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In terms of the debate about Headland, and others who are regarded as receivers, seagulls, linkmen etc, this article about Geelong is worth a read;
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,21827976%5E19742,00.html
In particular this passage which I think is articulating the sort of role that Headland is positioned to play, and why in my opinion, if we get the mix right, he will be integral to a winning gameplan;
THE CATS' SECRET
IT IS no secret that if you want to compete at the pointy end of the season against the best, you have to at least break even at the stoppages (ball-ups and throw-ins).
West Coast averages 7.6 more clearances than its opposition this season to lead the field again, while the Western Bulldogs rank 16th, winning on average 7.7 fewer than their opposition.
It's no coincidence the Dogs have struggled against the top sides of last year. It remains their achilles heel.
The Cats are ranked mid-table but dig a little deeper and you'll find one of the secrets of their turnaround that is going to take some stopping this season.
While the stoppage figures are an indicator of team success, they are only part of the story. The key at a stoppage is not just to win the footy, but to hang on to it and, most importantly, convert that into goals.
There is no better example of this than Carlton. The Blues are sixth in the AFL at beating their opposition in clearances, but have scored 147 fewer points from this source than their opponents, ranked 14th. They get it and give it straight back because they don't handball it clear before kicking, don't hit targets, or both.
So where does Geelong rank? You guessed it, like the Brisbane Lions premiership sides that dominated the competition for years in this area, Geelong is No. 1 this season after being 14th in 2006.
Last season's preliminary finalists Sydney, West Coast and Adelaide were the best three teams in the competition in this department in 2006.
In 2005 it was St Kilda, West Coast and Adelaide, again three of the four preliminary finalists. And in 2004 grand finalists Brisbane and Port Adelaide ranked first and second respectively.
If you want to win a Grand Final, it is true you have to be good at stoppages but what Geelong has recognised over summer is that winning clearances alone is not enough, the real secret is that you have to score from them.
The Cats now handball away from stoppages to get a loose player free who can carry, bounce, and kick the ball under minimum pressure quickly into the forward line.
Why is this so critical? At stoppages the critical mass of players is around the ball and not flooding back, blocking up the forwards' space. It is the time to strike with the greatest efficiency, and the Cats have worked hard over the off-season to address this vital issue.
Last season Joel Corey was Geelong's leading clearance player, but just 67 points were generated from his clearances. This season the Cats have already scored 52 points from Corey clearances that begin a chain of uninterrupted disposals and result in a score.
Jimmy Bartel's clearances have generated 71 points this season, the third-best figure in the competition, while Gary Ablett has had only 22 clearances but 38 points have been generated from those because he makes great decisions.
The interesting one is David Wojcinski, who has had just 10 clearances, but when he wins them they are clean take-aways, with his pace generating 31 points from clearances in much the same fashion as Eagles maestro Chris Judd.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,21827976%5E19742,00.html
In particular this passage which I think is articulating the sort of role that Headland is positioned to play, and why in my opinion, if we get the mix right, he will be integral to a winning gameplan;
THE CATS' SECRET
IT IS no secret that if you want to compete at the pointy end of the season against the best, you have to at least break even at the stoppages (ball-ups and throw-ins).
West Coast averages 7.6 more clearances than its opposition this season to lead the field again, while the Western Bulldogs rank 16th, winning on average 7.7 fewer than their opposition.
It's no coincidence the Dogs have struggled against the top sides of last year. It remains their achilles heel.
The Cats are ranked mid-table but dig a little deeper and you'll find one of the secrets of their turnaround that is going to take some stopping this season.
While the stoppage figures are an indicator of team success, they are only part of the story. The key at a stoppage is not just to win the footy, but to hang on to it and, most importantly, convert that into goals.
There is no better example of this than Carlton. The Blues are sixth in the AFL at beating their opposition in clearances, but have scored 147 fewer points from this source than their opponents, ranked 14th. They get it and give it straight back because they don't handball it clear before kicking, don't hit targets, or both.
So where does Geelong rank? You guessed it, like the Brisbane Lions premiership sides that dominated the competition for years in this area, Geelong is No. 1 this season after being 14th in 2006.
Last season's preliminary finalists Sydney, West Coast and Adelaide were the best three teams in the competition in this department in 2006.
In 2005 it was St Kilda, West Coast and Adelaide, again three of the four preliminary finalists. And in 2004 grand finalists Brisbane and Port Adelaide ranked first and second respectively.
If you want to win a Grand Final, it is true you have to be good at stoppages but what Geelong has recognised over summer is that winning clearances alone is not enough, the real secret is that you have to score from them.
The Cats now handball away from stoppages to get a loose player free who can carry, bounce, and kick the ball under minimum pressure quickly into the forward line.
Why is this so critical? At stoppages the critical mass of players is around the ball and not flooding back, blocking up the forwards' space. It is the time to strike with the greatest efficiency, and the Cats have worked hard over the off-season to address this vital issue.
Last season Joel Corey was Geelong's leading clearance player, but just 67 points were generated from his clearances. This season the Cats have already scored 52 points from Corey clearances that begin a chain of uninterrupted disposals and result in a score.
Jimmy Bartel's clearances have generated 71 points this season, the third-best figure in the competition, while Gary Ablett has had only 22 clearances but 38 points have been generated from those because he makes great decisions.
The interesting one is David Wojcinski, who has had just 10 clearances, but when he wins them they are clean take-aways, with his pace generating 31 points from clearances in much the same fashion as Eagles maestro Chris Judd.
