Changes round 4 VS Sydney

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Gaff has been fine. A few questionable moments today, but he's been fine.
From watching him, he hasn't been fine, and I'm not alone in this view.
But stuff my opinion, lets look at some of the data from the 3 games this year.
36.7 possessions a game, geez that sounds good doesn't it.
Err, except averaging 3 clearances, 2 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 0 goals, 1 goal assist per game.
This is nowhere near good enough for someone getting the cheap ball that much.
But nah, he's been fine...
 

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From watching him, he hasn't been fine, and I'm not alone in this view.
But stuff my opinion, lets look at some of the data from the 3 games this year.
36.7 possessions a game, geez that sounds good doesn't it.
Err, except averaging 3 clearances, 2 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 0 goals, 1 goal assist per game.
This is nowhere near good enough for someone getting the cheap ball that much.
But nah, he's been fine...

I don't really like when stats come into play (especially when we're 3 games into a season) but okay...

Upon further inspection your stats aren't saying much anyway

For starters, 2 tackles a game is more than he has averaged per game than over his entire career (1.8 per game). I do agree this number should be up but it's not really his role

Secondly, Gaff only averaged 0.5 goal assists per game last year so he's up on that thus far

Thirdly, why would you expect a higher clearance count and tackle count for someone getting cheap ball? Isn't that an inside mid's domain?

I will agree with you that he hasn't been as damaging as he is capable of being but those calling for him to be dropped are out of their minds.
 
Maybe. But playing both Giles and vardy makes us 2 players down.
Ahahahaha, very true. McGoverns' preferred position is ruck and he has been trained in the position so maybe we can bring in McKenzie and have Mcgovern rotate between ruck/forward and or Ruck/back. But he is probably one of our most essential players so regardless I think we're ****ed until Lycett returns.
 
I have been against this every time it has been suggested, but is it time Gov plays as our second key forward?

Darling is absolutely useless, he is no longer consistently good enough to play as the second forward. Doesn't stand up at all when required, and will always miss the crucial set shot, or the simple mark. Recall Schofield play Gov forward, drop him back as required.
 
I have been against this every time it has been suggested, but is it time Gov plays as our second key forward?

Darling is absolutely useless, he is no longer consistently good enough to play as the second forward. Doesn't stand up at all when required, and will always miss the crucial set shot, or the simple mark. Recall Schofield play Gov forward, drop him back as required.

If there is one move that could make a huge difference its moving the Gov forward and releasing Darling onto a wing / midfield rotation / 3rd forward.

We have the defenders to cover playing Gov elsewhere and Darling simply struggles as the 2nd kp forward because he isn't a true kp forward.

But will Simo roll the dice with this one?
 
If there is one move that could make a huge difference its moving the Gov forward and releasing Darling onto a wing / midfield rotation / 3rd forward.

We have the defenders to cover playing Gov elsewhere and Darling simply struggles as the 2nd kp forward because he isn't a true kp forward.

But will Simo roll the dice with this one?
Based on the last few seasons, no
 
I also think its time to say **** it and give the Gov a run in the ruck. I dont think we can afford to play Giles and Vardy together, just dont get enough out of the two of them, they are both non existent when they aren't rucking around the ground. Play Schofield or an extra midfielder and give Sheppard more responsibility to play on KPF. Maybe this week is a bad example with the thought of Buddy coming to town

Need to get smarter with our matchups/selections. Richmond had Nankervis and Elton rucking for them, both pretty average players and Elton clearly not a ruckman. Why do we then play 2 pretty average ruckman against them?
 
Both ruckman have had interupted pre seasons and or struggled with injury, Playing both helps them to get through unscathed ......really the Petrie injury was a big blow as he is pretty mobile and versatile even though he cant ruck to save himself.
 

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Anyone else feel like our ball movement is very poor? It seemed slow and deliberate, we overused the ball in the midfield and this certainly didn't help out our forwards.

Two weeks running we've looked flat footed from stoppages and from defence. Naitanui/ Lucent to blame for the former and the later has been an ongoing issue.


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I don't really like when stats come into play (especially when we're 3 games into a season) but okay...

Upon further inspection your stats aren't saying much anyway

For starters, 2 tackles a game is more than he has averaged per game than over his entire career (1.8 per game). I do agree this number should be up but it's not really his role

Secondly, Gaff only averaged 0.5 goal assists per game last year so he's up on that thus far

Thirdly, why would you expect a higher clearance count and tackle count for someone getting cheap ball? Isn't that an inside mid's domain?

I will agree with you that he hasn't been as damaging as he is capable of being but those calling for him to be dropped are out of their minds.

You don't like stats? What do we base our argument on then?

My point quoting both inside and outside KPIs is he is not doing either well.

But you agreed he hasn't been as damaging as he should be, which is my point.

And the fact he is on par, in fact ahead, of last year's averages further backs my point that he isn't damaging enough when he has the pill. And this is a big problem because he gets the pill a lot.

When did we become a club that accepted mediocrity?
 
Darling has an ankle injury dont think its serious but might place him in doubt after a five day break so Schofield might come in or they play Vardy forward .

Very likely Jack will be okay though .
 
You don't like stats? What do we base our argument on then?

My point quoting both inside and outside KPIs is he is not doing either well.

But you agreed he hasn't been as damaging as he should be, which is my point.

And the fact he is on par, in fact ahead, of last year's averages further backs my point that he isn't damaging enough when he has the pill. And this is a big problem because he gets the pill a lot.

When did we become a club that accepted mediocrity?

Ehh... people think stats are the be-all and end-all. Really I don't think they paint the entire picture

Gaff's job as an outside midfielder is to find the ball, link up through the middle and gut run and he's doing that extremely well. Measuring his performance on tackles and clearances for example doesn't do anything at all
 
Ehh... people think stats are the be-all and end-all. Really I don't think they paint the entire picture

Gaff's job as an outside midfielder is to find the ball, link up through the middle and gut run and he's doing that extremely well. Measuring his performance on tackles and clearances for example doesn't do anything at all

Agree gaff is an outside midfielder. Serious question, how do you measure elite performance of an OM?

Me? I'm looking at I50s, goal assists and goals. Elite OMs score here. Gaff doesn't, he just racks up uncontested possessions with little impact, otherwise he would be scoring in these KPIs, particularly I50s.

Hence my rating he is an average OM. And my unanswered question, when did we as a club accept mediocrity?

Or are you arguing (poorly) that he is an elite OM?
 
Considering how poor Sydney have been in the first three weeks, this doesn't really scream danger game to me. Would be happy to play around with some kids, especially on our home deck.

IN (OUT): Sheed (Priddis), Watson (Mitchell), Mutimer (Hill), Schofield (Darling)

Throw Gov forward, have Schofield replace him up back. Would test Jetta as a crumbing forward if he isn't going to use his pace regularly, and therefore Mutimer can gave Jettas place in the middle.

Believe Pridda and Mitchell need a rest.
 
Agree gaff is an outside midfielder. Serious question, how do you measure elite performance of an OM?

Me? I'm looking at I50s, goal assists and goals. Elite OMs score here. Gaff doesn't, he just racks up uncontested possessions with little impact, otherwise he would be scoring in these KPIs, particularly I50s.

Hence my rating he is an average OM. And my unanswered question, when did we as a club accept mediocrity?

Or are you arguing (poorly) that he is an elite OM?

For Gaff, how about disposal efficiency (again, can be dodgy sometimes) and metres gained?

I'd say it depends on the player's role in the team. Some OMs play behind the ball (like Gaff a lot of the time) and distribute to others, some play purely as link-men, whereas others play more aggressive roles offensively (usually the ones that can break the lines).

As for your question on our club, I don't know? Have we? I didn't take much notice of this question tbh

Wouldn't say Gaff is elite either. He's very good at finding space, one of the best gut runners in the AFL, and (most of the time) a tidy kick, but he's not elite.
 
Agree gaff is an outside midfielder. Serious question, how do you measure elite performance of an OM?

Me? I'm looking at I50s, goal assists and goals. Elite OMs score here. Gaff doesn't, he just racks up uncontested possessions with little impact, otherwise he would be scoring in these KPIs, particularly I50s.

Hence my rating he is an average OM. And my unanswered question, when did we as a club accept mediocrity?

Or are you arguing (poorly) that he is an elite OM?
He was our leading contested possession player yesterday. Gaff hasn't been Gaff for a while now and like a lot of pure outside players he is pretty reliant on his inside mids.
 
For the life of me i can not work out why the Eagles struggle at the MCG, its not likey are a useless team, i mean two years ago they finished runners-up and last year they were finalists.

Is the "wide MCG" a factor in the Eagles structure/zoning etc?

I think it is hard to use the web on the wider ground. Question is what does Simpson do.
1 change the game plan and miss top 4 and a shot at the GF
2 have a different plan for a ground we hardly play
3 change it up if and when we hit GF day
4 keep banging head against wall at the G
I think leave it as it is and try for the rabbit out the hat on GF day, won't work against a vic team. Woosh changed things up in 06, we owe him a big thanks for that flag.
 
OUT: Mitchell (rested), Redden/ Hutch, mid sized back/ Barrass (team balance)
IN: Sheed, Duggan/ Partington, Schofield

Sheed in has to be the certainty. Not sure how Mitchell will take the rest but facts are he will need to be managed more as an Eagle because of travel workload.

One or both of Duggan and Partington are worthy and in form to come in. My opinion is that with Mitchell, Priddis, Hutchings and Redden we are too loaded with inside mids without pace. One of the latter 2 is saved by Mitchell being rested.

Schofield I think should play and is the most likely Franklin match up. I'm concerned Buddy will blow Gov up athletically and he would have Barrass for body strength.

Reid also an athletically gifted tall forward. He'd much prefer a run and jump mark than getting engaged physically.

Schofield is our best match athletically and Gov when Buddy plays deeper.
 
Both ruckman have had interupted pre seasons and or struggled with injury, Playing both helps them to get through unscathed ......really the Petrie injury was a big blow as he is pretty mobile and versatile even though he cant ruck to save himself.

And has no form as a forward, 27 goals from 23 games last year at North as a KPF. His "mobility and versatility" are akin to Jetta's "pace", looks good on a footballing cv
but that doesn't translate into anything meaningful on the field.
 

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Changes round 4 VS Sydney

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