Player positioning - PS priority

[Mad Dog]

It’s interesting to start thinking about the Round 1 2007 line up at this early stage. Everybody likes to speculate – and most of us have an opinion about the direction the club should take from here. The signs from the club with the demise of Hart, the non-urgency in terms of talking Clarke into playing another year, and the “take it or leave it” attitude towards Welsh’s new contract all point to a greater focus on changing the guard. The Trigginator has been heard to say over the last few weeks that he is happy with the direction the club has taken this year in bringing on VB, Porps, Maric, Douglas……..but he says “we need to do a bit more of that”.

One of our weaknesses all year – but only fully exposed at the end was our lack of pace all over the ground. We don’t have a lot of pacey options to bring along – which means we have to be very careful with how we manage what we’ve got.

Can we afford to bring Roo back into the midfield when our focus should be to inject pace in the form of Douglas ?

If Roo stays in the forward line – where does that leave Welsh ??

Does the backline experiment with Mattner need to end in favour of a wingers spot ?

If we are to get anything out of the whole Jericho experience – should we be throwing him onto the other wing and just say “Run Forest Run !!” ?

One thing that frustrates me about our club is that in the past it has taken too long to work out if a player can play or not – and that there has never been any lateral thought in terms of player positioning….ie

We tried to play Wellman, McCartney, and Ingerson as Half Forwards and they turned out to be 3 of the standout CHBs of the ‘90s.

Maybe Jericho is a winger and has always been a winger, and it’s about time we let him be what he is.

Doughty’s career as a HBF was about as memorable as Robert Shaw’s career as a Senior Coach……but since he has been on and around the ball – even I like him…

Mattner’s move to defence has stifled his attacking flair and ’06 saw him half the player he was in ’05.

One of the major challenges for NC and his merry men this PS is going to be player placement. I don’t reckon we’re as flexible as what he thinks – and I reckon plenty of work needs to be done to salvage some careers.


Thoughts ?

 

[Cap]

It’s interesting to start thinking about the Round 1 2007 line up at this early stage. Everybody likes to speculate – and most of us have an opinion about the direction the club should take from here. The signs from the club with the demise of Hart, the non-urgency in terms of talking Clarke into playing another year, and the “take it or leave it” attitude towards Welsh’s new contract all point to a greater focus on changing the guard. The Trigginator has been heard to say over the last few weeks that he is happy with the direction the club has taken this year in bringing on VB, Porps, Maric, Douglas……..but he says “we need to do a bit more of that”.

One of our weaknesses all year – but only fully exposed at the end was our lack of pace all over the ground. We don’t have a lot of pacey options to bring along – which means we have to be very careful with how we manage what we’ve got.

Can we afford to bring Roo back into the midfield when our focus should be to inject pace in the form of Douglas ?

If Roo stays in the forward line – where does that leave Welsh ??

I have to say I hope that we have seen the last game (final against the weagles) without Douglas in it. I think Douglas needs to be left in the midfield along with VB to build up their experience in the middle (and to see if they are up to it) . Porps obviously needs to be intergrated into the rotation to continue the weaning of the clubs reliance on Mcleod, Goody and Edwards.

As for Welsh – really I think he is back up with Roo playing out of the forward line (with a full preason) and hopefully the use of Bernie Vince I hope Welsh will be used to plug holes

Does the backline experiment with Mattner need to end in favour of a wingers spot ?

If we are to get anything out of the whole Jericho experience – should we be throwing him onto the other wing and just say “Run Forest Run !!” ?

I think that is going to be extremely interesting – from what I understand, Jericho is being groomed as a rebounding HBF, saying that both he and mattner have simliar attributes (I think Jericho has been hands and Mattner more reliable tackler) and I reckon both players could be used as wingers, especially Jericho who is quicker however Ben Hart has been delisted for a reason – someone must be pencilled in as a replacement

One thing that frustrates me about our club is that in the past it has taken too long to work out if a player can play or not – and that there has never been any lateral thought in terms of player positioning….ie

We tried to play Wellman, McCartney, and Ingerson as Half Forwards and they turned out to be 3 of the standout CHBs of the ‘90s.

Maybe Jericho is a winger and has always been a winger, and it’s about time we let him be what he is.

Doughty’s career as a HBF was about as memorable as Robert Shaw’s career as a Senior Coach……but since he has been on and around the ball – even I like him…

Mattner’s move to defence has stifled his attacking flair and ’06 saw him half the player he was in ’05.

One of the major challenges for NC and his merry men this PS is going to be player placement. I don’t reckon we’re as flexible as what he thinks – and I reckon plenty of work needs to be done to salvage some careers.


Thoughts ?

I think people have to realise that it doesn’t always take a player 2-3 seasons to get up to their best football, I think the whole AFL is realising this, in regards to Wellman, McCartney and Ingerson we need a certain type of player in McCartney we recruited him as a forward he wasn;t up to it so we let him go, Ingerson wasn’t that good and Wellman was only traded to get D Jarman so I am pretty happy with that result.

I think to NC credit he has moved players around in an attempt to get their careers started when perhaps people had written them off. I think the key this year is looking at it and thinking – is x player being used to his full potential.

For instance Johncock in defense – all right he has given us much run from defense but could he be used up forward ? or in the midfield which gives the team a better result (ok that was an example so don’t bag me). Or is Nathan Bocks best position really CHB and playing CHF is really only filling a whole. Is it possible to develop Meeson as a CHB if in fact Bock is better at CHF ?

I think a bloke like Mattner benefits from NC coaching, because he doesn’t automatically get the flick because he doesn’t fit a set spot. As for a conculsion well I am still thinking

 

[Eggzoi]

I'm wondering what's going to happen to the forgotten youngster, Knights? Knights is just too good to be running around in the SANFL every week. If his disposal can be improved just slightly he can be very damaging, was hitting some good form just before he got injured.

 

[Stiffy_18]

I still believe that flexibility is a huge part of modern game. Gone are the days when you stick a player in a position and play him there the whole game.

Look at WC, they are highly versatile side with many player capable of playing multiple positions. From their smalls to their talls, they have the flexibility.

Its all well and good to say that player X is only a winger but there is no harm in educating him to play other positions and the only way he can learn is to play in those positions.

While I think Mattner is an out and out winger, I can see what Craig was trying to do with him this year and to some extent I agree. The only criticism I have there is that Craig himself hasn't been flexible and hasn't had the courage to mix it up a bit. He is very rigid and set in his ways and thats disappointing at times IMHO.

With Roo, I still think we need him in the midfield even if its in limited capacity. He can be that spark that gives us a bit of bite in the midfield when we are down. Even half fit Roo this year showed in some games that his 5 minute stint in the midfield can be of great value. I agree with the pace issues but I don't think it has to be as fixed as Douglas in for Roo. I think there is no reason why you can't mix and match so at times you have both Roo and Douglas in the midfield.

These days midfield rotations are getting deeper and deeper and the game probably more than ever is reliant on a great, deep midfield. The more quality you have running though there, the better off you are.

I am one of few that believes both Roo and Welshy can play in the same forward line. Both are flexible enough to play both deep and further up the field. Both are goal kickers and potential match winning forwards. I think they can and they will play in the same forward line.

Now onto Jericho

I think he will be looked at as a wingman or a HBF, most likely wingman. He would be exactly the type/profile of player we would be looking at. Tall, good overhead, quick and with a booming kick.

Whether or not he gets a chance is etirely up to him. He has to work on a couple of things. He needs to work on his skills with low balls, defensive pressure, tackling and just attack on the man and the ball. All these are things that can be improved and I think thats the reason why the AFC have kept him when many wanted him gone.

 

[earlsta]

just give the ball to van berlo & every body get the **** outta the way

 

[conVINCEd]

I understand the importance of flexibility, and the ability of guys like McGregor, Hentschel, Bock, Mattner, Johncock and even Rutten to play in multiple positions has been very handy, but sometimes I think it can be overated.

IMHO, Mattner is most damaging on a wing, and we suffered in season 2006 because he wasn't played there. We were screaming out for more pace in the midfield towards the end of the year, and he still wasn't given a run. If McLeod had been fully fit, the injection of Mattner and Macca into the midfield would have given us a much better chance against the Eagles.

Its great to have the option of flexibility amongst the playing group, but sometimes I'd just like Craig to put players were they are most effective to us. To me, Burton should be played on a HFF, pushing up into the midfield, but also streaming back into the forwardline to provide another option. Having the Birdman running around on our half-back line giving heart pulpitations to us loyals - .

 

[- PC -]

IWith Roo, I still think we need him in the midfield even if its in limited capacity. He can be that spark that gives us a bit of bite in the midfield when we are down. Even half fit Roo this year showed in some games that his 5 minute stint in the midfield can be of great value.

These days midfield rotations are getting deeper and deeper and the game probably more than ever is reliant on a great, deep midfield. The more quality you have running though there, the better off you are.

I think we are seeing the era of the uber midfield with roations on and off the bench as well as roations through the field. Roo, Douglas, Porplyzia,Knights all rotate from Bench to FP to midfield to HFF etc , VB , Doughty, Mattner, Johncock, Mcleod all rotating from HBF, BP, Bench and midfield etc etc

I am one of few that believes both Roo and Welshy can play in the same forward line

.Correct... you are one of the few

I think he will be looked at as a wingman or a HBF, most likely wingman. He would be exactly the type/profile of player we would be looking at. Tall, good overhead, quick and with a booming kick.

HBF

 

[glengowan]

I'm wondering what's going to happen to the forgotten youngster, Knights? Knights is just too good to be running around in the SANFL every week. If his disposal can be improved just slightly he can be very damaging, was hitting some good form just before he got injured.

He played twice as many games with the Crows (10) than he did with the Eagles (5) in 2006. If it wasn't for injury he probably would have played most of the season in the AFL. Injury free - he will play most of the season again with the Crows in 2007.