sr36
TheBrownDog
It's not too much to ask Frampton to come off his man. That's the system; they roll up off their man to impact the contest or player with the ball ahead of themI don't believe the issue with Moore is workrate or form or even ability, but it is all about role and structure.
Once Murphy established himself as a true lockdown defender, with the ability to leave his own opponent to impact on contests, it gave Moore (and Howe to some extent) greater freedom to play an intercept role, read the play, and not worry so much about a direct opponent. But it also always relied on at least breaking even in the midfield, so that the ball wasn't being delivered to opposition forwards at an excessive rate. This is Fly's structure and it got us over the line in 2023 (just).
Moore has continued to (try to) play the same role as 2023 this without Murphy. Frampton has covered Murphy's role as a key defender, but he has his hands full with one opponent, and it's too much for him to ask to come off his own man and pick up Moore's (or Howe's) direct opponent as well. Add to this the fact that in some games our midfield has allowed the opposition too many forward entries for us to reasonably defend. Add to this the fact that Moore has not been able to have the same impact with the ball as he had last year, and the system starts to break down. Couple of drawn games we would have won last year, and a couple of losses which could have been wins.
Unless Fly directs Moore to play more as a key defender, the pattern will continue. But that's only one option. The other option is to stick with the plan (In Fly We Trust), and hope that our midfield dominance returns so that we limit opposition forward entries, and create more of our own (possible with the return of JDG, Pendles, Mitchell) and/or that Moore becomes more successful at intercepting and more effective and damaging with ball in hand. If he starts taking 7 or 8 intercept marks per game and setting up attacking forays then opposition coaches will start worrying about Moore instead of us worrying about him.
We don't really have anyone else who is a Murphy replacement. Frampton is demonstrably our best key defender right now, but we are probably still one short. (It's not Dean, he is ok, but just another interceptor).