Opinion The Jack Redpath Effect

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

I would suggest that my views on Jack Redpath are well known around here. In short, I am not a fan. However, it's becoming harder for me to deny that in our current formation and list structure, we more often than not play better with Redpath in the team.

It's an interesting phenomenon. Watching the game yesterday, he didn't impact in a big way, and honestly he rarely does - particularly when things aren't going our way. But I genuinely believe our overall structure, decision making and ball use tend to display an upswing when Red is in the team.

The best way I can explain this is by suggesting that he is predictable. So, so, so predictable. He will lead aggressively down the corridor almost like clockwork. If he doesn't get the ball he will double back and either diverge from the midline at an acute angle, or will continue along the same path. Regardless, he forms an easy path to read and, more importantly, predict.

The effect of such leads (beyond providing an easy target if successful) is that they open up space behind him. The players know exactly where that space will be every time because of how predictable he is. Thus the player with ball in hand knows to look behind him, and the other forwards around him know exactly where the space will open up. When teams account for this and go narrow, we're still caught out occasionally, but are improving at quickly switching and having somebody like Dunkley or Gowers provide an option hard against the boundary.

With such a haphazard selection of midfielders and defenders and ruckmen up forward, we lack the forward nous that makes the offensive schemes of most sides look systematic and well-coordinated. Players aren't experienced in knowing where to run and how to create goals, so the predictability is vital. It simplifies the game and the role for them and makes them more threatening as a result.

I agree with the sentiment of some that we need to move past him to truly make a big impact on the competition. Perhaps I'm wrong, but I think we need to find one or two more well-rounded key forwards to truly flourish. As it stands right now though, Jack Redpath's contribution to the team far exceeds his direct impact on games to a degree that, in my opinion, outweighs that of the key forward versions of Jordan Roughead, Tom Boyd, Jackson Trengove or Josh Schache.

Note: I fully reserve the right to call for Redpath's head in a fit of rage after he offers nothing next week

 

[lachy]

Agree with your sentiments Dannnnnnnn have a very similar view.

Roughy, Trengove are not key forwards though Roughy does provide an option resting up there and can compliment a key forward.

Boyd, if he is a forward is a mid to high forward not a deep one. Schache could replace Red but certainly not in the first part of the year so Red is really more important to the current structure than his stats suggest

 

[Dog Rising]

I've never been team Redpath but I agree he is very important to structure. He takes a big defender to man him too.
One thing that stands out more than anything else that is immeasurable, is that his team mates LOVE him out there. He is clearly very popular amongst the group and they all walk a bit taller IMO.

 

[Libba39]

While I am a Redpath fan and yes we had a good win, there's something nqr with Jack. What mobility hed had seems to have been greatly reduced. Now turns worse than the QE2, and he could not get separation inside 50. Maybe he copped a knock early in the game , but did not look good to me.

 

[BallaratBulldog]

While I am a Redpath fan and yes we had a good win, there's something nqr with Jack. What mobility hed had seems to have been greatly reduced. Now turns worse than the QE2, and he could not get separation inside 50. Maybe he copped a knock early in the game , but did not look good to me.

he did require a fair bit of tape on and around his kneecap for the game.

 

[Scary_Foot_9]

Making a cross-sport comparison, I have always thought of Red as an Emile Hesky type. He there are clearly deficiencies in his game when you compare him with other key forwards, but he is just big and persistent enough in presenting at the ball to focus the attention of the opposition. He is also very disciplined when we don't have possession and seems from the outside to bring a real intangible factor to the group which also improves performance of those around him.

Like you say Dan, in the long run we are probably looking for something more, but in the meantime he's probably underrated in his importance for our immediate fortunes.

 

[RedWhite&Blue]

He looked like a musclebound steam train in the opening minutes when he ran at Stringer.
I felt scared for Jake

 

[dergert]

He had some concerns around his strapped knee in the second quarter. Was off for about 15 minutes. That explains why he was a bit off yesterday, plus it was his first game back. I hope for our team's sake he gets up for next week.
He would suit a side where the midfield could hit him up on the lead, hopefully we keep up that style for the rest of the year.

 

[fronkalicious]

I’m still amazed that we’ve amassed a list without any killer goal kickers on it. Not one.

We had Jake before his life fell apart. And Dickson before he got old. But we really are left with nothing by way of dangerous forwards. Amazing.

Redpath does seem to have a positive impact on the team, but he’s just a battler.

 

[DelRe]

Harder to tell when not at the game but did he actually spend a lot of time at full forward? Didn’t seem to on the coverage.

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

Harder to tell when not at the game but did he actually spend a lot of time at full forward? Didn’t seem to on the coverage.

He seemed to push quite high to me. Almost played like a total decoy.

 

[Unorth]

Harder to tell when not at the game but did he actually spend a lot of time at full forward? Didn’t seem to on the coverage.

He did spend some time there, but it felt like he spent a significant amount of time in that high forward link up role. Just occupied a tall defender, when he got it he sent it inside, but wasn't really the focal point. He even got the ball in our defensive 50 a couple of times. I think it was a game against Gold Coast where he played really well in that role last season.

 

[Scary_Foot_9]

I’m still amazed that we’ve amassed a list without any killer goal kickers on it. Not one.

We had Jake before his life fell apart. And Dickson before he got old. But we really are left with nothing by way of dangerous forwards. Amazing.

Redpath does seem to have a positive impact on the team, but he’s just a battler.

Bailey Dale has massive potential as a killer goal kicker if he were to spend time more time I50 no?

 

[DelRe]

He seemed to push quite high to me. Almost played like a total decoy.

Specialist decoy was generally my best position.

I tend to agree with your OP in that I don’t like him as a FF because he seems one dimensional and absorbs too many forward entries for not enough return whereas up the ground maybe that’s less of an issue - maybe even helpful for us to have some physical presence there, particularly while Boyd and Rough not available. I also prefer right now leaving the forward line of Dickson Gowers Bont which Dunkley Dale and Wallis can rotate into and JJ etc run into. Seems a better variety of leading and marking options that makes it harder for the opposition to shut down. In reality we should’ve had a much higher score the weekend.

I also reserve the right to generally be completely wrong.

 

[David Schwarz]

I would suggest that my views on Jack Redpath are well known around here. In short, I am not a fan. However, it's becoming harder for me to deny that in our current formation and list structure, we more often than not play better with Redpath in the team.

It's an interesting phenomenon. Watching the game yesterday, he didn't impact in a big way, and honestly he rarely does - particularly when things aren't going our way. But I genuinely believe our overall structure, decision making and ball use tend to display an upswing when Red is in the team.

The best way I can explain this is by suggesting that he is predictable. So, so, so predictable. He will lead aggressively down the corridor almost like clockwork. If he doesn't get the ball he will double back and either diverge from the midline at an acute angle, or will continue along the same path. Regardless, he forms an easy path to read and, more importantly, predict.

The effect of such leads (beyond providing an easy target if successful) is that they open up space behind him. The players know exactly where that space will be every time because of how predictable he is. Thus the player with ball in hand knows to look behind him, and the other forwards around him know exactly where the space will open up. When teams account for this and go narrow, we're still caught out occasionally, but are improving at quickly switching and having somebody like Dunkley or Gowers provide an option hard against the boundary.

With such a haphazard selection of midfielders and defenders and ruckmen up forward, we lack the forward nous that makes the offensive schemes of most sides look systematic and well-coordinated. Players aren't experienced in knowing where to run and how to create goals, so the predictability is vital. It simplifies the game and the role for them and makes them more threatening as a result.

I agree with the sentiment of some that we need to move past him to truly make a big impact on the competition. Perhaps I'm wrong, but I think we need to find one or two more well-rounded key forwards to truly flourish. As it stands right now though, Jack Redpath's contribution to the team far exceeds his direct impact on games to a degree that, in my opinion, outweighs that of the key forward versions of Jordan Roughead, Tom Boyd, Jackson Trengove or Josh Schache.

Note: I fully reserve the right to call for Redpath's head in a fit of rage after he offers nothing next week

If he was born a cement pylon, he would be the best supporting structure on earth

 

[Dogs Rule]

Let's hope it's like The Butterfly Effect and we can go back and recapture 2016 in 2018.

 

[David Schwarz]

Let's hope it's like The Butterfly Effect and we can go back and recapture 2016 in 2018.

This year I expect finals. Liberatore and Morris out of the side probably limit our impact

Wallis though

 

[ScragCity]

Big Red will be the best key forward in the game once Buddy retires. Hes such a brute and will kick multiple bags of 10 this year. Hes an animal. Reminds me a bit of Brock Lesnar. I reckon once he is done with footy he will have a stint in the UFC. Will win the Coleman before he retires, most likely in a premiership year.

 

[immortalmike]

I think he gets too much credit for doing not much.
Surely we can find someone who can provide what little he does who can also crash packs, presents a contested marking threat and can pressure defensively.

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

I think he gets too much credit for doing not much.
Surely we can find someone who can provide what little he does who can also crash packs, presents a contested marking threat and can pressure defensively.

If we're talking players on the list, I've not seen that player since the 2016 grand final.

If we're talking in a trade/draft, I agree - but that doesn't help us right now.

Only point is that right now we play better with him in the team than the alternatives at our disposal. I agree with Fronk's assessment of him as a "battler" - but that's all we have right now until someone finds some form or steps up their game.

 

[ScragCity]

I think he gets too much credit for doing not much.
Surely we can find someone who can provide what little he does who can also crash packs, presents a contested marking threat and can pressure defensively.

Franklin would be ideal imo

 

[Scary_Foot_9]

Let's hope it's like The Butterfly Effect and we can go back and recapture 2016 in 2018.

Have you seen the Director's Cut of that film?

It's interesting to say the least....

 

[Yojimbo]

He seemed to push quite high to me. Almost played like a total decoy.

Nailed it Dannnnnnnnnn, Bont was the clear main forward with Billy Gowers playing the Easton Wood forward role of
running and jumping against a mismatched opponent. Pity in the first two rounds that Easton had to be the main
forward as no one was putting much time into Trengove at that stage. Bont has too big a nose to be a key forward
as a former centre half back I would have claimed that hooter in the first quarter with a stray spoil or trailing elbow.
We played like Collingwood even the margin had an eerily familiar feel about it, we could use Brodie Grundy though.

 

[Bemoreboyddog]

Was really interested in people’s thoights on Red yesterday. I saw the stats, I didn’t see the game.

I was one who didn’t want him picked. I’m keen to go over the game myself to see what he brings and why Boyd, who offers more in the ruck can’t do the same thing.

Good thread Dan.

 

[geoffjennings79]

I think there are many parts to Red's game. I reckon there are games (like yesterday's) where he is instructed to play the decoy, and others where he is actually the focal point - - probably depends on his direct opponent and/or how the opposition defence structures up. I believe both Jack and the coaches are well aware of his limitations, but use them to the team's advantage as much as they can. I also think the limitations are as much due to his knee history as his actual ability btw. There's a reason he's in the leadership group though, and that is as much due to his ability to digest and implement the plan for the forwards (and sacrifice his own game as required), as well as his ability to be a physical presence. Like Roughy, he's no match-winner as a standalone player, but the overall dynamic he adds to the team magnifies his importance. I don't doubt he will eventually be superseded, but for the moment, he is the best alternative up there. I think a Red/Schache combo as KPFs might (eventually) work better than a Red/Boyd or Boyd/Schache combo, but that's just a "vibe", and not sure where that leaves Boyd if English is the preferred ruck option (although English might need a break at times this season until his body is more physically developed to be the primary ruck every game). Will be interesting to see if both Roughy and Boyd are available, and English does need a "rest", who the preferred option is...