Changes Round 22 v Bulldogs

[aardvark]

at least 10 tackles, 20 hard ball gets, over 30 possessions and two goals.

If Birdy got anywhere near that each week he'd win the Brownlow. Even Nat Fyfe is only averaging 23 Disposals, .8 Goals and 3.7 Tackles per game.
All Tom needs to do to impress Horse is "Play His Role"

[aguy]

If Birdy got anywhere near that each week he'd win the Brownlow. Even Nat Fyfe is only averaging 23 Disposals, .8 Goals and 3.7 Tackles per game.
All Tom needs to do to impress Horse is "Play His Role"

I think the point is , and I agree , for Tom to play finals instead of bird he would need to have such a commanding and outstanding game as highlighted by those numbers

[Mountain Man]

Apart from Matt's assertions about "Horseball", is there any evidence that 3 supposedly slow midfielders is a given.

If 4 such succeed in winning even more ball and extracting it (mostly) to advantage and letting some potent forwards kick (mostly) goals - that could both help our score and limit their score.

Might even be a winning formula

[Ampersand]

I'd also like to know what evidence there is that Mitchell is that much "slower" than Hannebery, Jack, Parker or Lloyd.

[aardvark]

I think the point is , and I agree , for Tom to play finals instead of bird he would need to have such a commanding and outstanding game as highlighted by those numbers

I think there's plenty of room for all 4. Mitchell can play small forward, Birdy can go tag someone and they don't all have to be on the ground at the same time. Mitch doesn't need a "Huge" game, he needs to show he can get through the game in one piece and do the job Horse sets for him. Assuming Bird is fit and Mitch plays to the best of his ability and survives uninjured then the question for me is does he replace Lloyd or Cunningham because a fit and firing Mitchell would contribute more to the team than either of them.

[Ampersand]

I think Longmire would prefer a fit and healthy Mitchell coming off the bench and rotating through the midfield than Dean Towers every day of the week.

I really don't think any coach would set arbitrary limitations about the midfield mix when selecting his team and I certainly don't think pace is the deciding factor either.

[Ludwig]

Apart from Matt's assertions about "Horseball", is there any evidence that 3 supposedly slow midfielders is a given.

If 4 such succeed in winning even more ball and extracting it (mostly) to advantage and letting some potent forwards kick (mostly) goals - that could both help our score and limit their score.

Might even be a winning formula

Is All the Rage on RWO.

Looks to be the right number of miidfielders.


May be a bit too stodgy and slow.

I'd also like to know what evidence there is that Mitchell is that much "slower" than Hannebery, Jack, Parker or Lloyd.

[Melbourne_Blood]

I'd also like to know what evidence there is that Mitchell is that much "slower" than Hannebery, Jack, Parker or Lloyd.

Have you watched him play? All except Parker are certainly quicker, Jack in full flight significantly so.

[ScottH]

Mitchell needs to be in the inside three group to play finals. The inside three incumbents are Kennedy, Bird and Parker.

He won't edge out Kennedy or Parker if they are fit because they are vastly superior players. Bird is the only player Mitchell can dislodge. It will depend on Birds recovery from injury. To put his case Mitchell needs at least 10 tackles, 20 hard ball gets, over 30 possessions and two goals. This may decision making harder for Longmire.

There is no way the team will go into a final with Kennedy, Bird, Parker and Mitchell. That makes the team too slow. Only three will be selected.

You keep harping on about the slow midfielders.
Doesn't it make sense to keep your genuinely quick midfielders on the outside.
It would be useless Jetta diving head first into a pack and getting the ball out to Bird only to have Bird run down in his first 2 steps.
Besides the fact Jetta would not survive the being an inside midfielder.

Those 3 you mention are not genuinely quick, but they are not slow either and they know how to find space.

[ScottH]

Surely not Scott. It might be Jake or Harry that goes out, or Laidler. You can't ignore Tom if he tears it up. Every chance an injury will happen.

Which will be a good thing to have at this end of the year.
Even as a forward pocket rotating through the midfield, he still rack up plenty of touches.
Didn't he do that against WC last year?

[aguy]

I think there's plenty of room for all 4. Mitchell can play small forward, Birdy can go tag someone and they don't all have to be on the ground at the same time. Mitch doesn't need a "Huge" game, he needs to show he can get through the game in one piece and do the job Horse sets for him. Assuming Bird is fit and Mitch plays to the best of his ability and survives uninjured then the question for me is does he replace Lloyd or Cunningham because a fit and firing Mitchell would contribute more to the team than either of them.

I think that is prob the crux of the problem. I am of the opinion that the addition of Mitchell at the expense of Lloyd or Cunningham would be a mistake for team balance. Different roles. But we all have opinions. Nothing personal

[aguy]

I think Longmire would prefer a fit and healthy Mitchell coming off the bench and rotating through the midfield than Dean Towers every day of the week.

I really don't think any coach would set arbitrary limitations about the midfield mix when selecting his team and I certainly don't think pace is the deciding factor either.

I'm not sure it's necessarily abou pace but style of play. Each player definitely has their own style and strengths. For me it's about the getting the mix of players with complimentary styles.

Really this is a very luxurious discussion to be having before a game that will likely decide if we are minor premiers.

[ScottH]

I'm not sure it's necessarily abou pace but style of play. Each player definitely has their own style and strengths. For me it's about the getting the mix of players with complimentary styles.

Really this is a very luxurious discussion to be having before a game that will likely decide if we are minor premiers.

Very true. A team full of speedsters does not necessarily, a good team make.

[aardvark]

I think that is prob the crux of the problem. I am of the opinion that the addition of Mitchell at the expense of Lloyd or Cunningham would be a mistake for team balance. Different roles. But we all have opinions. Nothing personal

That's the beauty of RWO. I'm sure whoever gets selected will get the job done.

[aguy]

That's the beauty of RWO. I'm sure whoever gets selected will get the job done.

Agreed aardvark. That is the beauty of RWO. We all have the same desire for the team to thrive. It's good when we can discuss albeit with differences of opinion but respectfully