New player roles in 2012

[Claypigeon]

Ever since Gibbs has been at the club its been all about him doing his "football apprenticeship" He has had the defensive roll, the tagging roll, a taste of the forward line, and spurts through the middle. He has played 112 games now so its time to unleash him and play him through the middle and forward where he is most damaging. We no longer need him to float accross the back line like we did during the darker days.

Heres hoping gibbs can have a breakout year like Murphy last year!

Gibbs is too handy as a utility to be a full time centre. .. Better suited to a wing where he can run free and assist down back and up forward. .. I think he will always be used to fill holes: Defensive mid (Pendlebury), mobile defender (Goodes) or the defensive forward (Goddard). .. Why not, when he does it so well and can still contribute to the midfield rotation and has such a dangerous kick. ..

 

[Claypigeon]

Somehow leaving him a rookie does not seem right

I'm hoping as a 3rd year rookie he was able to negotiate a partial payrise for re-signing next year. .. (I believe 3rd year rookies can do this, unlike 1st/2nd year rookies who are on fixed low pays)

 

[Claypigeon]

If Jamison plays 25 games a season we're in good shape. If he has another horror run with injuries we're back to square one. Trialling him as a forward allows others in the team to share the responsibility while ultimately allowing the coach to move him back 'for emergencies'.

Agree, giving Jammo stints up forward is at least threefold. ..

It can be used to rest him against weaker opposition

He can become more valuable as a pinch hitter if our forward line becomes dysfunctional and the backline is solid (ie. would have been handy in the Bulldogs game this year)

We can trial some other KPDs safe in the knowledge that Jammo can swing back into defence (swapping with Hendo or the other player) and sure things up. ..

 

[GoBlues!]

That statement suggests he may see more action forward than back.

I'm somewhat surprised some of you see Jamo as a potential goal-kicker.
If we had to push a back man forward it really should be Henderson as he can kick goals form the boundary, 50 mts. out.

You can argue that everyone should be versatile but a back 6 needs to work together and kept intact for as long as possible, as that does build something beyond the sum of the parts.
Jamo is a strong, reliable general in our back half and should be the cornerstone that we work around.

Agree. Having a solid and settled back six that works well together is the foundation to building a premiership team.

 

[GoBlues!]

You watch the guys at training where they practice positioning and getting to understand each others strengths and weaknesses, when to support, when to stand back and accept etc.
The more mixing of those pieces and the less understanding that there'll be amongst the group, and moreso when you take the leader away.

The move of Walker to the forward line and Yarran to the HBF worked out really well for us, because we just weren't getting enough quality and consistency out of them in their previous positions.

Jamison on the other hand is the General of the backline and rarely gets beaten. I don't see him as a swing type player. Moving him forward and creating a weakness in a defensive structure that is starting to click doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

 

[Claypigeon]

That statement suggests he may see more action forward than back.

I should have said 'weak' opposition. .. BTW I can see both sides of the argument but if our backline is strong and our forward line malfunctions why not attempt to fill the gap and develop youth at the same time?

 

[GoBlues!]

I loved Walkers work forward this year, yet some of his best work was deep on the wings.
Had the motor to burn off his opponents collect the ball, then double back goalwards.
I doubt many (if any) forwards covered as much ground as he did this year.

Tbh I wasn't sure at the time whether moving Walker to the forward line was going to be a good move or not.

We all knew he has pace and is one of the quickest players at the club but it didn't seem to be a great weapon he made use of when he played in a defensive role. What really surprised me this year was his accurate kicking at goal - 56 goals and 27 pts, a massive effort and probably one of the most accurate forwards this year. Proved a lot of people wrong, me included, and kicked some great goals when we needed them.

 

[marcmurphy#3]

Quite surprised by the moves of Bower and Collins. Russell to the midfield makes sense, and given our excess of half backs, he may find it easier to find a spot in it.

 

[Blue and Silver]

Collins works well in traffic from memory of some Richmond vision. Could work

 

[zeeCFC]

Appreciate the write up Harks, I really like the Bower/Collins moves. Collins is a sublime user of the ball and Bower's line breaking skills would be great to see higher up the ground.

 

[Sharks On A Plane]

Reckon giving Bower a go on the wing is an excellent idea, albeit something I would have never thought of myself.

Quick, evasive, breaks lines, keeps his feet and is very strong one-on-one (when not conceding height and weight, which he won't be doing on the wing). The only thing that might hold him back would be his disposal, which whilst neat and pretty effective, lacks the penetration that you might want from someone regularly delivering inside 50.

Definitely worth a try.

 

[I bleed Blue]

Good to see Ratts with some innovative thinking.

I just cant see Bower as a wingman though. Id love for him to prove me wrong, but I just cant see him doing it. Yes he has good disposal efficiency but I think he will just run himself into too much trouble and wont have the awareness to play this role. As already stated he doesnt have that deep kick into the foward 50 either.

May still have a spot in our backline, and move Yaz up onto a wing (which quite alot of people here have already suggested)

Like I said im happy for Emu to prove me wrong, but I just cant see this working

 

[I bleed Blue]

I doubt Ratten would go back to s situation where we have players that will turn it over in our back half, hence I understand Collins being trialled.
All our backs are now prepared to take their opponent on, run off them and then capable of executing to advantage.
Jamison took a step up last year, Henderson fit into his position like a glove with Duigan and Laidler more than capable of fitting into the coaches edict.
Throw in Yarran, Tuohy and Russell into the mix and we'll give our opponents coach, plenty of headaches.

Ive got high hopes for Tuohy this year and think we will find him playing most games

I think Bower will find it hard to break back into the back line, (esspecially with guys like Russel and our younger guys pushing for a spot)... and just isnt suited to a wing. Get a feeling he will be gone at the end of next year.

As you said Hendo.. mate is he going to be a CHB or what, the boy can seriously play and we have found his positon. Jamo AA last year if he stayed fit and hopefully he can produce that form again/ improve this year. Our backline is going to be really strong and have me just as excited as our foward line we have built

 

[Big Sim]

I've said before I like JR in the middle doing some grunt work and protecting Judd. He's big bodied and has an appetite for the contest.

Collins as half back also makes sense because of his speed and disposal, especially if Yaz goes to a wing.

Bower on the wing is interesting. I like the idea of improving a player by finding a better fit for their skills, as with Walker this year. Good that Ratts and co are willing to experiment and you'd have to think that Bower may have had some input.

But I love Yaz and Simmo on the wings.

 

[zeeCFC]

I've said before I like JR in the middle doing some grunt work and protecting Judd. He's big bodied and has an appetite for the contest.

Collins as half back also makes sense because of his speed and disposal, especially if Yaz goes to a wing.

Bower on the wing is interesting. I like the idea of improving a player by finding a better fit for their skills, as with Walker this year. Good that Ratts and co are willing to experiment and you'd have to think that Bower may have had some input.

But I love Yaz and Simmo on the wings.

He's actually not too quick, but agree with the rest

 

[NAUGHT5]

I think we have a big bodied potentially very high B grade mid in Russell.
I really think he could excel if given a good crack.

Personally I'd like to se Yaz continue at half back for the majority of 2012. He had an excellent 2011 but I think he still has plenty to learn. Short stints sure, but leave him at half back, get 2 excellent years of top line footy under his belt and he'll be better for it. He's already a very good player but he's far from the finished article.

I know were all keen to unleash him but I just think we need to be patient.

 

[Big Sim]

I think we have a big bodied potentially very high B grade mid in Russell.
I really think he could excel if given a good crack.

Personally I'd like to se Yaz continue at half back for the majority of 2012. He had an excellent 2011 but I think he still has plenty to learn. Short stints sure, but leave him at half back, get 2 excellent years of top line footy under his belt and he'll be better for it. He's already a very good player but he's far from the finished article.

There is sense in that Naughts. Yaz's best off half back was electrifying, and if he can produce that more often next year, and even (please Lord) get better, we will have one of the most potent weapons in the comp. I wouldn't be at all averse to him staying there for another season. However, the thought of him closer to goal is also pretty damn exciting. Reckon his amigos think so too.

 

[gbatman]

Bower:
Will be trialled around the wing.
This is a real surprise, to me at least. Can't see it, but look forward to seeing how it may work.

Makes sense to me as the wingers are often the ones to get back and block the holes in defence. Bower lose in defence for us is a good thing, has the pace to get back there in good time and to run and carry it out as well as having the height to be dangerous as a lose player in the air. I remember watching Scotland and Duigan playing wing V North this year doing this countless times.

Collins looks like a quick player who likes to have space in front of him and also needs new strings to his bow, i've often though of half back for him too.

 

[thylacine60]

Anyone else hear the clown on 3AW tonight suggesting Tex has to go into the mid-field next year? Said our forward line was sweet without him and Judd and co needed the chop out? Tell me someone else heard this lunacy.

 

[zeeCFC]

He's been great in the midfield when allowed short bursts but he's a match winner up forward. Any simple comparison would see how vastly more important he is up forward.

 

[Azul]

Walker's poor shoulders. Wasn't he told [citation needed] he'd never play midfield again because of structural unsoundness?

Huge risk.

 

[Silvagnis]

Aaron Joseph to be part of the midfield rotations. I can't recall his kicking being as good as it was in the last round against the Saints. Was always OK on the run with his pace and agility giving him time, but his set kicking from the backline was surprisingly accurate. So good overhead for a small. Ability to play forward, mid and back could see him go past Ellard and Armfield. Smarter than Armfield. More tricks and speed than Ellard. Might be a "poor man's" Foley as a small mid.

 

[thylacine60]

Aaron Joseph to be part of the midfield rotations. I can't recall his kicking being as good as it was in the last round against the Saints. Was always OK on the run with his pace and agility giving him time, but his set kicking from the backline was surprisingly accurate. So good overhead for a small. Ability to play forward, mid and back could see him go past Ellard and Armfield. Smarter than Armfield. More tricks and speed than Ellard. Might be a "poor man's" Foley as a small mid.

Yep. Simmo as well. Yazz improving.

 

[SpaceCow]

I haven't ever really warmed to AJ. I can see his effort and endeavour but to me he's always seemed like a player that can run fast and then just kicks it long, as in he doesn't end up specifically hitting too many targets.

 

[mickelboy182]

AJ really surprised me this year and I particularly enjoyed some of his run off of HB, but surely his overhead ability is his biggest weakness, not a strength?