News Staying: Knight says GTFO Carlton you losers, signs one more year

What will we get for Riley?


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Knight has been afforded many chances to develop as a tagger, he's just not very good at it.

I'm not too bothered by him having a spot on our list, but he's not going to trouble any of the games top line mids.
Can you list these many games?

I doubt you could list more than 3 games.
 
He played the rest of the year in that role, and wasn't good.

The fact is, he isn't a very good player wherever he plays.
Lol, Knight has hardly played many games on-ball in a tagging role for any significant time.

I'm starting to wonder whether you actually know who he is.
 
On the subject of taggers, I would like to see Jake Kelly be given the opportunity to take on the role of negating the oppo's best midfielder.

He has a defensive mindset, by all reports, is an aerobic beast and loves the niggle. I also think he may have played a bit of midfield in his juniors.

I think he would be ideal as a negating player.

Knight is only thought of after his decent performance against Selwood that one time. Otherwise, has he really been that effective?

I just can't see a place in the team for him as we need to give games to Jones, McHenry, Hamill, Sholl etc as their upside is much bigger than Riley's.
Kelly should be at least tried on the taller midfield types, particularly as most push forward & he can follow them.
 

hey shorty

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Lol, Knight has hardly played many games on-ball in a tagging role for any significant time.

I'm starting to wonder whether you actually know who he is.
I know who he is, I just don't rate him at all. He has a great running capacity, that's it. He's David Mackay
 

hey shorty

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How long ago?
2017 I'd say, and they tried again in 18.

What weapons has he got that demand a spot in the side. Everyone craps on DMac from a great height, and it is largely warranted yet most people give this guy all the time in the world.

I fail to see the difference between the 2 in a footballing sense.
 
I know who he is, I just don't rate him at all. He has a great running capacity, that's it. He's David Mackay
Sure, but now you are just spreading blatant mistruths on his tagging opportunities on ball.

He has not been given a decent go in this role!
 

hey shorty

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30k Posts 10k Posts TheBrownDog
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Sure, but now you are just spreading blatant mistruths on his tagging opportunities on ball.

He has not been given a decent go in this role!
Maybe because in the few times we have tried it, he's been spanked.

It's almost as humourous as when Rowey suggests using Hugh Greenwood as a tagging option..... but at least Riley can run.
 

Elite Crow

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Maybe because in the few times we have tried it, he's been spanked.

It's almost as humourous as when Rowey suggests using Hugh Greenwood as a tagging option..... but at least Riley can run.
Kane’s right, you’ve made out as if he’s had a decent go at tagging and failed, you’ve had to go back to 2017 & maybe 18, none this year.

Also when we’ve played a tagger it’s been a soft tag, a run with role, we don’t play a hard tag. Let’s see how he goes for a few consecutive weeks before ruling him out as a failed tagger based on your memory from limited games in 2017 and possibly 1 in 2018.
 
Aug 21, 2008
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I like it. I think people forget that a number of normally quality players stalled or went backwards the last couple of years after the GF and the overcorrection of game plan. As others have mentioned, give him a year and see if he can reclaim his spark under a new coach and gameplan.
He never really had much before though. Played a few good games and kicked straight for goal, but it's been obvious that he doesn't have any stand out traits.

Occasionally players improve out of sight but very rarely.

He hasn't shown anything worth persisting with if you ask me. I hope he doesn't turn into another Mackay
 
I defy anyone to accurately explain what Knight has been trying to do or the role he's been playing during the last couple of seasons

Apart from being invisible

I like to call Knight's role the Opposite Side Graveyard Specialist

The Graveyard Specialist is a half forward who, as we transition up the field, is positioned as far from the ball carrier and wide as possible, without being the deepest forward. The idea here being if we suddenly decide to go quickly up the field, we have support from a 'gut runner' who provides us a numbers advantage up forward, while still being able to impact defensively if we turn the ball over. Especially handy if the opposition get the ball and decide to go backwards; we have support. It also allows us to have an option if we take the slow 'safe' route up the boundary, with the Graveyard Specialist delivering the ball inside 50 in that situation.

However, as the Graveyard Specialist is positioned so wide (to allow for large coverage of one 'safe zone' flank from a single player), he's never the best choice for ball movement, as the position is inherently safe. So this player becomes primarily defensive without being a true forward. As such, the Graveyard Specialist never leaves the graveyard, but doesn't get many visitors, so spends most of the time minding grass and fending off intruders. The Graveyard Specialist follows the play and needs gut running ability to provide structure forward of the ball, but at a distance where they never have any significant offensive impact.

The Opposite Side Graveyard Specialist (OSGS) is a Graveyard Specialist that operates on the opposite flank to the ball movement, thus ensuring they are the absolute furthest player from the ball on the entire field. The OSGS is to provide all the above benefits, but only in the situation we choose to switch the ball. This requires even more gut running to cover a larger area of the ground, but with even less reward as a successful switch might not be executed that often.

knight.jpg
 
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Aug 13, 2006
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People forget just how much promise Riley showed before losing his way the last couple of years added to by the niggling injuries he's had to endure...



Put him in one bloody position, that suits his strengths, and see if he can develop into a quality player.

Stop using him as a bit part player and shuffling him into a variety of different positions and roles (STOP DOING THIS WITH EVERYONE, PLEASE).
 

hey shorty

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Put him in one bloody position, that suits his strengths, and see if he can develop into a quality player.

Stop using him as a bit part player and shuffling him into a variety of different positions and roles (STOP DOING THIS WITH EVERYONE, PLEASE).
I like flexibility in a side, in fact most of us bemoan the fact we don't throw the magnets around enough.

But if you've got a good midfielder, leave him there. Same goes for every player.
 

eddi

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He never really had much before though. Played a few good games and kicked straight for goal, but it's been obvious that he doesn't have any stand out traits.

Occasionally players improve out of sight but very rarely.

He hasn't shown anything worth persisting with if you ask me. I hope he doesn't turn into another Mackay

by no means do I expect him to be a star, but in his first year or 2 i thought he showed more than enough skill and mongrel to be a useful part of a decent team. I think the fact that it is a 1 year contract points to this being his year to turn things around or he will be delisted, had it been a 4 year signing then I agree it would be another case of the Mackays
 
Aug 5, 2013
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Yeah, I don't think a 1 year contract for Knight is really something to get all glass half empty about. Let's see how he goes and not assume that he's going to get selected head of McHenry and the like under a new coach "because established player".
It's not a disaster. But you swap Knight for any of the players who left and the squad will be stronger for it.
 

Flip Side

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Every one went bananas when he half stopped Duckwood one night at AO, but really he's never been nor will he ever be an effective tagger.

Guys like Danger, Kelly, Cripps etc that rip us to shreds aren't going to worry about a small vanilla mid like Riley. I don't disagree we need a tagging type and I'd be surprised if we don't try it..... it just shouldn't be Riley Knight.

If there's a spot for him it's probably as a defensive forward. Play on those Saad, Houil, Maynard rebounders and hit them.the other way.

Hey Shorty,

I usually enjoy your posts but your allowing your bias to cloud your judgement.

you don‘t respect Knight as a footballer, fair enough. This year i thought he fumbled plenty and looked lost.

However before that he twice tagged Selwood, and twice curbed his influence (evidence based). He clearly got under his skin and twice the Crows beat the cats (outcomes). That is the job of tagging. its a strange choice to pick on these performances.

regardless of his future endeavours it appears disingenuous when you attempt to discredit those performances.
 

Jack is Back

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I loved Riley’s work in the 2015 Elimination Final. His strengths were his gut running, tackling but most of all his desire to always move the ball forward as fast as possible (shades of the future Tigers). As our game plan slowly evolved into slow switching, chip kicking, don’t take any risks, his attributes no longer suited our game plan.

Will he change under Nicksy?
WTFK but imho it is worth a one year contract compared to giving two years to pick 99.
 
I know for a fact that Pyke wasn't even at his exit interview.
Thank you Riley. Congrats on the new contract! SHow everyone how good you really are!
 
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