Surprise packet for 2011?

(Log in to remove this ad.)

adagio

Club Legend
Joined
Nov 23, 2008
Posts
1,232
Likes
1
Location
Perth
AFL Club
West Coast
Who was the suprise packet for 2010? Hams/Strijk? Scooter?
Definitely Hams. Thought he might be a handy depth player but he quickly became an integral part of our forward line. Super, super impressive.

Strijk was terrific too but I think this was less of a shock.
 

Marlin01

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Sep 23, 2007
Posts
9,276
Likes
6,662
Location
continental shelf
AFL Club
West Coast
Thats pretty obvious though isnt it?

I can think of 5 positions at least that aernt set in stone, even with the young kids coming through. FF, FP, C, BP, 2nd Ruck
Perhaps I'm being overly optimistic, but I'd have thought we have plenty of options for most of those positions. Certainly, we could do with more skill through the midfield and after Cox has gone, we're looking very light-on for a second ruckman, but I don't think we have holes in all those areas.

In terms of FF, Wilson showed he can at least be serviceable, hopefully better than that. If he were to get injured, we could bring in Lynch to play CHF and move Kennedy to the goalsquare or even play LeCras as a FF, which would be my preferred option, with NN spending time closer to goals.

FP, IMO, needs to be a player that can offer a bit through the midfield. I'm comfortable with LeCras, Strijk, Hams, Shuey, Kerr and Neates spending time in the FP next season.

I don't actually know what a centreman is anymore. To me, all those positions seem to have merged under the generic banner of midfielder. We've certainly allocated enough draft picks to our midfield, whether they end up any good is the big question I suppose.

As you can see, I don't think our list is as dire as Bond007's mate clearly does, but I'll stand corrected, because I tend to be on the optimistic side and have no knowledge of what is really going on behind the scenes.
 
Joined
Nov 18, 2008
Posts
32,539
Likes
22,703
Location
Perth
AFL Club
West Coast
EDIT - Isnt the HF line the ones most responsible for kicking to leading forwards??? yet people want Waters to play there....
Yes and no.

Hopefully if your midfield is playing well - it is your midfield that deliver to the key forwards.

Half forwards now have a greater role of shutting down the opposition's launch into attack.

Collingwood won the flag from their half back line of Shaw, Maxwell and O'Brien. All of their attack was set up from those blokes. It's not really anything new - WC's flags were set up by McKenna, Waterman and Hart running it out of defence as well.

If you look at old footage of Rowan Jones - he was a quality forward who couldn't kick. Now he nearly cost us a prelim final win - but her also saved the flag. Terrific mark and provided great pressure - it's what Beau can offer IMO.
 

Obeanie1

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Jul 26, 2007
Posts
18,348
Likes
11,415
Location
Darwin
AFL Club
West Coast
Thats pretty obvious though isnt it?

I can think of 5 positions at least that aernt set in stone, even with the young kids coming through. FF, FP, C, BP, 2nd Ruck
:eek:Huuuh???????????/

Cox and Naitanui.

I would have thought the 2nd ruck spot is least of our worries.

The 3rd ruck is an issue though:eek:
 

Wirra for PM

All Australian
Joined
Jul 30, 2009
Posts
850
Likes
0
Location
near the 'G
AFL Club
West Coast
I like Waters at HF - we looked our best last year when we were exerting good forward line pressure and he (+Hams) helps us bring that. Re his kicking, one thing I like about him is he is quite creative and not afraid to try and make something happen.

Of course sometimes he doesn't hit the target, but at least it makes him a bit unpredictable and dangerous - does the same thing in the backline, of course, but for us rather than the other side.
 

richy4

All Australian
Joined
Mar 14, 2010
Posts
857
Likes
1
Location
Melbourne
AFL Club
West Coast
Other Teams
Orlando Magic, Duke
I like Waters at HF - we looked our best last year when we were exerting good forward line pressure and he (+Hams) helps us bring that. Re his kicking, one thing I like about him is he is quite creative and not afraid to try and make something happen.

Of course sometimes he doesn't hit the target, but at least it makes him a bit unpredictable and dangerous - does the same thing in the backline, of course, but for us rather than the other side.
This.

I actually like waters kicking. I reckon he is actually one of our best kicks, people just don't see it because he tries taking the harder but more creative option. When it comes off it's great, when it doesn't it results in turnovers.

In the forward line his defensive pressure could be very valuable. but he is a fantastic mark, in many games saved us from getting destroyed(geelong for example). When you look at guys like Hurn and Smith there more attacking types, i would want to keep Waters back there unless an Adam Selwood stays down back.

Expecting Waters to have a great year after returning from a career threatening injury and my surprise packet would be Tom Swift or ryan Neates.
 

bodazoka

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Aug 12, 2008
Posts
11,777
Likes
1,247
Location
Kalgoorlie
AFL Club
West Coast
Yes and no.

Hopefully if your midfield is playing well - it is your midfield that deliver to the key forwards.

Half forwards now have a greater role of shutting down the opposition's launch into attack.

Collingwood won the flag from their half back line of Shaw, Maxwell and O'Brien. All of their attack was set up from those blokes. It's not really anything new - WC's flags were set up by McKenna, Waterman and Hart running it out of defence as well.

If you look at old footage of Rowan Jones - he was a quality forward who couldn't kick. Now he nearly cost us a prelim final win - but her also saved the flag. Terrific mark and provided great pressure - it's what Beau can offer IMO.
I think youll find our HF line delivers most of the ball inside 50, and that trend would extend to most other teams.

Especially with the full press, and having your HF line in the middle of the ground now.
 
Joined
Nov 18, 2008
Posts
32,539
Likes
22,703
Location
Perth
AFL Club
West Coast
I think youll find our HF line delivers most of the ball inside 50, and that trend would extend to most other teams.

Especially with the full press, and having your HF line in the middle of the ground now.
Our hf's? yes - but that's because our midfield is poor.

The top 20 inside 50m in the league - 16 are midfielders.

3 are guys who play a lot of midfield

the other is lynch

if you have a good midfield - they'll be the ones delivering - and that's where you want it to be!
 

Marlin01

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Sep 23, 2007
Posts
9,276
Likes
6,662
Location
continental shelf
AFL Club
West Coast
Hams is the bloke we want delivering the ball to our leading forwards. Marking 60m out on the right HFF, turing inside onto his left and putting it out in front of Wilson to mark 40m straight out in front.
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

Joined
Nov 18, 2008
Posts
32,539
Likes
22,703
Location
Perth
AFL Club
West Coast
Hams is the bloke we want delivering the ball to our leading forwards. Marking 60m out on the right HFF, turing inside onto his left and putting it out in front of Wilson to mark 40m straight out in front.
If our 'go to' option is a midget on the half forward line - we'll finish winless next year.

Hams running past kennedy, wilson or brown perhaps for the quick play on - sure.
 

Eastern Rangers

2015 Worsfold Medalist - Rowen Powell
Joined
Aug 27, 2006
Posts
26,893
Likes
11,261
Location
Perth
AFL Club
West Coast
Other Teams
Royals & Subi
Hams is the bloke we want delivering the ball to our leading forwards. Marking 60m out on the right HFF, turing inside onto his left and putting it out in front of Wilson to mark 40m straight out in front.
Wislon won't struggle to kick goals if we got Nathan Phillips as well. Excellent kick especially to forwards.
 

Marlin01

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Sep 23, 2007
Posts
9,276
Likes
6,662
Location
continental shelf
AFL Club
West Coast
If our 'go to' option is a midget on the half forward line - we'll finish winless next year.

Hams running past kennedy, wilson or brown perhaps for the quick play on - sure.
Go back and watch the games we actually won and you'll see the exact passage of play I described several times, only it was Lecras and NN on the end of them.
 
Joined
Nov 18, 2008
Posts
32,539
Likes
22,703
Location
Perth
AFL Club
West Coast
Go back and watch the games we actually won and you'll see the exact passage of play I described several times, only it was Lecras and NN on the end of them.
Nah - i saw them - his first touch was exactly as you described

Marked 65m out at the city end of Subi - and delivered it lace out to LeCras i think. Was at the game and thought - what an awesome first touch.

However - we can't expect him to be our marking option.

I'd rather Kennedy mark it and handball off to the running Hams. Hams can then grab the ball of a contest if Kennedy doesn't take it clean.
 

Marlin01

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Sep 23, 2007
Posts
9,276
Likes
6,662
Location
continental shelf
AFL Club
West Coast
Nah - i saw them - his first touch was exactly as you described

Marked 65m out at the city end of Subi - and delivered it lace out to LeCras i think. Was at the game and thought - what an awesome first touch.

However - we can't expect him to be our marking option.

I'd rather Kennedy mark it and handball off to the running Hams. Hams can then grab the ball of a contest if Kennedy doesn't take it clean.
I'm happy for that to happen as well, the only thing being in general play, his arcing onto the left can get shut down more as opposed to after a mark, where he's got the 5m clear space.
 

Eastern Rangers

2015 Worsfold Medalist - Rowen Powell
Joined
Aug 27, 2006
Posts
26,893
Likes
11,261
Location
Perth
AFL Club
West Coast
Other Teams
Royals & Subi
Nah - i saw them - his first touch was exactly as you described

Marked 65m out at the city end of Subi - and delivered it lace out to LeCras i think. Was at the game and thought - what an awesome first touch.

However - we can't expect him to be our marking option.

I'd rather Kennedy mark it and handball off to the running Hams. Hams can then grab the ball of a contest if Kennedy doesn't take it clean.
Are we describing a training drill or a football match? Hams is strong overhead and you yourself know that he didn't suggest Hams as a marking "Target".

Hams is an option and we could do with more like him.
 

Eastern Rangers

2015 Worsfold Medalist - Rowen Powell
Joined
Aug 27, 2006
Posts
26,893
Likes
11,261
Location
Perth
AFL Club
West Coast
Other Teams
Royals & Subi
I like Waters at HF - we looked our best last year when we were exerting good forward line pressure and he (+Hams) helps us bring that. Re his kicking, one thing I like about him is he is quite creative and not afraid to try and make something happen.

Of course sometimes he doesn't hit the target, but at least it makes him a bit unpredictable and dangerous - does the same thing in the backline, of course, but for us rather than the other side.
Waters isn't a option along our half forward line with Hams, Strijk and LeCras all pushing outside the arch at stages through a game.

Waters isn't a good kick, for that reason he's best going for easy targets.
 

dext

Team Captain
Joined
Aug 16, 2009
Posts
405
Likes
121
AFL Club
West Coast
Hams is the bloke we want delivering the ball to our leading forwards. Marking 60m out on the right HFF, turing inside onto his left and putting it out in front of Wilson to mark 40m straight out in front.
Would much preffer heppell delivering lace out passes from behind the centre square to a target 30m out actually
 

tesseract

I am Woman
Joined
Feb 12, 2009
Posts
10,059
Likes
1,828
Location
Perth
AFL Club
West Coast
Other Teams
Perth Wildcats, Swan Districts
Kennedy doesn't need to dish it off to someone like Hams, because Kennedy delivers nice passes to leading forwards himself.
Hams does this well too. He just can't be expected to be marking the high balls like Kennedy.
 
Top Bottom