Game Day Match simulation v GWS

[BloodySwan]

Amazing how this board constantly grizzled about Horse playing blokes out of position.

And yet here we are, demanding Cox play blokes out of position.

Gus is a pure inside mid. And a very good one at that. Playing him anywhere else isn’t doing anyone any favours.

And to add, there are some on this board who get very upset when players are played out of position. I have no issues with players playing in multiple positions. The best teams and players can "play out of position"

Buddy and Roughead played in the midfield at the Hawks
Goodes played as a ruck
LRT played as a forward

All these players played out of position and won premierships

Sometimes you have to play a player out of position to benefit the team

 

[zyzzbruh]

Well considering how bad our clearances have been maybe Heeney, Rowbottom and Mills is not the best combination.

This..

Best names on paper, but the combination has a severe defensive deficit. The second the ball does not fall to advantage any combination of Mills, Heeney, gulden and Warner is left floundering.

Something has to give. And adding Mills to the equation makes no difference. Idc that he's all Australian blah blah, there's something about him that is lacking and doesnt fill me with confidence. Ultimately he was the main man in our 2023 midfield that got ripped apart week in week out.

Rowbum is the only guy that can extract the ball in the clinches, if he had a mate that was capable of the same then it might create less offensive opportunity for the opposition.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

then he can do it in reserves

Then he'll be at another club in 2026

 

[RUNVS]

then he can do it in reserves

So you are happy with our underperforming clearance game?

 

[kelpie_X]

Apparently we recruited someone called PatonFromStKilda.

Another "Hyphon" perhaps?

 

[The King!]

Sheldrick should retire now, go out on top with the Big Footy Swans fans, his rating won’t ever be higher

 

[The King!]

I think sometimes people forget Cox was there the whole time this core group have played, he will make some changes, but he isn’t going to change the team completely, if he had awesome ideas surely he shared them prior.

 

[The King!]

Was Ladhams more effective than Grundy at centre bounces yesterday, or that just my imagination? I didn’t watch the whole thing but seemed ok to me

 

[BloodySwan]

Then he'll be at another club in 2026

He's not good enough to build the team around.

 

[BloodySwan]

Was Ladhams more effective than Grundy at centre bounces yesterday, or that just my imagination? I didn’t watch the whole thing but seemed ok to me

Cox may be forced to drop Grundy or try to play him as a forward if trends continue

 

[The King!]

Cox may be forced to drop Grundy or try to play him as a forward if trends continue

Not sure, just thought Ladhams did ok, but will take more than a practice game and a few centre bounces to win a spot I guess.

 

[kelpie_X]

You do all know that appeasing Bedford means he is only going to come back and try it again?

Did you all learn nothing from Neville Chamberlain and Hitler?

Was he that guy from Harry Potter?

 

[RUNVS]

Was he that guy from Harry Potter?

Yep. Gave Voldemort access to the kitchen thinking he would stop there.

 

[Millky95]

Was Ladhams more effective than Grundy at centre bounces yesterday, or that just my imagination? I didn’t watch the whole thing but seemed ok to me

I don't think Ladhams played on GWS' first ruckman though

 

[The King!]

I don't think Ladhams played on GWS' first ruckman though

Fair point, I just had a low bar for him. He looked ok

 

[Dubai Quacker]

This is exactly my point. Lots of people are happy to jump up and down about someone having to be given a go without arguing who they replace. Gus has to play in the midfield to be effective. It means one of our midfielders is not playing there. Gus is possibly Rowbottom’s understudy as the only other mid who doesn’t have a clear second position.

I think Gus should start on the bench, but form part of the midfield rotation.

Who should he replace? Well, in my view, none of the current “main” mids (obviously).

Instead, I’d like to see McI and Errol stay out of centre bounces & remain outside the stoppage. Yesterday saw Errol and McI at a lot of centre bounces - I feel they offer more in space. Hard ball gets aren’t their strength.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

He's not good enough to build the team around.

I agree, I wouldn't build the team around him.

I had him on the bench in my predicted team back before Xmas, and I still do. He's a good, solid player and will remain so.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

I think Gus should start on the bench, but form part of the midfield rotation.

Who should he replace? Well, in my view, none of the current “main” mids (obviously).

Instead, I’d like to see McI and Errol stay out of centre bounces & remain outside the stoppage. Yesterday saw Errol and McI at a lot of centre bounces - I feel they offer more in space. Hard ball gets aren’t their strength.

100 agree!

 

[kelpie_X]

• Ladhams, thought he was our best ruckman today, definitely gave our mods first use of the ball, shame we didn't get to see him matched up on Briggs much.

Please don't feed the beasts. They are glorified enough as it is.

 

[Nuggetz]

Until Logan is fit I'd prefer McLean over Ladhams, with or without McCartin. He's more disciplined and can work within a structure.
I'd prefer McCartin back until we can trust another KPD to work alongside Melican so we agree furiously there.

Yep, assume Mclean is still working back to fitness. I've ruled out Logan until he actually trains, I wouldn't be surprised if it's a mid season return or longer. Feels like one of those iffy recoveries. Honestly, Buller got injured at the wrong time for him & the team. Would've loved to see him as a 2nd kpf/ruck.

 

[kelpie_X]

We won a pre-season match. Premiership is already a lock. Not sure what you're complain about. Premierships are always won in February

Essendon board.

 

[kelpie_X]

Oh boy,

Can you um send me the pictures from your shoot... After hours?

Got a VPN?

 

[Nuggetz]

I think Gus should start on the bench, but form part of the midfield rotation.

Who should he replace? Well, in my view, none of the current “main” mids (obviously).

Instead, I’d like to see McI and Errol stay out of centre bounces & remain outside the stoppage. Yesterday saw Errol and McI at a lot of centre bounces - I feel they offer more in space. Hard ball gets aren’t their strength.

Agreed, Errol should be in our fwd 50 stoppages to get easy free kicks for head high contact. Oppo fans will hate it but honestly, he's got the IQ to do it regularly.

Sheldrick was good but there were a few moments when he was sort of not concentrating or as sharp as he should've been & had a delayed reaction. His execution within the contest needs to improve a bit too but he has all the tools to be a great inside mid. If he can improve those 2 areas then he should be a lock for best 22 imo. There was a collision where he flattened Leek Aleer (big solid unit now) which was awesome.

 

[Jimbo OZ]

I think Gus should start on the bench, but form part of the midfield rotation.

Who should he replace? Well, in my view, none of the current “main” mids (obviously).

Instead, I’d like to see McI and Errol stay out of centre bounces & remain outside the stoppage. Yesterday saw Errol and McI at a lot of centre bounces - I feel they offer more in space. Hard ball gets aren’t their strength.

Someone still needs to miss out. Is it James Jordon? Jake Lloyd?

 

[Punts]

Was Ladhams more effective than Grundy at centre bounces yesterday, or that just my imagination? I didn’t watch the whole thing but seemed ok to me

I honestly think Grundy will struggle