How does the club use Rioli from this point onwards?

I would like to see Rioli.....

  • Play 100% as a forward

    Votes: 36 27.5%
  • Play 100% as a midfielder

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Play 50/50 forward/mid

    Votes: 9 6.9%
  • Play 75/25 forward/mid

    Votes: 80 61.1%
  • Play 75/25 mid/forward

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Be rested for the H&A season to be 100% fit for Finals. Why take a risk?

    Votes: 6 4.6%

  • Total voters
    131

B0SK

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Thread starter #1
In the past the push has been to give Cyril as many minutes in the midfield as his tank will allow but as we've seen again this year his hamstrings aren't terribly fond of the idea.

With Langford coming on, Hartung, Woodward, Anderson and now O'Rourke in the wings there seems to be sufficient midfield depth at the club, but we know how damaging Rioli's center clearances can be and so does Clarko.

My preference is for Cyril to be played almost exclusively as a forward, where he has consistently played his best football. The occasional midfield stint when we are being beaten in clearances or desperate need a quick goal might be warranted but leaving him there for too long feels too much like playing with fire.

How do you see it?
 

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ACTion Hawks

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#2
This is such a tough question. There is no doubt that Junior is a weapon in the centre (especially in the centre bounces where he has more room and can add pressure).

I think I would like to see him as 25 mid/75 forward, i.e. basically use him in a similar way to Burgers where he is used strategically in the centre for small periods of time.
 

HR Roughnstuf

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#3
I think he will play more forward that mid next season.

However he will still be part of rotations through the centre square just because he is so good in tight traffic and Hawks like to keep changing at centre bounces.

He is too valuable to play 100% forward, but he is also too valuable to play too much midfield and risk his hammies.
 
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#5
As electric as he is in the midfield there is absolutely nothing wrong with him sitting in the forward 50 for 80-90% of the game. He will rip games apart on the reg if he makes the 50 his own. With the game being played as it is lately with slingshot play is there much wrong with making him the player closest to goal for a majority of the game sprinting towards an open goal?
 

MightyHawks86

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#6
Possibly move him into the centre bounces every now and then to shake things up, then have him go forward after the bounce in order to harass/allow our other small forwards to get off the chain.

Given his hamstrings, I'd be a bit reticent to let him spend too much time in the midfield. Perhaps only when the game calls for it (when we need a bit of the pressure that Cyril so 'elegantly' applies :)). Was a stroke of genius by Clarkson to have Cyril in at the first bounce of the GF. Really put the wind up the swans.
 

dcutter

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#8
Predominantly a forward has to be the way. The times he has pinged his hamstrings seem to follow a similar pattern - after stints in the midfield and seemingly after continual long sprints. I'm no expert but it suggests his unique explosive ability makes his hammys vulnerable when fatigued which happens more when playing in the guts. The forward line offers a longer recovery period. Sprinters don't make marathon runners, we should play/position him accordingly.

I believe he can still play a minor role in the midfield but maybe with a lot more caution by keeping the stints much smaller. We possibly need to be a touch smarter too. Even the average punter could tell you playing cyril in the midfield on a miserable wet day down in launceston is wrought with danger as he did this year against the gold coast. Keep him in the forward line or keep in melbourne.

Playing him predominantly in the forward line is not he end of the world. Hid deft touches and pressure in the grand finals were pretty special, in particularly for a guy who had been out of action for the better part of 2 months. Him and poppy create a bloody stressful environment in that forward 50 arc, I reckon kurt tippet still wakes up with cold sweats thinking about cyril chasing him down from no where.
Having rioli in the forward line allows bruest to roam freely and two of them combined are an absolute disaster for opposing defensive units.

A cyril playing purely as a forward is a much better outcome than a cyril in the grand stands despite his obvious usefulness playing in the midfield.

Very much looking forward to seeing cyril next year. Just watched his highlights reel from the rd 3 game against freo. Remains one of the most exciting players in the competition to watch, lets hope the cyril show gets more screen time in season 2015.
 

Xtreme

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#10
Rest him the entire year and play him in September..... it worked in 2014 :D

I think just put him in the forward line, NEVER play him in true winter conditions (ie: crap load of rain, wind and soggy surface on the ground). I would rest him against the sides that are sitting low on the ladder.
Hawthorn may need to manage his playing time like he's a 30-35 y/o veteran from now on.
 

WWSD

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#11
I would like to see us use Cyril as a permanent small forward alongside Puopolo next year. If Rioli is fit and playing well in the side, it then allows us to use Breust in the midfield more often. He could become a Robbie Gray type player Luke Breust and dominate in the midfield and up forward. We saw during the first half of 2014 just how good Breust is when he's allowed to play as a midfielder/half forward.
 

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MrPremiership

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#12
Doesn't matter where you play him, you just have to teach him his limitations.

"Cyril, if you are running full tilt, you are not allowed to bend over to pick up the ball off the ground. If this situation arises, please kick the ball and either wait for it to bounce up or clear the area to slow down and pick it up".

I'd rather lose the odd contest that lose Cyril for 7-8 weeks.

If Usain Bolt bent over whilst sprinting I reckon he'd pop his strings too.

Cyril has weak strings, he has to learn there are just some things that his body can't do. It is a limitation, but he can just excel with his other attributes, i.e. cat like reflexes, footy smarts, etc
 

TyHawk

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#13
Minute for minute...pound for pound, Cyril is the best Clearence player in the LEAGUE! So, a tough choice indeed.
 

Ned Ryerson

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#17
I love Rioli in the middle, he's even more exciting at the bounces than Breust.

Rioli's hamstrings seemingly don't love Rioli in the middle.

Keep him up forward where he can have the most impact long-term. We have Breust who can do the pinch hitting in the middle, and Sicily and Hartung coming through as well. Let's preserve Rioli as long as we can.

However if his hamstrings are back in commission, the medicos feel there's no risk and Cyril feels up to it - I say unleash the kraken!
 
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#18
Sparingly & never 4 games in succession....Also, most times if the game is done & dusted by 3/4 time would like to see him subbed, as it is usually in the 4th quarter when he does his hamstring!

Much like Lake, he needs to be 'managed' in accordance with the peculiarities & nature of his issues!....Save him for the big one's whilst getting more games into our kids during the easier rounds against the likes of Melb, St. Kilda, GWS, Foots et al....

Your question (O/P) was purely tactical so far as position is concerned & not specific to the nature of his hamstring management issues; Which I assumed to be an underlying motivation behind your post!
 
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#19
I often wonder how a defender must feel when he realises he's drawn Cyril to stand ... a 'shot' at Russian roulette might be a safer bet.

Love him in the middle, but up forward he can still do just about anything ... & change the game in our favour ... in the blink of an eye!
 

madhawksfan

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#24
85-90% forward with very occasional stints in the midfield. He is the best small forward in the game (sorry Bruester) and his presence and pressure are invaluable. I would keep him between 25-75 metres from goal and allow him to create space and use his superior skills to create scoring shots.

He shouldn't be played at all in games where it is wet and/or extremely cold as these conditions are not ideal for bad hammies. 15-18 home and away matches is plenty for Cyril as he doesn't need long to find his touch.
 

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#25
85-90% forward with very occasional stints in the midfield. He is the best small forward in the game (sorry Bruester) and his presence and pressure are invaluable. I would keep him between 25-75 metres from goal and allow him to create space and use his superior skills to create scoring shots.

He shouldn't be played at all in games where it is wet and/or extremely cold as these conditions are not ideal for bad hammies. 15-18 home and away matches is plenty for Cyril as he doesn't need long to find his touch.
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