NAB Cup final

[Optimax]

Agree with the great quick lead stuff but his kicking is as dodgy as can be. I really hope this bloke makes it as he adds something different to the side. Unfortunately he has had many shockers where he can't get near it to go with that highlight package.

His kicking is better when he gets a few games in a row.

Really hasnt had as many shockers as you would think, he has played 17 gams 3 of which he didnt complete so 14. most of his games in 07 were of high quality so thats 9 left and you give kids 1-3 games to show something so thats 6 games where he wasnt spectacular (but includ at least the carlton match 06, port match 06, and his second game that slips my mind but he kicked 2)

 

[well left]

The concern with a Cloke/Rusling spine though, is that a successful transition of the ball from Cloke to Rusling via the direct route would almost never happen. Rocca/Tarrant were successful (to an extent) because once Rocca got it, he could pinpoint a pass to the leading Tarrant. Cloke can do no such thing. Which is why, in a vacuum, Cloke should be playing FF.

The best option going forward then may be to have Rusling leading from the square with Cloke starting 30-40m out and Dawes or Reid playing the high CHF role. This obviously relies on Rus staying injury free and Reid and/or Dawes developing as hoped.

 

[Trojan82]

The best option going forward then may be to have Rusling leading from the square with Cloke starting 30-40m out and Dawes or Reid playing the high CHF role. This obviously relies on Rus staying injury free and Reid and/or Dawes developing as hoped.

Clogging up the forward line like that IMO will never work. Plus you haven't got Rocca in there. Playing Cloke and Rus out of the goalsquare would be nice!! Obviously in this day and age that wont happen either....but it would look good!

 

[mdc]

The best option going forward then may be to have Rusling leading from the square with Cloke starting 30-40m out and Dawes or Reid playing the high CHF role. This obviously relies on Rus staying injury free and Reid and/or Dawes developing as hoped.

That 30-40m area is the space into which the Ruzzler would be leading, so not sure that works. Plus we'd get creamed defensively.

Personally, right now I'd lean towards Reid at CHF and Cloke at FF as the preferred set up. Anthony/Macaffer to battle for one FP spot, Didak/Medhurst/Thomas to rotate through the HFFs, and the other FP spot left for a resting Leon or your Lockyer/Cox type utility.

 

[well left]

Personally, right now I'd lean towards Reid at CHF and Cloke at FF as the preferred set up. Anthony/Macaffer to battle for one FP spot, Didak/Medhurst/Thomas to rotate through the HFFs, and the other FP spot left for a resting Leon or your Lockyer/Cox type utility.

That's a pretty good set up. I'd be happy with that.

 

[shawthing09]

Agree with the above by MDC too.

 

[Quicky]

This is a great point. I personally don't see Rusling ever making it as a FP or a HFF - I think he's a bit of a dud in those positions.

However, if allowed to lead from the square and be the primary focal point, he has a chance, with Cloke moving up to traditional CHF.

The concern with a Cloke/Rusling spine though, is that a successful transition of the ball from Cloke to Rusling via the direct route would almost never happen. Rocca/Tarrant were successful (to an extent) because once Rocca got it, he could pinpoint a pass to the leading Tarrant. Cloke can do no such thing. Which is why, in a vacuum, Cloke should be playing FF.

It would definately be one of the negatives of that set-up but thats the problem we'll have with Cloke at CHF no matter who plays at FF. In any case not all the forward movements will be channeled through Cloke. I think with guys like Didak and Lockyer on the HFF and Pendlebury and Davis from midfield that Rusling would get enough decent service that he'd still be very dangerous.

Your argument certainly adds credence to the idea of having Reid at CHF and Cloke at FF. Reid is a very decent field kick and would be dangerous kicking to Cloke at FF. It would also mean that Cloke would be in a more dangerous goalscoring position which I think can only be good for the team. It would straighten us up and Cloke is very dangerous in contested situations. I'm startng to think that this is the best forward structure - with Medhurst and Anthony/Macaffer (or a crumber like Thomas) in the FP's - when Rocca is not in the team.

 

[mdc]

It would definately be one of the negatives of that set-up but thats the problem we'll have with Cloke at CHF no matter who plays at FF. In any case not all the forward movements will be channeled through Cloke. I think with guys like Didak and Lockyer on the HFF and Pendlebury and Davis from midfield that Rusling would get enough decent service that he'd still be very dangerous.

To an extent, yes, and that's why I'd prefer to see Cloke at FF.

But generally, it's a lot harder to kick to a medium leading forward like Rusling than it is to a big marking forward like Rocca.

Btw, I think the paradigm we should use for Cloke is Roughead. Cloke's not quite as talented, but they have similar weaknesses - that's why Hawthorn ensures Roughead is almost always within scoring range. It makes him a more effective player.

 

[well left]

Btw, I think the paradigm we should use for Cloke is Roughead. Cloke's not quite as talented, but they have similar weaknesses - that's why Hawthorn ensures Roughead is almost always within scoring range. It makes him a more effective player.

They have a fairly handy sort that can play at CHF too!

I think you're right with Cloke though. I always thought we would look our best with him at CHF, Rocca at FF and Rusling leading from the square but I don't think it works all that well out on the ground.

I'd be interested to see us trial something similar with Reid at CHF and Cloke at FF. I just get the feeling (thanks Bruce) that Cloke and Rus might work a little better than Rocca and Rus. Of course I have nothing to back that up.

 

[buzzbuzz]

Agree with the great quick lead stuff but his kicking is as dodgy as can be. I really hope this bloke makes it as he adds something different to the side. Unfortunately he has had many shockers where he can't get near it to go with that highlight package.

Haha, unfortunately I can't remember Rusling actually playing so I relied on the highlights reel to inform me. Damn rose-tinted video.

 

[shawthing09]

I think the 3 week break has worked in our favour massively. I doubt we'd have started with such strong sides in the last 2 games if there wasn't nearly a month between them, if we did there is little chance we'd still be picking such strong sides at this point of the pre-season.

 

[Sloth]

I tipped this, WOOT!