Rumour Bluemour Discussion XXXVII - A return to normalcy

[gbatman]

At one stage last year on SEN, when we had strung a few wins together, Hoyney (I think) rolled out some stats about how our better ball movement and transition from the backline was due in large part to Kemp. Can't can't recall why but probably due to him taking on the man and taking a few risks etc ???

I could see that. When he was playing higher up the field he was playing well and taking on the game a fair bit.

There are a lot of pieces where our ball movement fails.

One is that our forward line has too many passengers and not enough good overhead players. Our small forwards sit back and wait for the ball to be kicked to someone else because they have no overhead game and they also are not genuine forwards, they have been taught to play there, they don't have the instincts to play there and do no hunt the ball in the air. So often we get the ball rolling and then become held up because the options forward of the ball are no good.

The other one is lack of pace in the midfield. We lack run and carry and we have too many mids who are too slow to get forward of the ball and generate run.

Then there is the issue in defence where we also lack smarts and run. Saad often is our only quality rebounding half back. IMO you need three. Kemp has done the role at times. Finding someone to sit on the other half back flank and take the game apart has been difficult. No Docherty, we moved Williams, Boyd was in and out and on and off.

I think having Kemp forward will improve our ball movement quite a lot more than having him back has.

We do need to fix our run from defence. Hopefully Saad stays fit and perhaps Docherty moves back there. Maybe Hollands, Boyd, Wilson and Cowan can lift. Williams may also get fitter and return to defence. Hard to say how things will work out for us.

 

[AndyLucimitis]

I could see that. When he was playing higher up the field he was playing well and taking on the game a fair bit.

There are a lot of pieces where our ball movement fails.

One is that our forward line has too many passengers and not enough good overhead players. Our small forwards sit back and wait for the ball to be kicked to someone else because they have no overhead game and they also are not genuine forwards, they have been taught to play there, they don't have the instincts to play there and do no hunt the ball in the air. So often we get the ball rolling and then become held up because the options forward of the ball are no good.

The other one is lack of pace in the midfield. We lack run and carry and we have too many mids who are too slow to get forward of the ball and generate run.

Then there is the issue in defence where we also lack smarts and run. Saad often is our only quality rebounding half back. IMO you need three. Kemp has done the role at times. Finding someone to sit on the other half back flank and take the game apart has been difficult. No Docherty, we moved Williams, Boyd was in and out and on and off.

I think having Kemp forward will improve our ball movement quite a lot more than having him back has.

We do need to fix our run from defence. Hopefully Saad stays fit and perhaps Docherty moves back there. Maybe Hollands, Boyd, Wilson and Cowan can lift. Williams may also get fitter and return to defence. Hard to say how things will work out for us.

Are you saying we need a "Dan Houston" type player ??

 

[4flagsin5yrs]

Whatever Kemp is, he needs to improve at it. He did well in games the midfield dominated but was shakey when under pressure and ultimately only played in his non preferred role due to injuries by the end of the year. We would be better served trying to get Lewis Young up to scratch

he's only played 44 games....

 

[GT619]

For that package yes. But if say Jagga was there at our pick (RIC trade up and go Lalor and FOSas suggested) I could see MEL and STK calling. It would cost them 5/9 or 7/8 if they want him that bad. That’s 2 trades you’d have to consider - though highly unlikely IMO.

if our player choice is gone I'd consider it

 

[Vamos Juddamente]

A high profile North Melbourne player when asked if he has heard who they were taking said that Clarkson is keen on Finn O’Sullivan at pick 2.

Is it true that your phone is remotely blown up if you have posted incorrectly.

 

[FlowersByIrene]

Re: the rumour of North keen on FOS - Lalor and O'Sullivan going 1 and 2 is my dream scenario.

 

[CrippaTheGoat9]

Lalor and O'Sullivan going 1 and 2 is my dream scenario.

And who goes 3? Jagga?

 

[FlowersByIrene]

And who goes 3? Jagga?

I'd personally prefer Draper but I think we can't go wrong picking between Jagga and Sid.

I stress if Jagga goes top 2 that we'll make a bad decision.

 

[AlecDuncan]

At one stage last year on SEN, when we had strung a few wins together, Hoyney (I think) rolled out some stats about how our better ball movement and transition from the backline was due in large part to Kemp. Can't can't recall why but probably due to him taking on the man and taking a few risks etc ???

Yep. That's the Leeroy Jenkins in him. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

 

[4flagsin5yrs]

I'd personally prefer Draper but I think we can't go wrong picking between Jagga and Sid.

I stress if Jagga goes top 2 that we'll make a bad decision.

I'm curious, how much of a stand out were, for example, Judd or Sheezel, in their junior careers?

Do the young blokes who really succeed, in the senior AFL ranks, have a common recognisable trait?

 

[marcmurphy3]

At the start of 2025 I expect the midfield pecking order (assuming all fit) to be:

1. Cripps
2. Walsh
3. Cerra
4. Hewett
5. E.Hollands*
6. Docherty*
7. Lord
8. Pick 3*
9. Camporeale

We likely play 4 main mids with others rotating through. The asterix beside Doch, Elijah and Pick 3 indicates I expect them to be best 22 in other roles but that's where they sit in the pecking order as a primary onballer.

Carroll probably slots in between Lord and pick 3, so unlikely to get a go even with a few injuries and he has no secondary position so won't be called upon in another role barring catastrophe. If Walsh or Cerra goes down, I think we would sooner push Doch or Elijah to fulltime mid then have called on Carroll.

 

[marcmurphy3]

I'm curious, how much of a stand out were, for example, Judd or Sheezel, in their junior careers?

Do the young blokes who really succeed, in the senior AFL ranks, have a common recognisable trait?

They were gun juniors but plenty of others are and don't go on to have the same careers. David Swallow is as highly a rated junior as I can remember. Even though he's been a great servant of GC he hasn't had a career that matches his junior exploits.

It's hard to pick one trait but freakishly talented with a great work ethic is a start. Plenty at a junior level get by on talent and others work really hard but to get to the top echelon you need both.

The other thing is not just having elite traits but the right combination of them to succeed in a certain position. Dow a great example. His clearance work was elite as a junior, but he was always going to struggle at AFL level as an inside mid given his bodysize and poor tank.

 

[FlowersByIrene]

At the start of 2025 I expect the midfield pecking order (assuming all fit) to be:

1. Cripps
2. Walsh
3. Cerra
4. Hewett
5. E.Hollands*
6. Docherty*
7. Lord
8. Pick 3*
9. Camporeale

We likely play 4 main mids with others rotating through. The asterix beside Doch, Elijah and Pick 3 indicates I expect them to be best 22 in other roles but that's where they sit in the pecking order as a primary onballer.

Carroll probably slots in between Lord and pick 3, so unlikely to get a go even with a few injuries and he has no secondary position so won't be called upon in another role barring catastrophe. If Walsh or Cerra goes down, I think we would sooner push Doch or Elijah to fulltime mid then have called on Carroll.

If we select one of the midfielders with pace and clearance skills (i.e Jagga or Sid) i'd hope they'd be straight into 4 or 5 on that list as of Round 1.

 

[Dramoth]

Yep, players step up, they are going to demand more. I'm hoping we can offer him contract length and that keeps him like with all our top line players. Hoping he can be a bit of a Gunstan type.

We want other clubs to want our players.

I'm hoping Moir and kemp step up and we can have a clean out of C grade forwards and go hard at recruiting forwards at the end of next year.

I'm going to make the call. Cottrell, Fogarty, Fantasia are on their last contract with us and will be told to explore their options next season. Williams, Durdin and Motlop may also be in the same situation.

I think we go hard and will bring in a number of genuine forwards next season or late this one. Kemp and Moir will step up and we will be scrambling to get their contracts extended. Pick 3 will likely be able to play forward I feel as well.

I think a clean out of players is coming the next few seasons. Can see another mid who has been best 22 going as well.

So we will have space to move. It's just that we may struggle as some of these players are contracted so we may not be able to shift them.

I'm personally thinking that Raz will finish up next year and he'll move into a coaching role.

 

[Dramoth]

Are we still talking about Kemp playing midfield?

I wouldn't mind seeing him as a high half forward flank switching with Blacres on the wing to mix things up a bit.

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

I hope that Marcus Davies

Marcus Davies

Age

33

Ht

188cm

Wt

90kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

7.9

2star

K

4.9

2star

HB

3.1

3star

M

2.0

2star

T

2.7

4star

No current season stats available

D

8.6

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

3.2

3star

M

2.0

3star

T

2.8

5star

kid plays midfield one day.

 

[Dramoth]

I hope that Marcus Davies kid plays midfield one day.

Is that before or after we trade in Proud?

 

[WalshYouLegend]

I'd personally prefer Draper but I think we can't go wrong picking between Jagga and Sid.

I stress if Jagga goes top 2 that we'll make a bad decision.

Whoever it is if he moves like Jagga then I will walk right in, Sid right down, and baby let my hair hang down. (And renew my membership).

I’m happy with any of the top 4 and trust Austin’s judgment but my vote is with Sid.