- Jan 19, 2014
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- 9,769
- AFL Club
- Western Bulldogs
Pretty early in the season Bevo very candidly stated that he didn't really have any idea what the team would look like at the end of the season. Personally, I found that quite bold and refreshing and to me it suggested a very open minded approach to identifying the strengths of the individual players (experimenting with them) and slotting them into and moulding a functional collective. It suggested the possibility of an evolving game style or even the possibility of an as yet undiscovered style.
I get the feeling this season has been one of experimentation and discovery, partly forced upon us by the injury toll but perhaps not completely so. What has been revealed and do the player positional changes suggest anything substantial beyond this season?
Josh Dunkley: Started the primarily as a forward giving a chop in the midfield as required. Lost form, spent time in the VFL, returned and now looks every inch the big bullocking midfielder we want and need. Is playing big midfield minutes, looking the goods and set to stay there.
Mitch Wallis: Started the year as second choice midfielder. Won promotion and played predominately inside mid resting forward. Lost form at the same time as Dunks, VFL time to add some "qualitative sheen" returned to seniors but more or less traded place with Dunks. Kicking goals regularly and mounting a case for retention.
Caleb Daniel: Historically has interchanged into the midfield in primarily the role of play maker but with a tank that allows him to run up and down the ground. A down year on form generally and exposed for size and strength in the clinches on a regular basis throughout the year. A tagging role on Simpson earlier in the year has evolved into a play making role in the backline over the last 2 weeks culminating in an influential 40+ possession game against norf last week. Has been one of the more "experimented upon" players this year with his latest role perhaps the best fit to date.
JJ: Has played forward quite a bit (especially through periods of injury to forwards), on the wing and back. Has versatility about him although the effectiveness of that versatility tends to disipate inside fwd 50. Dangerous on the wing but unsurprisingly remains the most dangerous running out of the backline, especially if the opposition are silly enough not to tag him.
Richards: Started back, inched up to the wing and has been forward. Looks extremely versatile, effective and has legs. Could play anywhere.
Naughton: Played back at the start and is back there again now after a very brief but interesting stint forward. The guys a gun and the fact he can go forward take a grab and kick a goal will be in Bevo's memory bank and pulled out on the future occasion it's most needed. He's a backman and a bloody good one.
Gowers: Started forward and still plays there mostly. Has spent time in the middle and now back (against norf). Good size, robust, aggressive, burst speed and long kick. Stays forward but versatile enough to play a role when required.
Williams: Started off and played mostly as a halfback. having a very good season and one of the big improvers. The few games prior to injury started to creep into the midfield and stoppages. Won't die wondering and has physical presence in there. has a future in both areas of the ground and one of the more interesting prospects next season. Perhaps he's tending midfield.
Jongy: Interesting what's happened here. Pushed out of the inside mid stuff and even the negating roles at stoppages by Dunks who is flying. Being used outside stoppages in more open space. Has revealed a field kick few might have expected. Looks like he's been given a role, both inside D50 and Fwd50 to contest as many aerial contests as he can to split, spoil, win. Trimmed down a bit, possibly building a tank is a priority to get up and down the field. Decision might have been made that his speed is best utilised outside congestion.
Trengove: Started back with part time ruck work. That has evolved more recently into bulk ruck work and he's going well.
There will be some I've overlooked/missed including (deliberately) the failed experiment of Wood forward (a failure that was acknowledged pretty early)?
Thoughts and additions.
I get the feeling this season has been one of experimentation and discovery, partly forced upon us by the injury toll but perhaps not completely so. What has been revealed and do the player positional changes suggest anything substantial beyond this season?
Josh Dunkley: Started the primarily as a forward giving a chop in the midfield as required. Lost form, spent time in the VFL, returned and now looks every inch the big bullocking midfielder we want and need. Is playing big midfield minutes, looking the goods and set to stay there.
Mitch Wallis: Started the year as second choice midfielder. Won promotion and played predominately inside mid resting forward. Lost form at the same time as Dunks, VFL time to add some "qualitative sheen" returned to seniors but more or less traded place with Dunks. Kicking goals regularly and mounting a case for retention.
Caleb Daniel: Historically has interchanged into the midfield in primarily the role of play maker but with a tank that allows him to run up and down the ground. A down year on form generally and exposed for size and strength in the clinches on a regular basis throughout the year. A tagging role on Simpson earlier in the year has evolved into a play making role in the backline over the last 2 weeks culminating in an influential 40+ possession game against norf last week. Has been one of the more "experimented upon" players this year with his latest role perhaps the best fit to date.
JJ: Has played forward quite a bit (especially through periods of injury to forwards), on the wing and back. Has versatility about him although the effectiveness of that versatility tends to disipate inside fwd 50. Dangerous on the wing but unsurprisingly remains the most dangerous running out of the backline, especially if the opposition are silly enough not to tag him.
Richards: Started back, inched up to the wing and has been forward. Looks extremely versatile, effective and has legs. Could play anywhere.
Naughton: Played back at the start and is back there again now after a very brief but interesting stint forward. The guys a gun and the fact he can go forward take a grab and kick a goal will be in Bevo's memory bank and pulled out on the future occasion it's most needed. He's a backman and a bloody good one.
Gowers: Started forward and still plays there mostly. Has spent time in the middle and now back (against norf). Good size, robust, aggressive, burst speed and long kick. Stays forward but versatile enough to play a role when required.
Williams: Started off and played mostly as a halfback. having a very good season and one of the big improvers. The few games prior to injury started to creep into the midfield and stoppages. Won't die wondering and has physical presence in there. has a future in both areas of the ground and one of the more interesting prospects next season. Perhaps he's tending midfield.
Jongy: Interesting what's happened here. Pushed out of the inside mid stuff and even the negating roles at stoppages by Dunks who is flying. Being used outside stoppages in more open space. Has revealed a field kick few might have expected. Looks like he's been given a role, both inside D50 and Fwd50 to contest as many aerial contests as he can to split, spoil, win. Trimmed down a bit, possibly building a tank is a priority to get up and down the field. Decision might have been made that his speed is best utilised outside congestion.
Trengove: Started back with part time ruck work. That has evolved more recently into bulk ruck work and he's going well.
There will be some I've overlooked/missed including (deliberately) the failed experiment of Wood forward (a failure that was acknowledged pretty early)?
Thoughts and additions.