Player Watch Reef McInnes

[Pleasedontfail11]

Bedford on Nick Daicos will be an interesting test for Nick

If GWS go with that forward line the match ups might be
Moore - Hogan
Howe - Cadman
Quaynor - Toby Tax
Maynard - Stringer
J Daicos - D Jones
McInnes - B Daniels

Or Perryman plays defence until Houston returns
Could do with Noble on Daniels Jones H Thomas etc

I would put Frampton on Hogan
Moore on Cadman
Reef on Stringer (Maynard as a backup)

 

[Peters_Nuts]

Bedford on Nick Daicos will be an interesting test for Nick

If GWS go with that forward line the match ups might be
Moore - Hogan
Howe - Cadman
Quaynor - Toby Tax
Maynard - Stringer
J Daicos - D Jones
McInnes - B Daniels

Or Perryman plays defence until Houston returns
Could do with Noble on Daniels Jones H Thomas etc

I'd seriously look at Perryman to play on Daniels. He was tearing games apart in the back half of last season so would love Perryman to play a run with role on him which we know he's capable of doing.

 

[Finnishpie]

What a strange observation, only some team-mates should talk to each other and others should not, you need to rethink that.

Wish this was the case on this board......

 

[Jen2310]

Meanwhile, they have shifted Reef McInnes, who spent his first four years at the club as a third tall forward, to defence. The move has stirred quiet optimism among the Magpies in the summer for they might have found a player. He was struggling to bed a spot as a forward but as a defender, he has the tools to make it.


In a side that has lacked a genuine second tall defender McInnes could be it. At 194cms, he is very strong overhead with a good football intelligence and high-end speed. His endurance was questionable as a forward but as a defender that has not been a concern this summer.

What it means is that with premiership duo Oleg Markov and Billy Frampton (a defender and role playing tall forward) and then young players like Will Parker, Tew Jiath, Jakob Ryan and Charlie Dean who all got a first taste of AFL football in defence, the Magpies back seven (one on the bench) is tight for spots.

‘Good spot at the moment’: Maynard set to re-sign as part of new-look Pies backline

Brayden Maynard is battling a foot injury but declared himself fit for the first game as he discussed his contract and where he fits in Collingwood’s stacked backline.

www.theage.com.au

 

[DopeMaster]

The love in for Reef really would shock me if I wasn’t feeling this overwhelming sense of déjà vu. For some reason it feels exactly the same as when Jen has pumped up Macrae, Eyre, Chugg, Briskey and C Brown.

I know it won’t happen, but it’d be awesome if as a collective we tempered our expectations of a 20 gamer, 5 years in, playing a new role, who hasn’t actually had a competitive senior hit out in the role yet? Maybe he makes it in the new role, but it’s much more likely he’ll be out of the senior line up by Rd 5 with the opponents he’ll likely face across the first 4 matches.

I think it’s fine to get excited about possible emerging talent in the preseason. Gives us something to look forward to. If it turns out to be a false hope, who cares?

Personally I much prefer posters providing their personal takes on which younger players are impressing on the track, as opposed to keeping it to themselves just in case it ends up being wrong.

 

[sr36]

I would put Frampton on Hogan
Moore on Cadman
Reef on Stringer (Maynard as a backup)

Are you not playing Howe? Or going really tall in defence?

 

[Pleasedontfail11]

Are you not playing Howe? Or going really tall in defence?

Howes not strong or big enough for Hogan. A bit slow and not quite strong enough for Stringer. Cadman would be a maybe but Moore is a better match up. But he is best as a 3rd up interceptor imo so his opponent would be less important maybe C Brown would be a solid choice but Maynard would also be a solid choice for him but also Greene.
I would be frequently using Frampton at times but dropping him against smaller sides. GWS has too many talls not to play him.
So yes going tall in defence but just certain sides.

 

[sr36]

I think it’s fine to get excited about possible emerging talent in the preseason. Gives us something to look forward to. If it turns out to be a false hope, who cares?

Personally I much prefer posters providing their personal takes on which younger players are impressing on the track, as opposed to keeping it to themselves just in case it ends up being wrong.

Yep. Talk players up as much as you like.

Theonly bit I don't like about it is when posters then start slagging off coaches and claiming the young hopeful is being hard done by if he doesn't get selected - or worse still is hard done by because he's being played "out of position."

 

[Peters_Nuts]

Yep. Talk players up as much as you like.

Theonly bit I don't like about it is when posters then start slagging off coaches and claiming the young hopeful is being hard done by if he doesn't get selected - or worse still is hard done by because he's being played "out of position."

Fin Macrae 2024 areas

 

[sr36]

Fin Macrae 2024 areas

It's a long line of coaches being blamed because annointed kids haven't kicked on. Ben Kennedy would have been a superstar if we never played him as sub.

 

[Mollythedolly]

GWS will be an interesting test case -

If they select Hogan Cadman Stringer and Callum Brown as their tall forwards plus their mosquito fleet and 1 ruck

How would we structure the defence ?

GWS will try all game to get Hogan on Reef Do we stick to our structure or make Moore follow Hogan everywhere?

Reef giving away a lot of size to Cadman but would he go there ?

Maynard and Howe to rotate through the Stringer / Brown mid size forwards ?

Or would Reef take a small forward given his pace

1cm and 3kg according to Footywire.

 

[Mollythedolly]

I think it’s fine to get excited about possible emerging talent in the preseason. Gives us something to look forward to. If it turns out to be a false hope, who cares?

Personally I much prefer posters providing their personal takes on which younger players are impressing on the track, as opposed to keeping it to themselves just in case it ends up being wrong.

Yep, this. Not able to get to training myself so look forward to the reports of those who can. I embrace their enthusiasm. Much more informative than the posts of those potting the reporters because some kid having a great preseason hasn’t gone on with it.

 

[tigerairau]

The love in for Reef really would shock me if I wasn’t feeling this overwhelming sense of déjà vu. For some reason it feels exactly the same as when Jen has pumped up Macrae, Eyre, Chugg, Briskey and C Brown.

I know it won’t happen, but it’d be awesome if as a collective we tempered our expectations of a 20 gamer, 5 years in, playing a new role, who hasn’t actually had a competitive senior hit out in the role yet? Maybe he makes it in the new role, but it’s much more likely he’ll be out of the senior line up by Rd 5 with the opponents he’ll likely face across the first 4 matches.

Briskey got the rough end of it tbf. Briskey was gonna take some time to develop, but we had him training for 2 months, forming lots of friendships. Was really heartbreaking.

 

[tigerairau]

You were bang on. He’s never played a senior minute in the role yet he’s organising the grid? That’s concerning. It took Murphy 2 years of continuity to nail that and we’re expected to be winning premierships in that period. For me it highlights how big the miss on Keane was more than anything.

Did we get much say with Keane? Didn't he get homesick initially?

 

[sr36]

You were bang on. He’s never played a senior minute in the role yet he’s organising the grid? That’s concerning. It took Murphy 2 years of continuity to nail that and we’re expected to be winning premierships in that period. For me it highlights how big the miss on Keane was more than anything.

But it didn't take Murphy two years to start pointing and shouting. He moved alongside Moore into the last line of defence in 2023 and then spent 2023 pointing at holes and opposition players and shouting at his teammates.

 

[Scodog10]

But it didn't take Murphy two years to start pointing and shouting. He moved alongside Moore into the last line of defence in 2023 and then spent 2023 pointing at holes and opposition players and shouting at his teammates.

After he’d spent the late part of 2021 then the majority of 2022 (after finally taking Madgen’s spot) within the defensive mix. Reef has never played a senior AFL minute in a defensive role. Asking him to mind Curnow/ McKay and set that grid in Rd 3 is frankly preposterous, IMO. Does he have the capacity to do it with time? Maybe, but I would be easing him into it and I’m currently uncomfortable with the thought he’s potentially that man for Rd 0.

 

[sr36]

After he’d spent the late part of 2021 then the majority of 2022 (after finally taking Madgen’s spot) within the defensive mix. Reef has never played a senior AFL minute in a defensive role. Asking him to mind Curnow/ McKay and set that grid in Rd 3 is frankly preposterous, IMO. Does he have the capacity to do it with time? Maybe, but I would be easing him into it and I’m currently uncomfortable with the thought he’s potentially that man for Rd 0.

2021 he was wing and some games forward. But yes - he'd had a year of experience in our defensive system in 2022.

My view though is that if you're going to play last line, you have to direct some traffic as you're the one in best position to see what's unfolding and where the holes are and if you keep quiet

 

[jimmy35]

If he grows into Murph 2 then awesome. Maybe he is picking up some confidence and swagger and maybe the game does open up for him more from down back. I’m very hopeful that’s true but judgement well and truly reserved on Reef. I’m a bit like Sco on this, I see better than I hear.

 

[Scodog10]

2021 he was wing and some games forward. But yes - he'd had a year of experience in our defensive system in 2022.

My view though is that if you're going to play last line, you have to direct some traffic as you're the one in best position to see what's unfolding and where the holes are and if you keep quiet

He was back late in 2021 I specifically remember his horrible outing v Essendon where he was getting to good spots in the zone and dropping chest marks. That was the turning point where my doubts crept in and 12 months later he was the man. Funny how that worked.

I think we’re also discussing slightly different things here (probably on me with the way the discussion is swirling about). Anyone in that deep role will need voice. What kicked it off, for me at least, was the reference to him as a leader. Murphy was then brought in as a comparison which I can understand because like many that’s the hope I have. I’m talking the here and now though of Reef playing that role and being a leader at training. Neither sit comfortably with me at this point in time and I’d prefer him eased into it allowing him to find his feet as a defender rather than throwing him to the wolves ala Dean.

I guess the overwhelming sense is let’s pump the breaks on Reef until he’s played a senior practice match in defence at least…

 

[sr36]

If he grows into Murph 2 then awesome. Maybe he is picking up some confidence and swagger and maybe the game does open up for him more from down back. I’m very hopeful that’s true but judgement well and truly reserved on Reef. I’m a bit like Sco on this, I see better than I hear.

I'm with you both as well.

Hopeful, but don't really understand why people are viewing him as round zero lock yet. Sounds like a practice match lock, but surely he has to perform in those games to be slotted into the seniors.

 

[jimmy35]

I'm with you both as well.

Hopeful, but don't really understand why people are viewing him as round zero lock yet. Sounds like a practice match lock, but surely he has to perform in those games to be slotted into the seniors.

Yep. Be a huge leap from borderline player to key back in an offseason in a new position.

 

[BillyElliott]

Personally I think it's great if Reef has the confidence to be talking & directing down back in his new role.

Communication is key in defence, probably something which was missing last year.

 

[Peters_Nuts]

Personally I think it's great if Reef has the confidence to be talking & directing down back in his new role.

Communication is key in defence, probably something which was missing last year.

This was so noticeable for the first half of last season. Dean was caught in no man's land a few times when Moore left his man and you could see immediately he wasn't sure where to be. Obviously Dean isn't a star defender, though I think it falls on to Moore a bit as when he held back more in the second half of the season, our backline looked much better.

 

[ksardog]

Personally I think it's great if Reef has the confidence to be talking & directing down back in his new role.

Communication is key in defence, probably something which was missing last year.

shows that he feels confident in his new role, always looked a bit quiet on the field, maybe a sense of belonging with improve his confidence
personally i still prefer him as a forward who could pinch hit in the middle, like the early DeGoey model, but here we are

 

[Abdul_The_Bull]

This was so noticeable for the first half of last season. Dean was caught in no man's land a few times when Moore left his man and you could see immediately he wasn't sure where to be. Obviously Dean isn't a star defender, though I think it falls on to Moore a bit as when he held back more in the second half of the season, our backline looked much better.

It was eveident in the Gold Coast Suns game as well with Frampton down back. Moore didn't seem to have the confidence to fully commit to intercepting and subsequently the defence was in disarray.