Jack Grimes - Midfield or Defence?

[Crusty Demon]

Jack Grimes! I've had many an argument with mates about whether or not Jack is more valuable as a defender, or as a midfielder. My mates and I seem to be split down the middle.

He seems to be the forgotten man at the MFC as he always seems to be injured. But he did win the Ron Barassi Jnr Award for Leadership this season, so he has leader written all over him. He has shown he can hold down that rebounding half back role, but early this season seemed to lose confidence in his kicking. Then once moved to the middle, got instantly injured.

I feel when fully fit, he would be more benefit to us as a midfielder. He's a good decision maker, solid by hand, usually a solid kick and has a good turn of pace. His leadership as well as Moloney's around the ball could be invaluable. I saw Grimes a couple of seasons ago tear Essendon's midfield to pieces in a pre season game. He had 30 odd possies and a couple of goals before being taken off just after 3QT.

With Garland, Frawley, Rivers and TMac, we have our tall defenders covered. Blease, Strauss, Bartram and Benell have our small defenders covered. but what worries me is our medium sized defender. Who are they? Garland and Frawley can both play on smaller types, but I feel we need someone to take over the Grimes role in defence to release him to the middle. I'm just not sure who? Joel MacDonald maybe, but turns it over far too much. Morton played the role at times this season but is more suited to the Wing. We may have to look at drafting a medium defender type of player in this draft?

What do you guys think? A fully fit Grimes will be a huge boost for us, but where do we play him???

 

[master bate]

I think his leadership is invaluable off a HBF. He plays the game perfectly from there.

That said it kind of depends on his kicking. If he's still turning it over under pressure he might be a safer bet in the midfield. But at the moment I like the way he patrols the half back flank and wins the ball back. He was badly missed this year.

 

[Demonic Ascent]

This might be having a bet each way, but I would play him off half back rotating into the midfield. Lets face it, the team is made up of about 10-12 players rotating through the middle these days so he wuldn't spend 100% of the game on the ball. I've got some queries about his kicking/decision-making coming out of defense however hopefully this will improve with greater composure and more trust in his teammates.

 

[Topkent]

Pretty much agree with the above sentiments, ive always been set on him being a defender because i think he just adds so much stability to the HBF. His kicking out of defence worries the hell out of me but i think the way he patrols the backline is super valuable, however i havent put a hell of alot of thought as to what he would be like as a midfielder and i guess another hard nosed bloke around the ball could never be a bad thing but i personally have never seen much from him at ground level to suggest he will be an A grade Mid, For mine his main strength is the way he reads the play sets himself up and then has brilliant hands for a med sized bloke, reckon he could swing forward and kick a couple if need one day 2.

Heres hoping he just plays 22 games next year first before we start planning his future though.

 

[Spirit of 39]

The best game I ever saw Jack play was a practice match against Essendon two years ago at Optus Oval. He played on the ball, had over 30 touches and single-handedly kept us in a game we eventually lost. His clearance work in that game was outstanding. He willed himself to win contests.

I have no doubt he can play a mid-field role and be a very important component there. However, with all the footy he has missed, is his body and tank up to it at the moment? I'm not sure.

But as NG69 said, let's just hope we get 22 games out of him next year.

 

[Ghost of Grinter]

No reason he cannot play both.

Id rotate Grimes in the midfield and down back.
Such a terrific young back man.
Probably gotta keep him more down back than midfield.
Especially once Tapscott moves forward, which I think that will
happen in time - as he is something else around goals.
I think Tappy will rotate from the Mid/Foward, as will Trenners.

Its good to have a lot of mids that can kick goals, its both something
that both Tappy and Trenners have - that Scully didnt.

 

[Jordie_tackles]

PLay him like he has been but with 30 or so percent game time in the centre. Cory Enright anyone?

 

[Captain Jack]

I'm thinking Deledio in a good team - he has to hold them together down back as they are absolute rubbish, but imagine how good he could be if he was allowed to play a more Goddard-style roaming role between HBF and the middle.
That could be Grimes, if he gets his body right.

 

[Tulip]

I don't hold much hope he'll ever play regularly.

31 games out of a possible 88. Damning stat. If he spends all of next year out we'd be considering his future.

2007 was a fail draft. Morton, Grimes, Maric, Bode, Weetra

Thanks, Craig Cameron

 

[Captain Jack]

I don't hold much hope he'll ever play regularly.

31 games out of a possible 88. Damning stat. If he spends all of next year out we'd be considering his future.

2007 was a fail draft. Morton, Grimes, Maric, Bode, Weetra

Thanks, Craig Cameron

You missed Cheney and MacNamara... Grimes has runs on the board in terms of the coaching panel, they'll give him as long as possible to get his body sorted.

 

[00Stinger]

I don't hold much hope he'll ever play regularly.

31 games out of a possible 88. Damning stat. If he spends all of next year out we'd be considering his future.

2007 was a fail draft. Morton, Grimes, Maric, Bode, Weetra

Thanks, Craig Cameron

I wouldn't write Morton off just yet. And writting Grimes off is a bit pre mature in my opinion

 

[Tulip]

Not writing Jack off, but that is a ridiculous stat

 

[Crusty Demon]

Not writing Jack off, but that is a ridiculous stat

I think Richmond were thinking along similar lines about Trent Cotchin, and he had a break out year this year. Grimes fit and firing is an important part of our future success. I think his body may be best suited to playing that floating HBF role. But I'd love to see him in the midfield. IMO, he could definitely become an A grade midfielder. My worry is that we don't have anyone who can step up and take that medium defender role.

This is where Misson will hopefully be crucial to our club. Getting Grimes fit and playing 20+ games a season would be huge for us. We need quality through the midfield and Grimes can bring that. But everytime he goes onto the ball, he falls over injured.

 

[Samsara]

I'd just like to see him play out the year without a serious injury, irrespective of where he plays. He is a great talent and seemingly a great leader, but both of these traits are of little use when you are not on the field.

 

[Demon 16]

Frankly, he needs to play more games before I can make this call.

 

[deeman12]

He'll be our quaterback for the next 10 years....if his body holds up.

I question whether his body will hold out for a permanent position in the midfield.

 

[tasmanlvr]

Isn't Garland training with the midfield group?

Maybe if Grimes is fit the two of them will swap their roles often.

 

[Bartram_Class]

McDonald going forward is another option too, based on where they have been training.

I like him in defence, a cool head and a precise kick. No reason he can't play the role Hodge did for Hawthorn when they stole a premiership.

 

[pjfairbairn]

I personally still see Grimes and Trenners as the two future core leaders of this club. I appreciate that Grimesys game return has not been great, but with a full pre-season and the likes of Dave Misson involved now, I really do hope that he manages to stay on the park.

His sure hands at the back are invaluable, but Garland and McDonald are also good in the air at the back, and if there is a way to rotate him through the midfield and defence then I think around 50/50 split is perfect.

He has had a wretched run with injuries but I have faith that he will still be a gun! Also, agree that the draft of 2007 was a poor return, however lets not forget that Weetra, McNamara and Bode were always going to be smokies who may or may not pay off. Cheney could have done a job if given more time I think, he was simply superceded by the likes of Barty and Jordie Mc stopping him moving into midfield.

Emo Maric had huge wraps on him coming in, and whether it was poor coaching, poor attitude or both, he didn't do the job - hardly Cameron's fault.

 

[master bate]

Emo Maric had huge wraps on him coming in, and whether it was poor coaching, poor attitude or both, he didn't do the job - hardly Cameron's fault.

Every player in the draft has huge wraps on them before the draft.

Maric was a recruiting error. He's too small to play as a small marking forward and too slow to be a really good crumber. Plus he isn't hard enough and can't win enough contested ball to be a midfielder. On top of it his elite kicking wasn't elite. For all his poor attitude he got himself very fit before the this season and it paid off in the NAB cup, but he couldn't cut it once the serious stuff started.

Now playing in our forward line wouldn't have helped his chances, and made his decision making look horrible, but at the end of the day he I think he just doesn't have the skill set - Therefore, poor recruitment especially at pick 21.

 

[The Professor]

I question whether his body will hold out for a permanent position in the midfield.

That's the question. His best position will be in the midfield but will his body stand up?

Stats don't lie and Grimes has pretty much had LTI everytime he's played midfield and no doubt that will play in his mind.

He'll be eased back into defence and he might stay there.

 

[Demon 86]

Every player in the draft has huge wraps on them before the draft.

Maric was a recruiting error. He's too small to play as a small marking forward and too slow to be a really good crumber. Plus he isn't hard enough and can't win enough contested ball to be a midfielder. On top of it his elite kicking wasn't elite. For all his poor attitude he got himself very fit before the this season and it paid off in the NAB cup, but he couldn't cut it once the serious stuff started.

Now playing in our forward line wouldn't have helped his chances, and made his decision making look horrible, but at the end of the day he I think he just doesn't have the skill set - Therefore, poor recruitment especially at pick 21.

Also a brilliant lesson in the foolhardiness of falling for pre draft hype. Maric was considered a brilliant pick at the time and a bargain at 21- BF 'wisdom' fail yet again.