Filling the Stinger Void

[WaynesWorld19]

I think Jericho is best when he is playing out of the square. He has good pace and is a reasonable mark and a good kick for goal. He does drop a few marks but I think he can improve that with time and more effort in the gym.

While he is a bit on the soft side we must remember that he is athlete playing footy and if he is ever going to make it its as a forward. I think he has a fair bit to offer but at the same time he has a hell of a lot to learn. I would take him over Bock any time.

I think Jezza will come good and has the potential to be a 40-50 goal goal kicker. His ballhandling is something you can improve but I don't think he is smart enough to play in the midfield. I would persist with Jezza no doubt. We keep forgetting that last year he was struggling in the Westies reserves and no one expected him to play AFL but he strung together some games and in a few of them looked really promising. He is still only 19 and has a lot to learn but I am confident he will develop into a good player who will be a bit tough to match up on.

Spot on Stiffy
It gets irritating when people expect a first year player at 19 years of age to be physicaly, mentally, and have the experience of a 5 year player.

Watched the first showdown this year again last night.
If you think Jerricho and Massie can't play I suggest to everyone to get the video out and watch - then pass an opinion.

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

Well put Stiffy.

How would you use Jericho? Put him back in Red n Black or Persist with him? If he needs Weight couldn't he gain that there and when he's ready for a go put him in the 22? We didn't try Parker and he was dominating for the bays at CHB so what makes Jericho so special, So far I have Bock marked as a Complete Dud with Jericho not far behind.

I too have been unimpressed with Jerichos attack on the ball and the man but I suppose we have to remember he is still very young. Give him another year or 2 to develop and then pass judgement. I agree with you on Bock, he is definately not up to AFL standard, barely sanfl standard. He will join our long list of departures at the end of the 2005 season IMHO.

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

Whilst I don't think Shirley is the long-term future, depending on what the rest of the trade period brings us, he probably needs to be kept (at least as a backup).

Forget Mattner, as he is best suited to a wing or HBF - he is not someone to play in the middle.

We should be using Reilly as an attacking midfielder - dleivering the ball lace-out next year, as he has a the silkiest skills in our midfield.

IMO, JT hasn't got the stamina for the whole game & is best off a HBF, where he shows his courage.

Benny Hart is also best utilised as a defender.

For the taller types, I would consider either Begley or Burton. Burton has the stamina as he showed on Harvey a few years back. Wouldn't use him all the time, but just for certain opposition.

For smaller types, I would consider Doughty, as he showed in the later stages that he has the concentration levels to follow a player for a full game.

Mattner is definately not a tagger and is best suited to a wing. IMO if he applies himself he could be a very, very good player for us. His first half against The eagles in the final was outstanding, he just needs to find some consistency.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Mattner is definately not a tagger and is best suited to a wing. IMO if he applies himself he could be a very, very good player for us. His first half against The eagles in the final was outstanding, he just needs to find some consistency.

Confidence, experience and 3-4 more Kg will do the trick.

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

Confidence, experience and 3-4 more Kg will do the trick.

He's only 21 so that will come. He also has a quality that is much needed at the AFC, he is hard at the man.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

He's only 21 so that will come. He also has a quality that is much needed at the AFC, he is hard at the man.

Read that he wants to another 3-4 kgs on this year which will benefit him enormously.

That 2003 season where Ayres tried to make him a tagger really set him back, and he's only just coming good now.

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

Read that he wants to another 3-4 kgs on this year which will benefit him enormously.

That 2003 season where Ayres tried to make him a tagger really set him back, and he's only just coming good now.

Yeah I reckon good old Gary Ayres knocked his confidence around a fair bit. As he did to other young players like Doughty, Bode, Reillt etc etc

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

I think people over rate pace in taggers. Tell me who is quicker Kane Cornes or Jason Akermanis??????

Being a quality tagger doesn't neccessarily mean that a player has to have pace. Stinger is far from quick, so is Shirley, So is Carr, Kirk, Kane Cornes etc.... BUT all of those players are quality taggers (some more than taggers). Being a tagger has more to do with the positioning than pace. I think one pre-requisite is to have good stamina and you can run all day. Chris Judd has never really given us any headaches in the last couple of years because Shirley has worn him like a glove. Compare those 2 bolkes in pace and there is NO contest.

Tagger has to have big engine and high concentration skills. Pace is not that important. Taggers job is to get between his player and the ball and don't allow him to find space. This is why Stinger and Shirley are good at stopping the opposition. They get in between their opponent and the ball and try to stop the opponent from getting it or if they get it then make sure you are right there next to then for a tackle. IMHO, pace is irrelevant when speaking of tagger. While its an advantage it is not really be all and end all of being a good tagger.

Personally, I think Shirley can do the job and do it well. What he needs to do is improve his engine a little bit because sometimes his opponents get the better of him in the 2nd half and beef up a bit more so he can physically cope with the likes of Buckley, Voss etc...

Excellent post as you summed up the keys of a run-with player.

1. Positioning themselves between the ball & their opponent (& hence blocking supply)

2. Sticking close to their opponent most of the time (to fustrate them), but ability to run off still.

ie. Need to be disciplined, smart & a good engine (not necesarily speed).