Stringer the mid (again)

[stefoid]

I think we have seen enough of Jake now to know his strengths and weaknesses.

We can put to rest the notion he is a KPP. He is timid in the air unless he has the sit, and he doesnt hold on to his hangers anyway. He is a terrible set shot. On the flip side, I would back him on the run from 55 out.

So while a 50-odd goal a year small forward is nice to have, is that the best use for him? He runs hot and cold as a forward, -- like most forwards, tends to rely on others to play well so that they can play well. He has dragged us over the line on occasion, but thats the exception more than the rule.

Obviously he needs to increase his fitness a lot to be able to play the role, and his handball and defence needs work. Importantly he has to work with our other mids and V.V so they can mesh. He is a clearance/receiver mid of the sort we really lack - we have enough sluggish, first hands, bash N crash players.

I think Bev needs to bite the bullet and tell Jake he is playing in the midfield next year, whether that is in the AFL or the VFL.

 

[Richielad101]

Can he really be considered a small forward at 192cm tall? I have seen him in the midfield and I really like it, but I think he cannot read the play as an inside mid. IMO, if he gets back to 75% of 2015 then play him in forward line only, if he continues to struggle play him 70% forward 30% midfield.

 

[dogzrule]

He just doesn't have the tank to go in the midfield for the long periods of time we need him there and with 5 preseasons under his belt going into number 6 if he had that ability he would have shown it by now

Further I question his footy nous, example vs GWS when he went int o middle for a little bit he was running around aimlessly in circles at one point rather than running to position, he just seemed lost to me

Sure he looks good and damaging when he bursts from centre breaks but will he ever have the aerobic ability to do it for large chunks of a game ?

Keep in mind McLean has gone straight past him as a midfield option in half a season

For me he is a mid sized forward only.


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[go you pups]

Needs to happen this move, playing on a wing or as an inside-out type.

His mix of speed and long-range finishing are weapons that we only have from one other on our list in JJ. Having two guys capable of this helps us immensely and we don't need to spend cash + draft picks on expensive midfielders of the likes of Kelly if we invest in who we already have in regards to getting our midfield right, like Jong, Dunkley, Wallis etc are all mids first but play substantial forward minutes.

Imo we need to get our taller players situation corrected, then that helps our forward structure immensely. Players like Smith, Dickson, Picken, Dale and Dahlhaus can play small forward, though a fast/agile small forward would help too, someone with similar characteristics to a Breust or Papley I reckon.

 

[Mofra]

He doesn't have the tank to play predominantly mid - for mine he's at his best gathering the ground ball and bursting through a defender.
He can take a few mid rotations but should play predominantly deeper forward ideally next to a tall get-out option (Boyd)

 

[Substance]

There's only one way he will live up to his talent, and that's going for the ball in the air more. Start crashing packs and putting himself at risk again, and he'll be alright.

Hate to say it (and sorry jake if you read this) but he appears too lazy(in that he chooses when to apply pressure, or double, triple lead) and soft(in that he's scared to fly in packs to try and mark the ball.) to do that.

 

[BrisDog]

He's a wee bit soft I reckon. Probably after snapping his leg in 2. Don't get me wrong - I love him as a player. Has anyone ever seen him lay someone out apart from that nice tackle in the final against the Hawks? You have to be tough to play in the guts.

 

[Big Wilbur]

Outside mid or wing for mine....with stints up forward. I've seen enough to know that he isn't going to make it as a permanent forward. Not everyone has to be a tough inside mid.

I would rather him charging towards from goal from 60m out than lining up 20m out from goal.

 

[The Original Swooper]

Re Stringer

I'd like to see him and Bont rotate from a HFF. Maybe 60-40 or 70-30 Bonts way.

Another tactic I'd like to see with Stringer is when we line up with 7 in the back half. I'd have him running in off the back of the square at centre bounces. If he gets the timing right and reads it well (some conjecture there) he would be unstoppable hitting the ball at full tilt.

 

[Richielad101]

Another tactic I'd like to see with Stringer is when we line up with 7 in the back half. I'd have him running in off the back of the square at centre bounces. If he gets the timing right and reads it well (some conjecture there) he would be unstoppable hitting the ball at full tilt.

I like this.

 

[Big Wilbur]

I like this.

Has been done numerous times with varying success.

 

[WallyStringhaus]

I think we have seen enough of Jake now to know his strengths and weaknesses.

We can put to rest the notion he is a KPP. He is timid in the air unless he has the sit, and he doesnt hold on to his hangers anyway. He is a terrible set shot. On the flip side, I would back him on the run from 55 out.

So while a 50-odd goal a year small forward is nice to have, is that the best use for him? He runs hot and cold as a forward, -- like most forwards, tends to rely on others to play well so that they can play well. He has dragged us over the line on occasion, but thats the exception more than the rule.

Obviously he needs to increase his fitness a lot to be able to play the role, and his handball and defence needs work. Importantly he has to work with our other mids and V.V so they can mesh. He is a clearance/receiver mid of the sort we really lack - we have enough sluggish, first hands, bash N crash players.

I think Bev needs to bite the bullet and tell Jake he is playing in the midfield next year, whether that is in the AFL or the VFL.

I think you're spot on stefoid. Jake has Danger/Martin potential for mine. Super strong, explosive and can kick a long goal. Like others have said he really needs to build his tank and that comes down to his own internal fire.

Danger took until his 5th season to really hit his straps as a consistent match winner, he gathered 25 possies only 3 times in his first 4 seasons across 64 games. He was a bit of a flighty and inconsistent flanker type who built his game season after season and became the beast he is today. I really believe Jake can do the same.

 

[jdz101]

He needs to stretch out those creamy hamstrings first.

 

[jdz101]

Re Stringer

I'd like to see him and Bont rotate from a HFF. Maybe 60-40 or 70-30 Bonts way.

Another tactic I'd like to see with Stringer is when we line up with 7 in the back half. I'd have him running in off the back of the square at centre bounces. If he gets the timing right and reads it well (some conjecture there) he would be unstoppable hitting the ball at full tilt.

Would work better if we had a ruck who could tap the ball to a pre-determined area with some regularity so both rampaging stringer and the mids know where to run before it happens.

Works well for Melbourne because Gawn can help them with what side its going.

 

[The Original Swooper]

Would work better if we had a ruck who could tap the ball to a pre-determined area with some regularity so both rampaging stringer and the mids know where to run before it happens.

Works well for Melbourne because Gawn can help them with what side its going.

Maybe I have to soften my anti Goldstein stance. He's the only available ruckman I can think of that could consistently do so. We also have Bev's known scant regard for ruckmen ( or is that just a front because we don't have a gun ? ). Please don't suggest that spud Spencer.

 

[jdz101]

Maybe I have to soften my anti Goldstein stance. He's the only available ruckman I can think of that could consistently do so. We also have Bev's known scant regard for ruckmen ( or is that just a front because we don't have a gun ? ). Please don't suggest that spud Spencer.

Wouldn't go near Pencil Spencer with a 10 foot pole. Unless we wanted to strengthen Footscray's ruck stocks.

I'm not really an advocate for Goldstein either unless we're getting him for a fraction of his actual salary and giving very little in return.

I just know that having a ruck who can direct the ball down to a planned location who can also get to work around the ground (yes they do exist) would be a shot of steroids for our midfield. The lead on effect of that is greater than I think some anticipate. If we can improve our centre bounce clearances, we get better opportunity for immediate scoring shots. We got very little quick centre clearance stuff this year. It was all very slow, deliberate, and laborious.

Hoping Timmy English can have a big preseason and follow a Brodie Grundy-esque sort of path into becoming a strong ruck for us.

 

[The Original Swooper]

Wouldn't go near Pencil Spencer with a 10 foot pole. Unless we wanted to strengthen Footscray's ruck stocks.

I'm not really an advocate for Goldstein either unless we're getting him for a fraction of his actual salary and giving very little in return.

I just know that having a ruck who can direct the ball down to a planned location who can also get to work around the ground (yes they do exist) would be a shot of steroids for our midfield. The lead on effect of that is greater than I think some anticipate. If we can improve our centre bounce clearances, we get better opportunity for immediate scoring shots. We got very little quick centre clearance stuff this year. It was all very slow, deliberate, and laborious.

Hoping Timmy English can have a big preseason and follow a Brodie Grundy-esque sort of path into becoming a strong ruck for us.

I'm very keen on TallTim, but not sure next season will be his break out. Short term solution required. Also, as posted elsewhere, I'm feeling sorry for Roughy, who is underrated imho ( but yes, not capable enough to do those centre bounce set plays).

 

[jdz101]

I'm very keen on TallTim, but not sure next season will be his break out. Short term solution required. Also, as posted elsewhere, I'm feeling sorry for Roughy, who is underrated imho ( but yes, not capable enough to do those centre bounce set plays).

Unfortunately we're not Hawthorn and David Hale/Big Boy Mcevoy aren't walking through that door for pennies on the dollar.

 

[dogwatch]

My expectations of Stringer have plummeted over the last two seasons. He has the talent to be a top 5 player in the AFL but is barely a top 100 player right now. My worry is he'll be prised away from us cheaply and end up reaching his true potential elsewhere.

Would love to see him make it as a high octane mid but he has not shown anything to get excited about when tried there. I reckon if we can get 40+ goals a year out of him as a third tall forward we should be thankful.

Unfortunately we're going to have to find the first and second tall forwards before that will work.

 

[Cori]

I'd love to try him as a receiving half back for a while. Dusty played there for a season before going into the midfield. I think JJ and Stringer rotating through the wing/HBF could work out and would let Stringer get his hands on the ball in space a bit more.

 

[SonOfScray]

Knowing a few blokes dealing with similar family issues, it has ****ed themm up. Going shit house at work and expending a lot of energy dealing with complex interpersonal stuff. Reckon Stringer might be battling through that side of things at the moment.

Love the guy. His best is electrifying, beyond anything I've ever seen in the tricolours. His worst has still seen him leading our goal kicking I believe. Just want him fit, happy and playing well. If it's a fwd, excellent. As a mid, that's good too.

 

[olimauldon]

Dermott Brereton had an article in the Sun a couple months back about Stringer and his lack of impact. He wrote that Stringer should 'go into centre bounces, commit to winning the ball and then drift into the forward line straight away and let a genuine midfielder come into the play from the back of the square.'

 

[brmi]

I believe he should be played as a high half forward flanker pushing into the middle/wing. He would be near impossible to stop. He has been getting the best defender each week for an extended period now. If he was freed up to break the lines between d50 and f50 there wouldnt be many that could go with him.

He hasnt got the tank as a permanent mid and isnt big enough to play on key defenders. I have loved Stringer from the moment he got to the club. Really hope he can get everything right during the off season and get back to playing the footy we all know he can.

 

[TMoney22]

yep agree. i think the worst thing you can do with him now is plonk him in one position and leave him there. Id be using him in the second midfield rotation, forward line and off the back of the square as others have mentioned.

 

[dergert]

I will be livid of the club let him go this or next year. He is a rare talent you HAVE to persevere with.