Analysis The Goldsack Conundrum

[HFF]

If he is to play forward he needs to have scoreboard impact.

Goals and assists. Simple as that. I don't care how many "pressure acts" he has- we need creative, crafty and sharp shooting forwards. That includes Blair and any other player that plays forward.

If he cannot do this, he goes to defence or out of the side- simple as that really. We cannot accept mediocrity of "oh but he chased and tackled hard"- that's loser talk. All of the Hawks forwards impact the scoreboard. They kick goals. That's the level we need to get to and the reality is- which ever imbecile tried to re-invent a forwards job description- should be banned from all forms of sport permanently.

 

[mike123]

If he is to play forward he needs to have scoreboard impact.

Goals and assists. Simple as that. I don't care how many "pressure acts" he has- we need creative, crafty and sharp shooting forwards. That includes Blair and any other player that plays forward.

If he cannot do this, he goes to defence or out of the side- simple as that really. We cannot accept mediocrity of "oh but he chased and tackled hard"- that's loser talk. All of the Hawks forwards impact the scoreboard. They kick goals. That's the level we need to get to and the reality is- which ever imbecile tried to re-invent a forwards job description- should be banned from all forms of sport permanently.

This

 

[mike123]

Also I'd like to apologise for calling Goldsack a bad footballer. I don't rate him as much as others, but he gives his all to club and can play almost anywhere in a heartbeat when asked.

 

[Starcevich90]

If he is to play forward he needs to have scoreboard impact.

Goals and assists. Simple as that. I don't care how many "pressure acts" he has- we need creative, crafty and sharp shooting forwards. That includes Blair and any other player that plays forward.

If he cannot do this, he goes to defence or out of the side- simple as that really. We cannot accept mediocrity of "oh but he chased and tackled hard"- that's loser talk. All of the Hawks forwards impact the scoreboard. They kick goals. That's the level we need to get to and the reality is- which ever imbecile tried to re-invent a forwards job description- should be banned from all forms of sport permanently.

So this.

Paul Puopolo kicked 61 goals for Hawks over the past 3 seasons and I'd argue his defensive pressure was better than either Goldsack or Blair.

So the two facets aren't mutually exclusive, as some high ranking figures at our club seem to believe.

However I think if Blair's seemingly endless free ticket to a game is torn up this year, Goldsack's deficiencies won't seem quite so bad. To carry both in the forward line is football suicide.

Please I hope we've learnt our lesson.

 

[ClaytonM]

So this.

Paul Puopolo kicked 61 goals for Hawks over the past 3 seasons and I'd argue his defensive pressure was better than either Goldsack or Blair.

So the two facets aren't mutually exclusive, as some high ranking figures at our club seem to believe.

However I think if Blair's seemingly endless free ticket to a game is torn up this year, Goldsack's deficiencies won't seem quite so bad. To carry both in the forward line is football suicide.

Please I hope we've learnt our lesson.

Comparing Goldsack with Puopolo is not appropriate. Goldsack is a genuine utility who can play all over the ground and does. Rating Goldsack on goals alone fails to acknowledge his other contributions to the team.

 

[Apex36]

Comparing Goldsack with Puopolo is not appropriate. Goldsack is a genuine utility who can play all over the ground and does. Rating Goldsack on goals alone fails to acknowledge his other contributions to the team.

Correct. The comparison to Blair is apt though, and highlights the fact that he can't keep getting picked as a forward on defensive pressure alone. The little man either needs to start kicking more goals or resign himself to playing in the twos.

 

[mike123]

People also forget Puopolo is a capable midfielder and is handy around clearances with his burst pace and is very hard to tackle.

 

[Starcevich90]

Comparing Goldsack with Puopolo is not appropriate. Goldsack is a genuine utility who can play all over the ground and does. Rating Goldsack on goals alone fails to acknowledge his other contributions to the team.

I think it's fair to say Goldsack's starting position is almost exclusively defensive forward now, but he can be moved back if there is an in game emergency down back.

I'm not rating him on goals alone, but I still don't think he hits the scoreboard enough or creates enough when played up front. Hence the Puopolo comparison.

Goals and assists and making clever space should be top of the tree, followed by "pressure acts" or whatever modern lingo you want to give it. If you want to stay 11th, then fine, let the status quo remain. If we want to improve, Goldsack needs to address this area.

I'm also actually saying Goldy offers a lot more to the team than Blair, who in no way should be being gifted the games he is.

 

[ClaytonM]

I think it's fair to say Goldsack's starting position is almost exclusively defensive forward now, but he can be moved back if there is an in game emergency down back.

I'm not rating him on goals alone, but I still don't think he hits the scoreboard enough or creates enough when played up front. Hence the Puopolo comparison.

Goals and assists and making clever space should be top of the tree, followed by "pressure acts" or whatever modern lingo you want to give it. If you want to stay 11th, then fine, let the status quo remain. If we want to improve, Goldsack needs to address this area.

I'm also actually saying Goldy offers a lot more to the team than Blair, who in no way should be being gifted the games he is.

I would agree Blair needs to be replaced but I think it is unfair to say he has been gifted games. It is up to the young guard to force him out with an approach to the battle that is everything as tenacious as Blair. Whatever Blair's limitations his approach to the cause is nothing but total and he has not been gifted games.

 

[Starcevich90]

I would agree Blair needs to be replaced but I think it is unfair to say he has been gifted games. It is up to the young guard to force him out with an approach to the battle that is everything as tenacious as Blair. Whatever Blair's limitations his approach to the cause is nothing but total and he has not been gifted games.

I agree that Blair is tenacious.

But I also believe there were times last year he was carried after some very ordinary performances, where a guy like Kennedy was axed or green vested after showing real promise.

IMO, this is backwards. Young guys should be pumped up and given confidence and opportunities, whereas senior guys should be doubly accountable for poor showings.

Blair rarely hit the scoreboard or troubled the stats men but was not dropped once last year, which I find incredible in a team that plummeted to 11th. At his age and experience level he should have been a leading light.

 

[PTpie]

I think it's fair to say Goldsack's starting position is almost exclusively defensive forward now, but he can be moved back if there is an in game emergency down back.

I'm not rating him on goals alone, but I still don't think he hits the scoreboard enough or creates enough when played up front. Hence the Puopolo comparison.

Goals and assists and making clever space should be top of the tree, followed by "pressure acts" or whatever modern lingo you want to give it. If you want to stay 11th, then fine, let the status quo remain. If we want to improve, Goldsack needs to address this area.

I'm also actually saying Goldy offers a lot more to the team than Blair, who in no way should be being gifted the games he is.

I just need to point out to you guys again that Goldsacks' pressure acts cause scores for us. As you can see in this article in 6 rounds he caused 28 turnovers with a score resulting directly from those turnovers 64% of the time. If you add in his 10.5 on top of those created purely by his pressure acts you come up with around 20 goals and many more scoring opportunities.

Also don't forget he played the last 9 (?) rounds in defense and spent time in the back half during some of the other games when others were injured. To me that is pretty damn fine record and measures up to Mayne, Puopolo, Dalhaus and McGlynn. I'd take The Sack over those other blokes because he is a terrific example of what all our players should be like. Hard working, diligent, committed, driven, team oriented and focused, not on individual glory but team success.

 

[Starcevich90]

I just need to point out to you guys again that Goldsacks' pressure acts cause scores for us. As you can see in this article in 6 rounds he caused 28 turnovers with a score resulting directly from those turnovers 64% of the time. If you add in his 10.5 on top of those created purely by his pressure acts you come up with around 20 goals and many more scoring opportunities.

Also don't forget he played the last 9 (?) rounds in defense and spent time in the back half during some of the other games when others were injured. To me that is pretty damn fine record and measures up to Mayne, Puopolo, Dalhaus and McGlynn. I'd take The Sack over those other blokes because he is a terrific example of what all our players should be like. Hard working, diligent, committed, driven, team oriented and focused, not on individual glory but team success.

I'd love to know the exact amount of time Goldy spent forward and back last year. Can anyone access this kind of data?

You make some really valid points, but I still think it's an area of improvement for him. Don't you? If what he does defensively makes him a good player now, doesn't he want to add some offence and be very good, or even great?

I do think he's a best 22 player, and one of the few Pies that puts fear into opposition sides when they have the ball, but they also need to start fearing him actually getting the ball when up forward.

 

[3kicks3goals]

I'd love to know the exact amount of time Goldy spent forward and back last year. Can anyone access this kind of data?

You make some really valid points, but I still think it's an area of improvement for him. Don't you? If what he does defensively makes him a good player now, doesn't he want to add some offence and be very good, or even great?

I do think he's a best 22 player, and one of the few Pies that puts fear into opposition sides when they have the ball, but they also need to start fearing him actually getting the ball when up forward.

This seems about right on Goldy. Definitely best 22, but if we want to become a top 4 side then having players like him being more dangerous going both ways will really help.

On the other hand, he hasn't yet been able to play out a whole year in one position. Maybe if he is given the half forward flank to own all year then he will kick 20 or so goals and create a heap more through pressure.

 

[loki04]

Someone suggested we are going to struggle to find someone to replace Blairs roving skills.
Snapping duck shit Batman, did I read that right?

 

[PepperFace]

4 disposals before he was subbed out in the last quarter. Great leadership material

 

[Leviathan Pie]

Leadership position is fine, as long as he isn't guaranteed a game every week.

Hard to have disappointments in pre-season games, but he was bad, which is no surprise

 

[Demonalke]

 

[jmac70]

Leadership position is fine, as long as he isn't guaranteed a game every week.

Hard to have disappointments in pre-season games, but he was bad, which is no surprise

Are you drunk?

 

[Leviathan Pie]

Are you drunk?

4 disposals, 3 tackles and 1 goal from 3/4 game time.

Tell you what, I know who's drunk

 

[jmac70]

4 disposals, 3 tackles and 1 goal from 3/4 game time.

Tell you what, I know who's drunk

Did you watch the game?

 

[Leviathan Pie]

Did you watch the game?

Sure did - no mood for bickering.

Your opinion, that's fine

 

[jmac70]

Sure did - no mood for bickering.

Your opinion, that's fine

The reason I ask is that you use statistics to support your point of view. With respect, those statistics mean jack shit when assessing Sacks contribution. He provides a real presence in our forward 50. If we can keep him in that role our team will kick more goals because our game is based on forward pressure.

 

[Leviathan Pie]

The reason I ask is that you use statistics to support your point of view. With respect, those statistics mean jack shit when assessing Sacks contribution. He provides a real presence in our forward 50. If we can keep him in that role our team will kick more goals because our game is based on forward pressure.

I reckon we could wheel out Gordon Coventry and he'd have more presence and influence on the game.

Ideally, he kicks 2 and has 12-15 possessions a game to justify his place, in my humble.

Its a sticky wicket when it comes to his position and value

 

[NT.Thunder]

He was responsible for at least 2 other goals tonight I can remember, so,I'm pegging him for 3 goals which is a pretty good return for a defensive fwd.

He'll be touted all year because his stats you see on the HS website will always be low. His score involvements, pressure acts, 1% are what the coaching staff will want to see and he was good in his role tonight! more so early.

I can see why some don't like him in the team, but I think he's important. Might even be a horses for courses type guy this year.

 

[jmac70]

I reckon we could wheel out Gordon Coventry and he'd have more presence and influence on the game.

Ideally, he kicks 2 and has 12-15 possessions a game to justify his place, in my humble.

Its a sticky wicket when it comes to his position and value

You are welcome to your opinion. The coach disagrees.