Mundy in a defence role

[siteuser]

I'm interested in your thoughts.
I think it's worth a try/trial. Particularly given his past experience and participation in defence. Even though it's been a while.

 

[MadDocker]

Good as loose man, good mark, good kick.

Not that great one on one at the moment, but, if he stays down there, that should improve.

Think it's wprth persisting with.

 

[beetz]

I like the move, he's been great down there. It's a shame that when Freo get back to the top he probably won't be around any more.

 

[dockerfemme]

I completely agree. I think we have inside mids covered (Fyfe (if we play him there), Neale, Blakely in the future, Barlow and de Boer for now) and he can be a general down back for a few years, hopefully.

 

[PurpleCheese]

Exactly what we need down there for the next few years. Will take over Johnno's role now that he seems cooked. Great mark, great kick and decent size(193)

 

[theGav56]

I think that it is amazing that we are discussing putting our best available midfielder of recent times into defense. But if it gives Blakely an opportunity to get a decent platform for next year under his belt, I would do it.

 

[meima]

Either the way I don't mind.

 

[beetz]

Exactly what we need down there for the next few years. Will take over Johnno's role now that he seems cooked. Great mark, great kick and decent size(193)

Funnily enough, Mundy was drafted as a KPD.

 

[balthazarthedonk]

I think that it is amazing that we are discussing putting our best available midfielder of recent times into defense. But if it gives Blakely an opportunity to get a decent platform for next year under his belt, I would do it.

Does anyone else think that the reason Blakely started to get more of the ball in Q4 was because Mundy was back in the centre and taking some of the pressure off?
Mundy-no Mundy in the back half is a stop gap measure. Things won't improve with the back 6 until something is done about the Sheridan-Sutcliffe-Spurr set up and there is no quick fix to that with the players we have on our team (although I do admit that Mundy plays a role directing the back half, where that role is usually played by Jonno. Ideally Ibbo should be playing that role now)

 

[dockshark]

I think that Neale has been challenged to step up into the number 1 midfield role in the absence of Fyfe and Mundy, in addition Hill has stepped up his inside game. I think they recognise the criticality of having effective kicks across centre back and so moving Mundy kills 2 birds with one stone in that space.

 

[PurpleCheese]

Funnily enough, Mundy was drafted as a KPD.

Yeah I remember watching him play down there in his early years. As Lyon said in his pressr after the game, he has the talent to be an AA backman playing as the third tall and distributing efficiently. He is perfect for what the commentators call the "quarterback role". The same role that Gibson plays and also Easton Wood

 

[PurpleCheese]

He is also past 30 and we need to give Blakely more of a run as the proper inside mid. This move allows us to do that.

 

[darkshines]

Really is a no brainer. Aims to rectify our main weakness (D50 bounce) whilst also injecting new blood into coalface.

Can you imagine someone like Hardwick playing Deledio or Martin in defence? He wouldnt have the spine. Lyon does.

 

[Unique Name]

Happy he's in the backline. A weapon we can throw into the midfield in the last qtr.

 

[Bicco]

He is probably our best player on the field with Walters. When we're winning/start of the game he should be back and Walters mid. If we get behind Mundy mid and Walters forward.

 

[Arcassius]

Mundy back accelerates the development of our young midfield brigade, prolongs his career, and gives us a viable option for when Suttcliffe/Sheridan/Ibbo are in need of dropping

 

[wayToGo_]

Mundy back accelerates the development of our young midfield brigade, prolongs his career, and gives us a viable option for when Suttcliffe/Sheridan/Ibbo are in need of dropping

Are our youngsters developing in the middle without him and Fyfe in there though? I think Neale developed so well and quickly because he had that support from the big bodies of Mundy, Fyfe and Barlow the past few years. I get we need some class at half back but are we costing ourselves at the centre bounces and stoppages in the process? I think we need at least one big body in the middle and perhaps two is better. I don't think Blakely is ready to be that by himself yet. Felt we only started winning clearances from the middle once Mundy came in, in that fourth quarter. Loving watching Neale, Walters and Ballas do their thing in the middle but I think it's only effective when we are using one of them at a time. Not sure why we seem so allergic to playing contested football this year.

 

[Rion]

Not sure I agree with the move tbh. Think he's probably our most damaging mid atm and him being there can only help the youngsters like Weller and Blakely. While he's obviously an excellent kick reckon he might be a bit slow if we are looking for that quick rebound.

In saying that wouldn't be averse to a 60-40 or even 50-50 split just think we need alot more coming from the backline than just Mundy.

 

[Arcassius]

Are our youngsters developing in the middle without him and Fyfe in there though? I think Neale developed so well and quickly because he had that support from the big bodies of Mundy, Fyfe and Barlow the past few years. I get we need some class at half back but are we costing ourselves at the centre bounces and stoppages in the process? I think we need at least one big body in the middle and perhaps two is better. I don't think Blakely is ready to be that by himself yet. Felt we only started winning clearances from the middle once Mundy came in, in that fourth quarter. Loving watching Neale, Walters and Ballas do their thing in the middle but I think it's only effective when we are using one of them at a time. Not sure why we seem so allergic to playing contested football this year.

They practice different scenarios for stoppages in training. What this does is forces the younger guys to step up and make decisions for themselves. It will accelerate their leadership and strategic thinking skills as they will see first hand - cause and effect - and be able to make the call on adjusting plays. I think the club removing the established leaders and entrusting it to the young guys is the best thing it could do for them.

Not so much for right here and now (the bodies/skills dont match the intent), but for the future.

 

[Unique Name]

Are our youngsters developing in the middle without him and Fyfe in there though? I think Neale developed so well and quickly because he had that support from the big bodies of Mundy, Fyfe and Barlow the past few years. I get we need some class at half back but are we costing ourselves at the centre bounces and stoppages in the process? I think we need at least one big body in the middle and perhaps two is better. I don't think Blakely is ready to be that by himself yet. Felt we only started winning clearances from the middle once Mundy came in, in that fourth quarter. Loving watching Neale, Walters and Ballas do their thing in the middle but I think it's only effective when we are using one of them at a time. Not sure why we seem so allergic to playing contested football this year.

This is why I'd prefer if Barlow was still in as he takes alot of focus from the opposition. Then Blakely becomes our 3rd inside mid behind Neale and Barlow.

 

[wayToGo_]

They practice different scenarios for stoppages in training. What this does is forces the younger guys to step up and make decisions for themselves. It will accelerate their leadership and strategic thinking skills as they will see first hand - cause and effect - and be able to make the call on adjusting plays. I think the club removing the established leaders and entrusting it to the young guys is the best thing it could do for them.

Not so much for right here and now (the bodies/skills dont match the intent), but for the future.

Yeah I think at training that sounds fine and I'd expect us to be trying all sorts of configurations. But once on the field in a real game scenario battling against experienced minds and bodies, I am worried they are getting decimated, in which case I doubt they're learning that much. Luckily Neale has stepped up considerably but his disposal seems to have also suffered as a consequence of carrying the extra load.

If you played stoppage team 1 - Sandi, Mundy, Fyfe and Barlow up against stoppage team 2 - Griff, Neale, Blakely, Walters... I'd say the second team has better skills and speed but would they get near the ball that often with a big size and strength advantage to team 1? We seemed to have started the trend of big mids and now most teams have plenty of big bodies in the middle. I don't think it's a coincidence we've gone form the best stoppage team last year to one of the worst this year without Mundy and Fyfe in the middle (and Sandi of course). Swap Walters and Mundy in those scenarios and I think it'd be a far more even contest and either of those groups would be quite competitive in a real game as well.

I'd need to do some more analysis on our stoppage work this year to back my thoughts further but I'd think a good balance of youth and experience is the best environment for effective learning. I personally think we have too little experience in the middle atm and it's contributing to our losses. Solution: we need to clone Mundy.

 

[meima]

This is why I'd prefer if Barlow was still in as he takes alot of focus from the opposition. Then Blakely becomes our 3rd inside mid behind Neale and Barlow.

Still a problem , disposal , will end up opposition hurt us more with turn over with our use.

 

[meima]

Yeah I think at training that sounds fine and I'd expect us to be trying all sorts of configurations. But once on the field in a real game scenario battling against experienced minds and bodies, I am worried they are getting decimated, in which case I doubt they're learning that much. Luckily Neale has stepped up considerably but his disposal seems to have also suffered as a consequence of carrying the extra load.

If you played stoppage team 1 - Sandi, Mundy, Fyfe and Barlow up against stoppage team 2 - Griff, Neale, Blakely, Walters... I'd say the second team has better skills and speed but would they get near the ball that often with a big size and strength advantage to team 1? We seemed to have started the trend of big mids and now most teams have plenty of big bodies in the middle. I don't think it's a coincidence we've gone form the best stoppage team last year to one of the worst this year without Mundy and Fyfe in the middle (and Sandi of course). Swap Walters and Mundy in those scenarios and I think it'd be a far more even contest and either of those groups would be quite competitive in a real game as well.

I'd need to do some more analysis on our stoppage work this year to back my thoughts further but I'd think a good balance of youth and experience is the best environment for effective learning. I personally think we have too little experience in the middle atm and it's contributing to our losses. Solution: we need to clone Mundy.

I think that training sim for how you counter punch without first use, or fyfe, Sandi,Mundy. 18 on field 4 interchange. Is so easy to use as an excuse well we don't have fyfe , Sandi, bennell , we should loose before the game even started.

 

[Dump Truck]

Really is a no brainer. Aims to rectify our main weakness (D50 bounce) whilst also injecting new blood into coalface.

Can you imagine someone like Hardwick playing Deledio or Martin in defence? He wouldnt have the spine. Lyon does.

Deledio has played a rebounding defender role for the last few years. It's probably the one thing with Rance the tigers do well at. I'm hoping Tucker will eventually come in and claim that sort of rebounding role.

I think this is a good play by Ross. Hopefully Mundy's composure will also settle Ibbo down to play his usual role and get his confidence back.

 

[Arcassius]

Yeah I think at training that sounds fine and I'd expect us to be trying all sorts of configurations. But once on the field in a real game scenario battling against experienced minds and bodies, I am worried they are getting decimated, in which case I doubt they're learning that much. Luckily Neale has stepped up considerably but his disposal seems to have also suffered as a consequence of carrying the extra load.

If you played stoppage team 1 - Sandi, Mundy, Fyfe and Barlow up against stoppage team 2 - Griff, Neale, Blakely, Walters... I'd say the second team has better skills and speed but would they get near the ball that often with a big size and strength advantage to team 1? We seemed to have started the trend of big mids and now most teams have plenty of big bodies in the middle. I don't think it's a coincidence we've gone form the best stoppage team last year to one of the worst this year without Mundy and Fyfe in the middle (and Sandi of course). Swap Walters and Mundy in those scenarios and I think it'd be a far more even contest and either of those groups would be quite competitive in a real game as well.

I'd need to do some more analysis on our stoppage work this year to back my thoughts further but I'd think a good balance of youth and experience is the best environment for effective learning. I personally think we have too little experience in the middle atm and it's contributing to our losses. Solution: we need to clone Mundy.

If the goal was to win games - then sure - having a stronger midfield in place will always be the preference. But to learn the difference between theory and fact? Throw them to the lions. There are lots of lessons to learn in the face of adversity - and it will force them to observe and learn the tricks of the trade quicker to compete, than by having the seniors in there constantly carrying them.