The never ending Priddis debate - part II

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Goosecat

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What's interesting to me is what his role is now becoming. He had 4 clearances and 30 of his disposals were uncontested... He's playing a fair bit of the Cousins loose extra mid forward of the ball as well as his work at stoppages - in more current terms he's Masten but forward of the ball as opposed to behind the ball ... On the weekend he got a lot of the ball in space and given the shitness of the opposition was rarely under any real pressure and, 2 or 3 inexplicable brain farts aside, his disposal was ok... He lacks any speed at all and, at best, he'll make a solid decision and a solid disposal ... And he works his arse of to get into space and be available ...

We are definitely transitioning him away from that "he's the man" role and he's being told to run and run and get into space... He's less damaging than others in that role, so he gets given space and, seriously, he could get 50 against some sides on the right day in that sort of role ... It is though a trade off against a guy who works slightly less hard (or works AFL standard hard but doesn't have Matts elite tank) and gets maybe 25 (think Harley Bennell in that same role) with much more damage. I mean yesterday was outside Matt getting 39 touches and he's being celebrated and I get that but I'm still unsure what happens when we play good sides when it matters ... and I'm kinda unsure what his game really means .. I mean Masten was rightly given Top 3 by most but that's on the back of 43 touches, almost half of which came in the entirely pointless and meaningless last quarter ...

I thought Yeo of the mids owned the game when we won it and Shuey was damaging when we had our highest quarter ever but I thought the weekends win was based on our half backs as a collective setting us up given our mids got killed at the contests ... Our mids then all became receivers ...

But Butler, Hurn, Shep, Wellingham pretty much played as our first line of ball getters and a lot of the rest fed off them ... Except in the 3rd where we dominated the midfield and oddly that was when Matt had his biggest rest ...

I'm not criticising his effort or game, just trying to figure out what exactly it is that he did and what it means moving forward



I guess we'll see ...
I think you'll see his role change in and out depending on opposition and structure. I expect if we are getting smashed in the clearances by a good side and the backs are under too much pressure you'll see him go back to being in at each clearance. Then the usual dimwits will jump in again when he's forced to make quick kicks forward but when the others aren't up for it it's all he's ever been able to and asked to do. The reality is Simpson wants versatility and less dependence and pressure on him as our only A grade clearance player. We can risk it more against certain sides and gain more exposure to the kids. It means we get done in clearances ( even by shite teams) when he's not doing the roll but we hope the others will learn and get better.
It sets up for a much less predictable future which I personally like the idea of. Matts an A grade player, plain and simple and knows where to be and what's required. His directions and positioning advice to the kids is exceptional and they respect him enough to follow.
Speaking of respect I'm reminded of a day watching Subiaco before Matt made the AFL with him tearing it up as usual.
Even then there was debate about whether his strengths outweighed his weaknesses. A certain member of the Matera family piped up and gave his clear opinion.
"He'll win a Brownlow one day" he said. People just don't realise how impossibly hard it is to do what he does, by himself against all-comers, often with two or 3 hanging off him or selling candy to really good players.
Bloody amazing, the guy hadn't even been picked up yet, in fact he was being over-looked.
Wish I'd made a super early Brownlow bet that day!
 

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kerrazy

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Its pretty annoying, constantly hearing people use the line: "he tries his guts out" "He puts his heart and soul into the club".

Honestly, is this what the eagles are about? Recruiting honest triers? Honest battlers? LOL

In saying this, he had a good game this weekend, lets hope it continues. I think Simmo is trying his best to give opportunity for hik to show some versatility.
 

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This kind of thinking really shits me, if there was nothing left to discuss then the conversation would die out. The fact that Priddis has had a bit of a role change (which many had been calling for in one way or another for quite a while) and seems to be playing well because of it adds an interesting element to the discussion. Just because you don't agree with what's being said doesn't mean the conversation should be shut down.
Godfather, I don't think of so much as a role change for Priddis that has changed things but the fact that Simpson has shown that the the midfield can be a very damaging unit with Priddis a part of it.

A few of his critics believed that this was not possible. I know it is early days but I feel quite confident that the coach is getting the mix right.

If this is the case everybody wins, which is the way it should be. Maybe this thread will then fade away by natural attrition.:)
 

Pat_Footy

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Its pretty annoying, constantly hearing people use the line: "he tries his guts out" "He puts his heart and soul into the club".

Honestly, is this what the eagles are about? Recruiting honest triers? Honest battlers? LOL

In saying this, he had a good game this weekend, lets hope it continues. I think Simmo is trying his best to give opportunity for hik to show some versatility.

He's best on ground every second week.
 

Godfather32

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Godfather, I don't think of so much as a role change for Priddis that has changed things but the fact that Simpson has shown that the the midfield can be a very damaging unit with Priddis a part of it.

A few of his critics believed that this was not possible. I know it is early days but I feel quite confident that the coach is getting the mix right.

If this is the case everybody wins, which is the way it should be. Maybe this thread will then fade away by natural attrition.:)
Well he no longer seems to be the primary receiving mid from ruck taps, I'd call that a bit of a role change. I'd also say the single biggest thing that's really changed our midfield is getting Yeo in there, coincidentally a dynamic, flexible, skillfull, hard at it midfielder, the type of midfielder that many of us have been crying out for, to replace Priddis as our number 1.
 

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No selwood and No rosa helps a lot to the balance of our midfield. Having, Scooter, Gaff, Rosa and Priddis all in the one midfield just makes it far too pedestrian. Where as with Yeo and Shuey in there with priddis its legit exciting.
 

Miguel Sanchez

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No he's not, this week is the first week this season you could legitimately make the argument that he was best on ground, unless you work for the AFL website and primarily base your votes off stats.
Or if you're an AFL coach ;)
 

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Smotie

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I think you'll see his role change in and out depending on opposition and structure. I expect if we are getting smashed in the clearances by a good side and the backs are under too much pressure you'll see him go back to being in at each clearance. Then the usual dimwits will jump in again when he's forced to make quick kicks forward but when the others aren't up for it it's all he's ever been able to and asked to do. The reality is Simpson wants versatility and less dependence and pressure on him as our only A grade clearance player. We can risk it more against certain sides and gain more exposure to the kids. It means we get done in clearances ( even by shite teams) when he's not doing the roll but we hope the others will learn and get better.
It sets up for a much less predictable future which I personally like the idea of. Matts an A grade player, plain and simple and knows where to be and what's required. His directions and positioning advice to the kids is exceptional and they respect him enough to follow.
Speaking of respect I'm reminded of a day watching Subiaco before Matt made the AFL with him tearing it up as usual.
Even then there was debate about whether his strengths outweighed his weaknesses. A certain member of the Matera family piped up and gave his clear opinion.
"He'll win a Brownlow one day" he said. People just don't realise how impossibly hard it is to do what he does, by himself against all-comers, often with two or 3 hanging off him or selling candy to really good players.
Bloody amazing, the guy hadn't even been picked up yet, in fact he was being over-looked.
Wish I'd made a super early Brownlow bet that day!
Can you elaborate? The only ones who jump in here are Priddis supporters after a game like yesterday. You calling them dimwits?

I once spoke to a member of the Sumich family who said that if Priddis ever played for the Eagles he would divide the club and Big Footy and be the lead midfielder in an era of failure. Bloody amazing as he said it's why the guy hadn't been picked up yet. all the other clubs knew it would help them if we picked him up.
Should have made a bet on the Eagles game after game from that point on.
 

RookiePick

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Can you elaborate? The only ones who jump in here are Priddis supporters after a game like yesterday. You calling them dimwits?

I once spoke to a member of the Sumich family who said that if Priddis ever played for the Eagles he would divide the club and Big Footy and be the lead midfielder in an era of failure. Bloody amazing as he said it's why the guy hadn't been picked up yet. all the other clubs knew it would help them if we picked him up.
Should have made a bet on the Eagles game after game from that point on.
I hate to call you on a technicality but this doesn't qualify...

 

Godfather32

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Can you elaborate? The only ones who jump in here are Priddis supporters after a game like yesterday. You calling them dimwits?

I once spoke to a member of the Sumich family who said that if Priddis ever played for the Eagles he would divide the club and Big Footy and be the lead midfielder in an era of failure. Bloody amazing as he said it's why the guy hadn't been picked up yet. all the other clubs knew it would help them if we picked him up.
Should have made a bet on the Eagles game after game from that point on.
Did you make that up??
 

Johnno22

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Can you elaborate? The only ones who jump in here are Priddis supporters after a game like yesterday. You calling them dimwits?

I once spoke to a member of the Sumich family who said that if Priddis ever played for the Eagles he would divide the club and Big Footy and be the lead midfielder in an era of failure. Bloody amazing as he said it's why the guy hadn't been picked up yet. all the other clubs knew it would help them if we picked him up.
Should have made a bet on the Eagles game after game from that point on.
What they had to say about the price of Broccoli would be more in their line of expertise.

They probably thought a Priddis was a vegetable or some exotic fruit.
 

Godfather32

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What they had to say about the price of Broccoli would be more in their line of expertise.

They probably thought a Priddis was a vegetable or some exotic fruit.
I would imagine any knowledge they had would have come from Peter. He wasn't too bad at football. Not sure how he ended up our midfield coach though.
 

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Thread starter #3,268
Can you elaborate? The only ones who jump in here are Priddis supporters after a game like yesterday. You calling them dimwits?

I once spoke to a member of the Sumich family who said that if Priddis ever played for the Eagles he would divide the club and Big Footy and be the lead midfielder in an era of failure. Bloody amazing as he said it's why the guy hadn't been picked up yet. all the other clubs knew it would help them if we picked him up.
Should have made a bet on the Eagles game after game from that point on.
Amazing you've only thought to mention that conversation 13,000 posts into this thread...
 

Godfather32

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http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/afl/priddis-to-give-footy-a-shake/story-e6frg1zu-1111115807356

Peter Sumich was actually involved in the recruiting of Priddis and valued him as a player.
Where does it say that?
I love this quote "And it's because he makes good decisions early, which allows him to steady and get the ball off to a teammate, even in tight spaces.''
Not really sure he could ever be accused of making good decisions early, at any point of his career.
 

Johnno22

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Where does it say that?
I love this quote "And it's because he makes good decisions early, which allows him to steady and get the ball off to a teammate, even in tight spaces.''
Not really sure he could ever be accused of making good decisions early, at any point of his career.
Nice to look back on a bit of history sometimes.
Was over in Perth for the Derby in 2011 when Priddis won the Glendinning Medal and Sumich as the midfield coach was interviewed and told the whole sad Priddis story on Channel 7 I think. Said that they nearly picked him twice before and decided after much deliberation to give him a go. I remember him saying they argued over his drafting but he finally got his way. Funny, that Priddis was the subject of arguments even back then.
 

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Speaking of respect I'm reminded of a day watching Subiaco before Matt made the AFL with him tearing it up as usual.
Even then there was debate about whether his strengths outweighed his weaknesses. A certain member of the Matera family piped up and gave his clear opinion.
"He'll win a Brownlow one day" he said. People just don't realise how impossibly hard it is to do what he does, by himself against all-comers, often with two or 3 hanging off him or selling candy to really good players.
Bloody amazing, the guy hadn't even been picked up yet, in fact he was being over-looked.
Wish I'd made a super early Brownlow bet that day!
Amazing you've only thought to mention that conversation 13,000 posts into this thread...
Amazing he only thought to bring that up 13000 posts into the thread. But I get called out on my elaborate piece of shit story and he doesn't???!!! o_O
 

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