The Changing Game

[Arcassius]

Ok so I couldn't really find a thread to add this article into - but since it's discussing the trend towards bigger midfielders, and even bigger KPPs - how do people see the game evolving?

We were ahead of the curve for a 'big midfield' and GWS have taken a lot of tall KPPs in development (McCarthy 193cm, Cameron 194cm, Patton 197cm, Boyd 200cm). Joe Daniher for Essendon is 201cm.

From our recruiting we seem to prioritise running capacity in talls above other attributes (Clarke being an early prototype) - possibly in response to the size of our ground (and now having to account for limited rotations). We're also trialling a 196cm midfielder for a potential KPP role.


How will the trend towards larger players evolve the game? What role will there be for nuggets like Neale? How will the reduction of rotations influence the sorts of players we develop, and our game plan?

Fremantle's 2013 draftees are a sign of the times. As the AFL grows, so does the size of its participants and so does the battle between major sports for talent.
Fremantle's key-position prospects, Michael Apeness and Alex Pearce, are 201cm and 199cm respectively. The blokes the Dockers hope they will help replace are Matthew Pavlich (192cm) and Luke McPharlin (193cm).
And Apeness, Pearce and Fremantle's third draft pick, midfielder Brady Grey, flirted with other sports before coming back to football.
.....

Fremantle development coach Simon Lloyd acknowledged footballers were getting bigger.
"You can see over the last 10 years that the size of the mid- fielders has actually gone up. You look at our midfield group - they used to be 183 or 184cm to your Fyfes, Barlows, etc, who are 189cm or 190cm," he said.

 

[Fred Ziffel]

Ok so I couldn't really find a thread to add this article into - but since it's discussing the trend towards bigger midfielders, and even bigger KPPs - how do people see the game evolving?

We were ahead of the curve for a 'big midfield' and GWS have taken a lot of tall KPPs in development (McCarthy 193cm, Cameron 194cm, Patton 197cm, Boyd 200cm). Joe Daniher for Essendon is 201cm.

From our recruiting we seem to prioritise running capacity in talls above other attributes (Clarke being an early prototype) - possibly in response to the size of our ground (and now having to account for limited rotations). We're also trialling a 196cm midfielder for a potential KPP role.


How will the trend towards larger players evolve the game? What role will there be for nuggets like Neale? How will the reduction of rotations influence the sorts of players we develop, and our game plan?

Would it be fair to say we have the tallest few and shortest few in the comp as well ?
Sandi, Zac & Appy - Ballas, Lachie & Sonny.

 

[BananaOnTheRun]

Surely there are only so many tall, mobile runners with footy talent going around, whether that be for the midfield or forward lines. One thing about all our midfielders is that they're good football players. I wouldn't say Zaarke was a natural football player, but he's effective enough, kind of like Ibbo in the backline. Those guys do well given a role, but like we couldn't develop Ibbo into a midfielder or Zaarke as a forward, I can't see there being enough footy talent going around to make it a feasible, league-wide thing.

 

[theGav56]

Trends will come and go, and I have to be honest I was pretty happy to recruit Neale and see him develop as it brings some balance into our midfield make-up. While exceptionally good tall midfielders have some advantage, ordinary tall forwards don't seem to.

I guess if we were retrospective recruiting and had the opportunity to recruit either Pavlich or Cloke or Hawkins (forwards of comparable standard) I would have no hesitation in taking Pavlich or Reiwoldt N. I am hopeful about Gumby, the Apeman and the rest of the genuine gorilla forwards we have recently recruited by the truckload, but in the end think one of them being a success up forward will be plenty, and mix it up after that with others who have speed, accuracy, high leaping-marking superpowers etc.

 

[E Shed]

The trend is for bigger midfielders because like our lot have shown the more weight you can throw around the ball the more chance you end up with first possession and that is what is becoming all these days. Having said that there is always going to be a spot for a Sam Mitchell or Neale (if he continues to develop as he has).
At the ends of the ground the most effective players in this years Grand Final were Gunston and Lake, neither of whom are particularly big and Pav is still as good as anyone on his day. Give me someone who can catch it in a pack over just plain big any day.

 

[salim malik]

The plus for the tall strong midfielder is to get the ball and have the ability when tackled in the congestion is to stand tall get the arms free and get the ball over the smaller mids and out of the pack to open space for the Hills and Pearces to run onto. Always be a place for the in and under small mid but at the moment the tall mid is the way .

 

[13then7]

Evolution. People are just getting bigger and taller. The AFL is reflecting this.

Those damn steroid filled chickens.

 

[pokerspiv]

Girls' boobs are getting bigger for the same reason. Feed those chickens more hormones.

 

[basashi]

Girls' boobs are getting bigger for the same reason. Feed those chickens more hormones.

Hormone treated chicken has never been made available for sale in Australia.

 

[basashi]

Umpiring has slowly changed on holding the ball decisions. Now you need to demonstrate your tackle with physical force. You will never get any decision based on a light but technically correct tackle. it is a transition from skill to force.

 

[clogged]

The trend is not going to reverse any time soon, however there will always be a place for shorter players like Ballantyne because they will have much quicker reaction times. The players that will suffer in being selected are those around six foot, as it has gone from being 'tall' to an in between height that's neither small nor medium sized.

 

[Silent Alarm]

The shorter you are the better you have to be. And that'll just be exacerbated as time goes on. I can see the Giants having a massive list if they're even sharking around the eight.

Forward pockets who sit at 5'8" are everywhere at state league level. They have to toil a lot harder for the opportunity, in comparison to someone of equal ability but who's 6'4". Getting a genuine power forward is so much more important, but harder, whereas you can be as shit as Robbie Nahas and still be going.

 

[manpurple]

The trend is for bigger midfielders because like our lot have shown the more weight you can throw around the ball the more chance you end up with first possession and that is what is becoming all these days. Having said that there is always going to be a spot for a Sam Mitchell or Neale (if he continues to develop as he has).
At the ends of the ground the most effective players in this years Grand Final were Gunston and Lake, neither of whom are particularly big and Pav is still as good as anyone on his day. Give me someone who can catch it in a pack over just plain big any day.

Yes but both Lake and Gunston were a) playing against smaller bodies b)playing of the "third" option.

The trend is not going to reverse any time soon, however there will always be a place for shorter players like Ballantyne because they will have much quicker reaction times. The players that will suffer in being selected are those around six foot, as it has gone from being 'tall' to an in between height that's neither small nor medium sized.

I agree to an extent. Players like Balla have to prove their ability where someone who is big will be taken much more speculatively. Examples being Moller and Taberner from last year whilst this year all our rookies have "a bit of size".

 

[rgauci]

Clubs are moving towards endurance based athletes. Adelaide have reportedly changed their training tactics as they felt they were too heavy in 2013. Apparently they are running 40km's a week to allow them to combat the interchange cap.

We have a number of elite endurance athletes, with a number outside the 22 currently; Sheridan, Menagola, Taberner and have added further to this list with our recruiting.

I think with the reduction of players and now the interchange cap, the specialist forward pocket and also the back pocket will become obsolete. I'm expecting 3x tall forwards with one able to ruck, 3x tall backs, 1x ruck and 15 midfielders all capable of playing dual positions. But only time will tell.

 

[manpurple]

Clubs are moving towards endurance based athletes. Adelaide have reportedly changed their training tactics as they felt they were too heavy in 2013. Apparently they are running 40km's a week to allow them to combat the interchange cap.

We have a number of elite endurance athletes, with a number outside the 22 currently; Sheridan, Menagola, Taberner and have added further to this list with our recruiting.

I think with the reduction of players and now the interchange cap, the specialist forward pocket and also the back pocket will become obsolete. I'm expecting 3x tall forwards with one able to ruck, 3x tall backs, 1x ruck and 15 midfielders all capable of playing dual positions. But only time will tell.

I certainly think that this is the way the game is going.