Season 2017

[giant]

Not sure Mcs. He kicked 5 great goals against the Hawks in a dominant display. Had a good prelim final again. Crap gf again.

Even a lock down role on Johannison would have been handy.

Occurred to me too - wonder why they didn't do something about this?

Also showed up what I thought was one of our greatest weaknesses (and was once a real strength), the run off the half back line. JJ and Boyd smashed us but we saw little to no run from our HBFs. Something to be addressed next year, but it's looking like the Tippett, Talia and Sinclair contracts are going to be real millstones around our recruiting necks - we'll struggle to bring anyone in this trade period.

[rojo]

I'm a big fan of Gary Rohan, but I don't think you can use his broken leg as an excuse for going MIA at times. He can still run like the wind, take big marks and kick great goals. We all know what he can do, just doesn't do enough of if, and I certainly can't figure out why.

It was interesting that Gary said in interviews a couple of times during the year that he was 'gaining more confidence in his body' which suggests to me that his recovery on various levels is still a work in progress. As has been pointed out, he has played a couple of great games recently and what Goswannies says reveals that we need to appreciate the good games and cut him some slack when he doesn't meet our expectations even if it is a GF.

[mcs]

Occurred to me too - wonder why they didn't do something about this?

Also showed up what I thought was one of our greatest weaknesses (and was once a real strength), the run off the half back line. JJ and Boyd smashed us but we saw little to no run from our HBFs. Something to be addressed next year, but it's looking like the Tippett, Talia and Sinclair contracts are going to be real millstones around our recruiting necks - we'll struggle to bring anyone in this trade period.

Its going to be interesting to see what we do next year in terms of structures in the backline, in particular in trying to generate more of that run off the Half Back line. Our young Irishman could be an answer to that puzzle in time - but I'm not as convinced as others that he will be quite ready to play AFL in 2017. We really need a new Reece Shaw style player that can break the line with sheer pace. Maybe things will improve with another pre-season into Aliir and Jones (with the point there being a pre-season in which they know they are highly likely to be part of the first 22 next season), who in their own way can help in that space. It would not surprise me if we seek to trade someone in as well if we can get a player at a reasonable price - the rumoured interest in Tuohy would make some sense in that regard.

[Mug Punter]

Its going to be interesting to see what we do next year in terms of structures in the backline, in particular in trying to generate more of that run off the Half Back line. Our young Irishman could be an answer to that puzzle in time - but I'm not as convinced as others that he will be quite ready to play AFL in 2017. We really need a new Reece Shaw style player that can break the line with sheer pace. Maybe things will improve with another pre-season into Aliir and Jones (with the point there being a pre-season in which they know they are highly likely to be part of the first 22 next season), who in their own way can help in that space. It would not surprise me if we seek to trade someone in as well if we can get a player at a reasonable price - the rumoured interest in Tuohy would make some sense in that regard.

I could well see an IN off the half back flank, especially as we'll need to throw Mills into the mids.

I think Jones is very good off the flank and will be even better next year so he just needs someone else there. Newman and Colin will be challenging but I suspect it will be an area to be addressed.

[MattW]

Nothing like a(nother) grand final loss to shake some realism into a person.

Joey should be captain. I like Kieren, but he's presided over two grand final losses. McVeigh has been a great and very important player, but is no longer either. He will probably play on, but probably shouldn't and I cannot see him affecting finals games. Joey has been our on-field leader in big games for some time. He's about to win his 4th Paul Roos Award in his 7th year at the club. He is not quite the media performer of the current two, but he spoke best both before and after yesterday's game and was clearly best in it.

Benny is done.

I can't see Laidler playing much of a role next year. He signed a two year contract extension this year, but that's looking rash. Although only 27, he's a couple of steps too slow and not getting any faster. Aliir, (hopefully) AJ and who knows, maybe even Talia will be ahead of him next year. Aside from that, he back-line actually looks really good. Grundy, Rampe and Nick Smith clearly premiership quality.

I am not sure Xav will make it. Underwhelming in each final. Doesn't seem confident/believe. Doesn't seem to really *want* it. He'll be back-up to Reid next year, but need to become harder.

I think I must be missing something with George Hewett. Ghosts in and out of games. His best contributions are winning free-kicks in our forward 50 and then hitting the set shot. But rarely wins the ball in a contested situation around the ground. I am not convinced.

Mills, Heeney and Jones are very important players. Hopefully this stings and they want it more next time. Heeney had a great finals series. Mills' GF was a little like some of his games earlier in the season - a little mistake prone. With Newman coming in at halfback this year, hopefully Zak moves into the midfield, where he was dynamic against Geelong.

I thought Naismith had a great first half to the GF, and promises a lot. Lloyd should be most improved. Papley will be better for the experience.

Towers and Hiscox should be delisted. Neither are premiership players, clearly. I can't see any way in for Brandon Jack, given he is reportedly making the same disposal decision-making errors in reserves games.

[Ludwig]

Its going to be interesting to see what we do next year in terms of structures in the backline, in particular in trying to generate more of that run off the Half Back line. Our young Irishman could be an answer to that puzzle in time - but I'm not as convinced as others that he will be quite ready to play AFL in 2017. We really need a new Reece Shaw style player that can break the line with sheer pace. Maybe things will improve with another pre-season into Aliir and Jones (with the point there being a pre-season in which they know they are highly likely to be part of the first 22 next season), who in their own way can help in that space. It would not surprise me if we seek to trade someone in as well if we can get a player at a reasonable price - the rumoured interest in Tuohy would make some sense in that regard.

I think O'Riordan will get another year on the rookie list and will more of a factor in 2018. But for next year we will have Nic Newman, who is just the player we are looking for in back 6. He's a precise kick of the ball, has good pace and tackles well. I have often compared him to Malceski. I think our starting back 6 next year will be Grundy, Aliir, Talia, Smith, Rampe and Newman, with Jones and Mills dropping back to help out.

For those questioning where Hewett is heading, remember that he is still only 20 yo and has done around as well as Jake Lloyd did in his first year. George's contribution his year has been around the same as Rohan's, but he goes about it more quietly. Many questioned Jake's worth to the team as well. Now after 3 years few would question his importance to the team. He's improved every year continuing to take on more responsibility as his experience grows. I expect that will happen with Hewett. He's an elite kick both for goal and around the ground, is dual sided and a good decision maker. Revisit this post next year. I'm sure the doubters be be on board.

[MattW]

I think O'Riordan will get another year on the rookie list and will more of a factor in 2018. But for next year we will have Nic Newman, who is just the player we are looking for in back 6. He's a precise kick of the ball, has good pace and tackles well. I have often compared him to Malceski. I think our starting back 6 next year will be Grundy, Aliir, Talia, Smith, Rampe and Newman, with Jones and Mills dropping back to help out.

For those questioning where Hewett is heading, remember that he is still only 20 yo and has done around as well as Jake Lloyd did in his first year. George's contribution his year has been around the same as Rohan's, but he goes about it more quietly. Many questioned Jake's worth to the team as well. Now after 3 years few would question his importance to the team. He's improved every year continuing to take on more responsibility as his experience grows. I expect that will happen with Hewett. He's an elite kick both for goal and around the ground, is dual sided and a good decision maker. Revisit this post next year. I'm sure the doubters be be on board.

I rated Jake higher after his first season than I do George. Jake got a little more of it, and seemed a little more influential. You're right that if George improves at the rate Jake does we'll have some player. Jake's average disposals have risen from 15 to 20 to 24 over his first three years. I think George needs to work on imposing himself on games more and prove he can get more if it at this level. Jake's running capacity ensures he will get it, I'm not convinced George can - he's a little slow and doesn't seem capable of outlasting opponents with endurance.

If you're comparing Hewett's contribution to Rohan's *this year*, I disagree it's been the same. Rohan has broken games open and provided a real threat and can worry any opponent. Hewett has won some key free kicks, but is less of a threat and does not trouble top teams as much.

[Ludwig]

I rated Jake higher after his first season than I do George. Jake got a little more of it, and seemed a little more influential. You're right that if George improves at the rate Jake does we'll have some player. Jake's average disposals have risen from 15 to 20 to 24 over his first three years. I think George needs to work on imposing himself on games more and prove he can get more if it at this level. Jake's running capacity ensures he will get it, I'm not convinced George can - he's a little slow and doesn't seem capable of outlasting opponents with endurance.

If you're comparing Hewett's contribution to Rohan's *this year*, I disagree it's been the same. Rohan has broken games open and provided a real threat and can worry any opponent. Hewett has won some key free kicks, but is less of a threat and does not trouble top teams as much.

George is not the quickest player, but he is evasive. He doesn't have the tank of a Jake Lloyd and will need to improve on that, but I see no reason why that should be an obstacle at this stage of his career. He is one of the best kicks on the team, is a good decision maker and goes in hard at the contest. It's normal for the younger guys to defer to the more senior players when it's a choice of who gets to go for the ball, but he will take his turn when required. He had 9 tackles in the prelim final.

The challenge George faces is that his best position is an inside midfielder. He comes to a club which is already the best in the league with the likes of Parker, Kennedy and Hanners. Then he need to fight for a spot against emerging superstars in Heeney and Mills. As much as I think of Hewett, I wouldn't put him into this category of player. Then there is Zak Jones, who also will likely end up in the midfield and offers genuine breakaway speed from the contest. George may be at the bottom of an incredibly talented midfield group, but he's still a very good young player.

Notice that I haven't mentioned Tom Mitchell. Tom is a very talented player, but we simply have too many good midfielders. Tom has good trade value now and we are better off letting him go and give a little more space for our young midfielders to move into. I think Longmire will have to adopt a strategy next year which involves more midfield rotations, instead of concentrating on Kennedy, Parker, Hanners and Jack constantly at the coal face. We started see more of that at the end of the season and it certainly showed the potential of Heeney as a midfielder.

I see 9 players taking turns in the midfield rotation: Kennedy, Jack, Parker, Hanners, Heeney, Mills, Jones, Hewett and Lloyd. That's a very strong group and so young too.

[grarmy]

Because he is a player of unique talent. He also has the same birthday as Noam Chomsky. That's got to count for something.

Made me laugh that one. Next you will be dropping gestalt theory on us. You brighten me.

[grarmy]

Take it! For the dosh he's on, and the chances he has been given, he should be delivering more than 5 possessions in a game, any game. Not good enough. I won't take that.

[grarmy]

Longmire has said repeatedly, he will select only fit players. Gary Rohan's problem on Saturday was not his leg, it was inside his head.

[mcs]

Longmire has said repeatedly, he will select only fit players. Gary Rohan's problem on Saturday was not his leg, it was inside his head.

Yet he picked Mills and McVeigh who were both clearly underdone.

[ScottH]

We need speed.

And a lot of it.

[ScottH]

Not sure Mcs. He kicked 5 great goals against the Hawks in a dominant display. Had a good prelim final again. Crap gf again.

Even a lock down role on Johannison would have been handy.

I thought this might be a match up before the game.

[goswannies]

Longmire has said repeatedly, he will select only fit players. Gary Rohan's problem on Saturday was not his leg, it was inside his head.

I don't think Gary is unfit, per se, any more than Daniel Chick was unfit with his the tip of his finger amputated or Nathan Brown was after he returned a lesser impact player after his broken leg.
Gary's base level is now simply different. His daily level of discomfort will be present (to a degree) and he will sensitise to it & adapt to living & performing with it. I expect that if his performance is inadequate to Horse's expectations, there will be consequences but if Gary is playing his role to Horse's satisfaction (& we don't know what that is) he'll continue. Just an opinion.