Round 4: Changes Vs Eagles (DERBY TIME)

[FreoRicci]

Given how many times I hear or see that "hitouts are overrated" thing, I'm not sure who's overrating them.

You could look at them like disposals or even moreso like contested possessions for an individual player. How often did Neale or Fyfe win those stat counts last year only for the team to lose?

Ruck knocks are some of the most contested disposals in the game. Because of that they can be more open to disruption from the opposition. But by the same token they can also be one area that could provide more game winning edge, especially from the centre so far this year.

Can only look at Sandi. He breaks hitout records. Opposition just play for it and zone the midfield. It’s a little stat that doesn’t display much if the midfield not capilising on it. What’s important is hitout to advantage. Sandi often has 10-15% in that stat. It’s the taps that count. Tapwork is the underrated component of hit outs.
Key example is Richmond and western bulldogs. Look at their rucks they had in 2016/2017. Didn’t win many hit outs overall you have thought. It’s the midfield which win the clearances.

 

[salim malik]

Can only look at Sandi. He breaks hitout records. Opposition just play for it and zone the midfield. It’s a little stat that doesn’t display much if the midfield not capilising on it. What’s important is hitout to advantage. Sandi often has 10-15% in that stat. It’s the taps that count. Tapwork is the underrated component of hit outs.
Key example is Richmond and western bulldogs. Look at their rucks they had in 2016/2017. Didn’t win many hit outs overall you have thought. It’s the midfield which win the clearances.

Sandy rucking was one the reasons for our success in 2012 until 2015. Fyfe would not have won his Brownlow without Sandy,s tap work. It's noticeable that Sandy,s injuries have coincided with our down turns. Great rucks make great midfields.

 

[Nothing]

Can only look at Sandi. He breaks hitout records. Opposition just play for it and zone the midfield. It’s a little stat that doesn’t display much if the midfield not capilising on it. What’s important is hitout to advantage. Sandi often has 10-15% in that stat. It’s the taps that count. Tapwork is the underrated component of hit outs.
Key example is Richmond and western bulldogs. Look at their rucks they had in 2016/2017. Didn’t win many hit outs overall you have thought. It’s the midfield which win the clearances.

Sandi's HOTA over his career is 26.9% with a ruck winning percentage of 72.8%. That's 20% of the ruck contests he is at hit to advantage. NN over career wins 53.1% but a slightly better HOTA of 28%. That's 15% of ruck contest as HOTA. Grundy, the form ruck of the competition over the last 12 months is
45.9% win/29.4% HOTA for 13%. Gawn arguably the best of the lot at 53.55 win/32.7% HOTA for 17%.

It is true that Sandi gets sharked more than the other premium rucks but because he wins so many contests that is offset.

 

[wild side]

They know Sandi is going to win, so they give up on their own bloke before the ball is thrown up

 

[yoong]

Having a dominant ruck is a big advantage with the 6-6-6.
The team that wins the clearance immediately is kicking to a 6v6, or like the dangerfield goal this week, if the mid break clear and runs on to half forward, it’ll be a 7v6. All these reset if there is a delay or stoppage. I think teams are starting to realize that being able to win the center clearance is a big advantage.
If nicnat is even just 70% fit, WC will chuck him in immediately. We’ll do the same with Sandi.

 

[arsesmart]

Can only look at Sandi. He breaks hitout records.

Tom Mitchell in his first year at Hawthorn racked up unprecedented numbers including multiple 40 & 50 disposal games, yet the Hawks lost more than they won. As the Hawks got more used to him and he got used to the Hawks his profligacy became more effective for the team.

There are crucial times where a midfield operates as a self-contained team within a team. Getting synchronicity in that mini-team makes a massive difference and better allows full advantage of the dominance of any one of that team within a team. If that synchronicity isn't there then there's probably going to be a lot of wastage.

Sandi being out really hurts Freo right now as Darcy is still developing and would give him a chance to recharge his batteries as needed plus Sandi's experience and physical dominance creates more room for the rest of the midfield to work in.

 

[stax on the mull]

We've covered for the absence of Sandilands before. Most of 2013 he wasn't there.

 

[StingBitten]

A fully fit Darcy is the only thing capable of outmarking West Coast talls. He needs to play.

 

[arsesmart]

We've covered for the absence of Sandilands before. Most of 2013 he wasn't there.

Of course. He's only one player so him not being there doesn't mean you can't win games. But in 2013 Freo had a prime of his career Jon Griffin early and then a fully fit pre-dodgy knee ZacC to help cover that loss.

You could ask would Freo have prevailed in the QF at Geelong without him?

 

[stax on the mull]

Of course. He's only one player so him not being there doesn't mean you can't win games. But in 2013 Freo had a prime of his career Jon Griffin early and then a fully fit ZacC to help cover that loss.

You could ask would Freo have prevailed in the QF at Geelong without him?

But the general point is Fremantle people bemoaning about who we haven't got to play this weekend.

7 A-Graders won't win West Coast the game. We're just looking for little victories aren't we. 22 players having a go. There's players in their team that have question marks. Ryan, Petrucelle, Masten, Hickey, Hutchings, Cole, Allen has only played a couple of games.

 

[salim malik]

We've covered for the absence of Sandilands before. Most of 2013 he wasn't there.

No Sandy, no win in Geelong and no GF.

 

[stax on the mull]

No Sandy, no win in Geelong and no GF.

Got to let go of the past.

 

[Kenny_01]

We need to maintain talls forward to keep McGovern and Barass occupied, then have plenty of quicker forwards to pressure Jetta, Hurn etc and not let them use precise kicking out of the back line.

I'm thinking,

IN: Switkowski
OUT: Fyfe

 

[salim malik]

Got to let go of the past.

Nothing to do with hanging onto the past, some are forgetting what Sandy has meant to Freo . Some have very short memories.

 

[Dockers v Channel7West]

A fully fit Darcy is the only thing capable of outmarking West Coast talls. He needs to play.

I think that is an important point, I would back him in if he was fully fit getting around the ground taking marks
He wasn't right from the outset against Gold Coast only capable of tapping but not following up after and it hurt us.
If he is fully fit and free able to move 100% freely agree
Any niggles No

 

[stax on the mull]

Nothing to do with hanging onto the past, some are forgetting what Sandy has meant to Freo . Some have very short memories.

If Sandilands is going to have an influence in this upcoming game, it'll be in what he's taught to our young rucks.

 

[arsesmart]

Got to let go of the past.

I think you're confusing taking lessons from the past with being stuck in it.

Of course, you can only play who's available, but the point about Sandi was that he illustrates the difference a dominant ruck can make to a team capable of exploiting that dominance. It also helps illustrate where Darcy is in his development and what he could offer with week to week cover.

I still think if Darcy is rested up he can be enough of a contested beast for the rookie midfield to rally around.

 

[wayToGo_]

Bloody daylight savings time... Grrrrrr...

 

[Fireballs]

If we drop a tall it should be Hogan. Certainly not Tabs.

Thanks for the laugh

 

[estibador]

Just don’t expect Danny Green to promote the t-shirt! Already established he only has a problem with violence on the field when it’s a non WC player

He made a stupid comment after the Bugg punch too. He only has a problem with violence when people are paying him to pretend he does.

 

[Kram]

We've covered for the absence of Sandilands before. Most of 2013 he wasn't there.

And the team almost lifted another whole gear when he got back.

 

[Kram]

Just don’t expect Danny Green to promote the t-shirt! Already established he only has a problem with violence on the field when it’s a non WC player

Danny Green would blow a goat for a few thousand bucks, he's always been a phoney whore.

 

[wayToGo_]

In: Switkowski, Shultz
Out: Fyfe, Banfield

 

[MadMundy]

Switta and Schultz in, Fyfe and Banfield out

 

[MadEyeEmmy]

Wow VERY interesting changes. Intrigued to see how this plays out