Opinion The core

[BeinPurplenGreen]

This year only

PearceD;
Guuuuu;
DePig; and
Creepy Crowls

have played every game for us.

Barlow, Mayne, and Dawson have missed one game each

MJ has missed two games

So we have eight players who form the "every week core" over the course of the season. Before the season, if you had told me that group of 8 would be our "everyday core", I'd have said we'd be in a fair bit of strife. Actually, they have delivered us to a preliminary final.

IMHO this is one of the best parts of our performance this year - we have been able to achieve sustained results despite many of our stars being out, and being forced to switch and swap due to having many, many injuries.

FYI, by comparison, (not sure of Richmond or Carltank stats):

Geelong:

Selwood, Duncan, Mackie and Lonergan played every game,
Stokes, Harry Taylor, Enright, Bartel and Motlop have missed one match
Pods and Hawkins mssed two games missed

(core of 11)​

Sydney:

Pyke, Josh Kennedy, Jack, O'Keefe, Parker, McVeigh, Malceski, Grundy and Richards have played every game,
Hannebery, Bolton and Smith have missed one game,
Bird and Rampe have missed two games

(core of 14)​

Hawthorn:

Roughead, Bruest and Stratton have played every game,
Hale, Mitchell, Lewis, Smith, Hill and Gibson have missed one game,
Hodge, Burgoyne and Gunston have missed two games

(core of 12)​

Collingwood:

Swan, Pendlebury and Sidebottom have played every game,
Blair, Cloke, Macaffer, Reid and Brown have missed one game,
Dwyer has missed two games

(core of 9)​

Port:
Brad Ebert, Wingard, Wines, Monfries, Schulz, Broadbent and O'Shea have played every game,
K Cornes, Boak and Westhoff have missed one game
Hartlett and Carlile have missed two games

(core of 12)​

​

IMHO one of the reasons Hawthorn are so dangerous is because they have achieved so much despite having such an unsettled line-up. Arguably the more wins you have in a side that has a small core of regular players and lots of turnover, the more sustainable your system and game-plan must be. Thoughts?

 

[E Shed]

Clancy would be in there too.
This makes a mockery of the idea you need a team full of high draft picks to be successful.
Development & coaching plays a huge part. Almost all our players are playing career best footy at the right time.

 

[BeinPurplenGreen]

C Pearce, Duffman, Suban, Mundy and Fyfe all missed four matches, and MJ missed 3, taking the core up a bit, but still below the settled core of sides like Sydney, Geelong, Hawks and Port.

 

[Dr2Sheds]

Arguably the more wins you have in a side that has a small core of regular players and lots of turnover, the more sustainable your system and game-plan must be. Thoughts?

I think you've hit the nail on the head, it certainly suggests that the whole group have bought into the game plan, know their respective roles and can execute it regardless of the support.

Great analysis BPG.

 

[Fred Ziffel]

It could be read another way.

The less number of players who play in every game could mean a fresher group.
Take our position right now where Ross rested a large group in rd23. that should mean a fit and rested group
to use in the finals series.

In the past critics have linked successful campaigns with teams who have used the least number of players during
the season; reflecting stability.

I think our circumstances are different owing to the travel factor.

Gerard Healy made that observation on Monday night suggesting Fremantle right now are going to field their strongest
team for the year in the Preliminary Final . Paul Roos agreed adding, a well rested team too thanks to their rd23 tactic.

Having a large core group of players who have played every game can work against you especially if the last four to six weeks are particularly physical games.
I think that was a factor in our game against Geelong.

 

[go_the_dockers]

It could be read another way.

The less number of players who play in every game could mean a fresher group.
Take our position right now where Ross rested a large group in rd23. that should mean a fit and rested group
to use in the finals series.

In the past critics have linked successful campaigns with teams who have used the least number of players during
the season; reflecting stability.

I think our circumstances are different owing to the travel factor.

Gerard Healy made that observation on Monday night suggesting Fremantle right now are going to field their strongest
team for the year in the Preliminary Final . Paul Roos agreed adding, a well rested team too thanks to their rd23 tactic.

Having a large core group of players who have played every game can work against you especially if the last four to six weeks are particularly physical games.
I think that was a factor in our game against Geelong.

I think sometimes it helps you have your older players injured until round 15, 16. It helps freshen up the players.

Sandilands, McPharlin and Pavlich look in great form, and I think are probably looker better than if they had played the entire year. Who ever made the call to put Pavlich in for surgery is a genius.

 

[clogged]

This year only

PearceD;
Guuuuu;
DePig; and
Creepy Crowls

Interestingly, I would call three of those run with players, important to the defensive structure through the middle. I wonder if Lyon's decision not to drop them had more to do with ensuring consistency as it did with whether they were not in need of a break.

 

[StingBitten]

You'd say that Mzungu's and D. Pearce's form and consistency have tripled from the start of the year to the end of the year. Even De Boer was looking on borrowed time.

Now I can't see these guys making way for anyone anytime soon.