Prediction Changes Round 14 vs Geelong

[GlennTwenty]

Good luck is good management
Honestly but, I could have moved a few things around to have caught at least 2 of those games but I've seen enough to know that my time was better spent.

Anyway, I have a big Saturday planned this coming weekend of dragging my scrotum across fields of glass before bathing them in a vinegar/habanero mix so probably miss this one against the Cats sadly.

I'll be at my daughter's netball which means I'll at least get to see some tough 1:1 defence for a change

 

[archiemoses]

Really going to benefit from petrucelles speed when it's wet and a contested slug fest out there tomorrow.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

Really going to benefit from petrucelles speed when it's wet and a contested slug fest out there tomorrow.

His best game came against Port in some of the worst conditions I’ve ever experienced.

 

[Ishmael_]

I think Jones back is almost entirely based on his runs through the middle earlier in the year. Doesn't mind taking the game on and a handball receive.

I get the idea, but a defender he is not - at least at present. Then again neither was Jetta and he was handy. His kicking was of course more lethal.

Really, I don't mind the positional change. Jones is treading water and constantly drifts out if games. Perhaps having the ball come to him will keep him in games longer.

It's worth a shot, otherwise I can see him being on the scrapheap, irrespective of his good qualities.

 

[Scotland]

Witherden is alright but look at the back 6 as named.

B: Hurn Barrass Duggan
HB: Jones McGovern Hough

On top of that we've got Yeo on ball who has played half back.

I wouldn't say that back 6 is crying out for another player who can find the ball in space. What it's missing is key defenders that pay their opponents respect and Brad ****ing Sheppard. Even Cole who doesn't win a lot of ball and Schofield who had his creativity killed by years of playing under Worsfold were defence first defenders.

It's awkward but until Hurn finishes up we don't really know what to do with Rotham, Witherden and Nelson.

 

[shooshka]

Witherden at least knows how to get into positions where he can accumulate the ball, averaging 24 disposals per game and is leading the club for metres gained. Those disposals have also come at 85% effectiveness.

His contested defence one-on-one loss rate is ranked 3rd at the club among players that have faced 10 or more such situations, behind only McGovern and H.Edwards.

It could easily be argued that many members of the team are performing at a level far worse than that, yet are retaining their positions.


Jones is currently averaging half the amount of both disposals and metres gained per game. Those disposals are coming with a comparative 12% reduction in effectiveness. Jones also concedes more clangers and free kicks against per game than Witherden.

Defensively, (from a perspective of actually having to mark someone, rather than just chase ball and tackle) Jones is a complete non-entity. Drifts off his opponent, gets caught ball-watching, doesn't recognise when a switch is coming, and does nothing to cut off lead-up space when it is created ahead of him.

But sure, he is quicker.

It could be argued that the way Witherden is playing (slow movement and quite a few turnovers) is artificially padding his stats.

Most of the time when he disposes of it, the ball ends up back in his area, giving him potential for more stats....


That is all tongue in cheek of course (JJ's disposal last match was horrible), but Witherden's issue to me seems less around leg speed and more about mental speed. Slow decision making kills teams in the modern game as much as poor decision making. Witherden needs to learn to play on as instinct and make decisions on the move.

On SM-G986B using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Tugga27]

Witherden is alright but look at the back 6 as named.

B: Hurn Barrass Duggan
HB: Jones McGovern Hough

On top of that we've got Yeo on ball who has played half back.

I wouldn't say that back 6 is crying out for another player who can find the ball in space. What it's missing is key defenders that pay their opponents respect and Brad ******* Sheppard. Even Cole who doesn't win a lot of ball and Schofield who had his creativity killed by years of playing under Worsfold were defence first defenders.

It's awkward but until Hurn finishes up we don't really know what to do with Rotham, Witherden and Nelson.

Looking at the back six, I think what we're missing is a halfbacker with genuine pace and elite kicking, Lewis Jetta style.
Hell, I'd just settle for decent pace and good kicking TBH.

Last year I thought Hurn should retire, this year I think he's out best flanker.

On the Witherden debate, when he got turned inside out by Fogerty, who then ran away
from him, I got the biro out and put a line through him.

I had my doubts about him and that confirmed them.

 

[Biggie]

To the Gameday thread!