Masten Under the Microscope

[SpaceClef]

He was always going to be next in line for a debate after Selwood left.

There's a reason why our midfield has had huge question marks over it since 2007, but it's taken this long to realise that it wasn't because of Priddis.

 

[SpaceClef]

Masto was best in 2012 or 2013 when he played forward more and was actually really handy around goals.

Since then he has lost any ability to hit the scoreboard. Cripps has taken that role now.

It's a good thing that Masten/Rosa are depth now

 

[WCErevival]

I see him as the next generation of Rosa. Outside mid that provides good link work but has little hurt factor. People think he's soft and is an occasional whipping boy.

 

[Max zero]

I thought he was fine this year prior to his suspension and injury.

His value is as a hard running link man in transition. With our handball happy style to work ourselves out of trouble and move forward, it's vital that we have blokes like Masten who run so hard to provide options.

He's not as secure as he once was and he's always going to be pretty outside but he's pretty handy and plays a role.

"He was fine."
"He was OK."
"He was decent."

Masten has made a career out of being the least worse player in the team. At the start of next season he will be 27, a senior player and at his absolute peak physically. Surely we can expect more then just OK?

 

[Underdog]

"He was fine."
"He was OK."
"He was decent."

Masten has made a career out of being the least worse player in the team. At the start of next season he will be 27, a senior player and at his absolute peak physically. Surely we can expect more then just OK?

Why? Perhaps this is as good as he can get. Since early issues, he's been about as professional as you could hope for. If he doesn't get any better, it's certainly not going to be because he doesn't work or try hard enough.

 

[Biggie]

He lacks bite

 

[Max zero]

Why? Perhaps this is as good as he can get. Since early issues, he's been about as professional as you could hope for. If he doesn't get any better, it's certainly not going to be because he doesn't work or try hard enough.

Hey not knocking the guys work ethic but if this year is the best he can do then give me Duggan/Hill/Hutchings any day of the week.

 

[kranky al]

He was always going to be next in line for a debate after Selwood left.

There's a reason why our midfield has had huge question marks over it since 2007, but it's taken this long to realise that it wasn't solely because of Priddis.

Ftfy

 

[YippeeYiYeo]

Masten is on borrowed time similar to Jack Watts. His quality is fringe player at best, but keeps on getting a regular spot in the 22 because he was taken at #3 in the draft. Has a small body that cant win a contested ball, skills and decision making are ordinary under light pressure, cant kick over 50m on his right (or 30m on his left), has no pace and can only play 1 position.

 

[numbat06]

I don't like him in the 22, too small framed to break tackles, doesn't have a damaging kick, Chad Fletcher but worse.

 

[gym4life]

He is our second best kicking midfielder.

 

[frenchconnection]

I don't like him in the 22, too small framed to break tackles, doesn't have a damaging kick, Chad Fletcher but worse.

From memory thought Chad Fletcher was a damn good player at his best?

 

[archiemoses]

Masten will be gifted a spot in round 1 solely based on some misguided faith in his ability. He will be quickly overtaken by youth knocking down the door. I'll be surprised if he is in the team past round 6.

Bar endurance he has nothing on the other mids fighting for a spot.

 

[boondy]

From memory thought Chad Fletcher was a damn good player at his best?

didnt chad fletcher make aa one year. edit . answer my own question yes 2004

 

[boondy]

He is our second best kicking midfielder.

he is our first best kicking midfielder , also best whipping midfielder we like whipping and kicking

 

[Quinz]

He was always going to be next in line for a debate after Selwood left.

There's a reason why our midfield has had huge question marks over it since 2007, but it's taken this long to realise that it wasn't because of Priddis.

I thought anyone would be able to do Priddis' role though if they spent 100% of the game in the middle?

 

[bUCKET__]

As Max Zero noted, down on goals this year (due to inaccuracy, largely) and i50s. But great to see that continued increase in disposal efficiency, reduction in clangers. Can see through the stats his move from the centre bounces in 14, change in role means less centre clearances. And although he's still in that outside/winger role, most of us noted throughout the year that Masto was generally harder around the contest and more willing to win his own ball. Ratio of contested possessions not much lower than 13 (34%) when compared with this year (31%), despite not being around centre bounces.

Unsure who's supposed be taking his spot next year - Jetta certainly hasn't shown that he can win his own ball in the same way.

 

[SpaceClef]

As Max Zero noted, down on goals this year (due to inaccuracy, largely) and i50s. But great to see that continued increase in disposal efficiency, reduction in clangers. Can see through the stats his move from the centre bounces in 14, change in role means less centre clearances. And although he's still in that outside/winger role, most of us noted throughout the year that Masto was generally harder around the contest and more willing to win his own ball. Ratio of contested possessions not much lower than 13 (34%) when compared with this year (31%), despite not being around centre bounces.

Unsure who's supposed be taking his spot next year - Jetta certainly hasn't shown that he can win his own ball in the same way.

Masten has hardly been around centre clearances for a long time now. Not sure you can justify a drop in CP ratio because you think you can remember him in the centre square last year.

Also, inaccurate kicking at goal is still failing to kick goals. One of his roles is to break lines and kick goals running I50. He fluffed numerous opportunities to do that this year - he's simply not that good a finisher on the run.

Given Gaff is more of an accumulator, Jetta will provide the complementary finishing power on the run. Masten and Gaff on the wings is too much of the same thing.

An incremental improvement in being able to win ones own ball (it's still not a strength despite improvement over the last 8 years) doesn't give him a gold pass to waive all other shortcomings. Sure, you don't want your wingman to be a complete squib, but you need them to offer pace and goal scoring potency on Subi Oval.

 

[bUCKET__]

can you tell me what that means and dum it down , is he any good

about as good as a sausage

 

[bUCKET__]

An incremental improvement in being able to win ones own ball (it's still not a strength despite improvement over the last 8 years) doesn't give him a gold pass to waive all other shortcomings. Sure, you don't want your wingman to be a complete squib, but you need them to offer pace and goal scoring potency on Subi Oval.

Who's giving gold passes out? I'd love one of those!

Goal scoring on the run is only one form of goal scoring that I'm pretty sure will continue to be a focus for the team in general.

His '14 season wasn't great, his goal kicking was woeful this year, and we don't have much other reason to think that he won't continue incrementally improving and taking on whatever role he's given. Not saying he's a certainly starter and I'd hope that Duggan is well and truly ahead of him in almost every respect by 2017 (why hasn't he re-signed yet? ), but I don't think that Jetta will be taking his spot like for like.

 

[Max zero]

As Max Zero noted, down on goals this year (due to inaccuracy, largely) and i50s. But great to see that continued increase in disposal efficiency, reduction in clangers. Can see through the stats his move from the centre bounces in 14, change in role means less centre clearances. And although he's still in that outside/winger role, most of us noted throughout the year that Masto was generally harder around the contest and more willing to win his own ball. Ratio of contested possessions not much lower than 13 (34%) when compared with this year (31%), despite not being around centre bounces.

Unsure who's supposed be taking his spot next year - Jetta certainly hasn't shown that he can win his own ball in the same way.

He is a good accumulator. Always has been. In 2012 he actually punished teams when he got the ball. Now he no longer does. Him not being a threat means more attention placed onto Gaff and Shuey.

Remember Jetta was better offensively then Masten while playing of the HBF. Would give us 3 players who average over 4 inside 50s a game. This is roughly the level that other quality midfields have.

http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_player_rankings?year=2015&rt=LA&st=I5

You can see without Jetta were are extremely reliant on Gaff and Shuey to generate i50s. Sydney, Hawks, Freo, Collingwood, Bulldogs all have at least 3 players around that 4 inside 50 average mark.

In other news no Dangerfield is going to really hurt Adelaide. Might be a tip for a slider next year.

 

[bUCKET__]

http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_player_rankings?year=2015&rt=LA&st=I5

You can see without Jetta were are extremely reliant on Gaff and Shuey to generate i50s. Sydney, Hawks, Freo, Collingwood, Bulldogs all have at least 3 players around that 4 inside 50 average mark.

One of our biggest improvements this year has been the quality of our inside 50s. For a while we've been great at pressure acts and the ability to lock it in the forward half, but you add some of the class entries that some of our players (e.g. Sheed) it's no wonder that we've been able to score heavily. We've probably spread the load more than the above teams, but more importantly we've figured out how to make the inside 50s count.

No idea why Masten hasn't been putting it inside 50 as much this year, but it certainly hasn't stopped the team from scoring. Hard to know whether it's him not doing his job, or if he's had a different role. Anyone have access to the heatmaps that AFL were putting out?

 

[Max zero]

One of our biggest improvements this year has been the quality of our inside 50s. For a while we've been great at pressure acts and the ability to lock it in the forward half, but you add some of the class entries that some of our players (e.g. Sheed) it's no wonder that we've been able to score heavily. We've probably spread the load more than the above teams, but more importantly we've figured out how to make the inside 50s count.

No idea why Masten hasn't been putting it inside 50 as much this year, but it certainly hasn't stopped the team from scoring. Hard to know whether it's him not doing his job, or if he's had a different role. Anyone have access to the heatmaps that AFL were putting out?

Quality of entries is important but as the saying goes "quantity is a quality of its own." I would much rather the game be played in our forward 50 then in the middle.

Sheed was our next best mid for i50s after Shuey and Gaff unfortunately at rank 81. But he has a lot of improvement in him and is taking big strides each year. How good would it be to have 4 midfielders (Jetta and an improved Sheed) generating those numbers of i50s (like Sydney had) instead of the 2 we had this year?

Its hard to say if they have changed Masten's role or if perhaps Sheed has surpassed him in both performance and potential and relegated Masten to a more defensive position? Masten is a far more senior and established player and the ease of which Sheed seem take over Masten's previous role is something to note.

 

[SpaceClef]

Who's giving gold passes out? I'd love one of those!

Goal scoring on the run is only one form of goal scoring that I'm pretty sure will continue to be a focus for the team in general.

His '14 season wasn't great, his goal kicking was woeful this year, and we don't have much other reason to think that he won't continue incrementally improving and taking on whatever role he's given. Not saying he's a certainly starter and I'd hope that Duggan is well and truly ahead of him in almost every respect by 2017 (why hasn't he re-signed yet? ), but I don't think that Jetta will be taking his spot like for like.

Yeah the gold pass thing was a bit ott - but what I mean is we tend to forgive our outside mids' lack of hurt factor (Rosa, Masten, Gaff to a lesser extent) when we see signs that they are getting stronger in the contest.

Which is important, but for outside players it's not as important as their offensive ability IMO.

Rosa for instance has been as vanilla as they come for his career, but we have started to think he's pretty decent once he started to put his body on the line.

Doesn't change the fact he's kicked fewer goals in his entire 11 year career than Jetta did in one season.

 

[Bluke]

Masten is best 22 and will continue to be. Had one of his best years but was cruelled by injury and suspension and never got his mojo back after that. An integral part of the team and perfect for the Simpson game plan.