Strategy Sub rule gone, interchange cap down to 90

[catempire]

What does this mean for us strategically?

Are we back to being able to play a slow ruckman and a 2nd ruck like we did in the Ottens days?

Does it change our drafting strategy?

Does it bring player like GHS back into more prominence given the idea behind the changes is to slow the game down?

Thoughts?

 

[Lana]

Teams will focus on saving rotations. 3rd KPFs that can't ruck are stuffed. KPPs will rotated even less than they do now. Mids that can't rest in other parts of the ground are stuffed. Burst players will get the bulk of the rotations. Players with good tanks will be favoured over those who can create. Congestition will get worse.

 

[dazbroncos]

Or does it go the other way and make getting Z Smith even more important.

To have a stable of tall, mobile, skilled #2 Rucks that can ruck and rove their own work and create their own clearances.

Z Smith, Vardy, Blitz, Stanley, Clark. Would mean that the overall team speed is not dropped by the traditional #1 ( say Simpson) and allows an extra MF type on the bench.

And with the cap at 90 - those #1 rucks will only get some many spells.

Perhaps Im just too enamored with the PA game where it all went right.

I guess the other thing is that we have 4 of them already, add one more and rather than following we'd be trend setting in that front.

And trendsetters are winners….. well not really but it sounded good.

And yes I know the reality is the injuries and the stability of the group is not renowned, but the potential is so high.

Go Catters

 

[Art Vandelay_]

What players do we have that have questionable tanks? Surely they'd struggle.

 

[bigblackboz]

Teams will focus on saving rotations. 3rd KPFs that can't ruck are stuffed. KPPs will rotated even less than they do now. Mids that can't rest in other parts of the ground are stuffed. Burst players will get the bulk of the rotations. Players with good tanks will be favoured over those who can create. Congestition will get worse.

I'm not sure congestion will get worse. I think it could reduce congestion as guys will have to be smart with their running patterns and rest appropriately. Not just run till you can't and then get a breather on the bench. Guys will have to recover better on the ground. I suspect we will see more of midfielders resting forward which will reduce the amount of forwards flooding up to the midfield as they need to rest. Well, thats one way it could go.

Agree that the 3rd kpp is screwed if he can't ruck.

 

[Cronin]

The sub rule was worse than the 'hands in the back rule' in my opinion. Imagine being known as a player who wasn't good enough to get a full a game - good riddance

 

[_Game_]

The sub rule was worse than the 'hands in the back rule' in my opinion. Imagine being known as a player who wasn't good enough to get a full a game - good riddance

Actually works in our favour I feel. We have a strong list of elite running athletes that can play almost anywhere. Given they can stay injury free.

 

[catempire]

I'm not sure congestion will get worse. I think it could reduce congestion as guys will have to be smart with their running patterns and rest appropriately. Not just run till you can't and then get a breather on the bench. Guys will have to recover better on the ground. I suspect we will see more of midfielders resting forward which will reduce the amount of forwards flooding up to the midfield as they need to rest. Well, thats one way it could go.

Agree that the 3rd kpp is screwed if he can't ruck.

Agree. Congestion should get better. Players will be less fresh and won't be able to crowd every contest like they do now.

 

[cats2rise]

The sub rule was the nail in the coffin for Blake (and the dinosaur ruckmen)... will be interesting to see if it reverses. Interestingly now we can't ease an injured player back into it. You are either fit enough to play the whole game, or you don't play.

The only player I really see it impacting is Brent Harvey and his ambition to break the games record... haha.

 

[CatTricks]

About time.
Anyone got Mark Blake's number?

 

[year of the cat]

I think we should all settle and take a deep breath. 90 is still a reasonable number of interchanges - plus there will be effectively an extra player to rotate those 90 through. Personally I don't see a drastic change in set up.

It just may see clubs in the pre-season look to have their players gain greater endurance than perhaps before.

 

[Bobby_]

the emphasis to bulk up and become a bigger/heavier body will be right back on the table again.
Caddy will now be in his element, as too Jansen and Kersten

The teams that went the endurance route and shed kilo's will be hit the hardest (I'm looking right at you Dawks )

 

[year of the cat]

the emphasis to bulk up and become a bigger/heavier body will be right back on the table again.
Caddy will now be in his element, as too Jansen and Kersten

The teams that went the endurance route and shed kilo's will be hit the hardest (I'm looking right at you Dawks )

Really? I think the opposite.

 

[cats2rise]

the emphasis to bulk up and become a bigger/heavier body will be right back on the table again.
Caddy will now be in his element, as too Jansen and Kersten

The teams that went the endurance route and shed kilo's will be hit the hardest (I'm looking right at you Dawks )

Will the reduced number of interchanges mean players will be out on the ground longer, or 'rested' but in a different position?

I would have assumed each team will be wanting to be a kilo or two lighter to be able to have better endurance?

 

[Cronin]

Actually works in our favour I feel. We have a strong list of elite running athletes that can play almost anywhere. Given they can stay injury free.

If we do have an injury free list and we improve our defensive pressure all over the field I think we are a big chance next year.... But we've got to get better defensively and apply more pressure

 

[Bobby_]

Really? I think the opposite.

I reckon it will slow the game down significantly. Lower scoring matches as a result. Teams will have to monitor the interchanges extensively. No more sub will also help out the big boys as one of them will get to remain on the ground for the entire match now.

 

[Lana]

I'm not sure congestion will get worse. I think it could reduce congestion as guys will have to be smart with their running patterns and rest appropriately. Not just run till you can't and then get a breather on the bench. Guys will have to recover better on the ground. I suspect we will see more of midfielders resting forward which will reduce the amount of forwards flooding up to the midfield as they need to rest. Well, thats one way it could go.

Agree that the 3rd kpp is screwed if he can't ruck.

Congestition will get worse since teams/coaches will sacrifice their offense to keep up their current defensive standards

 

[cats2rise]

Congestition will get worse since teams/coaches will sacrifice their offense to keep up their current defensive standards

Or games will open up at the end due to players being able to come off less?
Thus the fitter team survives and gets a run on towards the end of a match.

 

[sauron256]

I wonder how clubs and players feel about this?

 

[Lana]

Or games will open up at the end due to players being able to come off less?
Thus the fitter team survives and gets a run on towards the end of a match.

In the short term this could happen(it certainly did when the sub rule was introduced and again when the first cap was placed) but teams will adjust their fitness program in the long term it won't.

 

[Seeds]

Will change nothing other than unfairly bias against teams who lose an injured player early in a game. Thankfull we had the sub rule in 2011 otherwise we might not have got the flag.

 

[catempire]

In the short term this could happen(it certainly did when the sub rule was introduced and again when the first cap was placed) but teams will adjust their fitness program in the long term it won't.

I think we've hit "peak fit" as we will se it in AFL terms. Teams could not become significantly fitter without sacrificing the body shape required to withstand the physicality of the game. So I don't think an adjustment in that direction will occur.

 

[zb14]

any others think this might just save Simpson?

 

[BlightysCats]

Does it bring player like GHS back into more prominence given the idea behind the changes is to slow the game down?

I don't think it'll slow the game down too much, I'd imagine the game will be quicker near the end than it is now because there will be more loose players and more one on ones, plus due to fatigue more turnovers, which means more space and more end to end footy. How that'll help or hinder GHS is anyone's guess though I do know one thing for sure having fast players with petrol in the tank late in games will be more crucial than ever so I think GHS shouldn't expect a lot of time on the ground in last quarters next year (if he's playing midfield), who knows they might just plonk him deep in attack late in matches.

 

[year of the cat]

any others think this might just save Simpson?

"Well may we say God save the Queen, because nothing will save the Simpson"

(Apologies to Gough)