Expectations for 2021 season

[bloodspirit]

Do the new rules of ‘Man on the Mark’, low rotations, increased game time and expected increased speed of the game result in teams such as Geelong, and west coast eagles slide given their age bracket?

And does it mean that there will be more soft tissue injuries for the fast paced teams like Richmond and St. kilda ?

The emphasis would be on kick into corridor. What about the teams that rely a lot on hand balls like bulldogs?

And where do we think we sit with this given our very young team. I reckon we would be there abouts for the first 3 quarters and struggle a lot in the fourth given our very young team unless we find the battle hardened players who can play longer minutes. Maybe players like Jake Lloyd, Rampe, Ryan Clarke, George Hewett would be important for that reason alone.

Really interesting questions that you pose with your 100th post. What impact will the new rules have on team selection? How is our club placed to adapt? My thoughts:

* We have drafted for speed, running ability and kicking ability in recent years all of which should hold us in good stead. Stephens, Fox and Clarke are elite runners. Dawson, Warner, Gulden, are good too. Florent, Hayward, Blakey, McInerney, Campbell and Ling are all very quick. Rowbottom and Mills are certainly no slouches. McCartin has great speed and endurance for someone his size. McDonald also has excellence for someone his age and size.

* I would think that older players both have more stamina and are a bit wiser about husbanding their resources and not cooking themselves in third quarter and being better at running out games. Then again too old and they are at greater risk of soft tissue injuries. We should do reasonably well in this regard.

* The lack of rotations will mean that players need to be more versatile - and many of our players are.

* The suggestion about playing an extra player that can play onball is a good one. Possibly that is why they are looking at Hewett in the backline.

Overall I feel like despite our youth the new rules will suit us well enough, especially in seasons to come when we're building towards a peak.

[rickmat]

My feeling from last season and the pre-season games is that Rowbottom and Warner will interchange and be our mobile pacy midfield receivers with Kennedy , Parker and Mills doing the bulk of the hard work. Both Rowbottom and Warner have showed their potential in these early days and just what we need with Kennedy and Parker doing the bullocking with Mills learning the ropes to solidify the midfield role many have called for

[O'Reilly Boy]

It will be interesting to see how teams react to it. I actually think some teams may choose to play an additional midfielder compared to what we consider to be 'standard', where they have enough midfielders with good enough skills to be able to play long minutes on the park resting in the forward line rather than coming off - going to be interesting.

In pre-game warm-up drills for the past couple of years it's been clear that we've been working a basic 22 man structure of 5 forwards, 7 backs, a ruck and, effectively, 9 mids, themselves rotating through inside and outside roles, with one going forward for centre bounces for purposes of the 6-6-6 rule, and subsequently coming back towards the middle of the ground.

The defensive set-up has involved the seven in rotation, with, of course, Reid or, last year, Hayward dropping back to make the extra man towards the end of quarters, or on an ad hoc basis to slow an opposition on a roll.

[Mountain Man]

And Heeney able to drop back also - mark against Melbourne being spectacular

[MightyBloods]

Thoughts across a few players:

Blakey: could be a break out year for him. He is starting to look like he's getting used to the physicality of the level. He has all the makings of a star player - the past two games he seems to be not trying to over create with the footy, and finding it more. The new rules really benefit him.

Campbell: there's a reason Hawthorn were prepared to give up pick 5 for him. I think he'll be our best first year player since McCartin. Should be top 5 in rising star voting, and a contributor in our backline. His elite kicking on the SCG will see some really exciting moments during the year. But expect fluctuations in output

McCartin: genuinely think he'll push himself in to conversation of being an AA defender

McDonald: his year will really depend on whether Buddy and Reid play a lot. If he can be our 3rd tall and get the 3rd defender, it should be a great year. If he gets thrust in to the #1 target role due to injuries, it will be a tough year.

Parker: if he gets to spend more time to forward, then we're progressing well. If he has to carry a big load on ball, it's a concern on a few fronts.

Kennedy: will be a contributor still, but I think he needs to add a string to his bow to prolong beyond this year. He's a good overhead mark and kick for goal, so, hopefully he can get forward a bit

Wicks: has the makings of becoming the competitions next Luke Breust. If his game last week was an indicator, should be a good year of progress for him

I know it's a highly unpopular opinion, but I really think one, maybe two of Lloyd, Hewett and Cunningham could slide down the pecking order this year. Probably the latter two.
Hewett is being pushed in to a new role. And Cunningham and Lloyd aren't natural defenders. Both more wingers who have made a home down back.
I'm really bullish on Matt Ling. The club clearly rate him highly, he's shown some glimpses, and he looks really fit and strong after the pre season.
If Campbell is a lock, we just don't have the space in the back half for that many small defenders. If this is going to be "the year" for Ling, he'll have to dethrone one of the incumbents.

...a very good post.

[Markwebbos]

Thoughts across a few players:

Blakey: could be a break out year for him. He is starting to look like he's getting used to the physicality of the level. He has all the makings of a star player - the past two games he seems to be not trying to over create with the footy, and finding it more. The new rules really benefit him.

Campbell: there's a reason Hawthorn were prepared to give up pick 5 for him. I think he'll be our best first year player since McCartin. Should be top 5 in rising star voting, and a contributor in our backline. His elite kicking on the SCG will see some really exciting moments during the year. But expect fluctuations in output

McCartin: genuinely think he'll push himself in to conversation of being an AA defender

McDonald: his year will really depend on whether Buddy and Reid play a lot. If he can be our 3rd tall and get the 3rd defender, it should be a great year. If he gets thrust in to the #1 target role due to injuries, it will be a tough year.

Parker: if he gets to spend more time to forward, then we're progressing well. If he has to carry a big load on ball, it's a concern on a few fronts.

Kennedy: will be a contributor still, but I think he needs to add a string to his bow to prolong beyond this year. He's a good overhead mark and kick for goal, so, hopefully he can get forward a bit

Wicks: has the makings of becoming the competitions next Luke Breust. If his game last week was an indicator, should be a good year of progress for him

I know it's a highly unpopular opinion, but I really think one, maybe two of Lloyd, Hewett and Cunningham could slide down the pecking order this year. Probably the latter two.
Hewett is being pushed in to a new role. And Cunningham and Lloyd aren't natural defenders. Both more wingers who have made a home down back.
I'm really bullish on Matt Ling. The club clearly rate him highly, he's shown some glimpses, and he looks really fit and strong after the pre season.
If Campbell is a lock, we just don't have the space in the back half for that many small defenders. If this is going to be "the year" for Ling, he'll have to dethrone one of the incumbents.

I’m with you on Lloyd, Hewett and Cunningham.

I’m optimistic we can find a home for Campbell, Ling and Gould in our backline.

Hewett was surely an experiment. Mills to the midfield makes life harder for him to find a spot. Harry could probably play elsewhere.

It’s a good problem to have

[TheBloods]

I’m with you on Lloyd, Hewett and Cunningham.

I’m optimistic we can find a home for Campbell, Ling and Gould in our backline.

Hewett was surely an experiment. Mills to the midfield makes life harder for him to find a spot. Harry could probably play elsewhere.

It’s a good problem to have

Gould would want to do something soon. Out of contract this year, never been an emergency for a senior game. Was pumped we got him but cant cruise early in a career. Have to make your time on the list count for something. Tough competition for spots now with Mccartin going back. His blessing might come from Melican who looks as awful as ever. Early days for Lewis, might take time to settle into the year.

[MightyBloods]

Gould would want to do something soon. Out of contract this year, never been an emergency for a senior game. Was pumped we got him but cant cruise early in a career. Have to make your time on the list count for something. Tough competition for spots now with Mccartin going back. His blessing might come from Melican who looks as awful as ever. Early days for Lewis, might take time to settle into the year.

...which reminds me that my glass is half empty. Time to refill.

[Blood Fever]

Gould would want to do something soon. Out of contract this year, never been an emergency for a senior game. Was pumped we got him but cant cruise early in a career. Have to make your time on the list count for something. Tough competition for spots now with Mccartin going back. His blessing might come from Melican who looks as awful as ever. Early days for Lewis, might take time to settle into the year.

Maybe Gould's not up to it.

[Ludwig]

Maybe Gould's not up to it.

I'll get it started. Fill in the blanks:

Not Up To It Best 22

B Melican
HB Gould
C Rowbottom Hewett
HF Hayward
F Wicks
Foll Mills
Interchange

[TheBloods]

Maybe Gould's not up to it.

I would wait to see him in action before making that call . Amazing to think hes been on the list for over a year now and all we have seen of him is five quarters in pre season matches !!

- - - Updated - - -

I'll get it started. Fill in the blanks:

Not Up To It Best 22

B Melican
HB Gould
C Rowbottom Hewett
HF Hayward
F Wicks
Foll Mills
Interchange

Who in their right mind would suggest Mills not up to it ?

[mcs]

In pre-game warm-up drills for the past couple of years it's been clear that we've been working a basic 22 man structure of 5 forwards, 7 backs, a ruck and, effectively, 9 mids, themselves rotating through inside and outside roles, with one going forward for centre bounces for purposes of the 6-6-6 rule, and subsequently coming back towards the middle of the ground.

The defensive set-up has involved the seven in rotation, with, of course, Reid or, last year, Hayward dropping back to make the extra man towards the end of quarters, or on an ad hoc basis to slow an opposition on a roll.

Thanks O'Reilly, good insight. I'm not good enough at picking up that sort of thing (never look closely enough at that point, usually too busy nattering away to the better half or my friends ha!). But I thought I wasn't entirely mad in thinking we seemed to be heading that sort of way. I predict it'll be a trend if these rule changes speed the game up as much as it is expected they might.

[Blood Fever]

I'll get it started. Fill in the blanks:

Not Up To It Best 22

B Melican
HB Gould
C Rowbottom Hewett
HF Hayward
F Wicks
Foll Mills
Interchange

Overreaction. Not suggesting the same for any of the others on your list who all have shown themselves at the very least capable of playing AFL footy

[liz]

Gould would want to do something soon.

He's just entering his second year on the list, the first of which was ruined for anyone not playing senior football by the lack of second tier football.

It took Hewett a full two years playing NEAFL before he got a sniff at senior football.

Reg made his debut two-thirds of the way through his second season on the list, but then spent the next two seasons firmly on the fringes of the senior team before emerging as a highly competent defender.

Nick Smith managed a couple of (lacklustre games) in his second season and, like Reg, spent the next couple of seasons in and out of the senior side.

Aliir made his debut six games into his third season on the list (after being drafted as a 19yo).

Each of the above illustrates how some players take a little longer to adjust to the training and playing demands of AFL footy. They also demonstrate that the club is prepared to show patience, and wait until the player is ready, even if that takes a few years.

[dejavoodoo44]

I'll get it started. Fill in the blanks:

Not Up To It Best 22

B Melican
HB Gould
C Rowbottom Hewett
HF Hayward
F Wicks
Foll Mills
Interchange

Perhaps we should do a nostalgic 2005 version?

Can't win a premiership with these players in the side.

Bevan. Dempster.
Roberts-Thomson.
Jolly. Mathews.
Ablett.
Davis.