Player Watch Luke Pedlar

[dogs105]

 

[jo172]

Some of this possession numbers chat makes me wonder whether people stopped watching footy in the 90s. Seriously, look at the role blokes like Pedlar, Taylor (and even Murphy) in the day were asked to play. Of course the numbers will seldom be high.

It's about an ability to apply pressure and execute in the relatively few moments you get a chance to do so. Pedlar and Taylor seem to have a skill in the executing in front of goal. Pedlar seems to be good with the pressure, Taylor still some work to do.

For what it's worth I also would like to see Pedlar getting a squirt on the ball in the Rankine/Rachele rotation.

 

[Cromulant]

Some of this possession numbers chat makes me wonder whether people stopped watching footy in the 90s. Seriously, look at the role blokes like Pedlar, Taylor (and even Murphy) in the day were asked to play. Of course the numbers will seldom be high.

It's about an ability to apply pressure and execute in the relatively few moments you get a chance to do so. Pedlar and Taylor seem to have a skill in the executing in front of goal. Pedlar seems to be good with the pressure, Taylor still some work to do.

For what it's worth I also would like to see Pedlar getting a squirt on the ball in the Rankine/Rachele rotation.

Pedlar is a great kick for goal generally, but Taylor is no worse, and is a much smarter footballer.

 

[jo172]

Pedlar is a great kick for goal generally, but Taylor is no worse, and is a much smarter footballer.

Agree, in terms of the offensive role they're being asked to play they're doing so reasonably well.

Taylor in particular offensively reminds me of the kind of bloke who plays for Geelong that you take no notice of but infuriates you 5 times a game by doing something clever.

 

[JPetro83]

Hindsight is great hey? if only we picked Max Holmes at Pick 11

 

[Interloperer]

Pedlar seems to be good with the pressure

This is the big myth with Pedlar. He is notably poor at providing pressure (this year he trails Taylor Walker for pressure acts per game) and always has been.

Pedlar picks and chooses which contests he thinks he can win, commits 110% to those he can, and stays out of those he can't. That's fine, forwards are supposed to make such choices, but you can't pretend there's an underlying background of constant pressure we don't see.

He is the black swan problem manifest in a footballer.

There is a tendency to see a player's spectacular acts and create a post-hoc explanation for it, "Most AFL standard players can do ABC, but only the best can also do XYZ!" Thus you see a player do XYZ and just assume they can do ABC, even when there's no evidence to support that.

 

[jo172]

This is the big myth with Pedlar. He is notably poor at providing pressure (this year he trails Taylor Walker for pressure acts per game) and always has been.

Pedlar picks and chooses which contests he thinks he can win, commits 110% to those he can, and stays out of those he can't. That's fine, forwards are supposed to make such choices, but you can't pretend there's an underlying background of constant pressure we don't see.

He is the black swan problem manifest in a footballer.

There is a tendency to see a player's spectacular acts and create a post-hoc explanation for it, "Most AFL standard players can do ABC, but only the best can also do XYZ!" Thus you see a player do XYZ and just assume they can do ABC, even when there's no evidence to support that.

Accept this.

 

[Cleric]

Give the kid a run in the middle. He goes hard, and gives his all. He is starting to get his tank now, and baring more injuries, should have a good run at it.

 

[Cromulant]

Give the kid a run in the middle. He goes hard, and gives his all. He is starting to get his tank now, and baring more injuries, should have a good run at it.

Gives his all ??

Does a hell of a lot of coasting still.

 

[ABAB]

Gives his all ??

Does a hell of a lot of coasting still.

I don't see him coasting when the ball is in his vicinity. He isn't a forward, doesn't have forward craft so doesn't know where to lead to get the ball. All his possessions are from effort, yesterday was the first time I've seen him lead and mark the ball on his chest and kick a set shot.

 

[Cromulant]

I don't see him coasting when the ball is in his vicinity. He isn't a forward, doesn't have forward craft so doesn't know where to lead to get the ball. All his possessions are from effort, yesterday was the first time I've seen him lead and mark the ball on his chest and kick a set shot.

The first bit is the key, and its why he'll never be a midfielder at AFL level. He's generally ok when the ball is in his area but he doesnt work hard enough when its not.

Also, to say he's not a forward is a bit of a falsehood. The guy is absolutely a capable 30+ goal AFL small forward, he's got the talent to do so. He just doesn't work hard enough often enough

 

[ABAB]

The first bit is the key, and its why he'll never be a midfielder at AFL level. He's generally ok when the ball is in his area but he doesnt work hard enough when its not.

Also, to say he's not a forward is a bit of a falsehood. The guy is absolutely a capable 30+ goal AFL small forward, he's got the talent to do so. He just doesn't work hard enough often enough

It will be much easy for him to know where the ball is in the midfield. Even when he kicked 25 goals in 2023, I don't recall them being on the lead. The best game he played was against the Saints that year when he was moved into the midfield.

 

[Mutineer]

Give the kid a run in the middle. He goes hard, and gives his all. He is starting to get his tank now, and baring more injuries, should have a good run at it.

Absolutely, get him around the ball more even if it's only for squirts when relieving Rankine or Rachele in there. His toughness in there wouldn't go astray.

 

[Cromulant]

It will be much easy for him to know where the ball is in the midfield. Even when he kicked 25 goals in 2023, I don't recall them being on the lead. The best game he played was against the Saints that year when he was moved into the midfield.

That was 3 years and many injuries ago.

 

[Coopers]

Jones plays with about 20% of the intensity of Pedlar. Missing the ball was the skill error - the part that annoyed me more was he didn't go and retrieve the ball he missed, he stood there and watched. Useless.

I dunno, I reckon Jones is plenty intense.

I'm off the bandwagon now, but I still don't get how we've arrived at a place where he's not a good footballer. Fast, tough, tackles well, goes in hard. Big Aerobic capacity. Had a couple of 20 disposal + 1 goal games, and then never looked like doing it again.

 

[GameofSloanes]

Havent seen anything that makes me think he's going to make it tbh. Shows flashes but never enough across a whole game, let alone multiple. There are others I'd rather give time in the middle, who are frankly more skilled and better players.

 

[Scorpus]

I dunno, I reckon Jones is plenty intense.

I'm off the bandwagon now, but I still don't get how we've arrived at a place where he's not a good footballer. Fast, tough, tackles well, goes in hard. Big Aerobic capacity. Had a couple of 20 disposal + 1 goal games, and then never looked like doing it again.

He has no spatial awareness and has terrible football IQ. He's a one dimensional, straight line, see ball get ball player. I'm sure we could have made him more productive than he is, but those are pretty serious weaknesses at AFL level

 

[Cleric]

Gives his all ??

Does a hell of a lot of coasting still.

When the ball is in his area he goes at it 100%. He gives it his all, yes. His biggest issue has been his tank, which is why he has been played in the forward line I think, but give him some centre bounces. We lack that attack on the ball, and breakaway from the pack. He has Luke Hodge traits, so give him a shot. Its not like we have the best set midfield in the competition is it.

 

[TheLeftFist8]

Absolutely, get him around the ball more even if it's only for squirts when relieving Rankine or Rachele in there. His toughness in there wouldn't go astray.

Could he not be similar to Wizard, Papley in there for bursts? Gets him into the game. Even moreso I'd do this with Taylor who is a bonafide mid.

I'm not a huge fan atm but the huge asterisk on the performance of all our forwards is the god awful game plan and delivery they are getting.

We've never ever seen it but I'd love to see him experimented with in defence for a month (even if in SANFL). Absolute competitor, great overhead, quick, penetrating leg. Bond, Laird are both stinking it up...could Pedlar be a massive upgrade and kickstart his career?

Then we just draft a ready made small forward in the MSD

 

[Cleric]

Could he not be similar to Wizard, Papley in there for bursts? Gets him into the game. Even moreso I'd do this with Taylor who is a bonafide mid.

I'm not a huge fan atm but the huge asterisk on the performance of all our forwards is the god awful game plan and delivery they are getting.

Luke is see ball get ball, and then with ball go hard with it. People likened him to Macca for a reason. We know he can kick a goal, so moving him between the forward line and in the centre is worth a shot.
He big thing was his tank, and I think thats got alot better. When he first played, you would see him look like he was having an asthma attack at every stoppage.