Hey guys,
Not here to kick you when you're down, but I did want to ask, is there something bigger going on at the club since 2018?
A notable shift in mentality, but I do also think that players are being kept in at the expense of team cohesion.
I think the biggest example of this, is Brayshaw. Phenomenal 2018, but cannot hit a target, doesn't run the same, and provides nothing of substance at the moment. This in turn has pushed Harmes out, who was an excellent run with player, in the back half of 2018. Was pretty solid through the mids in 2019, whilst everyone else faltered.
Langdon is another, who provides dash but terrible foot disposal. Fritsch seems better coming out of defence than up forward, but he's made his way back down there after a decent stint in the backline.
There's also the issue of culture, with a fair few players coming from other clubs over a short period. When you have an established core it works, but when you don't, you end up with a bunch of players coming in not really sure who to follow or what standard to live up to.
Trac has been a shining light this year, as has Pickett (in bursts - but a lot to work with there). I know you're trying to give Jackson games, but he definitely needs more time as he's still very raw.
There's also some players, that just shouldn't be playing anymore - Jones, Lockhart, O. Macdonald, Sparrow, Hannan, are all fringe players, and offer nothing special. I'd be looking to inject some speed or composure - Oskar Baker looked good in his few games, as did Joel Smith and Marty Hore down back. Loved the look of Rivers too.
I think Lever is just not up to standard right now, and should be dropped as a bit of a statement - given the massive price you paid for him.
Viney, while not the greatest speaker, haha, is probably your fiercest warrior, and should be given the co-captaincy back. Max leads through example, but Viney is a guy like Cotchin, Selwood, Cripps, Fyfe etc. who just takes their team to another level with their ferocity in the contest.
I also think it's strange that you're not playing Tomlinson, when he has such good disposal and can play that back up ruck role to aplomb - allows T McDonald to stay out of the ruck.
If I was Goodwin, I'd make a huge statement, and go for a completely different side next week against Adelaide, like this one:
OUT: Brayshaw, Lever, Jones, Hannan, Lockhart, O McDonald, Sparrow, Jackson
IN: Tomlinson, Baker, Hore, Smith, Bennell, VandenBerg, Rivers, Jetta
Would then place Salem back in the centre/wing, kick out Brayshaw, keep Fritsch down back, keep Langdon on one wing rotating with Tomlinson and Salem, and run Oskar Baker from half forward with Bennell on the other side.
Should look like this:
B: Hore, May, Jetta
HB: Hibberd, Smith, Fritsch
C: Salem, Harmes, Tomlinson
FO: Gawn, Petracca, Oliver
HF: Baker, T. McDonald, Bennell
F: Pickett, Weidemann, Melksham
INT: Viney, Langdon, VandenBerg, Rivers
*************************
Just my two cents anyway, but I think you guys need to make a big statement and choose team performance over gifting games to players that aren't earning them - just because of potential. At the very least, the team that I've hypothesized has a few different dynamics, rather than just a focus on one or two areas of need. Who knows though, I'm not getting paid a mil a year for this like Goodwin is, haha
Not here to kick you when you're down, but I did want to ask, is there something bigger going on at the club since 2018?
A notable shift in mentality, but I do also think that players are being kept in at the expense of team cohesion.
I think the biggest example of this, is Brayshaw. Phenomenal 2018, but cannot hit a target, doesn't run the same, and provides nothing of substance at the moment. This in turn has pushed Harmes out, who was an excellent run with player, in the back half of 2018. Was pretty solid through the mids in 2019, whilst everyone else faltered.
Langdon is another, who provides dash but terrible foot disposal. Fritsch seems better coming out of defence than up forward, but he's made his way back down there after a decent stint in the backline.
There's also the issue of culture, with a fair few players coming from other clubs over a short period. When you have an established core it works, but when you don't, you end up with a bunch of players coming in not really sure who to follow or what standard to live up to.
Trac has been a shining light this year, as has Pickett (in bursts - but a lot to work with there). I know you're trying to give Jackson games, but he definitely needs more time as he's still very raw.
There's also some players, that just shouldn't be playing anymore - Jones, Lockhart, O. Macdonald, Sparrow, Hannan, are all fringe players, and offer nothing special. I'd be looking to inject some speed or composure - Oskar Baker looked good in his few games, as did Joel Smith and Marty Hore down back. Loved the look of Rivers too.
I think Lever is just not up to standard right now, and should be dropped as a bit of a statement - given the massive price you paid for him.
Viney, while not the greatest speaker, haha, is probably your fiercest warrior, and should be given the co-captaincy back. Max leads through example, but Viney is a guy like Cotchin, Selwood, Cripps, Fyfe etc. who just takes their team to another level with their ferocity in the contest.
I also think it's strange that you're not playing Tomlinson, when he has such good disposal and can play that back up ruck role to aplomb - allows T McDonald to stay out of the ruck.
If I was Goodwin, I'd make a huge statement, and go for a completely different side next week against Adelaide, like this one:
OUT: Brayshaw, Lever, Jones, Hannan, Lockhart, O McDonald, Sparrow, Jackson
IN: Tomlinson, Baker, Hore, Smith, Bennell, VandenBerg, Rivers, Jetta
Would then place Salem back in the centre/wing, kick out Brayshaw, keep Fritsch down back, keep Langdon on one wing rotating with Tomlinson and Salem, and run Oskar Baker from half forward with Bennell on the other side.
Should look like this:
B: Hore, May, Jetta
HB: Hibberd, Smith, Fritsch
C: Salem, Harmes, Tomlinson
FO: Gawn, Petracca, Oliver
HF: Baker, T. McDonald, Bennell
F: Pickett, Weidemann, Melksham
INT: Viney, Langdon, VandenBerg, Rivers
*************************
Just my two cents anyway, but I think you guys need to make a big statement and choose team performance over gifting games to players that aren't earning them - just because of potential. At the very least, the team that I've hypothesized has a few different dynamics, rather than just a focus on one or two areas of need. Who knows though, I'm not getting paid a mil a year for this like Goodwin is, haha
