Rd 16 v Essendon Bombers @ MCG

[Goal Sneak]

Nick Hind plays a similar role to Sinclair who was tagged successfully by Clarke last week. I wanted Campbell to play on Hind, who is exceptionally quick, but Campbell is also very quick and could stay with him. It's not easy to play a small forward behind Papley. Similar to playing a tall forward behind Buddy.

It was worth trying Campbell as a small defender. Although I don't think he played that poorly, there are certainly better options in defence for us. IIRC,, Campbell played as a forward at times for the Allies or similar combined teams, and played well. I think he can play the position. There's really not a spot for him in the midfield while we have a nearly full list to choose from. Quite often a VFL player coming in the side takes up a small forward role. I think Campbell will have to try to break into the side on a regular basis by playing that role.

I guess with Tom and Bud being our main focal points up forward, it would be difficult to play behind them as they demand the space and therefore get the benefit of the best field position. We rely on these two quite heavily. Fortunately, they don't have a lot of bad games and have been enormous.

In saying that, I think we need to bring our other forwards into the game. I think we could utilise the whole forward line in a more effective way by using Bud to create space for Logan and Sam, especially if Bud seems to be well held by their best defender. If we can get 1-on-1 contests in our forward line, we have the players to create plenty of opportunities. This makes us less predictable which in-turn should help the small forwards.

I'm not sure if Horse was the forward coach in 2005 but the cohesiveness of Hall, O'Loughlin, Davis and O'Keefe is something we should be trying to emulate.

[i'm-uninformed2]

Nick Hind plays a similar role to Sinclair who was tagged successfully by Clarke last week. I wanted Campbell to play on Hind, who is exceptionally quick, but Campbell is also very quick and could stay with him. It's not easy to play a small forward behind Papley. Similar to playing a tall forward behind Buddy.

It was worth trying Campbell as a small defender. Although I don't think he played that poorly, there are certainly better options in defence for us. IIRC,, Campbell played as a forward at times for the Allies or similar combined teams, and played well. I think he can play the position. There's really not a spot for him in the midfield while we have a nearly full list to choose from. Quite often a VFL player coming in the side takes up a small forward role. I think Campbell will have to try to break into the side on a regular basis by playing that role.

I think the issue with the small forward set up is we have neither a second good offensive small forward, nor a player who's able to fill team needs by being a selfless but manic small forward.

Take Melbourne, who have Kossie, Sparrow and Spargo. Kossie tackles and chases, but is primarily an offensive player. Paps is slightly different in style and skills set, but fundamentally the same.

They then have Spargo and Sparrow, who have the job of chasing and harrassing, fill the lanes or channels on exit, and being high half forwards at time. Perfect role players. When Richmond was at its peak, their smalls covered the dual roles perfectly. Brisbane has Cameron as the goal scorer, McCarthy as the role player. At their best, Carlton has a good mix of small forwards. Freo does too.

Unfortunately, with Wicks' regression this year, and Ronke's apparent limitations, we've not got that complementary piece. Right now, it's a real weakness on our list.

[Blood Fever]

I think the issue with the small forward set up is we have neither a second good offensive small forward, nor a player who's able to fill team needs by being a selfless but manic small forward.

Take Melbourne, who have Kossie, Sparrow and Spargo. Kossie tackles and chases, but is primarily an offensive player. Paps is slightly different in style and skills set, but fundamentally the same.

They then have Spargo and Sparrow, who have the job of chasing and harrassing, fill the lanes or channels on exit, and being high half forwards at time. Perfect role players. When Richmond was at its peak, their smalls covered the dual roles perfectly. Brisbane has Cameron as the goal scorer, McCarthy as the role player. At their best, Carlton has a good mix of small forwards. Freo does too.

Unfortunately, with Wicks' regression this year, and Ronke's apparent limitations, we've not got that complementary piece. Right now, it's a real weakness on our list.

We play our best up forward.with Wicks in the team and in form.

[barracuda]

I see he got a lazy 28 touches playing as a small forward in the vfl on the weekend. That’s about 40 for a midfielder.

[i'm-uninformed2]

We play our best up forward.with Wicks in the team and in form.

Oh, I agree. It’s unfortunate we have seen much of it this year, and even when he’s had ok games, his silly frees have hurt so much.

[TheBloods]

Well deserved Chad

Warner polls votes from the coaches

29 for the year now . Such a star already . Only 21

[Roadrunner]

We play our best up forward.with Wicks in the team and in form.

The trouble is, he hasn’t been in form and has given away silly frees- so in fact he has been a liability. It doesn’t matter if he racks up possessions in the twos. when the team is well on top. The question is: can he play the role needed? So far this year the answer is no, so we need to try someone else- for now Clarke may be worth persevering with. I would pick him ahead of Wicks in a heartbeat- absolute no brainer!

[Mr Magoo]

poor Campbell is running on and off the ground in a variety of positions and up and down from the ressies. I suspect he has little confidence and is not sure what he is meant to be doing when he is out on the ground

I dont agree that he has been running around in a variety of positions. He has spent the entire season at half back where in my view he was pretty ineffective. He wasnt locking down on anyone well enough and he wasnt making metres as a running half back. He hasnt been dropped that often and then finally they switched him this week to half forward and again had little impact.

He needs to go back to ressies , get his hands on the ball and get his confidence up. It may feel a little daunting for him seeing Gulden getting all the accolades when they were equally showered with them in their junior days. Gulden seems to have adjusted very quickly while IMO he is still unproven at AFL level. He has some wonderful attributes (eg his long left foot) but he hasnt shown yet that he is up to AFL level , let alone on his way to being a gun.

He was not a large accumulator at junior levels but he was very impactful when he did have the ball. So far Ive seen glimpses of that but unless you can do it 10-15 times a game instead of 5-6 its worthless in modern afl.

[TheBloods]

I dont agree that he has been running around in a variety of positions. He has spent the entire season at half back where in my view he was pretty ineffective. He wasnt locking down on anyone well enough and he wasnt making metres as a running half back. He hasnt been dropped that often and then finally they switched him this week to half forward and again had little impact.

He needs to go back to ressies , get his hands on the ball and get his confidence up. It may feel a little daunting for him seeing Gulden getting all the accolades when they were equally showered with them in their junior days. Gulden seems to have adjusted very quickly while IMO he is still unproven at AFL level. He has some wonderful attributes (eg his long left foot) but he hasnt shown yet that he is up to AFL level , let alone on his way to being a gun.

He was not a large accumulator at junior levels but he was very impactful when he did have the ball. So far Ive seen glimpses of that but unless you can do it 10-15 times a game instead of 5-6 its worthless in modern afl.

He will be a star mid , watch some of his roving , clearance work at stoppages from highlights , hes fantastic . Quick and powerful through the hips . I said start of this year him and Chad will be our two burst mids , break away from the contests and deliver out of the centre . Can tell we want 2 of these mids thats why we also have Papley at stoppages . Chad was playing mids from day 1 , in reserves then at afl level last yr . Its time we give Campbell the same chance . Then next yr hopefully he is ready and can slot in mids to replace Papley and pair up with Chad

[AB Swannie]

Even during Campbell’s draft year where he was rated so highly, the main criticism was his tank. Remember, he only averaged 12 disposals when he played under 18s Championships for the Allies (although that was as an underager).

The truth is that Horse has shown that he will play young kids in the mids if they have the physical attributes (Chad, RB). Campbell is not there yet so has to be played elsewhere.

[TheBloods]

Even during Campbell’s draft year where he was rated so highly, the main criticism was his tank. Remember, he only averaged 12 disposals when he played under 18s Championships for the Allies (although that was as an underager).

The truth is that Horse has shown that he will play young kids in the mids if they have the physical attributes (Chad, RB). Campbell is not there yet so has to be played elsewhere.

Why ! Needs to be playing as a mid in the twos if hes not ready for mid in the seniors . Silly logic , should we be playing Stretch as a forward cause hes not ready to ruck at afl level yet ? Cmon

[liz]

Why ! Needs to be playing as a mid in the twos if hes not ready for mid in the seniors . Silly logic , should we be playing Stretch as a forward cause hes not ready to ruck at afl level yet ? Cmon

He predominantly does play forward in the VFL team, though maybe that's less because he's not physically ready to play ruck at AFL and more because we (sometimes) have an abundance of ruck-types in the VFL team. They certainly seem to preference giving Ladhams (or Hickey) and Sinclair time in the ruck. And Amartey short spells there too. Sometimes.

And Campbell has largely played in and around the midfield when lining up in the VFL side (this season at least; small sample).

[Maltopia]

Even during Campbell’s draft year where he was rated so highly, the main criticism was his tank. Remember, he only averaged 12 disposals when he played under 18s Championships for the Allies (although that was as an underager).

The truth is that Horse has shown that he will play young kids in the mids if they have the physical attributes (Chad, RB). Campbell is not there yet so has to be played elsewhere.

Mills had the attributes years before he was put in the midfield, so the truth is Horse is very stubborn and inconsistent with where he plays some players. I am not saying Campbell is ready for the midfield full time, but why don't they at least rotate him through there when he is in the team?

[liz]

Mills had the attributes years before he was put in the midfield, so the truth is Horse is very stubborn and inconsistent with where he plays some players. I am not saying Campbell is ready for the midfield full time, but why don't they at least rotate him through there when he is in the team?

I don't think that was (mainly) due to a doubt whether Mills could cut it in the midfield (certainly from year 2; arguably in year 1) and more due to how he was valued in the backline role he made his own. For a couple of years before he was finally moved, we were told he was going to play midfield only for that to be abandoned when we suffered injury to other defenders (eg Rampe's arm) or just because Longmire wasn't confident in the defence without him.

[AB Swannie]

Mills had the attributes years before he was put in the midfield, so the truth is Horse is very stubborn and inconsistent with where he plays some players. I am not saying Campbell is ready for the midfield full time, but why don't they at least rotate him through there when he is in the team?

I’d say the truth is that Horse plays people where he thinks it is best for the team. Many supporters disagree with his decisions but it is simply not true that he won’t play kids in the midfield.

If you don’t have the tank, you can’t run both ways. Doesn’t matter if it is in stints or not. Tank = repeat efforts.