Player Watch Ned Long

[Ctracks]

Hard to argue really any of that.

Does Pendles play as sub if he isn't chasing the games record? Probably not.

Mitchell and Long don't work they are the same player with Long being stronger and more team first.

Best mid mix would be.

Daicos Pendles Long
Daicos Long Crisp
Daicos Sidebottom Crisp
Pendles Long Crisp

Josh obviously can go in and hopefully a fit Degoey McCreery when back.

When you have both Mitchell and Long in midfield you can't play Sidebottom or Pendles they will walk it out with first possession.

Good to have this selection issues now then in 6 weeks.

Degoey McCreery is a strange name

 

[manicpie]

Probably right.

I still feel we should save these sorts of experiments/restings until we are a bit more locked into a top 2 spot.

In 23 we seemed to hit a point where motivation was a problem because we were so far in front. We're probably trying a different tactic by keeping them hungrier. Not that we wanted to lose but being basically 3 games clear is a good time to get some management into players.

 

[Pistol Night]

Degoey McCreery is a strange name

Sounds like the new detective on Law And Order

 

[manicpie]

Sounds like the new detective on Law And Order

Sounds like an Irish pub fighter

 

[Ctracks]

Sounds like the new detective on Law And Order

 

[Do_Beta_Rapport]

Geez, people jumping off Ned as quick as they jumped on!

 

[Finnishpie]

I suppose the other thing to consider is that it is probable that both Mihocek and Lipinski were under some degree of an injury cloud hence the decision to manage them then and there.

I reckon Pendles as sub was a bridge too far, and Fly will likely learn from that.

It was probably the most frustrated I’ve seen him, the way he was talking about our midfielders output in the presser.

Macrae said that Lipinski almost missed the previous game, so it's certain he was sore. Mihocek is basically one big bruise on legs.

 

[Finnishpie]

Geez, people jumping off Ned as quick as they jumped on!

Welcome to Bigfooty!

 

[Daicos Torpedo]

Ned improved out of site.
Is his tank developed enough for last quarter of the season, and finals?

 

[Jen2310]

Ned improved out of site.
Is his tank developed enough for last quarter of the season, and finals?

He has a massive tank

 

[manicpie]

He has a massive tank

It's his first full season. His form was always going to taper off a bit. He'll come good before long

 

[Daicos Torpedo]

He has a massive tank

Do you think opposition has worked him out for now, or just roll/form?

 

[Jen2310]

Do you think opposition has worked him out for now, or just roll/form?

This is the most games he has played in a row in his career so maybe just bit down on form relating to his role. Hes still so young and inexperienced so it’s all a learning curve for young Ned. He’ll be right.

 

[PIEWITHSAUCE]

Ned played a serious stretch of consistently good to great footy this year - I find it hard to believe that it was a flash in the pan. Perhaps he's been in need of a bit of a rest the last few weeks but with Titch lurking he may not have been 100% honest with how sore he is.

Needs some work on his disposal but I'm a big fan and haven't dropped off the bandwagon.

 

[yeah man]

Ned was drafted in a similar period to Nick, and I believe he was ahead of Nick in running trials. There is a video somewhere of Nick talking about it. Ned absolutely has the tank lol, he's overperformed for his age and experience profile

 

[WakeUpPies]

As much as I admire Tom Mitchell, I'd prefer to see the club back in Ned Long for the (long) term if it comes down to a choice between the two. He is young and already hard done by another club, and has shown what he can offer to us. The club needs to back that in.

He needs to work on his composure. Has a habit of smashing it to his boot without looking anywhere first.

Long term yes Long should be prioritised. For our 2025 flag chase play whoever is in better form come finals time. Lack of composure and blind disposals will cost us in big games.

Long took Mitchell’s spot because Mitchell was injured for 18 months. Now that both are healthy, let Long push Mitchell out with good form instead.

 

[rand corp]

Seems to me, Long and Mitchell are now in an epic tussle for the same spot leading into the finals. For mine, only one gets it, can't have both.

 

[Pistol Night]

Seems to me, Long and Mitchell are now in an epic tussle for the same spot leading into the finals. For mine, only one gets it, can't have both.

Fight to the death at training

 

[Granit1962]

I doubt we were underestimating their midfield. I think Pendles as sub was a genuine audition to see where our mids are at and what could work. And we found out that Long can't be shifted to a negating role and Titch can't match it any more with the very best inside mids - not going to find that out against Richmond where we weren't going to be risking the 4 points.

Good points. You are probably right on both counts.

An optimistic view is hopefully Long can improve sufficiently this year and possibly Mitchell has some improvement left. In any-case, only Mitchell's very best will give him a chance if we are fully fit. More likely good depth for the rest of the year.

Sidebottom, Long and Mitch, as the starting mids at best is unlikely. With NDaicous not switched on or injured and absent from a lot of CBA, that is a "C" grade, unbalanced, sloth-like, starting mid set-up.

On Long, expect they are trying to get him to develop certain aspects of his game. He appeared to be following Rowell around, and despite getting towelled up, it was persisted with. However, if he didn't give away all those free kicks, he wouldn't have been too bad.

 

[Granit1962]

Seems to me, Long and Mitchell are now in an epic tussle for the same spot leading into the finals. For mine, only one gets it, can't have both.

Maybe neither, as some have pointed out

 

[Granit1962]

Ned played a serious stretch of consistently good to great footy this year - I find it hard to believe that it was a flash in the pan. Perhaps he's been in need of a bit of a rest the last few weeks but with Titch lurking he may not have been 100% honest with how sore he is.

Needs some work on his disposal but I'm a big fan and haven't dropped off the bandwagon.

A Ned Rester hey

 

[sr36]

Good points. You are probably right on both counts.

An optimistic view is hopefully Long can improve sufficiently this year and possibly Mitchell has some improvement left. In any-case, only Mitchell's very best will give him a chance if we are fully fit. More likely good depth for the rest of the year.

Sidebottom, Long and Mitch, as the starting mids at best is unlikely. With NDaicous not switched on or injured and absent from a lot of CBA, that is a "C" grade, unbalanced, sloth-like, starting mid set-up.

On Long, expect they are trying to get him to develop certain aspects of his game. He appeared to be following Rowell around, and despite getting towelled up, it was persisted with. However, if he didn't give away all those free kicks, he wouldn't have been too bad.

Yeah, with Long it wasn't so much the defensive job on Rowell, it was that he seemed to become completely awful when going the other way. I don't think he's ready yet to chop and change out of the different midsets.

 

[Granit1962]

Ned was drafted in a similar period to Nick, and I believe he was ahead of Nick in running trials. There is a video somewhere of Nick talking about it. Ned absolutely has the tank lol, he's overperformed for his age and experience profile

That is all true as far as I know, but being track fit is different to being 'week in week out' fit in a bash and crash afl season.

 

[yeah man]

That is all true as far as I know, but being track fit is different to being 'week in week out' fit in a bash and crash afl season.

Absolutely, I'm just speaking to his potential as a young player. That track fitness history has to mean something! He'll only improve

 

[BillyElliott]