Player Watch Reef McInnes

[PaythePerryman]

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

This makes more sense to me. I'd still keep Maynard on Stringer though. Good firey match up.
Moore to Cadman feels like the right match up.
Howe playing on Daniels and leaving to help defuse Hogan

 

[Gabbo64]

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.

I don't mind it if has an awareness beyond his games played. It was posted earlier somewhere that he has a good footy brain, so maybe it's been encouraged during pre-season. Who knows.
FWIW, and I know he is on a totally different level (to just about every one except God) Nick was directing from game 1 if I remember correctly. And as I said earlier, it's just a match sim.

 

[manicpie]

I love our pre season stars but Reef worries me. I'm sticking to Parker as the most likely to play regularly. Reefy would have to have a metamorphosis to convince me but it's not out of the question

 

[Jen2310]

I love our pre season stars but Reef worries me. I'm sticking to Parker as the most likely to play regularly. Reefy would have to have a metamorphosis to convince me but it's not out of the question

You'll see soon enough.

 

[manicpie]

You'll see soon enough.

I'm trusting your judgement mate. We really need him to be honest

 

[Jen2310]

I'm trusting your judgement mate. We really need him to be honest

Its not just me though. But can only judge from what he has displayed or months, so lets hope he can springboard this newly confident form in the backline to a spot in the team going forward
There is a spot up for grabs, just a matter who can take it, and so far.. touch wood, it's going well.

 

[larrikan]

Reef was a very talented player when drafted. He wasn’t able to find a way into the premiership side. Last year he was clearly asked to work on areas of his game. So it was a good development year. He doesn’t have to be a Murphy replacement. He has to fit into a new look backline.

I will be very disappointed if we haven’t changed our defensive game plan after last year. I’m expecting us to structure up differently especially with attacking rebounding.

Can Reef do this and can he lock down an opposition tall? Can he read our structure to intercept mark with confidence?

Furthermore has Dean developed during the off season?

Has Frampton developed?

Theres a lot to play out here in the early rounds. Unfortunately if we don’t start well these are the three who will be under the scope depending on who is playing.


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[Robroy22]

This makes more sense to me. I'd still keep Maynard on Stringer though. Good firey match up.
Moore to Cadman feels like the right match up.
Howe playing on Daniels and leaving to help defuse Hogan

Nah....as much as you want it....Bruzz saves himself for special opponents and he'll guard Toby Greene like he always does. Howe can handle Stringer (who will no doubt set himself for one of his big games....the ones he plays every couple months or so)...we're just unlucky he'll be fresh but still the boys will swap around til they find their matchups.

Ps... Stringer "fiery"....against Bruzzy???
Toby's the one and always has been.

Big game, worthy of a final....too bad its in O round and at the showgrounds.

 

[Apex36]

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.

I think you might be going a bit overboard there equating him communicating with his team mates to setting the grid. That’s going to mainly be the job of Moore and Howe as leaders, but it’s good that Reef seems to be able to identify and communicate if he sees something amiss. Probably good to keep in mind that he spent most of his junior career in defence too, so would be more familiar with this stuff unlike Murphy who played forward and had to learn to be a defender from scratch.

 

[soreplums]

You'll see soon enough.

The most important question, Jen- would you put Reef in your SuperCoach team?

 

[Jen2310]

The most important question, Jen- would you put Reef in your SuperCoach team?

Good question.
I havent even done it this year lol defenders are hard one to work out in terms of super coach.
Lets see how he goes in the practice games, and if he is an accumilator out od defence, might put him on the bench.
Now you're gonna convince me to start SC lol I usually do it and then lose interest mid year.

 

[The Phantom]

The most important question, Jen- would you put Reef in your SuperCoach team?

You’d think he’d be pretty cheap.

 

[Scodog10]

I think you might be going a bit overboard there equating him communicating with his team mates to setting the grid. That’s going to mainly be the job of Moore and Howe as leaders, but it’s good that Reef seems to be able to identify and communicate if he sees something amiss. Probably good to keep in mind that he spent most of his junior career in defence too, so would be more familiar with this stuff unlike Murphy who played forward and had to learn to be a defender from scratch.

Having been to sessions this pre-season I don’t think I am. I think you should also read the breadth of my posts on what it means to be in the “Murphy” role. Also bear in mind while reading the full range of posts that it’s training. He was a forward mid throughout his junior career and we were always told on here he was a mid that never got the chance in there.

Let’s say he was a defender though, as a 16yo, that’s a pretty strong bedding to start an AFL season in the most important role in our defensive group and solidify him as a leader at training hah.

 

[jmac70]

I’m predicting Reef makes the AA squad.

 

[NMBB]

Having been to sessions this pre-season I don’t think I am. I think you should also read the breadth of my posts on what it means to be in the “Murphy” role. Also bear in mind while reading the full range of posts that it’s training. He was a forward mid throughout his junior career and we were always told on here he was a mid that never got the chance in there.

Let’s say he was a defender though, as a 16yo, that’s a pretty strong bedding to start an AFL season in the most important role in our defensive group and solidify him as a leader at training hah.

Peter McCormack was full forward at Assumption - Pies played him in defence straight away IIRC

 

[Cyclops]

Whatever role Reef settles into, I hope we play him on Sicily vs rhd Hawks. My impression is he just seems ro frustrate the hell out of that bed-wetting sook.

 

[Apex36]

Having been to sessions this pre-season I don’t think I am. I think you should also read the breadth of my posts on what it means to be in the “Murphy” role. Also bear in mind while reading the full range of posts that it’s training. He was a forward mid throughout his junior career and we were always told on here he was a mid that never got the chance in there.

Let’s say he was a defender though, as a 16yo, that’s a pretty strong bedding to start an AFL season in the most important role in our defensive group and solidify him as a leader at training hah.

Bolded isn’t true, he played predominantly in defence and was moved in to the midfield for a few weeks during the national championships when the first choice mids weren’t available. He did get swung forward on occasion but was a defender first and foremost.

No need for the snark at the end.

 

[Gabbo64]

From the limited exposure I've seen of Reef, he just looks like he's ready to take the next step, but never has. But I still think he can and I think it's in defence. He can read the game, there's no doubt. He seems to get to where he needs to be. He doesn't clunk marks he should, but that's different in the back line where the spoil rules. The pressure on intercept marks in defence is different to that of attacking marks up front IMO.
I'm just hoping that he can make that transition into a defensive asset because, if he does, wow, what a difference it will make for us. It would be huge. Can he do it? I say Yes.

 

[Footy Is Good]

I keep forgetting Reef is only 22. Feels like he's been around for ever.

 

[manicpie]

I’m predicting Reef makes the AA squad.

I didn't even know he had a drinking problem

 

[sr36]

I’m predicting Reef makes the AA squad.

Might take a bit too long to consolidate in the role, but obviously should put himself in the running for AA; however, he seems a better bet for the Norm Smith at this stage - once he's really got the role down pat.

 

[Jen2310]

I keep forgetting Reef is only 22. Feels like he's been around for ever.

And only just turned 22 8 weeks ago (Dec 12)
He's only 3 weeks older than Nick.

 

[Jen2310]

Just a couple moments from reef in match sim last night

 

[RobJD]

Just a couple moments from reef in match sim last night

Got down to training last night and so it's the first I've seen of Reef and the boys live. Thought the same about Reef, he seemed very confident and comfortable in the role down back. I was surprised that he had so much stamina - none of the hunched over with hands on knees stuff that was evident during the matches.

Looks like there's clear instructions to him to provide run and carry (bit like the Noble role). At times it looked like he wanted to draw the tackler so that he could practice breaking a tackle - was caught often, but he could be a real bull with the potential to provide run out of defence.

 

[Apex36]

I keep forgetting Reef is only 22. Feels like he's been around for ever.

He’s literally only a few weeks younger than Nick.