Round 8 v Pies at the MCG, 3.20pm Sunday 7 May (pre-game thread)

[waswan]

Those blokes have never played in defence.

Gun midfielders shouldnt

[Jimitron5000]

Stephens omitted.
Corey Warner, McInerney, McAndrew and Fox in.

[stellation]

I would have thought Dylan’s run would be handy on a big ground, although he didn’t spend a huge amounts of TOG last week.

[Roadrunner]

Stephens omitted.
Corey Warner, McInerney, McAndrew and Fox in.

No Gould? Are his papers stamped already?

[i'm-uninformed2]

So, Campbell will stay in off the extended bench list. Either Warner or McInerney will come in for Stephens - though given Justin was omitted then on the injury list in the last fortnight, who knows what’s going on there. I hope Sheldrick gets a second crack at it. Sheather will probably sub again. I imagine McLean stays as second ruck (though from what I’ve seen, it’s good to see McAndrew named and if he gets a crack, good on him).

The interesting one for me is Francis. The Pies don’t play tall forward of the ball. Depending on whether or not the Pies play Cox we mightn’t need him, and we may not anyway. (I’m not much of a fan regardless). But if they do, he may be handy - mainly to release Blakey to run.

[Vonsteinman]

So, Campbell will stay in off the extended bench list. Either Warner or McInerney will come in for Stephens - though given Justin was omitted then on the injury list in the last fortnight, who knows what’s going on there. I hope Sheldrick gets a second crack at it. Sheather will probably sub again. I imagine McLean stays as second ruck (though from what I’ve seen, it’s good to see McAndrew named and if he gets a crack, good on him).

The interesting one for me is Francis. The Pies don’t play tall forward of the ball. Depending on whether or not the Pies play Cox we mightn’t need him, and we may not anyway. (I’m not much of a fan regardless). But if they do, he may be handy - mainly to release Blakey to run.

I’d like to see Francis get a block of games to just see what he can do. Saw a few encouraging glimpses last week that suggest that he could potentially nail down a spot if he gained some confidence…

[wolftone57]

Hickey in the wet is better then Mclean in the dry

Mills in the mids and stay there
All this crap about helping out down back, our mids are all available so lets win the part of the ground that matters most

Couldnt imagine Danger, Petracca, Oliver, Brayshaw etc etc dropping back to HBF or Full back if those teams backline was decimated.

Wasting the midfield talent that is Mills, hands down our most solid contributor when Longmire isnt tagging him

I agree let's win in the guts. That is where it counts

[wolftone57]

Those blokes have never played in defence.

They have not played in defence for good reason, they were identified as mids early. So was Mills but that didn't stop the defensive Longmire from sticking the best mid prospect into defence and wasting him for at least 3 years.

Heeney, Campbell, Gulden (although he has gone there now but in the wrong role), now Roberts and Sheldrick. Horse is terrible at this @@@@. He wants natural mids to play anywhere but mids for at least 3 years. What the @@@@ for?

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So, Campbell will stay in off the extended bench list. Either Warner or McInerney will come in for Stephens - though given Justin was omitted then on the injury list in the last fortnight, who knows what’s going on there. I hope Sheldrick gets a second crack at it. Sheather will probably sub again. I imagine McLean stays as second ruck (though from what I’ve seen, it’s good to see McAndrew named and if he gets a crack, good on him).

The interesting one for me is Francis. The Pies don’t play tall forward of the ball. Depending on whether or not the Pies play Cox we mightn’t need him, and we may not anyway. (I’m not much of a fan regardless). But if they do, he may be handy - mainly to release Blakey to run.

I'm not a fan of a loose in defence. It means you are short somewhere else, generally in the mids. I think the game is generally won at the coalface.

[MattW]

I’d like to see Francis get a block of games to just see what he can do. Saw a few encouraging glimpses last week that suggest that he could potentially nail down a spot if he gained some confidence…

Francis looks painfully slow, but does have a leap and could assist with aerial defusal while Rampe is out.

...or could just make way for Fox - which I think is more likely.

[waswan]

They have not played in defence for good reason, they were identified as mids early. So was Mills but that didn't stop the defensive Longmire from sticking the best mid prospect into defence and wasting him for at least 3 years.

Heeney, Campbell, Gulden (although he has gone there now but in the wrong role), now Roberts and Sheldrick. Horse is terrible at this @@@@. He wants natural mids to play anywhere but mids for at least 3 years. What the @@@@ for?

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I'm not a fan of a loose in defence. It means you are short somewhere else, generally in the mids. I think the game is generally won at the coalface.

Here Here

Midfield is where it matters, Gary Ablett would have been the best HBF the game has ever seen but midfield is where it matters for high end talent

[Ludwig]

The traditional football positions are not as applicable to the modern game. Saying that some player should be in the midfield doesn't address how the game is played. Clearly, if we have 10 'natural' midfielders in the side, they all can't play midfield, something has to give. We either replace some of them with natural defenders or forwards, even if they are less capable players, or play some midfielders out of their best positions.

30 seconds after a stoppage, all the positions look as though they've been thrown into a blender. Part of the game is to get opposition players to play out of their best positions and take advantage of the mismatches that result.

The real questions on positioning relate to things like percentage of time at stoppages, or on ball. Outside players vs. inside players. Tagging, or playing a direct opponent, or zoning. We have a lot of discussion about things which are not relevant. It's just labeling without functional attribution.

I have concerns about Francis and Clarke because of their lack of pace, especially against a quick side like Collingwood. It looks like Francis may not make the cut. I can see why he didn't make it at Essendon.

I thought Longmire was too ebullient in his praise for Franklin's performance last game against weak opponents. We will see how he does against a stronger defence. Maybe his role will change. Who knows?

[waswan]

The traditional football positions are not as applicable to the modern game. Saying that some player should be in the midfield doesn't address how the game is played. Clearly, if we have 10 'natural' midfielders in the side, they all can't play midfield, something has to give. We either replace some of them with natural defenders or forwards, even if they are less capable players, or play some midfielders out of their best positions.

30 seconds after a stoppage, all the positions look as though they've been thrown into a blender. Part of the game is to get opposition players to play out of their best positions and take advantage of the mismatches that result.

The real questions on positioning relate to things like percentage of time at stoppages, or on ball. Outside players vs. inside players. Tagging, or playing a direct opponent, or zoning. We have a lot of discussion about things which are not relevant. It's just labeling without functional attribution.

I have concerns about Francis and Clarke because of their lack of pace, especially against a quick side like Collingwood. It looks like Francis may not make the cut. I can see why he didn't make it at Essendon.

I thought Longmire was too ebullient in his praise for Franklin's performance last game against weak opponents. We will see how he does against a stronger defence. Maybe his role will change. Who knows?

10 natural midfielders, 1 All Australian midfielder

We arent deep enough to sacrifice Mills

[The Big Cat]

Here Here

Midfield is where it matters, Gary Ablett would have been the best HBF the game has ever seen but midfield is where it matters for high end talent

Gary Ablett Jnr started his career on a HFF and goal sneak. It’s okay to express an opinion, but at least get the facts right.

Forty years ago, the HBF was where a team hid its worst player until Barassi put duel Brownlow medalist wingman back there because he realised that’s where attacks often begin and you need class on those back flanks.

[jono2707]

It will be interesting to see how Clarke goes on Daicos on Sunday.

[Ludwig]

It will be interesting to see how Clarke goes on Daicos on Sunday.

I would play Clarke on Sidebottom. Daicos is too quick and shifty for him. If anything, maybe Cunningham on Daicos or even Sheather. There's probably not a good solution whatever we do.