Analysis The Keeffe training experiment thread

[Quicky]

I'm starting this thread because I'm tired of Keeffe saturating the other training threads; but because it is also an interesting topic and warrants discussion.

My opinion:

I can't say I'm stoked to hear Keeffe is splitting his time between the forwards and defenders. He is a nothing forward. If we truly intend to play him there we're shooting ourselves in the foot.

He has a chance as a defender and I would think he needs as much time as possible to settle into the defensive structures as possible. I don't see the logic personally. Perhaps he was just filling a practice role while McCarthy is away? Wishful thinking maybe.

However the yays are beginning to turn my opinion around a bit.

The real question for me is, will training Keeffe forward and ruck potentially impact his chances as a defender? If it does, I'm not for it.

P.S. mods if you don't want another place to split the Keeffe discussion I appreciate that; although i'm kinda hoping you move future posts on Keeffes training here so that the training thread(s) can breath.

P.P.S.
I think it's time Apex36 and doppleganger kiss and make up

 

[mike123]

He just screams behind the ball to me. He seems like the type who likes to see the game unfold and come to him, rather than being the one to come at the play.

 

[Quicky]

He just screams behind the ball to me. He seems like the type who likes to see the game unfold and come to him, rather than being the one to come at the play.

It's interesting he's a decent mark behind the ball, yet atrocious forward of the ball. The difference is stark. And I think you're right to say that it relates to Keeffe reading the play better from behind the ball.

 

[pablo disco bar]

Im over it just start rhe games already

 

[magpies42]

He's a slow lumbering backman with a good kick and footy brain.

I think he's a bit soft, and like Jessie white as a result struggles to mark

 

[Kappa]

If Keeffe is our 2nd KPF in the AFL expect us to be in bottom 6 contention

 

[Apex36]

Can't be bothered getting in to more arguments with apologists over Keeffes promotion.

I have no issue with them trialling him over the preseason. I do have issue with his being upgraded early if there's no clear position for him in the 22 in the position he has actually proven to have value in.

That's all I have to say.

 

[ottoman]

Can't be bothered getting in to more arguments with apologists over Keeffes promotion.

I have no issue with them trialling him over the preseason. I do have issue with his being upgraded early if there's no clear position for him in the 22 in the position he has actually proven to have value in.

That's all I have to say.

Firstly I strongly doubt that that's all you will have to say. Who are you kidding Apex
Secondly I have to absolutely agree with you regarding Keeffes promotion. What's the rush. I can't understand why people are arguing with you on something that is just so illogical. Sure promote him but there is no harm in waiting.

 

[Swooop]

It's a great worry that Keeffe is being considered as a key player this year.

He was a bog ordinary player before his two years out of the game.

From a non footy background as he was, his lack of awareness was very obvious.

Had absolutely no idea as a forward though at times he did do serviceably as a backman, where he could follow his opponent around and use his pace ( for his size) to advantage.

Had a cool head at times and his short dinky kicks were very accurate, so as a back he has some cred.

That said, I don't think I've ever seen an AFL player drop his head so badly after losing a couple of consecutive contests.

We'll likely need him to step up big time this year, but it will be a huge win by the coaching staff and Lachie himself if he makes that step, imho.

I'm in the camp who believe we've overly inundated ourselves with mids and significantly neglected key position backs and forwards over the past couple of years.

Can't wait for the footy to start though

 

[pablo disco bar]

Can't be bothered getting in to more arguments with apologists over Keeffes promotion.

I have no issue with them trialling him over the preseason. I do have issue with his being upgraded early if there's no clear position for him in the 22 in the position he has actually proven to have value in.

That's all I have to say.

We know

 

[Obese Arachnid]

We know

Apparently some don't.

 

[pablo disco bar]

Is @mongoming here?

 

[Baltimore Jack]

Did anyone notice how Ben Reid trained today?

 

[Quicky]

Did anyone notice how Ben Reid trained today?

Take it to the training thread

 

[bucksisbest]

It's a great worry that Keeffe is being considered as a key player this year.

He was a bog ordinary player before his two years out of the game.

From a non footy background as he was, his lack of awareness was very obvious.

Had absolutely no idea as a forward though at times he did do serviceably as a backman, where he could follow his opponent around and use his pace ( for his size) to advantage.

Had a cool head at times and his short dinky kicks were very accurate, so as a back he has some cred.

That said, I don't think I've ever seen an AFL player drop his head so badly after losing a couple of consecutive contests.

We'll likely need him to step up big time this year, but it will be a huge win by the coaching staff and Lachie himself if he makes that step, imho.

I'm in the camp who believe we've overly inundated ourselves with mids and significantly neglected key position backs and forwards over the past couple of years.

Can't wait for the footy to start though

I've never seen a guy just look as utterly defeated as he did against Josh Jenkins at Adelaide oval a few years back. After he lost his first contest he looked like he'd just been told he had a week to live, head just dropped after every contest from then on and looked more anaemic than usual.
(Even so, he's only a back if he plays senior footy)

 

[ZEV]

Good insurance policy. If anything (fingers crossed, touch wood, etc etc) happens to Brodie Grundy and he misses weeks we are looking at White, Cox or Moore realistically taking number 1 ruck duties..... a guy 204cm tall and over 100kgs that can kick might be handy to have around in that situation...

 

[1eye]

He just screams behind the ball to me. He seems like the type who likes to see the game unfold and come to him, rather than being the one to come at the play.

Makes sense he was a soccer goal keeper as a junior?

 

[doppleganger]

Secondly I have to absolutely agree with you regarding Keeffes promotion. What's the rush.

Keeffe was a senior listed player who was a fixture in our best 22 prior to the drug suspension.

After returning from his knee reco in late 2013, he played in 26 of the next 30 games.

He was never really a 'rookie', as it was a token gesture and as far as the club could go whilst he served the ASADA suspension.

The difference between Keeffe and J.Thomas, is Keeffe is considered a best 22 option and plays a role we are weak in...Josh never really cemented himself as anything more than a fringe player, and we have a wealth of mids.

Josh would have been a chance for delisting if ASADA hadnt happened.

So after an ASADA enforced absence, Keeffe, a player the coaching staff rate highly, was immediately returned to the senior list.

Before the ASADA suspension he was training up forward, with Reid preferred down back.

So it is simply a case of a senior listed player, who the coaches rate as a best 22 player, continuing on from where he was before the ASADA interuption.

Apex has his knickers in a twist because Collingwood stood by Keeffe and put him on the rookie list last year. If they hadn't bothered and then picked him up in the national draft once his suspension was served, which is effectively what they have done, then he has nothing to moan about.

 

[Apex36]

Apex has his knickers in a twist because Collingwood stood by Keeffe and put him on the rookie list last year.

Don't put words in my mouth, that's complete garbage. I never had any issue with Keeffe or Thomas being retained as rookies, and I challenge you to find a post I made saying I did.

 

[Buckley is my hero]

Don't put words in my mouth, that's complete garbage. I never had any issue with Keeffe or Thomas being retained as rookies, and I challenge you to find a post I made saying I did.

Think we're all arguing around circles. How about we wait for the preseason comp to start. I'm assuming Grundy and Moore will get little game time because they're too valuable to risk before the main season starts. So most likely Cox and Keeffe will start all three games and we can then all make up our minds whether the club was premature in promoting Keeffe over Cox. I wouldn't even discount Thomas staking a claim for promotion to the senior list based on his training form.

 

[Captivating]

It has to happen with our other tall forwards being Moore, Cox and White. Moore will struggle now while being double teamed ad White and Cox aren't nearly effective enough to scare opposition backlines. So it's smart to be trialling Keeffe to play forward as there is a good chance that we'll need him up there at stages this year.

 

[doppleganger]

Don't put words in my mouth, that's complete garbage. I never had any issue with Keeffe or Thomas being retained as rookies, and I challenge you to find a post I made saying I did.

Your knickers are in a twist because Keeffe was placed on the rookie list and not kept there.

Point being that due to the ASADA suspension that was as far as the Pies could go.

He was a senior listed player who was forced to standout of the game for two seasons, the club put him on as a rookie in 2016 as it was all they could do...and it gave them first dibs on returning him to the senior list prior to the open slather national draft where other clubs could have picked him up.

As soon as he was eligible to return to the senior list, the club immediately added him back.

You have instead ran off and created some alternate reality all based on Keeffe being on the rookie list...something that was just a token gesture by the club during the ASADA suspension.

Your obsession with Keeffe as a rookie is odd.

 

[Horaceg]

He just screams behind the ball to me. He seems like the type who likes to see the game unfold and come to him, rather than being the one to come at the play.

Agree, can't see him anything other than a defender

 

[Horaceg]

Think we're all arguing around circles. How about we wait for the preseason comp to start. I'm assuming Grundy and Moore will get little game time because they're too valuable to risk before the main season starts. So most likely Cox and Keeffe will start all three games and we can then all make up our minds whether the club was premature in promoting Keeffe over Cox. I wouldn't even discount Thomas staking a claim for promotion to the senior list based on his training form.

Don't distract them with logic.....

 

[Kirby]

There is absolutely nothing to lose by trialling as a forward and chop out ruckman. It can only make him a better player. He can be put in the backline at any time.

I don't think it will work but there's no problem with giving it a go.

I have no idea why anyone wastes a single bit of angst about it?

Fas spent one training session as a backman a few weeks back and people around here went into apoplexy.