Round 15: Swans v Demons @ Cazaly's

[TheBloods]

Florent started forward . Not sure it’s fair to judge him as a midfielder on that basis.

Well that is a demotion isn't it. If he were showing enough as a midfielder he'd be in the midfield.

[mcs]

I am not sure a demotion would've been how either of them saw their season finishing off. Neither seem to be able to impact games much of late. Rowbum at least has moments, but Florent puts in forgettable display after forgettable display. He is not bad, but he is not shining like we need him to. These two were touted as the future of our midfield at the start of 2020 and they end the year being overtaken by a few.

Back on the criticism wagon again about Rowbottom I see. He may well just be getting tired too and his output has dropped a bit as a result - yes its a shortened season, but its a compressed one. Still only his second season and first full season in terms of close to playing every match.

Florent form has not been great in the second half of the season - not sure what is going on there.

They haven't been overtaken by anybody - simply having ups and downs in form like most young players do. Talk about an over-reaction - especially when one of the very best midfielders in the game over the past decade has come back in which has necessitated some shuffling. I'd suggest there is also a reasonable amount of 'trying new things' going on as well, to test players in different roles, and give players different exposure.

We have never been a team of hierachy in terms of where players play, so I can't see how anyone thinking rationally thinks its some form of demotion. Especially for Florent who has played plenty of outside mid football both at junior levels (i.e. an in and under bull is not his first home) and his AFL career so far.

[Blood Fever]

Well that is a demotion isn't it. If he were showing enough as a midfielder he'd be in the midfield.

McInerney still a bust? Fair effort for skinny kid with single digit games.

[TheBloods]

Back on the criticism wagon again about Rowbottom I see. He may well just be getting tired too and his output has dropped a bit as a result - yes its a shortened season, but its a compressed one. Still only his second season and first full season in terms of close to playing every match.

Florent form has not been great in the second half of the season - not sure what is going on there.

They haven't been overtaken by anybody - simply having ups and downs in form like most young players do. Talk about an over-reaction - especially when one of the very best midfielders in the game over the past decade has come back in which has necessitated some shuffling. I'd suggest there is also a reasonable amount of 'trying new things' going on as well, to test players in different roles, and give players different exposure.

We have never been a team of hierachy in terms of where players play, so I can't see how anyone thinking rationally thinks its some form of demotion. Especially for Florent who has played plenty of outside mid football both at junior levels (i.e. an in and under bull is not his first home) and his AFL career so far.

Wasn't criticising Rowbottom, he was solid I thought. I was pointing out that he, along with Florent, might've found themselves knocked down the proverbial totem pole as the year has progressed, with Clarke's renewed form, Blakey showing his midfield credentials, and Kennedy's return. Earlier on in the year our best midfield set up might've been Kennedy, Parker, Florent and Rowbottom. That's possibly not the case now as the season has gone on. Onus is now on those two to take back that mantle. Interesting times ahead .

[TheBloods]

McInerney still a bust? Fair effort for skinny kid with single digit games.

He looked good out there, but I think I would've looked good out there against the hapless Demons, and I have bad knees. MFC really are a stain on this league. Had they not had the word 'Melbourne' in their club name, I am sure the Vic cronies would've been calling for their demise as a club after the tanking saga.

[caj23]

Some great games from a few of the whipping boys last night (including the coach ;-) ), Fox, Clarke, Taylor in particular.

Harry C must be top 3 in our B&F, how reliable is he now? Would like to see McClean stay in for the remaining games, also give him a chance in the ruck Horse!

Wicks has been a pleasant suprise

This has been an enjoyable season in spite of our ladder position

[Markwebbos]

Wasn't criticising Rowbottom, he was solid I thought. I was pointing out that he, along with Florent, might've found themselves knocked down the proverbial totem pole as the year has progressed, with Clarke's renewed form, Blakey showing his midfield credentials, and Kennedy's return. Earlier on in the year our best midfield set up might've been Kennedy, Parker, Florent and Rowbottom. That's possibly not the case now as the season has gone on. Onus is now on those two to take back that mantle. Interesting times ahead .

It may be that the best outcome for the team as a whole is to play Florent on the wing, rotating forward, rather than attending centre bounces. This could partly be a reflection of the fact that Blakey has only been able to get any possession when he's played in the midfield. Florent might well be a better onballer than Blakey (in the short term), but the sum of the parts is greater the other way round.

I did have a look down the stats after the game, and there weren't a lot of standouts number wise. Only 4 players got more than 20 disposals (the usual suspects and Clarke). But we won the game reasonably comfortably against a top 8 side who - despite being called Melbourne - had previously accounted for St Kilda and won four of the previous five. (admittedly two were against Adelaide and North).

They might also have decided to share the load across this compressed block of games rather than rest players, play them forward.

[TheBloods]

It may be that the best outcome for the team as a whole is to play Florent on the wing, rotating forward, rather than attending centre bounces. This could partly be a reflection of the fact that Blakey has only been able to get any possession when he's played in the midfield. Florent might well be a better onballer than Blakey (in the short term), but the sum of the parts is greater the other way round.

I did have a look down the stats after the game, and there weren't a lot of standouts number wise. Only 4 players got more than 20 disposals (the usual suspects and Clarke). But we won the game reasonably comfortably against a top 8 side who - despite being called Melbourne - had previously accounted for St Kilda and won four of the previous five. (admittedly two were against Adelaide and North).

They might also have decided to share the load across this compressed block of games rather than rest players, play them forward.

Perhaps you're right, but could it be indicative of something more that that was our midfield's best performance all year, and we had minimal contributions from Florent and Rowbottom? Time will tell, but I'm certain JL would've taken note of that.

[Markwebbos]

Perhaps you're right, but could it be indicative of something more that that was our midfield's best performance all year, and we had minimal contributions from Florent and Rowbottom? Time will tell, but I'm certain JL would've taken note of that.

I think most likely a bit of everything. It's taken until that game for JPK to get his mojo back, which helps Parker, but comes at Rowbottom's expense. Blakey got his highest number of clearances ever. There was an unusual spread of players winning clearances in the midfield including Sinkers 4. Dawson 3, even Lloyd 3.

Clarke seems to have worked on his disposal and looks worth persisting with (something I would not have said a few weeks ago).

All of a sudden it feels like there are a lot of players able to make a contribution through the midfield. And they are mostly young (Papley 24, Dawson 23, Florent 22, Clarke 23, Blakey 20, Rowbum still only 19). And you've got Stephens (19), Warner (19), Heeney (24), Mills (23), Hewett (24) injured or playing "scrimmages" who could also contribute.

I think its a very positive development.

[liz]

Florent form has not been great in the second half of the season - not sure what is going on there.

And yet his form in the first half of the season was very good. He was probably our most damaging midfielder in the first half a dozen or so games.

What's going on? It's possible he's carrying a niggle (something that has a huge impact on form and supporters tend to dismiss unless it's obvious), maybe it's just a natural part of a development curve, maybe his role is changing, maybe he's getting a little more opposition attention.

He's still pretty young in the overall scheme of things. A couple of years before what we should expect to be the start of his peak years. He's shown he has ability to be a solid player (at worst). I don't think it's reasonably to bemoan him not suddenly becoming a superstar (especially at his still young age).

[TheBloods]

I think most likely a bit of everything. It's taken until that game for JPK to get his mojo back, which helps Parker, but comes at Rowbottom's expense. Blakey got his highest number of clearances ever. There was an unusual spread of players winning clearances in the midfield including Sinkers 4. Dawson 3, even Lloyd 3.

Clarke seems to have worked on his disposal and looks worth persisting with (something I would not have said a few weeks ago).

All of a sudden it feels like there are a lot of players able to make a contribution through the midfield. And they are mostly young (Papley 24, Dawson 23, Florent 22, Clarke 23, Blakey 20, Rowbum still only 19). And you've got Stephens (19), Warner (19), Heeney (24), Mills (23), Hewett (24) injured or playing "scrimmages" who could also contribute.

I think its a very positive development.

I concur, it's a good thing for our team. Not so much for Florent and Rowbottom.

[Markwebbos]

Florent's numbers are definitely down. But I think its a sign of progress that we can win comfortably if he (and to a lesser extent Rowbottom) aren't having standout games. I also don't think it means either of them have suddenly become poor players.

I'll be interested to see how the team sets up against Carlton.

[Melbourne_Blood]

And yet his form in the first half of the season was very good. He was probably our most damaging midfielder in the first half a dozen or so games.

What's going on? It's possible he's carrying a niggle (something that has a huge impact on form and supporters tend to dismiss unless it's obvious), maybe it's just a natural part of a development curve, maybe his role is changing, maybe he's getting a little more opposition attention.

He's still pretty young in the overall scheme of things. A couple of years before what we should expect to be the start of his peak years. He's shown he has ability to be a solid player (at worst). I don't think it's reasonably to bemoan him not suddenly becoming a superstar (especially at his still young age).

Certainly still young but into his fourth season now. He started off the year so well, after a great finish to his 2019 season, maybe it’s a bit much to expect those sort of performances week in week out from a young guy. I do agree with MCS that it’s been quite a stark drop off in form though, and you would expect or hope for a little more consistency from him by now.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Auntie.Gerald]

agree
Florent sometimes has played run with roles of late which unless one watches a replay is hard to pick or diminishes his stats

Im still confident re Ollie being a very useful player for us...........confident that he is showing enough to improve and be more dominant when he is given more dominant roles

[Kumarangk]

Great win and it's going to be a great ride watching the youth ( with the inclusion of 3 more at the draft ) develop over the next 3 to 4 years. The club is a well run machine. Would be tearing my hair out if i was a Demons supporter. How many very simple shots missed by 800k a year players . Yes running dead to get draft picks will surely erode any semblance of what a club's DNA is. Some get used to losses.