Reinventing Richard Douglas

[OrdinaryJoel]

I don't mind him missing that shot - it was a hard one. What I do mind is him going for it every time. Every time he gets even half a chance within 60m of goal he just bombs it towards the goals and he almost never actually kicks it.

He's actually a pretty good kick to a lead. Surely we'd be better off if he tried to find a forward instead of blindly bombing a point and giving the opposition a free kick out of the goal square each time.


That said, I thought Douglas was pretty good all year. Doesn't deserve the negativity he gets around here.

Spot on the ******* money! Vince, Porps, Callinan, Danger and himself are the best kicks to a lead i50!

 

[sbenno]

I thought he was pretty good on the weekend actually. He looked good in traffic, and my impression of his disposal was that it was good, although I don't have any stats to back that up. I didn't realise he was tagging Mitchell in the first half.

I'm not convinced about moving him to the back-lines though. The last thing you want a defender to do is to go to ground during a 1-on-1 contest, and with Dougy's propensity to fall over, that doesn't bode well. I think Petrenko is probably a better replacement for Dogga's role in the backlines.

 

[Slippery Pete]

This thread will keep Spackler and I occupied all summer.

 

[aNty]

I remember once he was send back pocket against Collingwood a few years ago and he got dominated by Dale Thomas. Only lasted there about 5 minutes before being moved further up the ground. I don't think he is a natural defender.

 

[Bicks]

I remember once he was send back pocket against Collingwood a few years ago and he got dominated by Dale Thomas. Only lasted there about 5 minutes before being moved further up the ground. I don't think he is a natural defender.

Just another name to add to that queue.....Thomas is a gun!!!

 

[Truck25]

So the obvious answer after reading this thread is that Dougies new position is.......Whipping boy!

 

[Wood_Duck]

I remember once he was send back pocket against Collingwood a few years ago and he got dominated by Dale Thomas. Only lasted there about 5 minutes before being moved further up the ground. I don't think he is a natural defender.

He's got some experience and maturity now though. Dogga didn't come in as a specialist backman either.

 

[Clicky]

So the obvious answer after reading this thread is that Dougies new position is.......Whipping boy!

..... hasn't he been a whipping boy for a while?

 

[Slippery Pete]

I thought Douglas' pass to Tex just before the half time siren on Saturday was all class. Would have been easy to blaze away.

Unfortunately, those moments for him are few and far between.

He's got two things going for him - good strength for his size, and a reasonable turn of pace without being super quick.

Can we give his physical attributes to Ian Callinan?

 

[smoovy]

Douglas is an almost player, I think his position is where it is now as midfield depth. Needs just keep on pumping out those 20-25 disposal games.

This year was his best year outside of the 2010 B&F which was one of those bizarro years where Saturn and Venus must've aligned or something.

Remember he did miss about a third of the season.

 

[Lawrst]

Theres not a lot o love for Dougy is there? Id leave him in the middle.
Why do people want to move Smiff into the middle when we have a reasonably good player learning his craft in the backline?
With this being the sides archilles heel he should staying and becoming a Dogga.

What is more important?

Midfield or backlines?

It would be a complete waste of Smith playing in the backlines for his career, will be a top mid, probably our best besides danger and crouch. Might become more damaging with a bit more strength.

On Dougy, No in the backline. Tagger, inside mid or bust for mine.

 

[Thylacinus]

This thread will keep Spackler and I occupied all summer.

Must be frustrating not being able to boost a Brent Reilly thread and whipping it good!

 

[cmndstab]

I thought Douglas' pass to Tex just before the half time siren on Saturday was all class. Would have been easy to blaze away.

Unfortunately, those moments for him are few and far between.

Given that he's the lead goal assist player for Taylor Walker!!!!! (got to advertise my own thread ) he should be looking to do this kind of thing more often.

Passing off to Tex is pretty rewarding anyway since you know more often than not he's going to convert the goal.

 

[Lawrst]

Douglas's "Rules to Football by"
1. No shots from outside 50 unless it is empty
2. No going backwards
3. No Slipping over
4. Don't sell your team mates into trouble
5. Keep it simple

Any more?

 

[Truck25]

..... hasn't he been a whipping boy for a while?

I was meant to be stating the obvious, same comments, same arguments. I personally have never been fussed by his performance. He does some good things mixed in with a clanger or 2, no more than another solid AFL player. He always threatened to be a really good player but I don't think he deserves the almost rabid hate some have for him. Maybe the frustration of "what if" gets to some, Pets is in the same boat, Dogga used to be the same (right to the end for some). Fact is no team is going to be able to put 22 guns on the field, somebody needs to do the dirty work supporting the stars. Duggie is one of these. He plays his role and when we were crap he still did his best, didn't drop his bundle like the rest and got a gold jacket as a reward, Is he outstanding? No. Is he a blue collar worker? dam straight he is. I'm sure players like him and Dogga walk off the park knowing they gave it all they had. You know what, in my book that's all right.

 

[Footypie32]

Should be played as close to the goals as possible.

 

[Wood_Duck]

So what will our back 6 look like? Surely you cant Have Talia, Rutten, Otten, Shaw and Thompson in the same backline.

 

[spexau]

So what will our back 6 look like? Surely you cant Have Talia, Rutten, Otten, Shaw and Thompson in the same backline.

Talia, Rutten and any 2 of Thompson, Otten or Shaw. Preferably Otten and Shaw. Both can play tall or small and provide on the rebound.

 

[Damp Squarie]

What is more important?

Midfield or backlines?

It would be a complete waste of Smith playing in the backlines for his career, will be a top mid, probably our best besides danger and crouch. Might become more damaging with a bit more strength.

On Dougy, No in the backline. Tagger, inside mid or bust for mine.

Given that our weakness is our backline, Id say this is more important at the moment. Once its settled and has depth fill your boots with Smiff in the midfield...but not before.. IMHO

 

[OrdinaryJoel]

I can see Douglas in the Nutta role as crumbing small forward...

 

[SydCrow]

Mackay is a quality midfielder who has been playing across half-back. I can see Smith there also as he has clean hands, is quick and uses the ball well. Dougie not so much.

 

[Wood_Duck]

I can see Douglas in the Nutta role as crumbing small forward...

I think we have been there and done that. We tried to make him into a small forward with little success which led to him being played in the midfield where he had his breakout year.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Douglas plays like he believes he's a much more skilful player than what he actually is.

Boom. This sums him up perfectly.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

FWIW I reckon Dougie could go alright as a small defender.

Trouble is, that's the same for everyone. Any player that doesn't quite have the poise, presence, decision making, skills under pressure... just put em down back and they instantly get better - Reilly, Mackay, Caven, Stevens. Wow! Reinvented.

Actually it's just easier to play there. Breaking even in a contest counts as a win and you get lots of time and space with your possessions compared with midfield/forward.

We need some more players who can actually cut it as genuine midfielders/half forwards. Not more failed midfielders to hide down back.

 

[Wood_Duck]

FWIW I reckon Dougie could go alright as a small defender.

Trouble is, that's the same for everyone. Any player that doesn't quite have the poise, presence, decision making, skills under pressure... just put em down back and they instantly get better - Reilly, Mackay, Caven, Stevens. Wow! Reinvented.

Actually it's just easier to play there. Breaking even in a contest counts as a win and you get lots of time and space with your possessions compared with midfield/forward.

We need some more players who can actually cut it as genuine midfielders/half forwards. Not more failed midfielders to hide down back.

Don't disagree with any of that, my point being that we don't have a ready made replacement for Doughty. We aren't going to trade or delist Douglas and while he's playing in the midfield blokes like Smith, Lyons and Crouch probably won't be. I'm trying to kill two birds with one stone.