Pavlich in the midfield???

[Cica]

Yesterday I got so frustrated whenever I saw Pavlich in the midfield. I tried to think about any logical justification behind him playing there and could not think of any. I just find it hard to see why Harvey keeps persisting with this. Pavlich is our best forward and easily in the top 5 in AFL in most people's eyes. He is very consistant playing as a forward and hardly ever has a bad game playing in this position. Yesterday he was completely wasted. He also has issues with his shoulders and he got crunched more often than when playing up forward.

I think it is a big step backwards playing him as a midfielder and I am confused . I think all of us would be laughing if Franklin or Fevola played in the midfield for most of the game when they play against us.

If there is anyone who can actually see how we are better off with Pavlich in the midfield I would like to hear it?

 

[j0nni]

I want him back playing at the half forward area

 

[Lach72]

I want him back playing at the half forward area

Yep. Ineffectual and we lose our best forward

 

[Dock_king]

If there is anyone who can actually see how we are better off with Pavlich in the midfield I would like to hear it?

The match committee have a tonne of money on us for the spoon

 

[Sman-21]

Believe it or not end of last season an just before this season started there were atleast 10+ people here who wanted Pav playing midfield.
I blame them for coaching staff listening to them an trying it out.
Now we will have to put up with it for most the year as it seems hes trained for it and gameplan setup for it.

The other thing a few wanted was Mcpharlin Forward more.

Hope they finally understand why it is such a crap idea.

You dont take away your strengths to fix your weaknesses.
That just weakens you everywhere.

Pav goes mid so mcpharlin goes forward hmmm pavs the better forward so we are now weaker down forward.
Weaker down back as our best defender an 2nd best playmaker back there is now up forward.
An Pav doesnt have quick hands or reflexes or pace all he has is strength not much help when hes got 2 guys hanging off his back so we gain bugger all there.
So still weak in midfield

 

[Belnakor]

Pav was either struggling for fitness, or he has lost a yard of pace. Either way, he is an average midfielder and a top notch forward... hmmmm...

 

[markfarmer]

I think his shoulder is bad again... . Would explain it. He can run, sheppard, handball , kick, just avoids the mark...unless its a chest mark.

 

[Belnakor]

there is no way his shoulder is stuffed this early in the season. His problem on the weekend was the complete lack of a chase.

 

[Chops_a_must]

The match committee have a tonne of money on us for the spoon

Because they reckon Kane Lucas will be a gun for us in 2 years time?

 

[sabre_ac]

Play the guy predominantly as a forward for crying out load, throw him into the middle now and then but he's one of the best forwards in the game.

Sundays game our forward line was very crowded, not sure how to combat that if teams are going to zone off across the field (Careys paddock won't be coming back anytime soon).

Though ideally I'd like to see Pavlich and Balla deep in the middle leading with maybe Peake roaming.

 

[Chops_a_must]

Sundays game our forward line was very crowded, not sure how to combat that if teams are going to zone off across the field (Careys paddock won't be coming back anytime soon).

Whatchoo talking about? It's more relevant than ever!

It happened multiple times like that. But our crabs of players utterly refused to lift their vision and hit targets downfield. Whether or not it's because we didn't have a "perceived" good enough target, I dunno...

One exception being Suban's kick to Peake. It's how all our entries should be - fast, first option and to advantage, no matter who it is to.

 

[longsuffreosupp]

Did we actually kick a goal from a lead in the forward line? We really need to stop this zone crap and have Pav's paddock.

 

[sabre_ac]

Whatchoo talking about? It's more relevant than ever!

It happened multiple times like that. But our crabs of players utterly refused to lift their vision and hit targets downfield. Whether or not it's because we didn't have a "perceived" good enough target, I dunno...

One exception being Suban's kick to Peake. It's how all our entries should be - fast, first option and to advantage, no matter who it is to.

My understanding of the rolling zone was that you get as many players behind the ball and run it out.

So backlines are effectively crowded as the ball is run out.

Is this correct?

Are we going to be able to single out Pavlich in the forward line one out that often?

 

[Bateman]

I think his shoulder is bad again... . Would explain it. He can run, sheppard, handball , kick, just avoids the mark...unless its a chest mark.

I don't know about the shoulder but he looked a bit proppy on one leg to me.
One of his knees appeared to be heavily strapped under the sock.
Place him at Full forward, get rid of "Let's not get physical" Murphy and take a chance on our young mids.
By the way Hase was in for the center bounces but out of the midfield after that.
I have grave concerns for his lack of speed in today's game, much as I enjoy watching him play.

 

[Chops_a_must]

My understanding of the rolling zone was that you get as many players behind the ball and run it out.

So backlines are effectively crowded as the ball is run out.

Is this correct?

Are we going to be able to single out Pavlich in the forward line one out that often?

Not always.

If we can't single out or develop a plan to, one of the best contested marks in the game, we might as well fold as a club.

 

[silverscope]

Pav is a foward and should STAY THERE!!!

 

[paul8241]

I think part of the reason he's been put in the middle is because a number of our mids lack penetration with their kicking, and long accurate kicks break down the rolling zone defence.

My argument is that strong leading and marking forwards break it down as well. Pav needs to put the weight back on and scare defenders into clearing a path for him. Midfield experiment IMO failed, I can't see that he'd be mobile enough. I haven't seen him in the mid position, can anybody tell me if he could actually do a James Hird roll.

 

[legitimatic]

I think part of the reason he's been put in the middle is because a number of our mids lack penetration with their kicking, and long accurate kicks break down the rolling zone defence.

My argument is that strong leading and marking forwards break it down as well. Pav needs to put the weight back on and scare defenders into clearing a path for him. Midfield experiment IMO failed, I can't see that he'd be mobile enough. I haven't seen him in the mid position, can anybody tell me if he could actually do a James Hird roll.

Which is where we really miss Headland!

 

[Latro]

Yep and he wont be back until round 5. He is starting running or ball work this week I cant remember from his interview before yesterdays game on ABC radio.

On Pav in midfield where would you rank him in our team as our midfield? I have Palmer, Hasleby and Schammer definitely ahead of him and maybe a couple of others. IMO if Pav isnt our best or second best what is the point in playing him there instead of forward.

 

[Freo Blood]

Taking a look at Griffen he is a unit and still 22 and able to run at pace through the midfield. Pav is getting on now 26/7 his fulltime in the midfield window is past? We don't want to wear him out before his time and lose the 60+ goals per season he will deliver us up forward for the next 5 years.

 

[PapaJ]

there is no way his shoulder is stuffed this early in the season. His problem on the weekend was the complete lack of a chase.

Ummm, I don't think this isn't going to change in a hurry. Whether as a fwd or the occasional (to this point) pinch hitter in the middle. Pav has never been a great chaser/tackler etc. he is undoubtedly a defenisve liability when it comes to the midfield. In the past he's put in the middle almost exclusively to get the clearence. He's big, skilled when in possetion and can kick a bomb even with half the opposition hangin on his back. I've got no issue with pav going in the middle for stints, but I just don't buy it as a long term option.

My understanding of the rolling zone was that you get as many players behind the ball and run it out.

So backlines are effectively crowded as the ball is run out.

Is this correct?

Are we going to be able to single out Pavlich in the forward line one out that often?

A rolling zone is more about crowding the next kick and a half it can lead to clogged defensive backlines if the opposition are slow/unskillful/succumb to pressure at moving the ball or very open if the ball is moved with skill and speed (see Geelong). What does that mean for Pav one on one? Probably not going to happen that often if opposition teams use it allot, but still reckon he's a better chance than any other option's we've got and he's certainly not going to help our midfield out much in general play, he's just not quick enough over the long stretch IMHO.

 

[thebaxters]

Agree, agree, agree. Painful to watch. Just didn't have the quick hands he needed in there. Looked like he was running around the packs more often than not unsure of whether he should go in and get it or stay out for the receive. Just not a natural mid. I was going spare screaming at our lack of options up forward. This robbing Peter to pay Paul thing is just plain dumb.

Our top 4 goal kickers last year:
Pav - 67
Farmer - 23
Tarrant - 23
McPharlin - 21

Take Pav and put him in the middle, Farmer retired, Tarrant to the backline. Leaves you with McPharlin who I would argue is far better in the backline than forward. We just have so few options, why would you get rid of the only guy who has kicked more 60+ in the last few years? Between 05-08, Pav kicked twice as many as Farmer and Taz and 3.5 times as many as McPharlin. Pav has kicked more goals between 05-08 than all 3 of them together in Freo colours.

Makes Murphy the luckiest player listed in the AFL I reckon.

 

[pinkus maximus]

Pav has never been a good midfielder anyway IMO. He was lucky to get that AA guernsey in 03. Using Pav sparingly as a forward and predominantly as a mid is just stupid. Harvs got it the wrong way around

 

[VolgaBoatman]

Pav should be 75% in the forward line at least. We are starting to get some larger bodies in the midfield anyway.

Though I always like the goals where he gets the ball, uses the don't argue on some paltry defender and kicks it from the centre square.

 

[strategy]

As an outsider i was surprised Pavlich didnt play much in the Fwd line , especially centre half fwd area AND the biggest surprise, Palmer hardly was in the midfield where he is so damaging.
Why wasnt Johnson taken off for his failures time after time in disposing the ball from the backline ?( he wasnt alone though )
Your set shots for goal hurt you badly.