Is Sammy playing injured?

[The BIG X]

Expect to have Mitchell, Sewell, Lewis and Burgoyne all starting in the midfield this week.

and who is the Ruckman???

 

[Bardo State]

and who is the Ruckman???

[Walls] Lewis has been down on last year's form, give him a run in the ruck. [/Walls]

 

[Gene Simmons]

I think they are managing his workload, if only we had 2 of him!

 

[Sewell_Is_Da_Man]

Hhhhmmm, seems I'm in the minority! LOL

Must admit I'm a little surprised but everybody has raised some valid points, each to their own I guess. Will be interesting to see how he goes against the Swans this week in his new role, he always gets tagged out of the game against them. Definitely his least favourite team to play against.

Also, some interesting stats I came across....

Hawthorn Clearance Averages:
2013 - 37.5 (Ranked 7th in the comp)
2012 - 41.6 (Ranked 1st)

Sammy's Clearance Averages:
2013 - 4.3 (Ranked 42nd in the comp)
2012 - 6.4 (Ranked 11th in the comp)

I'm keen to see how his role changes as the year progresses, if at all.

 

[Sewell_Is_Da_Man]

But they have also identified that, with injuries to Matt Suckling and, early in the year, Luke Hodge, they have lacked some creativity in the back half and it would appear they have turned to Mitchell to rectify the problem.

It is clear that he is playing as a ''centre-back'' midfielder, and the Hawks are obviously comfortable giving him the football in the back half, due to his imaginative decision-making, precise ball and his ability to see what is unfolding and choose the best option. He sits fourth in the competition for handball receives. Grant Birchall, the game's most dangerous half-back, sits at No.2, and is the No.1 for rebounds out of Hawthorn's defence. Mitchell shares the No.3 position with Brent Guerra. Josh Gibson sits at No.2.



Read more here:
http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/...going-back-20130503-2iyig.html?skin=text-only

Thanks for the link, was an interesting read.

 

[Books]

I just wish the administrators at Ultimate Footy would notice where Mitchell is playing, so I can use him as a Back!

 

[Arc1]

So who was no. 1 for handball receives? I'm guessing someone like Ablett or Swan with all the junky ones they get in chains of.

 

[Mervyn Beasley]

But they have also identified that, with injuries to Matt Suckling and, early in the year, Luke Hodge, they have lacked some creativity in the back half and it would appear they have turned to Mitchell to rectify the problem.

It is clear that he is playing as a ''centre-back'' midfielder, and the Hawks are obviously comfortable giving him the football in the back half, due to his imaginative decision-making, precise ball and his ability to see what is unfolding and choose the best option. He sits fourth in the competition for handball receives. Grant Birchall, the game's most dangerous half-back, sits at No.2, and is the No.1 for rebounds out of Hawthorn's defence. Mitchell shares the No.3 position with Brent Guerra. Josh Gibson sits at No.2.



Read more here:
http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/...going-back-20130503-2iyig.html?skin=text-only

See above.

This is why

 

[NicG]

Playing down back might be the only way he gets a long-deserved second All-Australian nod.

 

[Sewell_Is_Da_Man]

Playing down back might be the only way he gets a long-deserved second All-Australian nod.

Will lessen his chances of a Brownlow though...

 

[Hawka_de_Haven]

.... Can't think of any other reason why he's been playing 80% of game time across half back?

It absolutely baffles me why one of THE best clearance players in the comp isn't in the centre square at almost every bounce. Sure, he's not getting any younger but the guy is still an absolute jet when thrown in the guts. Last weeks last quarter and this weeks last quarter is testament to that... Can anybody shed any light? I seriously feel like sending Clarkson a please explain... Not that it would do much good of course...

Its called succession planning . In the Adealide game I counted 10 different players in the middle at centre bouncers. I commend the coaching staff for exposing others to the centre bounce as we cannot continue to rely on the old guard of Sewell, Mitch and Lewy or Hodge.

 

[Spanish Sahara]

Will lessen his chances of a Brownlow though...

I am sure he would take another premiership over a Brownlow. And if by playing hbf for 50% of the game allows him to play additional seasons and helps keep the boys fresh for September then I am all for it!

 

[onthemoney]

To combine what others have touched on, IMO it's something like:

40% - Needs based (Suckling, Whitecross etc)
30% - Managing Sammy's fitness (**** you Andrew and your bullshit draw)
10% - Succession planning.

 

[JustKickIt]

Hhhhmmm, seems I'm in the minority! LOL

Must admit I'm a little surprised but everybody has raised some valid points, each to their own I guess. Will be interesting to see how he goes against the Swans this week in his new role, he always gets tagged out of the game against them. Definitely his least favourite team to play against.

Also, some interesting stats I came across....

Hawthorn Clearance Averages:
2013 - 37.5 (Ranked 7th in the comp)
2012 - 41.6 (Ranked 1st)

Sammy's Clearance Averages:
2013 - 4.3 (Ranked 42nd in the comp)
2012 - 6.4 (Ranked 11th in the comp)

I'm keen to see how his role changes as the year progresses, if at all.

Is the 2012 average for playing the same teams we have played so far this year? Or is it for the whole year including a lot of weaker teams? I am not sure of the relevance of this average for so far this year, but saying that it seems pretty good so far considering the draw we have had.

 

[jd1991]

Hhhhmmm, seems I'm in the minority! LOL

Must admit I'm a little surprised but everybody has raised some valid points, each to their own I guess. Will be interesting to see how he goes against the Swans this week in his new role, he always gets tagged out of the game against them. Definitely his least favourite team to play against.

Also, some interesting stats I came across....

Hawthorn Clearance Averages:
2013 - 37.5 (Ranked 7th in the comp)
2012 - 41.6 (Ranked 1st)

Sammy's Clearance Averages:
2013 - 4.3 (Ranked 42nd in the comp)
2012 - 6.4 (Ranked 11th in the comp)

I'm keen to see how his role changes as the year progresses, if at all.

Remember that was over a full year, in comparison the sample size is skewed towards only playing the better teams, so the stats are not padded by playing the easy beats, and we are still 7th on that stat, which is pretty damn good.

With regards to Sam Mitchell, we should be looking at the big picture, not focused on a single game. His movement to HBF for the first half has the following positive points: -
1. Increases learning curve of other mids/development - look even Rough has started centre square this year as a midfielder (not ruck)
2. Increases flexibility of the team - allowing in close games/injuries more options
3. Increases Mitchell's flexibility via him able to successfully take on other roles
4. Keeps petrol in the tank fresh, for the last quarters in close games (which in previous years we have been poor in - especially against Geelong) When Mitchell would be one of our coolest heads in a crisis.
5. Makes the Hawks less predictable, so the opposition can not just say we will tag Mitchell in the middle.
6. Last year in the prelim/GF we had a number of players already spent - this is a way to manage the workload for now and towards the pointy end of the season to allow the players to be fresher (especially after an opening 7 rounds that we have)

 

[Buckemenico]

Sammy is also leading The Age Player of The Year Award right now.

 

[IdiotBox]

To combine what others have touched on, IMO it's something like:

40% - Needs based (Suckling, Whitecross etc)
30% - Managing Sammy's fitness (**** you Andrew and your bullshit draw)
10% - Succession planning.

and the final 20% - for laughs / creating Big Footy discussion?

 

[Sewell_Is_Da_Man]

I am sure he would take another premiership over a Brownlow. And if by playing hbf for 50% of the game allows him to play additional seasons and helps keep the boys fresh for September then I am all for it!

No doubt, so would I! This is my concern though, I'd be more that happy if he was actually playing hbf for 50% of game time but it seems to me that it is more like 80%. Certainly against the Crows it seemed that way.

 

[Sewell_Is_Da_Man]

JustKickIt & jd1991 - excellent points you make there. No doubt the stats are skewed as we've only played 6 games this season and they've been up against some strong competition but considering we are a top 4 side I'd be inclined to think that our stats would actually be pretty consistent throughout the season regardless of opposition. Also, we've already battered teams like West Coast & Collingwood this season who are (were) considered as top 4 material.

 

[Brishawk]

JustKickIt & jd1991 - excellent points you make there. No doubt the stats are skewed as we've only played 6 games this season and they've been up against some strong competition but considering we are a top 4 side I'd be inclined to think that our stats would actually be pretty consistent throughout the season regardless of opposition. Also, we've already battered teams like West Coast & Collingwood this season who are (were) considered as top 4 material.

Total clearance stats are very misleading. You need to look at clearance differentials and % of clearances won where a player attends a stoppage to get a reasonable idea who is the best at clearances. E.g. If team A, lets call them the Swines, congest the play around the footy and create more stoppages than other clubs they could lead the league at clearances without ever winning a clearance differential (i.e. having more clearances than your opposition in one match). Even though he might not get as many clearances as Mitchell, Riloli is our best clearance player (from centre bounce at least) in terms of 5 of clearances won from total stoppages attended. Likewise if 'Cennedy' from the Swines attends 50 stoppages a match compared to Mitchell's 35 he may well win a larger total but a lower percentage of clearances per stoppage. Who do you decide is the better clearance player in that regard?

 

[JustKickIt]

Total clearance stats are very misleading. You need to look at clearance differentials and % of clearances won where a player attends a stoppage to get a reasonable idea who is the best at clearances. E.g. If team A, lets call them the Swines, congest the play around the footy and create more stoppages than other clubs they could lead the league at clearances without ever winning a clearance differential (i.e. having more clearances than your opposition in one match). Even though he might not get as many clearances as Mitchell, Riloli is our best clearance player (from centre bounce at least) in terms of 5 of clearances won from total stoppages attended. Likewise if 'Cennedy' from the Swines attends 50 stoppages a match compared to Mitchell's 35 he may well win a larger total but a lower percentage of clearances per stoppage. Who do you decide is the better clearance player in that regard?

As far as the clearance stat itself goes, if Mitch actually extracts the ball and quick hand to another player that actually clears, I presume the 'clearer' gets the stat? Even though its Mitch that actually enabled the clearance.

 

[onthemoney]

and the final 20% - for laughs / creating Big Footy discussion?

haha ****... Yep for that, and not because I was 80% pissed when posting that last night.

 

[Roger Rogerson]

For mine it is primarily a strategy to simply keep all of Mitch Lewis Sewell Hodge in the same side. Hence it is addressing an imbalance with our spread from the centre square. Hodge has been forward a bit too so we are thinning the midfield of our plodders who are all elite but as a midfield group can be our achilles heel.

Secondary reasons are that when Mitchell is tagged he struggles and so do we. We are unearthing a greater depth thru the centre square. Less predictable. If we are to win it this year it is Breust Poppy Hill and Rioli not Mitch and Sewell who get us there.

Mitch has shown he reads the ball incredibly well up back too so causes trouble there in his own right which is great for Birch and Goo.

 

[Sewell_Is_Da_Man]

Total clearance stats are very misleading. You need to look at clearance differentials and % of clearances won where a player attends a stoppage to get a reasonable idea who is the best at clearances. E.g. If team A, lets call them the Swines, congest the play around the footy and create more stoppages than other clubs they could lead the league at clearances without ever winning a clearance differential (i.e. having more clearances than your opposition in one match). Even though he might not get as many clearances as Mitchell, Riloli is our best clearance player (from centre bounce at least) in terms of 5 of clearances won from total stoppages attended. Likewise if 'Cennedy' from the Swines attends 50 stoppages a match compared to Mitchell's 35 he may well win a larger total but a lower percentage of clearances per stoppage. Who do you decide is the better clearance player in that regard?

Great point you make, there are often a few layers in amongst a particular stat that can be broken down even further as you've rightly pointed out. Based on averages though, stats are a pretty good overall gauge of a teams strengths & weaknesses. Loved your work with the analogies btw