Positional changes that need to be made

[davey_magik]

Morton - Put him on the ****ing wing. I am sick of this 'loose man in defence' bullshit that the coaching staff are continuing with. I don't like him in the backline because although I think he is a fantastic user of the ball, he isn't that great under the pump and I do not want a player like this in defence. He played a good game on the QB when moved onto the wing, LEAVE HIM THERE FFS!

Jones - Not exactly a 'positional' move, but stop using him as a negator. Let him find the ball and instruct him to take the first option EVERY TIME. I for one think he is a great contested ball winner, but his failings are when he is given 'time to think' - example being he is in space and has to make a decision he usually makes the wrong one. If he was used as an inside player and told to take the first option all the time he'd be a far better player.

A little off topic as well, but from what I've read on here and Demonland the consensus seems to be Watts played a good game, and if he had kicked at least one of those two goals it would have been a very good one. He's still a kid and although I am disappointed he missed both shots, Riewoldt and Pavlich have been missing crunch shots for goal on occasion for a while now and they are still elite players.

 

[Gazza_11]

Morton - Put him on the ****ing wing. I am sick of this 'loose man in defence' bullshit that the coaching staff are continuing with. I don't like him in the backline because although I think he is a fantastic user of the ball, he isn't that great under the pump and I do not want a player like this in defence. He played a good game on the QB when moved onto the wing, LEAVE HIM THERE FFS!

Yah. Yah. YAAAAH! Couldn't agree more, he can actually be dangerous on the wing. On QB's he was delivering beautifully into forward 50 on his penetrating right boot, and he can also flat up and kicks goals. Plus he can run along that wing too, and is a tall mark to get it out.

Watts is a better kick than Riewoldt and Pav, he'll come good there. This has been his first erring game in that respect.

 

[Captain Jack]

agree all round. We need Morton delivering inside 50; Jones definitely needs to use the first option more; Watts played well but made some stupid mistakes... to be expected from the lad I guess.

 

[Bartram_Class]

I think the Watts frustration is more a manifestation of supporters wanting him to break the shackles imposed on him by the media and the expectations.

Today would have been a brilliant opportunity, sadly spurned.

Morton I'm not sure about, he took a couple of terrific marks today floating across. If he had a bit more bulk on him, he could be terrific in that role.

 

[Captain Jack]

I think the Watts frustration is more a manifestation of supporters wanting him to break the shackles imposed on him by the media and the expectations.

This . I reckon most of us won't be satisfied until he has a real 'breakout' game, as opposed to the steady, incremental improvement which he is showing.

 

[Gazza_11]

A four goal haul to really break the shackles. After that he'll be flying.

 

[Supermercado]

Serves no purpose having him in the 2's right now. He's raw as **** but by playing out the rest of the year and having a big pre-season we've got a lot to look forward to next year.

Agreed that everyone is waiting for that one game where he truly smashes it so they can stick two fingers up at the naysayers.

 

[KickLongTackleHard]

In fairness, tactically I thought the loose man kept Pavlich out of the game. Cale was basically tracking pav 20m in front. Seemed to work.

 

[The Dr]

In fairness, tactically I thought the loose man kept Pavlich out of the game. Cale was basically tracking pav 20m in front. Seemed to work.

Yeah it did work but I don't reckon Cale should be that man. Hopefully when Grimes is fit again, he will be used in that role and Cale can go to the wing.

Re Watts- i thought he was very good, bar the two missed shots. I get more and more confident about him with every passing week. Interestingly, in today's 'Tackle' column by Robbo in the HS, he says he'd definitely take Watts over Nic Nat from what he's seen this year.

 

[Jeebs]

I'd rather Morton gets his defensive game sorted out now than having his opponent consistantly hurting us over the years. The noises re his dropping point heavily to him not heeding defensive directions. Wouldn't care if he was in the ruck so long as the goal was addressing that (major) deficiency. Jones needs the 'negator' badge. Without it he'll get less and less game time in the coming years.

 

[Gazza_11]

greed that everyone is waiting for that one game where he truly smashes it so they can stick two fingers up at the naysayers.

I'm just hoping that Morton plays like gives a damn should he be placed on the wing. Otherwise it's the 2's for him.

 

[davey_magik]

I'd rather Morton gets his defensive game sorted out now than having his opponent consistantly hurting us over the years. The noises re his dropping point heavily to him not heeding defensive directions. Wouldn't care if he was in the ruck so long as the goal was addressing that (major) deficiency. Jones needs the 'negator' badge. Without it he'll get less and less game time in the coming years.

Why does Jones 'need' the negator badge? I personally think he's an average tagger at best, I'd rather let him try and prove to us he can be a ball-winning midfielder, because he has a lot more chance of that than being a good tagger.

And I think over a year in the backline should be enough for Mortons defensive side. He's a bloody attacking weapon, give him the ball and make the opposition DEFEND him.

 

[Jeebs]

Why does Jones 'need' the negator badge?

Because he will be overtaken in the ball-winning pecking order and will need to offer more to retain his position.

And I think over a year in the backline should be enough for Mortons defensive side.

If so, why was he dropped to the VFL for 2 weeks?

 

[Mr Rude]

Morton - Put him on the ****ing wing. I am sick of this 'loose man in defence' bullshit that the coaching staff are continuing with. I don't like him in the backline because although I think he is a fantastic user of the ball, he isn't that great under the pump and I do not want a player like this in defence. He played a good game on the QB when moved onto the wing, LEAVE HIM THERE FFS!

Jones - Not exactly a 'positional' move, but stop using him as a negator. Let him find the ball and instruct him to take the first option EVERY TIME. I for one think he is a great contested ball winner, but his failings are when he is given 'time to think' - example being he is in space and has to make a decision he usually makes the wrong one. If he was used as an inside player and told to take the first option all the time he'd be a far better player.

A little off topic as well, but from what I've read on here and Demonland the consensus seems to be Watts played a good game, and if he had kicked at least one of those two goals it would have been a very good one. He's still a kid and although I am disappointed he missed both shots, Riewoldt and Pavlich have been missing crunch shots for goal on occasion for a while now and they are still elite players.

This is all i needed to hear. your spot on.

If a loose man in defence stopped the flood of goals we give up in the 1st quarters I'm all for it. But FFS it just makes it worse, when he get the pill we have no one to kick it to up forward and we always get slaughtered on the way back.

This is not teaching our young team how to play, go on the attack and make them work hard rather than throwing an extra man down back that does sweet **** all!!

 

[Headless]

Morton > wing.
Bruce > half forward flank.
Davey > half back flank.

kthxbai.

 

[Crusty Demon]

Morton - leave him on a wing. Watched him a couple of years ago in his first season tear Braun up on the G. Not a bad effort for a young kid. Since Johnstone and Yze left the club, we have struggled to find players who can hit targets in our F50. Morton can do this.He can run like the wind as well. Perfectly suited to the wing.

Bruce - I cringe everytime he gets the ball in defense at the moment. Since getting crunched by Guerra a number of years ago, he hasn't been the same player. He used to be a pretty good goal kicker, so why not play him on the forward flank, or even as a forward pocket. Worth a try.

Grimes - he's been great in defense, but i feel he could be a great weapon in the midfield. Hopefully Strauss comes on and takes his role in defense at some stage which might free him up. Would love to see him run free through the middle with Trengove, Scully and Gysberts for the next 10 years! With Inside 50's a real worry, Grimes is one player who can find the ball and deliver it into the F50 with accuracy.

Davey - Has been ok this year, but we expect a lot more from him than what we are seeing. He can't shake a tag and is struggling to dominate any games. So why not put him back in the F50 with the instruction to tackle and kick goals. Bennell, Jurrah and Davey running around in the F50 would send shivers down some opposition defenses for sure.

Green - Should be permanently left at full forward, or at least in a pocket if we get a big body type of player to fill full forward. We have enough good midfielders at the club now, where this should be easy enough to do. He should pretty much kick 50 goals this year only playing half the time at full forward. Play him there permanently, and we could have a potential 70+ goal kicker. Being so versatile, if someone in the midfield goes down, we can put Green back in the middle to help with rotations.

 

[Dez!]

I just want Watts to dispose of the f***ing ball when he gets tackled instead of do nothing, pisses me off because he has the opportunity to get rid of the ball and constantly just drops the thing.

 

[Gazza_11]

Morton > wing.
Bruce > half forward flank.
Davey > half back flank.

kthxbai.

I'd rather see Davey attacking with his sublime foot skills and forward pressure, with Bruce back and then eventually someone like Cheney or Grimes replacing him at half back.

 

[master bate]

Bruce - I cringe everytime he gets the ball in defense at the moment. Since getting crunched by Guerra a number of years ago, he hasn't been the same player. He used to be a pretty good goal kicker, so why not play him on the forward flank, or even as a forward pocket. Worth a try.

Davey - Has been ok this year, but we expect a lot more from him than what we are seeing. He can't shake a tag and is struggling to dominate any games. So why not put him back in the F50 with the instruction to tackle and kick goals. Bennell, Jurrah and Davey running around in the F50 would send shivers down some opposition defenses for sure.

Green - Should be permanently left at full forward, or at least in a pocket if we get a big body type of player to fill full forward. We have enough good midfielders at the club now, where this should be easy enough to do. He should pretty much kick 50 goals this year only playing half the time at full forward. Play him there permanently, and we could have a potential 70+ goal kicker. Being so versatile, if someone in the midfield goes down, we can put Green back in the middle to help with rotations.

On Bruce. I too cringe when he gets the ball but you should notice the amount of times he wins the ball, or is the 3rd man over to a contest to help out. He plays his best footy behind the ball these days. Turning it over in the forward line would potentially be less costly but just as irritating.

On Davey - he is by far and away our best player to have the ball in the hands of out of the backline and through the middle. Why would you want him stuck in the forward 50 when the ball wouldn't get there. I also can't realise why people wouldn't make him play on a defensive opponent on a half back flank when he can simply start on a wing and drop back and through the middle as required.

Green is the same. He does and will continue to play forward when we are up (see against Essendon). But he is so valuable to help turn it around in the middle (the most important area of the park). On Sunday he started forward and then went loose man and into the middle when we needed to get back even and on top there. You might have noticed he was at full forward towards the end of the last quarter (as Bate streamed forward and ignored him). As our midfield develops he will stay forward more. But winning is more important than having a guy kick 60 goals.