Maxwell

[1061]

So we smashed the Saints last night without him and from memory last year when he was out we I think we played extremely well too.

So the question should be asked are we a better team, more balanced and what not without the former captain?
This isn't an attack on Maxy but a query on whether the team is a better unit without him!

 

[ClaytonM]

It was the saints. Winning without maxwell against them is no big deal. With brown out for the season I think maxwell is more important than ever give the rest of the inexperience down back.

If maxwell stays Reid can go forward. If not, Reid has to go back.

 

[Premier Pies]

On exposed form this season, the answer to your question is simple. Pies are not a better team without Maxwell and we are certainly not more balanced.

 

[THATSGOLD]

Reid will play back with Brown out for the season. No brainer. Defence is vital. Keeffe and Frost simply aren't good enough to make us a finals threat.

 

[Pie in the Sky]

No. Our backline has held up all year despite being hit by injury, and Maxwell has been a big part of that. Not sure how you could possibly come to this conclusion, this was our first genuine easy kill for the year, we didn't really play any better than we have been.

 

[ClaytonM]

Reid will play back with Brown out for the season. No brainer. Defence is vital. Keeffe and Frost simply aren't good enough to make us a finals threat.

Same would have been said in 2010 about Brown and Reid. You may be right but I think it is too early to call. I would like, and I think they will do it, for us to try Reid forward when he returns to see how that structure works.

If it doesn't, or further injuries force it, then Reid goes back. Best case would be Keefe and Frost hold up at the back and Reid goes forward. That is the dream

 

[rand corp]

We were obviously extremely confident of rolling them and took the opportunity to rest a few players with niggles.

 

[Pie in the Sky]

For the record, Maxwell missed rounds 3-6 last year and we got belted by Essendon and Hawthorn, and beat St Kilda and Richmond.

 

[1061]

For the record, Maxwell missed rounds 3-6 last year and we got belted by Essendon and Hawthorn, and beat St Kilda and Richmond.

Thanks that what I was wondering so it's inconclusive.

 

[ladderleader]

So we smashed the Saints last night without him and from memory last year when he was out we I think we played extremely well too.

So the question should be asked are we a better team, more balanced and what not without the former captain?
This isn't an attack on Maxy but a query on whether the team is a better unit without him!

Out for 2 -4. Its up to whoever comes in to play well enough to keep Max out. Until then still best 22

 

[piedpiper32]

With all due respect to the OP this thread is quite unbelievable.

Maxwell has been one of our best players this season and has marshalled our defence superbly playing often as the loose man. Now he is out for all of three quarters against a woeful opposition who we smashed as we should have, and there are already queries as to whether we are better without him??

I was far from a Maxwell supporter preseason, believing he was past it and on the fringe of the best 22, but he has come into the season fit and firing. The change in role is playing to his strengths and he is once again a key component of our best team. Last year's results should have little or no influence on what has been happening in the first 11 rounds. No way we are better without him this year

 

[rose jam]

You need to watch the West Coast game, when it ain't working for the team there's a vital few that seem to lift. Maxwell has an amazing finals record, he really lifts when needed.

 

[Optimax]

How many of the saints goals were because or back six lost their structure? Half? Two thirds?

That's why Maxwell is so important, on top of the contests he shuts downs

 

[Markfs]

So we smashed the Saints last night without him and from memory last year when he was out we I think we played extremely well too.

So the question should be asked are we a better team, more balanced and what not without the former captain?
This isn't an attack on Maxy but a query on whether the team is a better unit without him!

Totally in agreement with this. I was going to start a thread about whether we're better without Grundy but that's obviously not the case. I was also considering one about Swan and then Reid and then Nathan Brown, but I think this thread is the obvious one. I think last night was conclusive proof that we're better without him......btw I just remembered that I was going to start a similar thread about Luke Ball...

 

[TheFreshBanana]

Riewoldt kicked 2 goals as soon as Maxy went off.

We were able to sort out our structure after that

 

[Optimax]

Riewoldt kicked 2 goals as soon as Maxy went off.

We were able to sort out our structure after that

Milera kicked a goal,after three short passes to free forwards within 50, he may have kicked a point from a Similar instance.

We are better with him in the side.

 

[jmac70]

I think we are better with him in the side but we will just have to wait and see how it goes. Young and Seedsman gave us a lot more drive last night. Footy can evolve pretty quickly.

 

[TheFreshBanana]

Milera kicked a goal,after three short passes to free forwards within 50, he may have kicked a point from a Similar instance.

We are better with him in the side.

No doubt. Riewoldt's main strength is his leading. The first few of his marks were with an absolute paddock of space. If Maxwell was out on the ground, no doubt he would have filled up that space.

 

[Jasper84]

Reid will play back with Brown out for the season. No brainer. Defence is vital. Keeffe and Frost simply aren't good enough to make us a finals threat.

Did you even read the OP? The thread is "are we a better team without Maxwell playing" not "Ben Reid forward or back?".

 

[Kirby]

We are clearly not. Jesus

 

[Pie in the Sky]

Thanks that what I was wondering so it's inconclusive.

Two of our worst losses for the year. I think everyone knows he was poor last year anyway, he has been in great form this year so it's not really relevant.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

We are clearly not. Jesus

Quoted for truth.

 

[Knightmare]

So we smashed the Saints last night without him and from memory last year when he was out we I think we played extremely well too.

So the question should be asked are we a better team, more balanced and what not without the former captain?
This isn't an attack on Maxy but a query on whether the team is a better unit without him!

Maxwell this season is playing like a top 10 player on our squad in a season where we've had few standouts.

He's still a part of our best team. He's intercepting better this year now that he's being given more freedom and 1v1 unlike the past couple of seasons he's not getting embarrassed as frequently.

With a young back half his direction and leadership is valuable and critical to winning.

If he continues the form from the first half of the season you ask him to come back again next season and play on. No question.

 

[Big Bryza]

Maxwell is vitally important.

Our backline for most of last night was - Williams, Langdon, Keeffe, Frost, Seedsman and only Toovey as the experienced player with Young as the extra. Maxy is going to be crucial against the better teams.

 

[Scodog10]

Milera kicked a goal,after three short passes to free forwards within 50, he may have kicked a point from a Similar instance.

We are better with him in the side.

That chain that went Hayes-Schneider-Dunstan (3rd quarter) all I50 would not have taken place with Maxwell on the ground. There's no doubt our defence functions better with Maxwell leading it, IMO.