Masten Under the Microscope

[Falco]

I can see the headline now in Oct 2016 - "Chris Masten departs Eagles after limited opportunities for Kangaroos, Eagles expect second round compo pick"

followed by:

"Liam Duggan offered vice captaincy after stellar 2016"

 

[garlic munchers]

Guess we'll have to disagree, as he was one of the few guys on GF day winning the hard ball and getting it out to our outside runners, he was also one of our best against the Hawks in the PF when the pressure was on. He had no pre-season and had to work his way back into form and the team, but once he got a few games in a row he was nailing goals and hitting targets, but he gets questioned every week while our flashier players show up once in a while and get a free pass every week. Masten is the embodiment of that. hopefully Duggan replaces Masto in our side next year, and id rather have Hutch in than Masto.

Agree, Masten's 20 odd possessions in the GF with 11 coming in the last quarter says it all.

Soft outside mid who comes to the fore when the pressure if off.

 

[Prem87]

Agree, Masten's 20 odd possessions in the GF with 11 coming in the last quarter says it all.

Soft outside mid who comes to the fore when the pressure if off.

Everyone went missing except Gaff. Harsh to single out Masten.

None of our inside mids even touched the ball let alone fed it out.

 

[The_Eagles]

Got married today

 

[SpaceClef]

Got married today

congrats

 

[avishka5]

with jetta in the squad. Should Masten move into a high half forward/wing role like he used to. 2012 along with 2013 were he's best two years, however, in 2012 he was playing closer to goals than 2013. in 2012 masten kicked 20 goals, 9 behinds, averages 4.54 inside 50's, 22 disposals and most of them kicks. he's kicking has improved since 2012 and could swap with jetta from wing to HF and they could both benefit.

 

[Prem87]

with jetta in the squad. Should Masten move into a high half forward/wing role like he used to. 2012 along with 2013 were he's best two years, however, in 2012 he was playing closer to goals than 2013. in 2012 masten kicked 20 goals, 9 behinds, averages 4.54 inside 50's, 22 disposals and most of them kicks. he's kicking has improved since 2012 and could swap with jetta from wing to HF and they could both benefit.

Agree, HFF was Masten's best position a few years ago however his gut rinning and link up play was incredibly valuable this year before his injury.

Redden Jetta Duggan and Yeo in the midfield next year give us a lot of flexibility.

 

[avishka5]

Up to his suspension:
averaged 26.6 disposals, 2.8 inside 50's, kicked 2 goals and 8 behinds and he averaged 1.9 rebounds out of 50. he is a proven accumulator and prior to reading this thread i would judge Masten on accumulating the ball but i do agree that he doesnt hurt as much as he should. Im not harsh on him as most people on this thread but for an outside player 2.8 inside 50's isnt great and the fact that he only averages 1.9 rebounds out of 50 doesn't help his cause as well. He should be averaging atleast 4-3.5 inside 50 considering he gets so much of the footy. This just show he gets alot of junk possessions. He got a pretty good kick on him and if he does improve his inside 50's numbers, he could actually be dangerous. Even tho he got flack in 2014, he actually averaged 3.3 inside 50's which is decent without being great but he was third for inside 50's for us (dropped to 10th in 2015).
He needs to improve his accuracy and has to hit the scoreboard on regular basis.

This is his heat map for round 11(24 touches, 1 inside 50 and 1 rebound 50) this season but suspect that his overall heat map for the year would look similar.
A few Improvements i would like for him in 2016 are:
> Improve his inside 50's ( get it around 4-3.5 entries per game)
> Have more scoreboard pressure (improve accuracy) 12-7 goals should be what he should look for

Improvement in these 2 areas could probably determine whether he is a best 22 player for 2017.

 

[Max zero]

Up to his suspension:
averaged 26.6 disposals, 2.8 inside 50's, kicked 2 goals and 8 behinds and he averaged 1.9 rebounds out of 50. he is a proven accumulator and prior to reading this thread i would judge Masten on accumulating the ball but i do agree that he doesnt hurt as much as he should. Im not harsh on him as most people on this thread but for an outside player 2.8 inside 50's isnt great and the fact that he only averages 1.9 rebounds out of 50 doesn't help his cause as well. He should be averaging atleast 4-3.5 inside 50 considering he gets so much of the footy. This just show he gets alot of junk possessions. He got a pretty good kick on him and if he does improve his inside 50's numbers, he could actually be dangerous. Even tho he got flack in 2014, he actually averaged 3.3 inside 50's which is decent without being great but he was third for inside 50's for us (dropped to 10th in 2015).
He needs to improve his accuracy and has to hit the scoreboard on regular basis.

This is his heat map for round 11(24 touches, 1 inside 50 and 1 rebound 50) this season but suspect that his overall heat map for the year would look similar.
A few Improvements i would like for him in 2016 are:
> Improve his inside 50's ( get it around 4-3.5 entries per game)
> Have more scoreboard pressure (improve accuracy) 12-7 goals should be what he should look for

Improvement in these 2 areas could probably determine whether he is a best 22 player for 2017.

No argument with any of that..

The issue being is that Sheed is doing that already (inside 50s) and is younger so we won't drop him.

The last midfield spot is between Masten and Duggan. Do we really want to hold Duggan back to see if a 27yo (start of next season) Masten will suddenly come good?

 

[avishka5]

No argument with any of that..

The issue being is that Sheed is doing that already (inside 50s) and is younger so we won't drop him.

The last midfield spot is between Masten and Duggan. Do we really want to hold Duggan back to see if a 27yo (start of next season) Masten will suddenly come good?

Yeah true. But the fact that we never have a best 22 means that we could accomadate both. I rekon masten goes HF/wing role where he did have some sucess and duggan rotate from hb to midfield.

 

[Milenko]

Up to his suspension:
averaged 26.6 disposals, 2.8 inside 50's, kicked 2 goals and 8 behinds and he averaged 1.9 rebounds out of 50. he is a proven accumulator and prior to reading this thread i would judge Masten on accumulating the ball but i do agree that he doesnt hurt as much as he should. Im not harsh on him as most people on this thread but for an outside player 2.8 inside 50's isnt great and the fact that he only averages 1.9 rebounds out of 50 doesn't help his cause as well. He should be averaging atleast 4-3.5 inside 50 considering he gets so much of the footy. This just show he gets alot of junk possessions. He got a pretty good kick on him and if he does improve his inside 50's numbers, he could actually be dangerous. Even tho he got flack in 2014, he actually averaged 3.3 inside 50's which is decent without being great but he was third for inside 50's for us (dropped to 10th in 2015).
He needs to improve his accuracy and has to hit the scoreboard on regular basis.

This is his heat map for round 11(24 touches, 1 inside 50 and 1 rebound 50) this season but suspect that his overall heat map for the year would look similar.
A few Improvements i would like for him in 2016 are:
> Improve his inside 50's ( get it around 4-3.5 entries per game)
> Have more scoreboard pressure (improve accuracy) 12-7 goals should be what he should look for

Improvement in these 2 areas could probably determine whether he is a best 22 player for 2017.

Looks like he's a just a cog in the web machine based on that heatmap.

 

[Quinz]

No argument with any of that..

The issue being is that Sheed is doing that already (inside 50s) and is younger so we won't drop him.

The last midfield spot is between Masten and Duggan. Do we really want to hold Duggan back to see if a 27yo (start of next season) Masten will suddenly come good?

Masten and Duggan will both be in the 22.

Mastos heatmap actually shows his value, he was primarily used as an outlet kick option from the backline. When you're at the game you can see how often he out works opponents to provide that option, when not many of our other players are moving around.

 

[SpaceClef]

How do we fit erryone in then?

We have at least four INs (Redden, Jetta, Dugg, Mackenzie)

 

[iLikeIt]

Masten and Duggan will both be in the 22.

Mastos heatmap actually shows his value, he was primarily used as an outlet kick option from the backline. When you're at the game you can see how often he out works opponents to provide that option, when not many of our other players are moving around.

Are we saying nobody else in the team has the skills to be that link up player off the HBF? That's actually a similar heat map, albeit with less forward and centre corridor penetration that I would hope Duggan to deliver in 2016. Running off HBF and delivering to our forwards.

I agree he will probably start as B22 but like Hill and Darling, I'd like to see a lot more in 2016 from them all to secure their spots. Like others have said I think playing him mid/forward rather than mid/back might deliver that impact a lot of us are querying about his 2015 season. It's the same analysis I have for Jetta but on the other wing. I think Jetta is his damaging best when playing mid/fwd as opposed to mid/back as well. I think all of our outside mids are too good to be used just as link-up players. Ideally I think they should be at least two (preferably 4) of the following:

(1) can play as a sml/med defender and have an elite kick from half back
(2) be able to run and carry through the corridor or wings
(3) a reliable link up player through the middle of the ground
(4) elite delivery inside 50 to our forwards
(5) be able to shift forward and be a goal kicking threat

mid/back - Duggan, Wellingham, Sheppard, Hurn
mid - Priddis, Shuey, Gaff, Redden, Sheed, Hutchings
mid/fwd - Jetta, Masten, Yeo, LeCras, Cripps, Lucas, Karpany

 

[avishka5]

Are we saying nobody else in the team has the skills to be that link up player off the HBF? That's actually a similar heat map, albeit with less forward and centre corridor penetration that I would hope Duggan to deliver in 2016. Running off HBF and delivering to our forwards.

I agree he will probably start as B22 but like Hill and Darling, I'd like to see a lot more in 2016 from them all to secure their spots. Like others have said I think playing him mid/forward rather than mid/back might deliver that impact a lot of us are querying about his 2015 season. It's the same analysis I have for Jetta but on the other wing. I think Jetta is his damaging best when playing mid/fwd as opposed to mid/back as well. I think all of our outside mids are too good to be used just as link-up players. Ideally I think they should be at least two (preferably 4) of the following:

(1) can play as a sml/med defender and have an elite kick from half back
(2) be able to run and carry through the corridor or wings
(3) a reliable link up player through the middle of the ground
(4) elite delivery inside 50 to our forwards
(5) be able to shift forward and be a goal kicking threat

mid/back - Duggan, Wellingham, Sheppard, Hurn
mid - Priddis, Shuey, Gaff, Redden, Sheed, Hutchings
mid/fwd - Jetta, Masten, Yeo, LeCras, Cripps, Lucas, Karpany

I know duggan has the ability to play in defence, but i would prefer him at a wing/fwd role. With his amazing foot skills and decsion making, he would be a weapon delivering the ball into 50. Duggan in a fwd/wing role could on average have 5-4.5 inside 50's and our forwards would be benifiting from it. Maybe Both Duggan and masto can play 3 positions on the ground.

 

[iLikeIt]

I know duggan has the ability to play in defence, but i would prefer him at a wing/fwd role. With his amazing foot skills and decsion making, he would be a weapon delivering the ball into 50. Duggan in a fwd/wing role could on average have 5-4.5 inside 50's and our forwards would be benifiting from it. Maybe Both Duggan and masto can play 3 positions on the ground.

I still like him coming off the half back line myself - that line can/will still move forward of the centre line so they can still rack up some good i50s if that's the role they are playing (haven't checked the stats but think Hurn did that a lot more pre 2015).

I am pretty sure that's where we played Duggan most of this year. So from the bounce, he comes up from the back of the centre square as an extra outlet and then can be part of the movement forward and solid delivery inside 50 (or can become defensive and negate the forward is is covering). Perhaps more importantly though is having his accurate kick out coming of our defensive 50 to help reduce repeat inside 50s against us. A poor disposal in attack probably won't hurt you as much as one from the back line.

 

[avishka5]

I still like him coming off the half back line myself - that line can/will still move forward of the centre line so they can still rack up some good i50s if that's the role they are playing (haven't checked the stats but think Hurn did that a lot more pre 2015).

I am pretty sure that's where we played Duggan most of this year. So from the bounce, he comes up from the back of the centre square as an extra outlet and then can be part of the movement forward and solid delivery inside 50 (or can become defensive and negate the forward is is covering). Perhaps more importantly though is having his accurate kick out coming of our defensive 50 to help reduce repeat inside 50s against us. A poor disposal in attack probably won't hurt you as much as one from the back line.

Maybe we can develop him into a luke hodge type player.
Masten then play as a wing/fwd and can be more dangerous.

 

[Max zero]

Masten and Duggan will both be in the 22.

Mastos heatmap actually shows his value, he was primarily used as an outlet kick option from the backline. When you're at the game you can see how often he out works opponents to provide that option, when not many of our other players are moving around.

Then its the same question as always, how do we fit Masten in?

Based on team such as:

Hurn Mckenzie Butler/Ellis/Nelson
Wellingham Schofield Sheppard
Jetta Priddis Gaff
Lecras Mcgovern Darling
Hill Kennedy Cripps
NN Shuey Yeo

That leaves our interchange:

Lycett, Sheed, Redden, ????

That last spot is Masten or Duggan. Some have suggested Hill might come out (I personally don't agree) but apart from that there is not many options to fit Masten in.

 

[RookiePick]

Hill and Cripps will probably have a bit less rope than they found themselves with at times last year

 

[avishka5]

Hill and Cripps will probably have a bit less rope than they found themselves with at times last year

cripps is safe. He's a role player and does his job week in week out. defensively he's a beast and offensively he's very good. Hill has more talent and a bit of class but is way to inconsistent and can go missing a lot. Had a good year this year but still went missing and at one point was dropped. if that happens again next season, he might find it to get back into the 22. Cripps also has a higher ceilling and could become a more attacking player and could even spend more time in the midfield.

 

[bzparkes]

cripps is safe. He's a role player and does his job week in week out. defensively he's a beast and offensively he's very good. Hill has more talent and a bit of class but is way to inconsistent and can go missing a lot. Had a good year this year but still went missing and at one point was dropped. if that happens again next season, he might find it to get back into the 22. Cripps also has a higher ceilling and could become a more attacking player and could even spend more time in the midfield.

Hill was rested due to the shoulder injury he copped. Didn't play WAFL because he was injured and came back when fit. Did go missing at times but overall had a good year.

 

[Prem87]

Surprised Masten's inside 50 average is so low. An area he needs to work on as he can be very damaging kicking to leading forward - one of our best kicks.

However, Masten's role is to spread and spread everywhere - which we can see in the heat map. He's often the link in the middle of the ground giving us a lot of drive.

Definitely playing a specific role under Simpson, with Redden, Jetta and Duggan next year it takes the pressure off him to be one of the best mids in the team - he can go about doing his role very very well.

 

[avishka5]

Hill was rested due to the shoulder injury he copped. Didn't play WAFL because he was injured and came back when fit. Did go missing at times but overall had a good year.

either way, he was lacking form then. lucky lecca was suspended. Hill like masto will have to perform each week for his spot.

 

[Biggie]

Hill like masto will have to perform each week for his spot.

Which is the perfect place to be.

 

[Jack_the_Ninja]

Masten is very lucky Rosa and Selwood left...me thinks he's next.