Not just another Davis Thread

[sharp9]

But a quick opinion that in light of Davo repeatedly "failing" it is time for the coaches to admit defeat and reinvent our most talented player as a midfielder. I know it has kind of been said before, but this is the fourth time (I think) that he has been dropped. I don't see how he is supposed to get more of the ball when we have so few fifty entries and so many of the ones we have are directed to taller forwards or not to Davo's advantage.

Play him in the MIDDLE full time for 3 or 4 weeks in the seconds as an attacking midfielder. I believe strongly that (especially with the number of rotations) he could be the kind of midfielder we are desperate for (ie one who needs to be tagged). He is a fantastic contested possession winner, very strong with the ball in hand, a QUICK thinker and disposer plus a magnificent kick. What more could you need, really?

Personally I would keep him in the ones, but if they are going to say "enough" then do something constructive with him because I refuse to believe that it is all his fault that we are not getting the best out of a very gifted player.

[NMWBloods]

Yep - I think he should get a proper run on the wing.

[swantastic]

Yep - I think he should get a proper run on the wing.

RU taking the piss or what?

[NMWBloods]

RU taking the piss or what?

No.

[bigswan]

He's a soft tackler and you want to put him into the midfield? His problem is that he is in the side to kick goals and he isn't doing it. He still has to improve his body language.

[swantastic]

No.

You cant be serious he doesnt even chase in the forward line let alone the wing.

Look i luv Davo when he's playing well,but when he's bad he's bad.

It does come down to the passes he receives some times tho.

At least if he gets a chance on the wing the forwards will get some decent kicks to their advantage but i doubt he will.

[NMWBloods]

Refer OP.

[ScottH]

I wouldn't have thought he had the motor to go in the middle for long periods of time.
(I'm not saying that to be nasty)

[liz]

I agree totally with the premise of the opening thread. To me he's always looked at his most dangerous when he spends time in the midfield. A week or so ago I watched again that 10 minute burst in the final quarter of the 2005 PF and was struck by how energetic and purposeful Davis was working in the area between the centre and the 50m arc. You're never going to find him - or want him - wrestling with Kirk or Bolton for the ball at the bottom of a pack but on the skirts of a crowd he is very good at receiving and getting clear. He's not quick over distance but he can make space in a step or two. I love his trademark fend off with an arm to the chest. He almost always executes it perfectly and it's very effective.

Go back to the 2005 SF and he didn't just kick those 4 goals. He had something like 24 possessions and for 3/4 was mostly playing up the ground. Along with Crouch, he was probably the most effective 4 quarter player in the game quite aside from his last gasp heroics. And getting him involved throughout a game seems to make him mentally sharper when he is up forward.

The big question, though, is whether it is Davis' or the club's fault that he's not used that way more often. It would have to come down to fitness. He said at the start of the year that he was fitter than ever, so it's disappointing and puzzling now to read that he's "under done". Was he kidding himself on the amount of hard work he'd done, or has he been carrying a niggle since the season started that has prevented him keeping up the work on the track? He was reported as having had a bout of flu but that can't just be it, totally.

[NMWBloods]

Refer above post too!

[Bloody Hell]

Davis should be in the centre for each bounce - then drift forward...other than that he should be looking at hooking up with one of Roos' sons....then hopefully we can see a decline in the open hostility from Roos towards Davis.

[Boodnutz]

The midfield isn't just a "midfield" anymore. There's inside, outside, negative, attacking, running roles that emanate from the middle third of the ground. I think Roos is telling Davis to work on getting one of those roles eg attacking midfielder who pushes forward at every opportunity.

Nobody is in any AFL team these days just to kick goals. Roles are tailored to suit individuals and the opposition. They want him to be more flexible which I think is more mindset with him rather than his "motor".

[Lucky Knickers]

Standing ovation for a constructive thread for a change. I too would love to see Davo getting more action. We know he can hit leads on the chest, we know he can deliver the ball to advantage and we know he is creative at a stoppage and we know he is a great shot at goal.
Please please please NICK do whatever you need to do to get your mojo back (either from Roos or wherever you left it) - we need you.

[Reggi]

Let him play on the wing for Freo

Souffle doesn't rise twice

[Wardy]

Standing ovation for a constructive thread for a change. I too would love to see Davo getting more action. We know he can hit leads on the chest, we know he can deliver the ball to advantage and we know he is creative at a stoppage and we know he is a great shot at goal.
Please please please NICK do whatever you need to do to get your mojo back (either from Roos or wherever you left it) - we need you.

agree!!!!!! Davo with Mojo is Fabo!!!!