Leon Davis... What to do?

[lozza63]

I agree 100% with Frankie23 - Leon's good value and takes minding, can cut lose at anytime - and boy it's fun when he does!

Some KPIs on Neon
Contested possessions 107 (9th)
Tackles 65 (7th)
MI50 21 (4th)
Goals 23 (3rd)
Assists 17(2nd)

The above numbers indicate to me that he should stay put - the advantage with him is that if called upon can have a run through the midfield rotations.

Medders doesn't have the same flexibility, pace or x-factor about him IMHO!

Thus ATM I rate him an automatic selection - unless injured.

 

[SpongePie]

Are those numbers within the team or the whole AFL?

 

[Zahki]

Within the team I'd imagine. 23 goals isn't enough to be 3rd in the AFL sadly.

 

[Somebody]

Medders didn't play so well on the weekend according to Rowdy, so that saves Leon at least for a week. If Leon doesn't fire V Bombers, I'd give him a spell if Rounds, Medders play well.

Also give Bally a break this round and bring Blair back in. If Jolly needs a rest for niggles, give Josh his 200th or Wood a go.

Do you have the source for the Rowdy comments about Medders? The official VFL player review is not in yet.

 

[Somebody]

If you read my whole post, I also said he might just be burnt out after a long season, and that that might be what happens every season which would explain why he is quiet in finals games.

Obvious solution either way is to give him a complete break for a week to freshen up. Couldn't hurt and not much to lose at this stage, and it might mean we see the old Leon again for finals.

Yeah he was running around doing a lot of chasing like a headless chook, which looks good on the malthouse ladder and certainly contributes to forward pressure, but that's not enough for a player like Davis.

He also didn't go in too hard for quite a few hard contests and lacked confidence in his ball getting and evasion skills - not like the real Leon at all and definitely symptoms of a tired player with not much in the tank.

I know from experience, when you feel weak and unfit it's very hard to go in hard at a tough contest.

Completely disagree.

I dont think leon is playing with an injury.

He wasnt positioning himself properly, and wasnt doing any running around the ground. He didnt even seem to jog up and down he field to try and get easy kicks the way he usually does in big games.

I think the hard truth is, he cant play big games, and he is a home and away specialist.

Its sad but its true.

If Leon is carrying an injury, then he shouldnt have played. If he puts in performances like that with injuries, then the medico's and the coaching staff made a terrible decision to play him.

If he is injured, he must be 100% to be concidered for a final...

We should have traded him at the end of 2008 after a stella year, when he still had some currency.

 

[Nick Pie Man]

Let me start by saying I rate Neon Leon as the greatest goal sneak after Daicos to have worn the black and white stripes since Daics. (Obviously if Dids was permanently stationed in the pocket he would probably go close to equalling the man who truely deserves the nickname "God" - but he's on his own mission to become the greatest midfield kick in the world.

Being such a big game last night and all the talk of Neon last week promted me to watch his game with a magnifying glass. Last night was the best possilbe chance for him to silence his critics (the critics he himself gave credit to for being right about his lack of big game performances. Leon was not beaten last night... quite simply he lost (and badly). He had no movement around stoppages, aprt from a bit of hustle and bustle with his opponent he didn't really move at all, he didn't create space for himself and provided no target for the ruckwork.

Where was the any crumbing work from the bigmens marking contest. At times his ability to convert from these types of scenareos, that at times our big men don't even bother to attempt the mark and simply tap the ball in his direction for him to do his thing.

He had no pep in his step at all. Looked to be 60% with his physical attributes, created nothing at all and tryuley looked to being consoled by his team mates at the end of the game.

Matey I am not looking to start a beef with a fellow Collingwood supporter but I disagree with you. I admit my knowledge of footy is not as great as most people's here - I only got into it three years ago - but I would have thought that as much as you know about the game, Mick Malthouse knows a lot more. There must be a reason why Magic gets game after game, even if we can't see it. How do you know that what Leon does or doesn't do isn't part of Mick's game plan? He always comes out in defence of Leon in interviews. And don't forget there is often a wide gulf between what goes on in the Lexus Centre and what the media presents as fact. Whatever Leon is doing, he must be doing something right.

 

[mattys123]

Interesting while watching AFL Insider on Fox last night, that North coach Brad Scott (it's Brad not Chris isn't it?) stated that Leon was vital in the pressure that we placed on Geelong inside forward 50, even if he only had a few tackles.

They then showed a few passages of play where Leon "started" the pressure, that ultimately led to a Geelong turnover and a Collingwood scoring opportunity.

As bad as Leon supposedly was offensively on Saturday Night, I think the coaching staff would have been rapt that he never gave up.

There was one chase in front of us on the GSS wing, where Leon chased 5 different Geelong players, and even though that didn't result in a turnover, anyone who says he wasn't working hard against the Cats didn't watch Leon at all.

He is still vital to us, just in a different role now.

I myself was critical of him at times last week, but I see now what his value is to the side.

 

[Primetime Pricey]

Interesting while watching AFL Insider on Fox last night, that North coach Brad Scott (it's Brad not Chris isn't it?) stated that Leon was vital in the pressure that we placed on Geelong inside forward 50, even if he only had a few tackles.

They then showed a few passages of play where Leon "started" the pressure, that ultimately led to a Geelong turnover and a Collingwood scoring opportunity.

As bad as Leon supposedly was offensively on Saturday Night, I think the coaching staff would have been rapt that he never gave up.

There was one chase in front of us on the GSS wing, where Leon chased 5 different Geelong players, and even though that didn't result in a turnover, anyone who says he wasn't working hard against the Cats didn't watch Leon at all.

He is still vital to us, just in a different role now.

I myself was critical of him at times last week, but I see now what his value is to the side.

yep, like i stated earlier in this thread Leon isnt there for his offensive game, thats the bonus. His pressure and chasing on Sat night was 1st class

 

[Nardz]

yep, like i stated earlier in this thread Leon isnt there for his offensive game, thats the bonus. His pressure and chasing on Sat night was 1st class

honestly - i watched the game last night and i thought his pressure and chasing was nothing out of the ordinary..

He really offered us nothing on saturday night.. there were a few situations where he actually looked quite lazy

his pressure has been pretty good throughout the season but saturday night it was far from first class.

 

[Primetime Pricey]

honestly - i watched the game last night and i thought his pressure and chasing was nothing out of the ordinary..

He really offered us nothing on saturday night.. there were a few situations where he actually looked quite lazy

his pressure has been pretty good throughout the season but saturday night it was far from first class.

i disagree. In the 1st half Leons 2nd and 3rd efforts were instrumental in our scoreboard pressure. The Didak goal from the Lonergan fumble for example was orchestrated by 3 chases by Leon. No one gives him the pump up when that happens.
He did the right things defensively but it just didnt work for him going the other way.

 

[CLUBMEDhurst]

Play him into some form against the team with the worst small defenders this weekend. He needs a trot through the midfield more often when things aren't working down forward, it's a tough caper playing excusively as a forward pocket when things aren't going your way.

TRS used to make mention of it as well, but we need to stop kicking the ball to him as if he is a KPF. The amount of times we sit the ball up on his head hoping for him to take a grab is ridiculous. Admittedly he brings it upon himself somewhat by continually calling for it long, but he needs to be the one on the ground when it hits the deck.

I'd play him as a high flanker for a bit, providing he is fully fit. If not, get him right now while we still have the chance.

Still much prefer him to Medhurst personally.

My thoughts as well. His leads tended to be ignored and too often the ball was kicked in long to Leon as per a KPF. Personally, I would like to see him remain in the team, his pressure causes turnovers, thus bringing others into the game

 

[Liljohnz]

In any game someone is going to be quiet. No matter how important it is. In fact the more important the more likely players will be held or kept out of the play.
I respect your opinion but don't agree. Simple.

Yes, but a player who constantly gets beaten, shouldnt be playing... You must ATLEAST be competative...

All leon does in big games is skirt up and down the corridor looking for cheap kicks.

Dont only does he not win his own ball, or put himself in the right receive position, he blocks up space for other forwards, and remains stagnant is key area's of the ground, which doesnt allow the pies to play their attacking footy.

Leon HAS to go for finals... Stop playing him now, and pump games into medhurst or lockyer before the end of the year..


They will need them after a long stint in the VFL (atleast medhurst will anyway).

 

[iGNITER]

Chuck him on the ball and give him free reign to do his thing.
He can be very damaging with the ball so lets use it.

Bring in Medders and play him up forward.

 

[Chartreuse]

Wow this poll is tighter than the election! Gone for me...sorry Leon. Needs to earn his spot back through the two's like everyone else.

 

[Hump 17]

Does anyone else get sick of the forward preasure line that gets used? We hear it about Milne, if tackling so impotart why dont they pay Greg Inglis 500,000 a year to run around tackling all game and not get a kick.

 

[Primetime Pricey]

Does anyone else get sick of the forward preasure line that gets used? We hear it about Milne, if tackling so impotart why dont they pay Greg Inglis 500,000 a year to run around tackling all game and not get a kick.

no.... not really.

Yes, but a player who constantly gets beaten, shouldnt be playing... You must ATLEAST be competative...

All leon does in big games is skirt up and down the corridor looking for cheap kicks.

Dont only does he not win his own ball, or put himself in the right receive position, he blocks up space for other forwards, and remains stagnant is key area's of the ground, which doesnt allow the pies to play their attacking footy.

so he skirted against the Dogs and St Kilda? what a load of shit. To say he isnt competitive is ridiculous. He doesnt play well against Geelong... im fairly sure there are a lot of players who struggle against a certain team. There is no way he should be dropped for the finals.

 

[Visions]

Last game I saw Medhurst play in the seniors was the drawn match against Melbourne and he wasn't exactly putting in the hard yards with his chasing.

Defence starts in attack, if Leon is doing his job in that regard and it has a huge influence on us creating turnovers that lead to goals that goes to winning games, then I'm all for him being there.

In the end, I have faith that the coaching staff know more than we do and will make the right decision in regards to him, and couldn't give a stuff what opposition fans and media are saying.

 

[vc_viking]

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[Primetime Pricey]

Good to see on AFL 360 last night David King said Leon Davis was paramount to Collingwood's success as he is the number 1 guy for chasing and putting on defensive pressure in the fwd 50m. Also said he would never be dropped due to this.

 

[Thommo 42]

interesting that I've watched 'On the Couch' 'Insider' and '360' this week and on each show multiple people involved in footy at a high level with respected opinions said that Leon Davis is the key to our forward press and keeping the ball in our attacking half.

Hird said that his implied pressure forces his opponent to transfer pressure to a teammate by making poor decisions.

Brad Scott and Alister Lynch both said that Leon's harrassment of oppositition defenders was crucial to our structure and was the key to the win against Geelong.

David King and Mark McClure both were effusive in their praise of Leon's pressure and tackling inside the forward 50, King basically stating it was nan absolute credit to him that he is prepared to play this role. Also noted that Sidebottom is playing a similar role. the looks on the faces of Whately and Robbo when they said this was gold, as I'm sure they were queing up to pot Davis too!

The Sidebottom reference from David King was interesting, as it appears to us that he is struggling and not finding the ball as much anymore, but if he is playing that 'role', it might explain this a bit.

 

[Pie eyed]

interesting that I've watched 'On the Couch' 'Insider' and '360' this week and on each show multiple people involved in footy at a high level with respected opinions said that Leon Davis is the key to our forward press and keeping the ball in our attacking half.

Hird said that his implied pressure forces his opponent to transfer pressure to a teammate by making poor decisions.

Brad Scott and Alister Lynch both said that Leon's harrassment of oppositition defenders was crucial to our structure and was the key to the win against Geelong.

David King and Mark McClure both were effusive in their praise of Leon's pressure and tackling inside the forward 50, King basically stating it was nan absolute credit to him that he is prepared to play this role. Also noted that Sidebottom is playing a similar role. the looks on the faces of Whately and Robbo when they said this was gold, as I'm sure they were queing up to pot Davis too!

The Sidebottom reference from David King was interesting, as it appears to us that he is struggling and not finding the ball as much anymore, but if he is playing that 'role', it might explain this a bit.

It think that is exactly what a lot on our board have been saying for a fair while, but it's always nice to hear someone with some credibility say it publicly.
You can't say Leon has not been willing to do the tasks he is set, whether it be midfield, defensive forward, goal sneak etc.
He feels beholding to the club and most of all to MM for sticking by him over the years and this type of emotion nor the loyalty it instils in others can't be underestimated.