Preview R18: Changes vs. Western Bulldogs

[Geoffa32]

Why doesn't he get more of the ball, if he's always front and centre?

He might not be among the best aerobically but it's good enough for him to make it. The only reason he has made this far is because of his speed athleticism and work rate.



This is a p!ss take, surely? Our darkest period was during 2020/2021, when Murphy was 21/22 and he was one of our young kids?

How thee **** has he been an on field coach? let alone back then?

I don't think he gets into the right positions and there does not hold up the structure/shape.



He doesn't have a high footy IQ, he got a gig because he could run fast and could provide pressure in a role that is typically of low productivity anyway.

The only positive i could say about his footy IQ is that it used be better, to the point it was about average at best. But he has never really been a particularly good decision maker with the ball, and in his desperation to impact the game he has only gotten worse.

Speed and athleticism???

He has always been a plodder.


The reason he struggles to actually get the ball despite making good position is because of his poor skillset. His opponent is stronger and better at winning the ball or he just fumbles it.


All I am saying is the reason he got on our list and carved out 100 games, and I agree it is 50 too many, is that he has high Footy IQ.


But nothing else to an AFL standard.

Subpar skilkset
Subpar body size
Subpar aerobic capacity
Subopar strength.

 

[CrowBloke]

Earlier in the year, I think Blighty was interviewing Adam Kelly and talking to him about Nankervis and says that he thought Nank would be a good HFF and Adam Kelly dismissing the idea immediately ?

Blighty, as in Malcolm Blight? and Kelly dismissed the idea???
Do you have a link to that interview please? Why was Blighty interviewing Kelly?

If I was Head Coach and Malcolm Blight said that to me, I'd have Nankervis on a HFF in a heartbeat, at least in the SANFL to see what he could do there.

 

[Cromulant]

you don't think Murphy is quick?

are you think of Ned?

His legs move quickly, but he's not quick.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Essendon rate very highly for TV.

I bet more people watch their game than ours.


It is why they get those slots

So why do they need the floating fixture?

 

[CrowBloke]

Odd that Kelly would give a nuffy like Blight the time of day.

According to maxlilly , Kelly dismissed the idea.
(fair enough, what would Blighty know, right? ...)

 

[Bovo]

Blighty, as in Malcolm Blight? and Kelly dismissed the idea???
Do you have a link to that interview please? Why was Blighty interviewing Kelly?

If I was Head Coach and Malcolm Blight said that to me, I'd have Nankervis on a HFF in a heartbeat, at least in the SANFL to see what he could do there.

I’m not so sure about this. Remember when Blight was our coach he knew his own game plan and watched the players both in games and in training to know who suited his game plan. I’ve never seen Blight as some amazing coaching Oracle. He was a great coach for us in an era when his coaching style was necessary. You can’t bring a coach from yesteryear into today’s game I wouldn’t have thought.

 

[Geoffa32]

So why do they need the floating fixture?

Good question.

They don't seem to take advantage of it in signing key games with key timeslots.

Our game tomorrow should have been slotted in for the night game.

Pretty obvious before the revised draw dropped us and the Dogs would be around the top 8/4. And Richmond/Essendon season over.


But no, that game is a "Big Game".....

 

[cleanhands]

I’m not so sure about this. Remember when Blight was our coach he knew his own game plan and watched the players both in games and in training to know who suited his game plan. I’ve never seen Blight as some amazing coaching Oracle. He was a great coach for us in an era when his coaching style was necessary. You can’t bring a coach from yesteryear into today’s game I wouldn’t have thought.

Good coaches can change the game, sheep will follow

 

[CrowBloke]

Sub

Hell-funny!

30% ToG and BoG, love it!

As long as Chayce can get more than 3 touches, provide a bit of contest and run, lay a few tackles and not murder his team mates aerially I am happy.

Should do all that and more (as you suggested ), making Murphy's MotY attempts look even more laughable.
I remember Eddie going for those, but I could forgive him, the goal-kicking genius.

 

[kirky]

Did you have to bring that b@stards name up? I'll never forgive him for how he forced us to part with Rendell and then without blinking happily allowed said Rendell join Collingwood. His reign as CEO was a stain on our game

Why is it that someone with connections to NMFC always get to the top of the AFL - Demetriou and now Laura Kane?

 

[Cromulant]

Why is it that someone with connections to NMFC get to the top of the AFL - Demetriou and now Laura Kane?

Not quite the same, but Gil started his footy career for a club who wore blue and white stripes too.

 

[Geoffa32]

Could make a list of AFC 100 game players that would never get there if they were on another list. Murphy is just another in a long line of list cloggers, not letting other, more talented, younger players a go. He should have had a line through him after 50 games. Anyway, hope it's the last we see of him in our AFL side.

Murphy is Temu DMack.

Another who played a lot of AFL Footy due to high Footy IQ. Now a Development Coach at Hawthorn.

DMack did have a better level of physical traits though. But his best trait was Footy Smarts.

 

[weekend at bernies]

According to maxlilly , Kelly dismissed the idea.
(fair enough, what would Blighty know, right? ...)

Have you listened to Blighty lately??

Not for 1 second saying its a bad idea, but Blighty has clearly lost a few marbles.

 

[craig crowing]

I’m not so sure about this. Remember when Blight was our coach he knew his own game plan and watched the players both in games and in training to know who suited his game plan. I’ve never seen Blight as some amazing coaching Oracle. He was a great coach for us in an era when his coaching style was necessary. You can’t bring a coach from yesteryear into today’s game I wouldn’t have thought.

Maybe,maybe not but I know who I would rather have with finals coming up creating strategies and counter acting strategies against McRae,Scott Fagan etc .
Nicks or Blight .
Let me think about that.
Just laughable that bloody (who the hell is )Kelly would indicate to Blight that wasn't a good idea.

 

[spenze]

Also, Bullies didn't bring in the extra tall defender.

Wouldn't surprise if Khamis comes in as a late change.

Doubt it, funny rumour on him not being picked, will have to see if he doesn't get picked again this year

 

[Cromulant]

Doubt it, funny rumour on him not being picked, will have to see if he doesn't get picked again this year

Another Bobby Hill ??

 

[TiAn_]

Does Nathan Williamson typically cook you guys as well? He’s given us a deep rogering a few times. Hoping he hates you too and it’s a neutral game for him.

 

[Bovo]

Good coaches can change the game, sheep will follow

There’s a reason an AFL coach has a finite amount of time in the game as a coach. Sheedy was probably the longest serving coach I can remember, but there were times between premierships where the Bombers weren’t great. The year we won our first premiership they finished 14th.

 

[AFC979810]

I actually meant Murray Davis

So did I.

 

[Cromulant]

Does Nathan Williamson typically cook you guys as well? He’s given us a deep rogering a few times. Hoping he hates you too and it’s a neutral game for him.

Thats probably likely.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

There’s a reason an AFL coach has a finite amount of time in the game as a coach. Sheedy was probably the longest serving coach I can remember, but there were times between premierships where the Bombers weren’t great. The year we won our first premiership they finished 14th.

Coaching and all it entails, yes. That passes people by.

Implementing modern game styles, coordinating multiple assistant coaches, communication styles etc. Very different to yesteryear.

Some of the instinct stuff though I don't think changes much. Gut feel on which players will/won't make it. The type of role that would suit certain players etc

 

[Jinglebells32]

Pedlar is tracking at an average of 7 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles and 1 goal compared to wonder boy Kai Lohman of the Lions at an average of 8 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles and 0.6 goals.

Pedlar, smaller sample size, but he did a bit when he was in the side

Wow. Surprised at Lohman's stats. Always stands out to me.

 

[WetCrow1991]

Murphy is Temu DMack.

Another who played a lot of AFL Footy due to high Footy IQ. Now a Development Coach at Hawthorn.

DMack did have a better level of physical traits though. But his best trait was Footy Smarts.

I was walking behind Dmac on Waymouth Street a few years ago and he tripped and stumbled over literally nothing. Also his officially listed height is incorrect.

That's the end of my Dmac story.

 

[spenze]

Another Bobby Hill ??

No

and I don't think Bobby is cutting anyones lawn either

 

[CrowBloke]

I’m not so sure about this. Remember when Blight was our coach he knew his own game plan and watched the players both in games and in training to know who suited his game plan.

Hmmm, interesting point .
Even so, if Blight gave me a tip I'd consider it seriously (unless it was something ridiculous, like "... drop Rob and get Murphy to ruck --- the bloke can jump" ).

I mean, who am I to doubt The Word of my God?

I’ve never seen Blight as some amazing coaching Oracle.

I have; still do. He was a freak player and a Coaching genius.
Blight had flair and imagination; his out-of-left-field changes rarely failed to work.

Do you know/remember why he moved Ellen forward vs the Saints in the 1997 GF?
OK, Modra was injured, but Shane Ellen had only kicked 3 goals previously in 38 games. Blight remembered seeing Ellen kick goals in a SANFL match years previously and filed that away for future reference.

1997 Hero - Shane Ellen

Did anyone just watch Shane Ellen on Open Mike? Talked about his time at Adelaide, including the 1997 Grand Final. Blighty told him on the monday leading up to the game that Ellen would be playing at full forward. Was late to the pre-game meeting on the Friday night and was given a spray by...

www.bigfooty.com

and

How Shane Ellen became a ‘surprise’ Grand Final hero

Shane Ellen will never forget the conversation that led to him becoming part of Grand Final legend.

www.aflplayers.com.au

Most people remember that
BUT
people forget that Blight moved 21y.o. McLeod from HB to the midfield at quarter time and moved Jarman out of the midfield to FF at 3/4 time.
Jarman kicked 5 goals in the last quarter!
Blighty also made several moves at halftime in the 1998 GF and the Crows stormed home.

The only thing I've seen Nicks do that was even remotely as imaginative and successful was to play MM on Vlastuin in the Richmond win. I loved that. Very un-Nicks-like; significant change.

He was a great coach for us in an era when his coaching style was necessary.

Necessary ?
I'm not sure why the Club chose Blight, but who'da thunk he'd win a Flag in his first year with us, then back it up.?
Nobody else Coached like Blight.

You can’t bring a coach from yesteryear into today’s game I wouldn’t have thought.

Why not?

Hypothetical: give 1997 Blight the Crows coaching job for 2026.
He'd tap Tex on the shoulder (300 games or not), Smith and Laird as well. Thanks for the great service, seeya.

He'd back in 3 or 4 or more young blokes from the SANFL and teach them how to play AFL footy in about 2 months.
He'd play at least a third of the team in unfamiliar positions to teach them flexibility and footy craft (Robert Harvey devoted a whole chapter of his book to Malcolm Blight, after having been Coached by him for only 15 rounds).

We'll never know but I'd put a pile of money on Blight to win us one or two Flags within 3 years.
I wouldn't put a red cent on Nicks, unfortunately .