Review GBU vs Freo

[thebirdman 24]

No, it was 200cm, 98kg, Alex Pearce, who had a full head of steam up before he hit Mackay.

If anything, this will probably make Pyke's highlights reel from the game, as one of the few occasions where a Crows player was in the right position and actively put his body on the line, despite being faced by a bigger and stronger player with momentum on his side.

I can understand him being mocked for his Benny Hill performance on the goal line against Melbourne, but mocking him for his effort against Pearce is absolutely disgraceful.

might even make craigs video of tough footy..

 

[Interloperer]

Mackay's willingness to take a hit if necessary and (usually) get back up is like 50% of the positive side of his game. I don't know why people are constantly surprised when it happens.

 

[glengowan]

The footage that Footy Classified showed of CEY's defensive non-efforts showed his lack of intent/determination. Not running back with Langdon was lazy football and cost us their easy goal. In a close game, such efforts can define a game's result. Atkins is even worse, avoiding physical contact and tackling altogether, but he covers much more ground.
Does anybody have numbers on CEY'S average ground covered/ game? If it's high, he's defensively VERY lazy. If it's low he's under-fit and/or lazy. Either way ... . He's built like a tank and tackles hard/often, but only in congestion. We all ready have plenty of tall forwards and CEY is not mobile enough to play forward anyway.

I'd get rid of Kelly and try CEY in the back lines when/if our mids return. At least he offers flexibility to the team unlike Kelly who is a one position player. CEY first made an impact at SANFL level when he was played at CHB with the Eagles after a couple of seasons of promise but not delivering in other positions.

 

[Vader]

Mackay's willingness to take a hit if necessary and (usually) get back up is like 50% of the positive side of his game. I don't know why people are constantly surprised when it happens.

It's disgraceful behaviour by a small bunch of haters.

Mackay attempted to bring down a player who was 19cm taller and 23kg heavier, and who had momentum on his side.

Somehow they attempt to mock him for failing make the tackle stick. What they should be doing is singing his praises for attempting to make the tackle in the first place, knowing how badly physics was always going to count against him.

Mackay is rarely worthy of praise, but he is in this particular instance - yet we have gutter trolls who still insist on trying to turn a positive into a negative.

 

[HarryCrow]

I'd get rid of Kelly and try CEY in the back lines when/if our mids return. At least he offers flexibility to the team unlike Kelly who is a one position player. CEY first made an impact at SANFL level when he was played at CHB with the Eagles after a couple of seasons of promise but not delivering in other positions.

You want to put a lackadaisical cruiser who can't/won't move across the ground in as a defender?

 

[kulak]

It's disgraceful behaviour by a small bunch of haters.

Mackay attempted to bring down a player who was 19cm taller and 23kg heavier, and who had momentum on his side.

Somehow they attempt to mock him for failing make the tackle stick. What they should be doing is singing his praises for attempting to make the tackle in the first place, knowing how badly physics was always going to count against him.

Mackay is rarely worthy of praise, but he is in this particular instance - yet we have gutter trolls who still insist on trying to turn a positive into a negative.

Are you seriously arguing that it is impossible for smaller players like Mackay and Rioli to effectively tackle big players?

The problem is with Mackay’s technique which doesn’t seem to have improved in close to 10 years in the team.

He meant well, but executed poorly. No way that ends up on a highlight reel, at least not for the AFC...

 

[Sanders]

Essendon aren't giving up Francis for a 3rd rounder.

Absolutely

They’ll never get an offer that high

 

[Golumless]

Shouldn't be playing as any midfielder given the amount of running / effort he puts in.

Has done some decent stuff on the inside, and you can probably play him as a dedicated inside mid to shoulder the load, but we have Crouch and Greenwood in the side atm. Can't carry his pathetic efforts.

Midfielders should be in the team to work their arse off first and foremost.

You've accidentally pointed out the issue here with CEY's workrate. Crouch/Greenwood. It's actually a repeat (well for the most part, there is a nice addition to it) of the Thommo/M.Crouch/Lyons situation 3 years ago.

You simply have three players who can't do what you are asking, in that the moment the ball leaves the contest, Crouch/Greenwood/CEY are absolutely useless no matter the effort they put in (and our defensive set ups should be planned around this point, seeing a system that doesn't cover a Crouch/Greenwoods deficiency is bound to fail). No amount of effort fixes being slow as a treacle, and their job in a defensive set up is to try to stop the ball leaving the contest. Now you can carry two of them seeing at least Greenwood/CEY have a point of difference, but the big problem is their point of difference is exactly the same (they are both big bodied midfielders) meaning one has to go. CEY is the worst of the 3 quality wise and should be relegated (he's done his job).

Like height, a midfield needs to have a good group of quick/ish players as a means to carry the couple of slow brutes you need to consistently win the hard ball (and is part of the reason speed/strength is such a dream pairing seeing taking this down to 0 to 1 players is a huge thing).

If you have a system where CEY is not at the coal face, it's going to fail spectacularly. Much like Crouch and to a lesser extent Greenwood will (I feel Greenwood could potentially add a forward rotation to his game hence i'm being lighter with this, seeing he does have good above head/solid skills and is a big body).

 

[Thetrader15]

sadly true, he used to be quite good in general play, taking marks, even being a link player.

It's as though he has forgotten where to place himself in field play. He's not even IN the marking contests anymore

 

[Thetrader15]

Cey would have value. Gold coast would surely take him as they need mids. Mid to late 2nd rounder

On [device_name] using BigFooty.com mobile app

Can you forward me the contact details of your dealer...it must he some good stuff they have

 

[Thetrader15]

We got a 3rd rounder for Lyons, doubt we get a good pick for CEY.

If we got a 3rd for CEY, he could only be at Brisbane next year

 

[Vader]

Are you seriously arguing that it is impossible for smaller players like Mackay and Rioli to effectively tackle big players?

The problem is with Mackay’s technique which doesn’t seem to have improved in close to 10 years in the team.

He meant well, but executed poorly. No way that ends up on a highlight reel, at least not for the AFC...

When the player is coming at them front on, like a steam train... it's certainly not easy.

 

[azza77]

You've accidentally pointed out the issue here with CEY's workrate. Crouch/Greenwood. It's actually a repeat (well for the most part, there is a nice addition to it) of the Thommo/M.Crouch/Lyons situation 3 years ago.

You simply have three players who can't do what you are asking, in that the moment the ball leaves the contest, Crouch/Greenwood/CEY are absolutely useless no matter the effort they put in (and our defensive set ups should be planned around this point, seeing a system that doesn't cover a Crouch/Greenwoods deficiency is bound to fail). No amount of effort fixes being slow as a treacle, and their job in a defensive set up is to try to stop the ball leaving the contest. Now you can carry two of them seeing at least Greenwood/CEY have a point of difference, but the big problem is their point of difference is exactly the same (they are both big bodied midfielders) meaning one has to go. CEY is the worst of the 3 quality wise and should be relegated (he's done his job).

Like height, a midfield needs to have a good group of quick/ish players as a means to carry the couple of slow brutes you need to consistently win the hard ball (and is part of the reason speed/strength is such a dream pairing seeing taking this down to 0 to 1 players is a huge thing).

If you have a system where CEY is not at the coal face, it's going to fail spectacularly. Much like Crouch and to a lesser extent Greenwood will (I feel Greenwood could potentially add a forward rotation to his game hence i'm being lighter with this, seeing he does have good above head/solid skills and is a big body).

At least Matt Crouch gets involved around the grounds. When "fit" he provides countless lead up targets, he's forever harassing and kicks goals out of forward stoppages. Greenwood in my eyes is still raw, both fitness wise and in general football terms. Still gets involved more so around the ground, his pressure acts are way higher than CEY and he takes those strong grabs when forward.

CEY is just offers absolutely nothing outside of the first 1-2 contested possessions in a contest. Struggles to get involved around the ground, and puts in piss weak efforts trying to close people down.

Whether he's depth or not, he's just way too limited as a player.

 

[CrowBloke]

I'd get rid of Kelly and try CEY in the back lines when/if our mids return.

I actually thought about that ie where to play CEY to take best advantage of his strength and tackling, but how to overcome the laziness? He's not going to run out of defence to add rebound or break lines --- he doesn't chase now.
The inside mongrel that he shows is that of a one-faceted player, but your suggestion has merit.

 

[Scrogdogg]

Wilson, Sig, Hampton, hell even Edwards would have better intent than Atkins.

We aren't talking about something drastic, we are talking about a player with an unwillingness to put physical pressure on an opponent

Yes, an outside player who wants to live on the outside no matter what. 'Float like a bee, sting like a butterfly'

 

[Scrogdogg]

I get that you're unhappy with them. You're not on your own - criticising our assistant coaches is a popular pastime in these parts. Regardless of your personal feelings, all evidence from the club suggests that the senior coaches have all been happy with their performances. The assistants would have been moved on long ago if that weren't the case.

Quite right, but I suspect that most 'criticisers' exasperatingly figure that the club is stagnant where a few of these coaches are concerned. Maybe fans are thinking after all these years of disappointments and out and out failures, just what have they got left to offer' that is new ? When will there be something that is fresh and vibrant and brings with it a new dynamic, new face, new enthusiasm and a possible renewed belief in a new message. It certainly is a popular pastime to wonder why the club is so conservative and so nepotistic. The sameness of events, results and possible lost opportunities year after year does bring fans to agitate for change from the revolving door of also ran performances.

But we are pretty good at moving head coaches on.

 

[Scrogdogg]

No, it was 200cm, 98kg, Alex Pearce, who had a full head of steam up before he hit Mackay.

If anything, this will probably make Pyke's highlights reel from the game, as one of the few occasions where a Crows player was in the right position and actively put his body on the line, despite being faced by a bigger and stronger player with momentum on his side.

I can understand him being mocked for his Benny Hill performance on the goal line against Melbourne, but mocking him for his effort against Pearce is absolutely disgraceful.

Yes his 'intent' was probably there in that instance but it counts for little (except at selection) when the outcome is a non event.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Yes his 'intent' was probably there in that instance but it counts for little (except at selection) when the outcome is a non event.

It highlights why he shouldn't be playing. Despite his best intentions, he's not even a minor inconvenience for an opposition player.

 

[Vader]

Yes his 'intent' was probably there in that instance but it counts for little (except at selection) when the outcome is a non event.

In general, Mackay had a poor game - and he's now had several poor games in a row. Under normal circumstances, he'd probably be getting very close to being dropped right about now.

However, that particular incident (the attempted tackle on Pearce) was a positive from his game. Unfortunately, the board's resident gutter trolls insist on mocking him for it.

 

[Vader]

It highlights why he shouldn't be playing. Despite his best intentions, he's not even a minor inconvenience for an opposition player.

He was a minor inconvenience. None of the other players inconvenienced their opponents at all.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

He was a minor inconvenience. None of the other players inconvenienced their opponents at all.

No one else got tossed aside in such comical fashion

 

[skam85]

No one else got tossed aside in such comical fashion

I'd love to see Atkins tossed aside in comical fashion, it means he's actually attempted to lay hands on an opponent.

 

[skam85]

Absolutely

They’ll never get an offer that high

It astounds me that people think Francis is still anything more than a potato.

 

[SaltPeter]

No one else got tossed aside in such comical fashion

Imagine if Atkins had've tried to make body contact, tackle even, from side on instead of behaving like a sheep dog?

I do find Mackay's tackle comical to though

 

[Vader]

No one else got tossed aside in such comical fashion

No one else got close enough to their opponent.