- Dec 1, 2013
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- AFL Club
- Brisbane Lions
I do but we have been terrible at centre clearances for years.You realise Beams and Rocky were playing with some serious pain?
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I do but we have been terrible at centre clearances for years.You realise Beams and Rocky were playing with some serious pain?
Rockliff was the number 1 clearance winner in the competition over the first 8 rounds or so before his injury. I don't think replacing him with a young player is the solution. Also we ranked 5th in the competition this year for centre clearances as a team. Not a bad effort considering our 2 best clearance winners were on 1 leg for most of the year. It's not as big a problem as you thinkFeel like we need to change up our centre clearances. Beams, Rocky and whoever else we had in there just didn't work. We lost so many centre clearances it was crazy which directly reflected on the inside 50 differential. We need to think outside of the box. Berry, Matho and some speed (christensen, Taylor or Cameron maybe).
Was pretty surprised to learn that we are equal 4th for CC. Would be interesting to know what a "clearance " is because often we get first hands to the ball but then get tackled straight away. Also, feels like opposition spread a lot better and a lot quicker through the centre than we are. I actually think it is a big issue because it directly correlates with our inside 50 differential.Rockliff was the number 1 clearance winner in the competition over the first 8 rounds or so before his injury. I don't think replacing him with a young player is the solution. Also we ranked 5th in the competition this year for centre clearances as a team. Not a bad effort considering our 2 best clearance winners were on 1 leg for most of the year. It's not as big a problem as you think
FB: Daniel Rich, Harris Andrews, Darcy Gardiner
HB: Alex Witherden, Daniel McStay, Sam Mayes
C: Hugh McCluggage, Dayne Zorko, Jarrod Berry
HF: Lewis Taylor, Josh Walker, Ryan Bastinac
F: Tom Rockliff, Eric Hipwood, Allen Christensen
R: Stefan Martin, Dayne Beams, Paddy Dow
I: Rhys Mathieson, Mitch Robinson, Ben Keays, Ryan Lester
FB: Daniel Rich, Harris Andrews, Darcy Gardiner
HB: Alex Witherden, Daniel McStay, Sam Mayes
C: Hugh McCluggage, Dayne Zorko, Jarrod Berry
HF: Lewis Taylor, Josh Walker, Ryan Bastinac
F: Tom Rockliff, Eric Hipwood, Allen Christensen
R: Stefan Martin, Dayne Beams, Paddy Dow
I: Rhys Mathieson, Mitch Robinson, Ben Keays, Ryan Lester
Was pretty surprised to learn that we are equal 4th for CC. Would be interesting to know what a "clearance " is because often we get first hands to the ball but then get tackled straight away. Also, feels like opposition spread a lot better and a lot quicker through the centre than we are. I actually think it is a big issue because it directly correlates with our inside 50 differential.
On another note, pretty sure Rockliff was very high in clearances but more for stoppages rather than centre clearances
Yup, I would expect Dow to start off as a defensive small forward or on the wing before transitioning into the middle.I wouldn't expect too much from Dow for a couple of seasons. I don't think he has the bulk like Berry or SPP to come in and win contested footy in his first season.
Is 4th in centre clearances an absolute number?
If so our games total score (4400) was 200 more than the next most in the competition (Adelaide) and 900 more than Carlton who has the least total score. So that's somewhere between 30 and 150 more chances we've had at a centre clearance than every other team in the comp.
Is 4th in centre clearances an absolute number?
If so our games total score (4400) was 200 more than the next most in the competition (Adelaide) and 900 more than Carlton who has the least total score. So that's somewhere between 30 and 150 more chances we've had at a centre clearance than every other team in the comp.
Not sure l would have Schache as best 22. Needs to earn it. I would have Walker in front for Round 1, has bailed us out multiple times a game with the long kick down the line.B: Gardiner - Andrews - Robertson
HB: Witherden - McStay - Mayes
C: Rich - Beams - Cutler
HF: Robinson - Schache - Bastinac
F: Christensen - Hipwood - Taylor
R: Martin - Rockliff - Zorko
I/C: Lester - Mathieson - McCluggage - Berry
Christensen didn't play a game due to injury. Robinson missed most of the year after a good start. Both of those player missing really hurt our midfield depth espcially with Rockliff and Beams missing games as well as playing half the year with buggered shoulders.
Add 1 or 2 of McKenna, Kennedy, and Miles along with a couple of first round draftees and I'd be pretty happy. Would add a lot more depth.
These are some guys who are still contacted for the next year or two and seem to be a bit on the outer at the seasons end.
Bewick
Cutler
Paps
Frost
Dawson
Bell (injury?)
Can you see any of these guys breaking back into the senior team next year and getting another contract?
They'll all be handy injury depth for the next year or two. I guess it also depends who we recruit in the off season.
Bewick n paps, if they can develop consistency. Cutler seems to be a preseason champion but fails to deliver during games, dont think so. Dawson gets stage fright at top level and i dont think that will change. If frosts head comes good and he can learn to live in the pocket of the fwd he is marking, i think he can. And bell, if he gets fit, aggressive and interested again he definately can. Largely depth players tho.These are some guys who are still contacted for the next year or two and seem to be a bit on the outer at the seasons end.
Bewick
Cutler
Paps
Frost
Dawson
Bell (injury?)
Can you see any of these guys breaking back into the senior team next year and getting another contract?
They'll all be handy injury depth for the next year or two. I guess it also depends who we recruit in the off season.
Cutler doesn't need to fix much to return to the best 22.
I'm interested in your views on this in a bit more detail if you can be bothered.
I am a fan of Cutler, but I wonder a bit about where he fits in and who he displaces. He has some magnificent attributes and he doesn't lack for confidence, but I wonder where he fits in the pecking order now.
IIRC he started this year playing more on the wing and rotating onto the HFF. I would've said that probably puts him in the mix with McCluggage, Allison, Taylor, Bastinac and Cameron if he comes. Cox might be another in that discussion if he can stay more involved in the game. I'm also not sure how Fagan will use Christensen, but I've been operating on the assumption that he'll take Barrett's spot. To my mind, Cutler would have a difficult time dislodging more than one or two of those guys from the pecking order.
Or on the half-back line, Rich, Mayes and Witherden look pretty well settled. I'm not sure how much he played in the backline for the NEAFL either, though I stand to be corrected on this. Based on his B&F finish, I'm thinking the coaches see Gardiner as a best-22 fixture for a while yet. Nick Robertson might be a bit vulnerable, but if he plays like he did in the first half of 2017 then I probably stick with him for his superior attention to his defensive responsibilities. If there's any substance to the McKenna rumors, he's another one who would slot in ahead.
Seemed to play on the wing mostly but his kicking and defensive game let him down. Has a different skill set to the other backs but metres gained is his strength.