Ratten's comments

[reg_lower91]

Sorry if this has already been covered but found Ratten's comments on the AFL website interesting.

"I think we'll change the position for Andrew (Walker) and probably play him more through the midfield. We played him at half-back last year for the first half and then went everywhere."

Ratten said Thornton would be "re-trained to play a little bit differently" with O'hAilpin likely to be moved from attack to defence to provide cover at centre half-back.

Looks like we may finally be getting the changes we've been asking for.
Walker to the midfield
O'Hailpin to CHB (concerns on this one)
Thornton to the forward line (I presume)

Think out of all of these, with Walker being the obvious one, i think the Thornton change will be the one to pay off the most. Has a good set of hands but accountability and ability to chase and tackle worries me.

Thoughts??

 

[Dramoth]

I think that the re-training for T-Bird is mostly going to involve him not going laterally or backwards to dispose of the ball when he receives it. His biggest issue last season was his inability to move the ball on quickly when he had it and thereby costing us momentum.

I remember one situation where he was running past Knockers or Sauce last year, received the ball, stopped and kicked it backwards and stopped our momentum out in it's tracks.

Setanta I dont have a problem going back into defense. He started out as a defender, went forward... was a reasonable option. Would have learnt a bit about how forwards operate and should be able to translate that into his defensive work. Then there is also the fact that his presence would be an issue for the forwards.

I have been saying for years that 1AW should have been running off the wings into the forward line or running the wings out of defense interchanging with the mids as he moves forward. But I can see us getting better service out of him on the wings running into the forward line because he always seemed to have a bit more time when he was played there in the past and his passes were nice and crisp and arrived onto the chest of his target laces out.

 

[Sublime]

To be honest, i can't see Setanta playing much next year bar lots of injury. He was found out within half a year down forward last year, and i really don't think that we can afford to have his unpredictable and skittish tendencies down back.

 

[windows]

I think that the re-training for T-Bird is mostly going to involve him not going laterally or backwards to dispose of the ball when he receives it. His biggest issue last season was his inability to move the ball on quickly when he had it and thereby costing us momentum.

I remember one situation where he was running past Knockers or Sauce last year, received the ball, stopped and kicked it backwards and stopped our momentum out in it's tracks.

Setanta I dont have a problem going back into defense. He started out as a defender, went forward... was a reasonable option. Would have learnt a bit about how forwards operate and should be able to translate that into his defensive work. Then there is also the fact that his presence would be an issue for the forwards.

I have been saying for years that 1AW should have been running off the wings into the forward line or running the wings out of defense interchanging with the mids as he moves forward. But I can see us getting better service out of him on the wings running into the forward line because he always seemed to have a bit more time when he was played there in the past and his passes were nice and crisp and arrived onto the chest of his target laces out.

IMO Walker's second best asset (behind athleticism) is his hands. People want him on the wing, I want him in the guts. He doesn't fumble, and handballs very creatively. If he can renew his confidence in his shoulders and reinvigorate his attack on the ball he'd be a revelation in the centre as a 'both ways' mid.

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

I think Carlos would make a spiffing CHB.

He is agile and can take a mark (but probably better suited to the forward line).

 

[blueblood25]

I think Carlos would make a spiffing CHB.

He is agile and can take a mark (but probably better suited to the forward line).

He used to be able to take a mark. If he's not 100% fit and Thornton doesn't improve his attitude and work rate then neither deserve to play in the 22 and hold back the development of guys like Laidler, Davies etc..

Walker in the midfield pushing forward is good and he has healthy competition with our midfield stocks going nicely. I'd like to see Cachia come in for a handful of games next year just to let the others know what's lurking when they slack off.

 

[Sublime]

I think Carlos should make a spiffing CHB.

He is agile and can take a mark (but probably better suited to the forward line).

He has all the attributes to be a great forward OR back, but unfortunately its just not going to happen. His game is just too error prone and his brilliant moments do not greatly outweigh his bad ones.

When he's good he's pretty, when he's bad he's horrid.

 

[Sin City]

I think Carlos would make a spiffing CHB.

He is agile and can take a mark (but probably better suited to the forward line).

I think he'll go ok there too when fully fit, I worry about all the calf injuries he's had recently though.

 

[DonFletch]

I think he'll go ok there too when fully fit, I worry about all the calf injuries he's had recently though.

CHB should suit setanta...untill opposition forwards expose him by dragging him deep into our backline.

Worth a punt though.

 

[ECHUCABOY]

IMO Walker's second best asset (behind athleticism) is his hands. People want him on the wing, I want him in the guts. He doesn't fumble, and handballs very creatively. If he can renew his confidence in his shoulders and reinvigorate his attack on the ball he'd be a revelation in the centre as a 'both ways' mid.

Couldn't agree more...his kicking hasn't been "that" bad in the last couple of years...we covered that with his efficiency....Get him in there gut running and let him create, it's a lot easier to hit targets and to kick to position streaming forward than it is deep in the backline...Hopefully Ratts will take a lot form the little scare and he'll make the most of his opportunities...

 

[rampar]

I like the sounds coming out of ratts mouth, if he could utter the words gibbs/rotate/midfield i'd be even happier. I think the Laidler trade may allow gibbs to move into the midfield.

Its do or die for all three next year. I hope they do well and if they decided to leave then atleast we might get some good compensation next year, apart from team success ofcourse.

 

[ECHUCABOY]

CHB should suit setanta...untill opposition forwards expose him by dragging him deep into our backline.

Worth a punt though.

It,s definetly worth a punt...it allows Waite to play as a Forward / Wingman which is what we need...

Jamo needs a big year, was dissapointed in him last year....Bower is great when fit, but not strong enough to hold down CHB and hopefully will have a fully fit White and Austin...both lack Setant's size though...

If his on the list it's worth a crack, whats the worst thing that can happen?? What we need is a settled back six

 

[DarkTint]

IMO Walker's second best asset (behind athleticism) is his hands. People want him on the wing, I want him in the guts. He doesn't fumble, and handballs very creatively. If he can renew his confidence in his shoulders and reinvigorate his attack on the ball he'd be a revelation in the centre as a 'both ways' mid.

Have to disagree. Have seen him fumble on numerous occasions, seen him try handballs which are way out of his skill range and cough it up/ I also believe he has the confidence in his shoulders now, remember him saying something after he broke his collarbone that he was 100% confident that he was well over his shoulder problems because if it was going to happen again it would've happened then.


It's also one thing for 1AW's manager to come on the radio yesterday and tell everyone how tex has this record and that record for time trials etc and he's frustrated with not getting a run in the middle but running around an oval and running around getting smashed every few seconds are 2 different things.

 

[entourage]

Gibbs Midfield, Walker FWD, Laidler Back. I liked what i saw of Walker towards the end of last year pushing up forward, and Gibbs is a terriffic deliverer of the footy i'd love to see him launch the ball with purpose and direction into your forward line, would work brilliantly with Judd.
Dunno about Setanta, his footy days look numbered. I was a fan of him up FWD last year but towards the end of the year he seemed to go full bore in the first quarter and works really hard, doesnt do too badly-and then burns out

 

[jj1978]

Thornton has the potential to play a Nick Maxwell type role to perfection.

Can mark,
can read the play,
can spoil,
has a good long kick.

He just is lacking leadership and a level head...

we re-train him and define his role better he will be very serviceable.

 

[Kramer1]

Sorry if this has already been covered but found Ratten's comments on the AFL website interesting.



Looks like we may finally be getting the changes we've been asking for.
Walker to the midfield
O'Hailpin to CHB (concerns on this one)
Thornton to the forward line (I presume)

Think out of all of these, with Walker being the obvious one, i think the Thornton change will be the one to pay off the most. Has a good set of hands but accountability and ability to chase and tackle worries me.

Thoughts??

Whose been asking for these changes???

If Walker wants to play midfield there may be an opprtunity to get it on the rotation with Grigg moving on, but he can earn his spot just like anyone else. Just because he chose to shop himself around and no one found him to be worth more that an early third round pick doesn't make it immediately incumbent on the club to satisfy his demands. More likely he will have a role in the forward line, with an impact role of short bursts through the middle. Personally I'd rather anyone of Murphy,Gibbs, Lucas and Simpson playing an attacking mid role ahead of AW.

Setanta won't make a CHB. Reading the play, the flight of the ball, positioning, anticipation, when to go, when to stay, when to zone off or stick tight...all of these things are crucial to a CHB, and Setanta simply doesn't have the feel for it. Nor can he offer anything constructive in terms of well directed attacking rebounds. It's forward line or bust.

Hard to see BT making a meaningful go of things in the forward line. We are well sorted for pockets and flanks, and he is behind 3-4 to fill a key post. If a good set of hands is all that is required why are we about to delist a guy with close to the stickiest mitts in the AFL. Really should have let him go when the Hawks came hard for him a couple of years ago...even this year a straight swap for Ladson would have been a nice outcome for all concerned, but I imagine Bret's contract would be off-putting to most. To get any value from him this year it needs to be made clear than 2010 is wiped, and he starts 2011 with a clean slate and on the same footing as White, Bower, Austin and presumably Laidler, and its up to him to make a spot in the back half his own. I'd certainly make room for him on 2009 form.

 

[zeeCFC]

Carlos will not be a Premiership CHB, Bower could be....Give Paul a injury free season and let him baulk up and we'll see an extension of his form of late 2009.

Laidler is basically Thornton with a better attitude, I like it

Austin and White are also going along nicely so much of Ratten's comments I feel are just to stop the fans from burning Visy down coz we didn't get a KPD.

 

[Faz 2000]

I'm totally with you, Kramer.

Tex certainly has skills, but it's up to him to nail down a position. I really liked his rebound and run/carry off halfback early this year. That was the best he's looked, from my point of view. Some position that takes advantage of his considerable athletic skills.

Carlos seems like a great bloke, and we'd love for him to succeed. At this point, I think the chances of him getting any better are very low. It was worth a try recruiting someone that had never played footy before, but if I were to place a bet I'd say he's purely a depth player until he's delisted at the end of his contract. I think he would be a disaster for our back half. It's all well and good looking at the positives: he IS big, and mobile. But the negatives, as Kramer has outlined well, make him an absolute non-starter at CHB in my opinion. Don't recall the last overhead mark he took, can't read the play at all, has dicey field kicking. Yeh, no, NOT what we want at CHB.

T-Bird does NOT provide run/carry and rebound. This is what drives the MC bezerk. I was well and truly in the camp that thought Thornton would have a cracking 2010 being our version of Nick Maxwell. They even look vaguely similar. He is a good third man up and a great overhead contested mark. He doesn't have a creative bone in his body, and there are certainly question marks over his leadership - which is disappointing, because I had him pegged as a leader. He needs to prove to Carlton, and any other potential suitor, that he's capable of playing 2011-style AFL. If not, too bad.

Only Walker of these 3 is in our Rnd 1 22, I would think.

 

[Blue since 72]

At this point Ratten's comments are throw away lines, pre season hasn't even started.

Of the three he mentioned Walker is probably best placed to make a fist of it and get a regular game, probably midfield or as a lead up forward if they think his Sydney final wasn't a fluke. However his tackling has been exposed this season and he may not be a best option in the forward line.

Physically Irish would appear to be an option at CHB but has he got the smarts? and I don't believe Thornton will go forward as we're really settling the forward line now, which leaves him back and he'll be competing with younger guys who are more attacking.

If guys like Austin, White and Davies tear up the pre season these blokes above won't get a look in.

 

[Banga19]

Carlos will not be a Premiership CHB, Bower could be....Give Paul a injury free season and let him baulk up and we'll see an extension of his form of late 2009.

Laidler is basically Thornton with a better attitude, I like it

Austin and White are also going along nicely so much of Ratten's comments I feel are just to stop the fans from burning Visy down coz we didn't get a KPD.

Good call

I have much faith in Bower and I think he can play as a genuine CHB, and I think he will return to form next year.

 

[Weiterbot23]

Thornton has the potential to play a Nick Maxwell type role to perfection.

Can mark,
can read the play,
can spoil,
has a good long kick.

He just is lacking leadership and a level head...

we re-train him and define his role better he will be very serviceable.

Agree!

Thornton should base his game on Maxwells.

Needs to harden up 15% and be more attacking from defence.

Both Thornton and Maxwell are massive w***ers as well, which gives me more confidence he can play a similar style game.

 

[blueboy25]

Walker playing midfield and forward will be good but I hope Ratts has the balls to drop him if he is not performing and not pander to him because he threatened to leave.

I do like the idea of trying irish at CHB, it gives us that bit of flexibility to swap waite back and irish forward if either are struggling.

In regards to Thornton I think something drastic will have to happen for him to get a game next year. Which is a bit of a shame

 

[Blue since 72]

Agree!

Thornton should base his game on Maxwells.

Needs to harden up 15% and be more attacking from defence.

Both Thornton and Maxwell are massive w***ers as well, which gives me more confidence he can play a similar style game.

I knew there was a pre-requisite I was missing when analysing a player's playing style.

 

[Bell Ringer]

Agree!

Thornton should base his game on Maxwells.

Needs to harden up 15% and be more attacking from defence.

Both Thornton and Maxwell are massive w***ers as well, which gives me more confidence he can play a similar style game.

Incorrect

 

[Kramer1]

Incorrect

Yep, Thornton might show his hand a little too readily on the field, but at least you know he has some passion for the game. Every time I have heard him speak in interviews etc he has come across well.

Judged very harshly.