" contest. Richards thrives in 1 on 1 contests and in my view would be the same at centre bounces.I agree with the first 2 sentences, partially with the 3rd, not with the last.
My solution to the last is continued investment in Smith and possibly giving Williams some thought. Outside of that I don't see many options.
We're sort of in transition this year and we need Smith to work if we're to be any sort of chance of a shot at the stumps later in the year.
Beyond that, I 100% agree that we need to prioritise fast and quality on-ballers, whether we trade for them or draft them.
Bit ridiculous isn't it.The disrespect personally id rather see him play out the next 5 years as the sub before I’d like to see him running around in opposition colours even if we got a high draft pick for it.
He’s an absolute legend and a gun player
Umpiring was disgraceful across the game. Clearly a directive to not pay frees for both teams.Also just remembered that passage of play in the 4th where big Timmy got clobbered across the arms by Angwin (?) for no free kick and then moments later Matt Flynn came flying in for the clearest 50m penalty you will ever see into Tim's back again for nothing. Pathetic.
It's a brutal business I know but I'd hate to see Macrae pensioned off to GCS or somewhere similar. He's been such a fiercely loyal Bulldog from the day he arrived and has given such great service it would be great to see him end his career as a one-club player.I don’t want him taking Libba’s role.
We need a powerful inside bull in there and Macrae isn’t that.
GC would be his best option but he might want to stay in Victoria, so Saints, North or Bombers would be his options. GC could pay us the most in trade assets, the others would likely want to do pick upgrades (which IF big enough, I don’t mind either).
Hopefully his manager is exploring his options at the moment.
No, I don't think there's any doubt his production is down. The question I'm asking is why.His stats across the board are actually nearly identical to his last season with the exception of uncontested possessions (down to 16 from 20).
It will be interesting to see what we will do with Smith. We’ve identified that his defensive work is a massive issue and have pretty much cut him completely out of the centre bounces since rounds 2-3. Even last week, the coaching staff have preferred to use Caleb and I’d be surprised if Smith attended more than 1 or 2 centre bounces over the past 2 weeks.No, I don't think there's any doubt his production is down. The question I'm asking is why.
Look at the career stats I posted above. There's a modest difference between 2022 and 2023 but the difference between 2021 and 2023 is stark:
Disposals DOWN 20% (Kicks DOWN 29%, Handball DOWN 2%)
Marks DOWN 21%
Tackles DOWN 14%
GAs DOWN 40%
i50 UP 4%
Clearances DOWN 32%
Clangers DOWN 35% (a good thing!)
R50 DOWN 25%
I'm not being critical of Macrae. I'm just pointing out his stats AND the eye test say he's not exerting the sort of influence he had 2-3 years ago. I'm hoping there's some transient or tactical reason rather than having to accept that his career is in terminal decline. It shouldn't be happening yet.
Most of the differences between 2021 and 2023 could be put down to him being further away from the engine room (at least for some of the game) so I'm more inclined to follow Next Waiting 's line of reasoning.
I'm also clinging onto the hope that he might be nursing some sort of chronic injury (ribs? intercostal?) from which he could recover after a good off-season.
My gut feeling though is that we're seeing a permanent shift in our midfield dynamic. With Treloar and Libba also close to the end of their careers it highlights the need to
(1) use our high draft picks to recruit some more grunt and speed for the engine room
(2) find a way to tap the unrealised talent we already have in Bailey Smith.