Strategy Rhys Stanley - going forward

[catempire]

A few thoughts...

Quite clearly to me we need to stick with him. At this stage we need to find out if he is going to be anything more than a part time ruckman (which, to be honest, is all I think he is). We are losing little by having him in ahead of Simpson/McIntosh in terms of competitiveness at ruck contests and he clearly offers more around the ground.

I'd be interested to see the hitout stats at centre bounces vs around the ground. My impression is he is more capable at the centre when he can leap at the ball. When he had to wrestle I thought Goldstein gave him quite a towelling. Therein lies the issue with leaner, leaping type ruckmen (see also West, Vardy, etc) - they are less effective at around the ground stoppages because they get out-muscled and out-positioned and that can really hurt the team (we were 12-9 at centre clearances yet 22-29 at around the ground stoppages yesterday). While Stanley can probably improve his 'wrestling' game it is probably never going to be a strong point of his game. This is probably my biggest doubt with him being the long term solution.

Finally, I don't think we've seen the best of Stanley's around the ground work yet as I think his fitness is holding him back from getting to a lot of contests. I think he can do a lot more presenting as a marking target to the kicker, something we have seen very little of in the past few weeks. As he gains fitness hopefully this will become a feature of his game.

 

[catswhiskers]

A few thoughts...

Quite clearly to me we need to stick with him. At this stage we need to find out if he is going to be anything more than a part time ruckman (which, to be honest, is all I think he is). We are losing little by having him in ahead of Simpson/McIntosh in terms of competitiveness at ruck contests and he clearly offers more around the ground.

I'd be interested to see the hitout stats at centre bounces vs around the ground. My impression is he is more capable at the centre when he can leap at the ball. When he had to wrestle I thought Goldstein gave him quite a towelling. Therein lies the issue with leaner, leaping type ruckmen (see also West, Vardy, etc) - they are less effective at around the ground stoppages because they get out-muscled and out-positioned and that can really hurt the team (we were 12-9 at centre clearances yet 22-29 at around the ground stoppages yesterday). While Stanley can probably improve his 'wrestling' game it is probably never going to be a strong point of his game. This is probably my biggest doubt with him being the long term solution.

Finally, I don't think we've seen the best of Stanley's around the ground work yet as I think his fitness is holding him back from getting to a lot of contests. I think he can do a lot more presenting as a marking target to the kicker, something we have seen very little of in the past few weeks. As he gains fitness hopefully this will become a feature of his game.

I agree with some very well made points. I watched the replay and it confirms what you say.

Stanley played quite well. He was good at centre bounces (our mids were not).
The boundary throw-ins are a concern but time is needed to gel the combination/tactics. I can see third man up ( Blicavs/Bartel) being used more often. Especially if Blicavs can hold form somewhere near his effort yeaterday. His first quarter was excellent.

Finally you point out that Stanley is not fit yet. I saw him play VFL practice match football and he was blowing up very quickly. He would have to be 8 weeks of hard match practice from peak fitness.

I like what he brings to Geelong

 

[Seeds]

Stanley was good in the ruck yesterday although struggled at the end. oddly enough he didnt get enough of the ball around the ground and im not sure he even took a mark. Sounds like Simpson. hopefully his fitness gets better.

 

[bulletproof]

Stanley, Gregson, Clark and Cockatoo have all been either very good or very promising.

It is just everyone (excluding Selwood) who was on the list last year that is the problem.

 

[strauchnyy]

Instead of blaming stanley for our struggles in the ruck, I blame our coaches who believed that he would be our answer. Who was the recruiter who convinced our guys to go hard for him? the guy who used to be at saints?

Any half wit who watches AFL would know that he is a solid back up ruck/3rd tall forward. Nothing more.

Why did we not go out and poach a no.1 ruck? Why did we over pay with a quality pick for someone who would never fill this void?

We made our bed now (for at least 2015) and now we have to lie in it. He is better than Simpson/Hmac, but that is not saying much. He is the best of all our shitty options. If we had a quality no.1, Stanley would do a good job in the role he is built for, as the 2nd ruck/3rd tall forward, but he is never going to be something his body just isnt designed for.

In the 2015 trade period we must be aggressive at luring a quality no.1 ruck given our salary cap room (Nicholls from GC for example).

 

[Footy Smarts]

The old "he's not a number 1 ruck" being brought out again? This must be the most oft-repeated comment on this board in the past few years.

So why can't Stanley be a number 1 ruck? His tapwork is excellent, he's bulked up hugely this year, he's 200cm+, he is a quality contested mark and gets around the ground well. He's got absolutely every attribute you could want in a dominant ruckman. He's just played his first 2 games of his career as the main ruckman. Give the bloke a chance before we pigeon-hole him as not good enough. Frankly if Simpson showed as much in the first couple of games as Stanley has in the last couple, we would've been jumping all over him with praise.

 

[Whit3y]

Stanley, Gregson, Clark and Cockatoo have all been either very good or very promising.

It is just everyone (excluding Selwood) who was on the list last year that is the problem.

not very good so far
but promising........in years to come

lets not blow a hole in our pants just yet

 

[FredLeDeux]

A few thoughts...

Quite clearly to me we need to stick with him. At this stage we need to find out if he is going to be anything more than a part time ruckman (which, to be honest, is all I think he is). We are losing little by having him in ahead of Simpson/McIntosh in terms of competitiveness at ruck contests and he clearly offers more around the ground.

I'd be interested to see the hitout stats at centre bounces vs around the ground. My impression is he is more capable at the centre when he can leap at the ball. When he had to wrestle I thought Goldstein gave him quite a towelling. Therein lies the issue with leaner, leaping type ruckmen (see also West, Vardy, etc) - they are less effective at around the ground stoppages because they get out-muscled and out-positioned and that can really hurt the team (we were 12-9 at centre clearances yet 22-29 at around the ground stoppages yesterday). While Stanley can probably improve his 'wrestling' game it is probably never going to be a strong point of his game. This is probably my biggest doubt with him being the long term solution.

Finally, I don't think we've seen the best of Stanley's around the ground work yet as I think his fitness is holding him back from getting to a lot of contests. I think he can do a lot more presenting as a marking target to the kicker, something we have seen very little of in the past few weeks. As he gains fitness hopefully this will become a feature of his game.

Absolutely 100% accurate in every respect.

 

[Whit3y]

you dont give up pick 21 for a 24 year old and not have him in the team

his our number one ruck now

 

[Topper]

He's more than handy and will improve

 

[Bobby_]

Finally, I don't think we've seen the best of Stanley's around the ground work yet as I think his fitness is holding him back from getting to a lot of contests. I think he can do a lot more presenting as a marking target to the kicker, something we have seen very little of in the past few weeks. As he gains fitness hopefully this will become a feature of his game.

I'm surprised how much heavier he looks than when he was playing at St Kilda. He also looks to have lost some of that explosive speed of his. Whether it was a different training program he was put under when he came to us, who knows, but he doesn't look as agile at the moment.

 

[catempire]

I'm surprised how much heavier he looks than when he was playing at St Kilda. He also looks to have lost some of that explosive speed of his. Whether it was a different training program he was put under when he came to us, who knows, but he doesn't look as agile at the moment.

I noticed that too. I think it's probably conditioning at this point. He's also not used to covering so much ground as a ruckman so when he goes to accelerate he doesn't have as much in the tank as he expects.

 

[Willo_]

I noticed that too. I think it's probably conditioning at this point. He's also not used to covering so much ground as a ruckman so when he goes to accelerate he doesn't have as much in the tank as he expects.

I still like the look of seeing a monster (and he is a massive unit) tuck the ball under his arm and willing to go. I hope its just a building fitness issue

 

[dazbroncos]

Stanley was good in the ruck yesterday although struggled at the end. oddly enough he didnt get enough of the ball around the ground and im not sure he even took a mark. Sounds like Simpson. hopefully his fitness gets better.

He would
Have had 2 marks had front on contact been a rule the green dicks were actually paying for us yesterday.

Agree he is short on fitness and will improve with time on that front.

Go Catters

 

[Goggin Our Best]

I agree with some very well made points. I watched the replay and it confirms what you say.

Stanley played quite well. He was good at centre bounces (our mids were not).
The boundary throw-ins are a concern but time is needed to gel the combination/tactics. I can see third man up ( Blicavs/Bartel) being used more often. Especially if Blicavs can hold form somewhere near his effort yeaterday. His first quarter was excellent.

Finally you point out that Stanley is not fit yet. I saw him play VFL practice match football and he was blowing up very quickly. He would have to be 8 weeks of hard match practice from peak fitness.

I like what he brings to Geelong

Blicavs 1st qtr was sensational ( pity he faded)

That was the old Polly Farmer tactic - 2 mobile ruckman at the ball ups Farmer and Newman Farmer and Chris Mitchell

Farmer when coaching did the same tactic - that 1st State of Origin - when WA demolished Victoria by 100 points - Polly had 2 WA ruckman on the ball- and when he captain/coached West Perth to a couple of flags - he employed the same tactic - with himself and Bill Dempsey ( who was a top notch athletic ruckman ) both on the ball at the same time

If Blicavs could reproduce yesterdays 1st qtr for 4 qtrs -id get very excited

 

[Turbocat]

Blitz found out like it was like to be a good player after Q1 , welcome to Selwoods world. Play like he did in Q1 , while the other side try to stop him and he becomes a a very good player. yet to come but he has on just started to show what he could be.

Stanley has not played that much more. Like it or not , both are works in progress

 

[4quarter_cat]

That from your phone turbo?

I couldn't agree more.

 

[Teriyakicat]

Given our options, his sum of the parts may be the best overall. Does that make him the best in the league - not even close but best on our list - probably.
Daws - Big, good taps. Reasonable 2/3 efforts but gives nothing else in the game. Cant run out a game.
Hmac - Big, more mobile and gets around the ground better. Not much in the 2/3 efforts on the ground and has not provided much else around the ground. Can't jump, can't play out a game.
Stanley -Bigish. Reasonable 2/3 efforts. Can run out a game. (better than the other two on a limited preseason ). Provides best options in general play and has best marking/kicking skills. Jumps at bounces as well.

Im not listing Blitz as he is not being considered as a #1 ruck.

Once again however, GFC finds itself back in 2012 after Otto left with no real true #1 ruck man playing regular game, even thought its considered there are 2 on the list.

GO Catters

Sounds like we need to lock these three blokes up in a room with Doctor Frankenstein, Daz....
and a box of spare parts:

 

[Two Planks]

Instead of blaming stanley for our struggles in the ruck, I blame our coaches who believed that he would be our answer. Who was the recruiter who convinced our guys to go hard for him? the guy who used to be at saints?

Any half wit who watches AFL would know that he is a solid back up ruck/3rd tall forward. Nothing more.

Why did we not go out and poach a no.1 ruck? Why did we over pay with a quality pick for someone who would never fill this void?

We made our bed now (for at least 2015) and now we have to lie in it. He is better than Simpson/Hmac, but that is not saying much. He is the best of all our shitty options. If we had a quality no.1, Stanley would do a good job in the role he is built for, as the 2nd ruck/3rd tall forward, but he is never going to be something his body just isnt designed for.

In the 2015 trade period we must be aggressive at luring a quality no.1 ruck given our salary cap room (Nicholls from GC for example).

Is there going to be an available ruckman that is better than Stanley ???

I would be happy with Minson for a year or two on low wages to replace McIntosh and Simpson until we find out if Read Vardy or Lucy will cut the mustard.

 

[sharks33]

Instead of blaming stanley for our struggles in the ruck, I blame our coaches who believed that he would be our answer. Who was the recruiter who convinced our guys to go hard for him? the guy who used to be at saints?

Any half wit who watches AFL would know that he is a solid back up ruck/3rd tall forward. Nothing more.

Why did we not go out and poach a no.1 ruck? Why did we over pay with a quality pick for someone who would never fill this void?

We made our bed now (for at least 2015) and now we have to lie in it. He is better than Simpson/Hmac, but that is not saying much. He is the best of all our shitty options. If we had a quality no.1, Stanley would do a good job in the role he is built for, as the 2nd ruck/3rd tall forward, but he is never going to be something his body just isnt designed for.

In the 2015 trade period we must be aggressive at luring a quality no.1 ruck given our salary cap room (Nicholls from GC for example).

Yep that's exactly what a half wit would know.

 

[Cataholic]

Instead of blaming stanley for our struggles in the ruck, I blame our coaches who believed that he would be our answer. Who was the recruiter who convinced our guys to go hard for him? the guy who used to be at saints?

Any half wit who watches AFL would know that he is a solid back up ruck/3rd tall forward. Nothing more.

Why did we not go out and poach a no.1 ruck? Why did we over pay with a quality pick for someone who would never fill this void?

We made our bed now (for at least 2015) and now we have to lie in it. He is better than Simpson/Hmac, but that is not saying much. He is the best of all our shitty options. If we had a quality no.1, Stanley would do a good job in the role he is built for, as the 2nd ruck/3rd tall forward, but he is never going to be something his body just isnt designed for.

In the 2015 trade period we must be aggressive at luring a quality no.1 ruck given our salary cap room (Nicholls from GC for example).

And that's just what we would've needed if Simpson or HMac had come to play.

Unfortunately, HMac is on the way to the knackery, and Simpson showed once and for all that he's not up to it.

That's left Stanley as the last man standing, with assistance from Blitz and Clark.

But agree, we simply must get a No. 1 ruckman to alleviate our problems. Get that guy in, get Stanley fit, and we'll have a solid ruck combo.

 

[Lana]

Blicavs 1st qtr was sensational ( pity he faded)

That was the old Polly Farmer tactic - 2 mobile ruckman at the ball ups Farmer and Newman Farmer and Chris Mitchell

Farmer when coaching did the same tactic - that 1st State of Origin - when WA demolished Victoria by 100 points - Polly had 2 WA ruckman on the ball- and when he captain/coached West Perth to a couple of flags - he employed the same tactic - with himself and Bill Dempsey ( who was a top notch athletic ruckman ) both on the ball at the same time

If Blicavs could reproduce yesterdays 1st qtr for 4 qtrs -id get very excited

I'd love to see him get 40+ touches and 20 marks.

 

[Motlop Magic]

The old "he's not a number 1 ruck" being brought out again? This must be the most oft-repeated comment on this board in the past few years.

So why can't Stanley be a number 1 ruck? His tapwork is excellent, he's bulked up hugely this year, he's 200cm+, he is a quality contested mark and gets around the ground well. He's got absolutely every attribute you could want in a dominant ruckman. He's just played his first 2 games of his career as the main ruckman. Give the bloke a chance before we pigeon-hole him as not good enough. Frankly if Simpson showed as much in the first couple of games as Stanley has in the last couple, we would've been jumping all over him with praise.

And with a limited pre-season and lack of experience, did ok I thought.
But as we see from some posters on here they expect him to be Dean Cox straight up!

 

[Lana]

And with a limited pre-season and lack of experience, did ok I thought.
But as we see from some posters on here they expect him to be Dean Cox straight up!

No one expects him to be the next Dean Cox but given what we paid for him, we'd hope that he's a least better then Trent West.

 

[00VicWard001]

Stanley was good in the ruck yesterday although struggled at the end. oddly enough he didnt get enough of the ball around the ground and im not sure he even took a mark. Sounds like Simpson. hopefully his fitness gets better.

Stanley took a few marks. Two coming out from defence as well. Something that Simpson has never done.