AFL Toast Dreamtime Winning

[fairbump_playon]

Apart from the centre bounce the most important asset a ruck can have is marking capability around the ground. This is huge in the modern game and sets up multiple plays forward of centre. Game changing. Look how Gawn sets up petracca and co from a mark.

This is one area we are very poor at. Jones is probably our best mark down the line but Goldy and Draper don't take nearly enough marks. Even Cox at the Pies is better.

I grew up watching Simon Madden so I was probably spoilt.

Across his career Cox has been surprisingly effective for a spud

One of several reasons I support Bryan as an inclusion is that even though he might not be a contested marking beast, It's not like Goldstein or Draper is either

 

[jdstorm]

I've started to wonder about Bringing Hayes in and sending Laverde forward in a defensive/decoy role? He knows the craft and has solid weight to him these days.

Personally I wouldn’t.

Lavs another midsize player and we already have 1 too many in the forward line with Stringer + Langford.

Would rather throw Hayes forward if we’re doing that. At least he has height.

Really just need enough talls so Langford/Jake can be freed up to be covered by guys their own height.

It’s why Draper+ Goldy was so effective.

Wright is more your classical CHF. Just need a strong bodied FF to pair with him. Draper is the best option RN. There isn’t really anyone on the list who can fill that role. Maybe Goldy

 

[bombreys]

Ridley is a really good player, but i've rewatched the game/tapes etc..and i get the feeling that AFL players are just not very good at taking a mark, either because it's not trained, because defence became such a focus in the game or they are just not all that fussed or just spuds at it, considering how many uncontested spillages you see occur in the modern game.

I think Ridley just has that 90s skills-set of classic style football and is smart enough to realise that a mark is just a standard/natural part of the game.

• eyes on the ball
• good radar for where the ball goes.
• cares enough to position himself in spots to take a grab
• leads to the direction of the ball drop.
• understands marking in the classical sense.
• nothing too fancy
• helps being tall

Players could really learn a lot by just wanting to take a grab, chest, timing, lead, classical, instead of punching it on to a 50/50 contest or just not timing it and looking like a spud.

Study how to be good at marking, my advice to Scott and the coaching staff. It's what Ridley does.

Not really related to your point, but is Ridley bad at anything? My god I’ve missed him

That BOG performance was also his first full AFL game in 10 months. Who comes in and plays like that?

 

[Dave]

Not really related to your point, but is Ridley bad at anything? My god I’ve missed him

That BOG performance was also his first full AFL game in 10 months. Who comes in and plays like that?

My boy.

 

[wichidi]

Not really related to your point, but is Ridley bad at anything? My god I’ve missed him

That BOG performance was also his first full AFL game in 10 months. Who comes in and plays like that?

Yep dude is an absolute freak. Oozes composure and class. His kicking is sublime out of the back line.

 

[jannissary]

Not really related to your point, but is Ridley bad at anything? My god I’ve missed him

That BOG performance was also his first full AFL game in 10 months. Who comes in and plays like that?

good, consistent players do. before he got injured last season he was churning out similar games week in week out (from memory)

he's a complete package, any club with half a brain offers him big bucks next time his contract is due to be renewed

 

[joey_jo_jo]

good, consistent players do. before he got injured last season he was churning out similar games week in week out (from memory)

he's a complete package, any club with half a brain offers him big bucks next time his contract is due to be renewed

Signed up till 2029

Opposition supporters and Media have forgotten how good this guy is. He is one of the best kicks/intercept marks and and can play a lockdown role if need be. When pundits say we dont have any clear A-grade players outside of Zach theyre showing their recency bias.