2016 Pre-Season (All news, press conferences, training reports, Photos)

[James North]

I saw him with the coaches shooting for goal outside 50 on the run and from the wing when I went to training.

Let's see how he is used during the year on the field playing AFL. He's currently in a yellow training singlet.

 

[Ironmonger]

I'd prefer to see Mayes further up the ground.

But I think we need a high-quality passer in defence, and I don't see a better option. I know others liked Rich in that role, but I think he's far more valuable getting the ball in dangerous positions further up the ground, more so than Mayes.

If Cutler had made better progress perhaps he'd be an option. Maybe even Bewick or Harwood if they were 10% better footballers than they actually are.

As it stands though I think the only way we're going to fill that role is by making a sacrifice somewhere else.

 

[Cooties]

Leppa's clearly just playing the long bluff against West Coast Round 1 - put Mayes in a yellow singlet in the pre-season and then play him forward... Tactical genius (is what I'm telling myself)

 

[Quigley]

I'd prefer to see Mayes further up the ground.

But I think we need a high-quality passer in defence, and I don't see a better option. I know others liked Rich in that role, but I think he's far more valuable getting the ball in dangerous positions further up the ground, more so than Mayes.

If Cutler had made better progress perhaps he'd be an option. Maybe even Bewick or Harwood if they were 10% better footballers than they actually are.

As it stands though I think the only way we're going to fill that role is by making a sacrifice somewhere else.

Beams, Harwood, Cutler are all above average kicks coming out of defense imo. Hanley and Rich if they play time in defense are both better than that. Paparone has improved every year with his skills and Hipwood has the potential to be an excellent kick.

It will be interesting to see how William improves and next year Rolls is an elite short kick of the ball as a small defender. It would also not shock me if Allison started his career in the back half ala Heppell and he is another who could be an elite kick.

 

[Wounded Lion]

We also need to be conscious of our usual defensive set up, it's not a traditional set up.

We generally play with 7 defenders, using one in a running/sweeper role, Rich played this last year.

Mayes would be best suited here in place of Rich as he pushes back into the midfield.

It doesn't require him to be accountable for a direct opponent, he just has to maintain his place in the zone.

 

[Kevvo]

When they spoke to McStay right at the beginning of pre-season, he indicated that he'd be training forward, back and maybe even mid at stages.

It's plausible that Mayes will spend time across the different lines. No need to assume anything definitive at this point I'd say.

 

[Leemas]

Didn't leppa say in the modern game players need to be able to play everywhere? Mayes has shown he's more than capable up forward. I'd be happy for him to play there permanantly but is he better than our other forwards? I'd argue no. Christensen, Zorko, Taylor, d.beams, m.robbo, rocky, green are all better half forwards I'd say.

 

[a mayes ing]

Didn't leppa say in the modern game players need to be able to play everywhere? Mayes has shown he's more than capable up forward. I'd be happy for him to play there permanantly but is he better than our other forwards? I'd argue no. Christensen, Zorko, Taylor, d.beams, m.robbo, rocky, green are all better half forwards I'd say.

Mayes has shown that he has the ability to kick multiple goals. Think he kicked a bag of 4 and 5 at one stage iirc.
Rocky is a midfielder who kicks 1 goal a game
D.Beams is a better midfielder. If he rests forward, he could kick 1-2.
Zorko could kick 1-2,
Taylor - varies game by game.
M.Robbo, better midfielder, but can kick 1-2 if he rests forward.

I would put Green as the only forward better than Mayes at this stage. But Mayes has that ability to know exactly where the goals are, runs in the right spots and kicks accurately.

 

[HowYouDoin]

Yep and Sam Mayes was wearing Yellow

Wish leppa wasn't so closed minded with his whole "AFL Players need to play everywhere" agenda. Because, it's incredibly false "As forward will never be seen in the midfield" and it ruins the confidence of players who were once in form.

Restricting mayes in the defense will only restrict us from producing an All star midfielder.

 

[James North]

Wish leppa wasn't so closed minded with his whole "AFL Players need to play everywhere" agenda. Because, it's incredibly false "As forward will never be seen in the midfield" and it ruins the confidence of players who were once in form.

Restricting mayes in the defense will only restrict us from producing an All star midfielder.

So you want him to play everywhere?

 

[James North]

Hang on, are there stats about mouthguard and smiles per photo on Mayes? This yellow singlet has got me wondering...

 

[chopperduck]

I always felt Mayes would make a better winger. He could play as a rebounding hb flanker / pushing onto the wing. I dont mind him playing from the HB line, he has footy smarts and we've lacked a bit of that over the past 2 years. Think he could form a damaging partnership with the likes of Beams, Harwood, Cutler, Rich and Hanley rotating through. Some good kicks and smart players in that lot to really start our attack from the backline. Mayes would be the type to sneak up and kick a goal playing from HB as well.

 

[POBT]

I don't want to downplay the arguments around position but, first and foremost, a lot of our guys actually need to learn how to be better footballers. Learning a position is a bit secondary IMO. I get that being put in the right position can aid development but I don't think it is critical. I think it is an easy/convenient thing for us supporters to focus on.

I see Mayes having a few significant flaws in his game and I'm not totally convinced a positional change actually will overcome those flaws. I've said before that the bloke has enough talent to play almost any medium role on the ground. He's has got every attribute you would want footballing-wise from a creative HBF. But until he gets more physicality, covers the ground better, improves agility, learns to stick tackles and wins more one on one contest, he simply won't realise his full potential.

Rather than a positional focus, I'm more interested in whether Mayes is going well in the running drills, whether he looks to have put on a bit of size and whether he looks to be more competitive in contact situations. Because if he's going better in some of those areas, he'll lock up a spot in the best 22, irrespective of what role he plays.

FWIW, I want him in the half forward and mid rotations too. I just feel the position debate detracts from the other issues with Mayes.

 

[James North]

Came to write something similar but in about two lines and riddled with sarcasm.

He's a talented kid, but can go missing if left at HF ... I liked his game from HB/wing towards the end of this year.

 

[jackess]

Playing Mayes down back is back but what has really backfired has been giving Aish time as an inside midfielder and not Mayes.

 

[James North]

Playing Mayes down back is back but what has really backfired has been giving Aish time as an inside midfielder and not Mayes.

Broke his finger didn't it?

 

[Wounded Lion]

Leppa wants half forwards who can accelerate and press up to create a turnover.

Mayes does not offer this. Not by choice, he just doesn't have the natural acceleration of Zorko, Taylor, Christensen, Robinson, Bell or Bewick.

He is a great uncontested player, but the way we press up try to create space on the fat side, he is best suited to running between wing & half-back to launch our attack, as he demonstrated against Carlton in Rd 20.

Whether he was pick #7 or #108, Leppa doesn't care, he is recruiting players who can implement his game plan, Mayes was recruited by Vossy.

If he chooses to leave because of being played out of position, then he is choosing to not work hard enough for long enough.

 

[jackess]

Leppa wants half forwards who can accelerate and press up to create a turnover.

Mayes does not offer this. Not by choice, he just doesn't have the natural acceleration of Zorko, Taylor, Christensen, Robinson, Bell or Bewick.

He is a great uncontested player, but the way we press up try to create space on the fat side, he is best suited to running between wing & half-back to launch our attack, as he demonstrated against Carlton in Rd 20.

Whether he was pick #7 or #108, Leppa doesn't care, he is recruiting players who can implement his game plan, Mayes was recruited by Vossy.

If he chooses to leave because of being played out of position, then he is choosing to not work hard enough for long enough.

We also went into the draft looking for players who can hit the scoreboard which is part of the reason why we didn't draft Wagner. Mayes definitely can and would also be hand for his ball use when going inside 50.

 

[rusty08]

I'd much prefer him as that medium lead up forward. Adds another dimension. Similar to Ash, in that something always seemed to happen when he played forward. Mayes is smart and has goal sense. For a side renowned for struggling to score, just seeing his name in the forward line makes us look more potent.

 

[M Malice]

does anybody know when the boys start their christmas/new year break and their return date?

 

[Panthera]

So Mayesy plays his first year largely as a half-forward, Has a great rookie year, looks classy, composed, knows where the goals are, with maybe even a bit of S. Black about him. In short looks like a 200 game player.

Then he gets played in defence for the following 2 years, he lacks confidence, composure, is said to be struggling a bit off field, certainly struggling on field and is a definite flight risk after this season. So we continue to play him in defence? I mean I know you cant just play guys where they want to be and players must sometimes sacrifice for team structure etc. but in a team lacking classy F50 ball users I cannot comprehend the reasoning here...

Wait, what - when was our first practice match

Still nearly 4 months 'til round 1

 

[CarloLion]

Wait, what - when was our first practice match

Still nearly 4 months 'til round 1

My point being if we hypothetically continue to play him in defence, It would be bemusing is all.

 

[WA Lion]

Wait - so pretty much the last 2 pages of debate has been triggered by Sam Mayes wearing a yellow top at pre-season training???

You know it is off-season when the colour of a top causes so much debate!

 

[Panthera]

My point being if we hypothetically continue to play him in defence, It would be bemusing is all.

Yes, agree. But we do have a plethora of classy half forwards too in Green, Zorko, Taylor, Christensen.

As much as I'd hate to lose Sammy, maybe he is expendable

Still, overall, his best position for mine is high half forward drifting towards goal.

 

[CarloLion]

Yes, agree. But we do have a plethora of classy half forwards too in Green, Zorko, Taylor, Christensen.

As much as I'd hate to lose Sammy, maybe he is expendable

Still, overall, his best position for mine is high half forward drifting towards goal.

I kind of think he has more class/potential than all of those guys, but yeh its not as if our structure would fall apart without him, I agree.