Pretty Boy Hird

[CJH]

Let's assume Duncan is unavailable this week. What strategies should we employ to counter Hird?

I think we should think outside the square a little bit and try something that they aren't expecting (like how they played Solomon on Richo last year)

In the normal course of events, Gaspar would take Lloyd while Duncan would pick up Hird and follow him all over the ground.

Now I think that Hird will play the majority of time up forward, so we don't really have to worry about him in the midfield (more's the pity because he isn't that effective in there!).

I think back to the 95 Semi Final and recall that Hird has a habit of not paying his opponent too much respect (think Scotty Turner) which ultimately cost them the game.

This week, start Ray Hall on him and give Razor licence to run off him. Hall has the mobility and depth of kicking to be able to push the ball inside our own forward 50 from defence and will be given plenty of space to do so.

Thoughts?

 

[nut]

Maybe something different. Try Hilton on Hird.
Why I think this would work is I think Hilton Lacks concentration. If he is given one task and that is to stop hird I think he could do it. His height and strength is good.

 

[Rodgerramjet]

Hird

I think hall might match up quite well on hird, both have similar builds, could be worth a shot. However if hird goes to the center I think Sizller is going to get the job.

 

[kretchy]

Frawley seems to like using Bowden on opposition gun players such as Buckley on Thursday night.

Did Bowden stand Hird in one of the games last year i think he would struggle to go with him down back anyway.

Your idea of Hall didn't seem to bad CJH.

I suppose Andy Kellaway could always be another option and when/if Hird goes into the midfield probably Hilton

 

[CJH]

Yes, Bowden went on Hird last year and it was a friggin' disaster! Bowden may be OK when running with another midfielder (like Buckley) but put him as a key defender and he is lost. Doesn't have the defensive discipline to succeed.

My view is run Bowden through the middle and make him Essendon's problem.

I'm not sure if AK would be a little too slow on Hird who is quicker than most suspect. This is why I'd prefer Hall.

The though of Hilton as an option here isn't a bad one though. Both would be about the same size!

 

[WhiteLineFever]

I think Hirds greatest asset is his football brain. Knowing where to go and what to do. I think someone like Torney might be worth trying, strong and backs himself. Wouldn't mind Fiora having a crack at him either. Might not have the body strength but I rate Fiora highly for having a football brain. The only thing is that if it wasn't working he would need to be swapped quickly so not to loose his confidence. Good to have few options.

 

[kretchy]

Fiora didn't do to badly on Cornes in the Wizard Cup final but hird is a different proposition.

 

[WhiteLineFever]

Start one of the more experienced defenders on Hird. If needed, might be worth trying Fiora but if it is not working change it quickly. We will never know if these things are not tried.

 

[damnfine]

Originally posted by WhiteLineFever
Start one of the more experienced defenders on Hird. If needed, might be worth trying Fiora but if it is not working change it quickly. We will never know if these things are not tried.

A bit out of left field but Zantuck could be worth a go for a period of time...Got the height to match hird and at ground level he could to...

 

[TheFoxhat]

Why don't you put Tivendale on hird &put A.K on velvet.? The Foxhat is everywhere.............T.A......

 

[Tigerheart]

In their geelong game, Hird was the key that turned opportunities into results. So I thought Zantuck. Ty has pace, skills, can find teammates by hand and foot and can also stop his man. On the drawback, he doesn't, to the best of my knowledge, have much of a leap. Remember that Hird will take his stopper to all the contests and it would be a great experience for TY. If jimmy boy starts in the centre then TY becomes a 'burst player' option to hit Richo. Hird doesn't play accountable footy so a player with pace and skills will hurt them.

Stafford on Hille
Zantuck for Hird.
Knighta and Peverill.
Campbo and Johnson

 

[kretchy]

Originally posted by Tigerheart
In their geelong game, Hird was the key that turned opportunities into results. So I thought Zantuck. Ty has pace, skills, can find teammates by hand and foot and can also stop his man. On the drawback, he doesn't, to the best of my knowledge, have much of a leap. Remember that Hird will take his stopper to all the contests and it would be a great experience for TY. If jimmy boy starts in the centre then TY becomes a 'burst player' option to hit Richo. Hird doesn't play accountable footy so a player with pace and skills will hurt them.

Stafford on Hille
Zantuck for Hird.
Knighta and Peverill.
Campbo and Johnson

I think Jason Johnson has to be tagged probably by King or Sziller.

 

[Tigerheart]

The best way to beat 'em is to keep them chasing us when we have the ball. Kick it over their heads to our players.
If Johnson cuts loose then put King on him but i'd keep Sziller on a forward like Merc's. Then he can back into Lloyds space when the ball comes down.

We should know the bombers now....3rd time in 6 games.

 

[TigerGar]

Bring back Dunc let him tag Hird, Bowden on J Johnson.

 

[Patrick Bateman]

Put ROGERS on HIRD and tell him that pretty boy is actually SHANE WAKELIN..

Regards
PB

 

[Tigerheart]

rogers ?

Rogers on Hird ? Heeeey ! might not be a bad idea!!

 

[topdon]

Pretty boy Hird? You're not calling him 'soft' are you?

Underestimate him, and he'll tear you to shreads! He is in ominous form.

 

[CJH]

Originally posted by topdon
Pretty boy Hird? You're not calling him 'soft' are you?

Underestimate him, and he'll tear you to shreads! He is in ominous form.

I knew if I made the title of this thread 'Pretty Boy Hird' I would drag some Essendon folk in!

 

[topdon]

Ah mate ... knock the D-Mac ... knock Bolton ... knock Alessio ... but DON'T knock captain!!

And besides ... i'm the only one you've lured in. Not too many bites around!

 

[Mooster7]

I have two strategies. One is a bit on the subtle side and the other is downright open.

SUBTLE: Concentrate aggressively on possession. Hird isn't going into the pack to get the ball. He is going to wait forward and break free to become a receiver. He's good at that, so there is no reason to waste one of our best players defending him. Instead focus on denying the ball to Essendon in general by beefing up our middle as much as possible. If that can be accomplished it will deny Hird the ball in particular. The more seconds of the game Richmond has the ball - the better.

OPEN: Assign Hird a schmuck. Take up a collection to pay any penalties or fines. The very moment Hird scores two times (any combination of Goal or Behind) the schmuck buries his elbow deep into Hirds teeth or throat. This takes Jimbo out of the game, and he won't be scoring a third time. If our boy gets booted, no big deal. Afterall we picked him to be a schmuck to begin with. We'll even pay his fines. Now, the important question...who should be our schmuck?

Peace, Go Tiges!

 

[topdon]

Originally posted by Mooster7

SUBTLE: Concentrate aggressively on possession. Hird isn't going into the pack to get the ball. He is going to wait forward and break free to become a receiver. He's good at that

You obviously don't watch much football do you? Hird doesn't go into packs to get the ball? He is just going to wait forward and become a received?

Mate ... my sides a splitting!!!

 

[Pies rock]

Originally posted by topdon


You obviously don't watch much football do you? Hird doesn't go into packs to get the ball? He is just going to wait forward and become a received?

Mate ... my sides a splitting!!!

Don't know why ur "sides a(re) splitting" because the Mooster obviously watches Jimmy as closely as urs truly. Hird is a master of sitting outside a pack and having Misiti, Johnson and the like feed him the ball. What he does best of all is suck his opponent into going to a contest and he drops back, whilst Essendon's hard nuts get the ball and give it to him. Does this time and time again. Just watch him closely, very rarely he gets caught in a pack situation. Nothing wrong with that, but he isn't a hard player, far from it...

 

[topdon]

Hahah pies rock ... stop it ... stop it!!

You watch him closely?? You don't watch him play each and every week do you? Ask most people who know football, and they'll tell you that Hird is as far from a soft player as you can get. You ask any Essendon player who they think is the hardest player at the club ... J. Hird will be your answer each and every time.

And pies rock? Moonster lives in the US. Sure he watches Jimmy closely And when it comes to you, like each and every Collingwood fan, you've lost your grip on reality!

 

[Mooster7]

Topdon,

Yup, I get the games on ESPN-2. I tape the games myself, and spend a lot of time reviewing them. I have several games memorized. TT will be sending up any Tiger games I miss this year as well.

I go to US NFL games, but I find I can watch those more closely on TV. I can tape them and review them over and over. Seeing the game live at the stadium is great, but not great for studying what is actually happening. Sometimes you miss a lot of small "cause and effect" seeing it live at the MCG for instance.

In case you are confused on more than just one issue, distance from Melbourne and hemisphere of origin have little or no discernable effect on how a game looks on television. Or in slow motion, frame by frame etc.

I'll accept that your opinion of Hird being a sissy receiver who never gets the hard ball differs from mine.

Now, what is your opinion of my other strategy? The one where we bash in Hird's teeth and throat? Just curious.

 

[Patrick Bateman]

Mooster you're my man, my friend ..

I want more analysis ... What state are you in?

regards

PB