Player Watch Pick #18 (2016) - Sam Powell-Pepper

[RangaInTeal]

What is SPP? Is he a forward? Because he's not kicking goals or setting any up. Is he a mid? Because 1 clearance and 14 disposals suggests not. He is out of form and has added very little besides a few clangers every week. I would drop him this week for Mead if Gray isn't fully healed.

can't have everyone firing each week. He was 4-6 weeks off the rest of the group. Will develop into a centre square mid, maybe just priming him for a big Prelim final.

 

[Imhotep]

can't have everyone firing each week. He was 4-6 weeks off the rest of the group. Will develop into a centre square mid, maybe just priming him for a big Prelim final.

His entire season has been bang on average. Right now he's not doing enough in the forward line to keep Gray or Motlop out let alone Mead or Hartlett. 

 

[davesnothere]

He's average but wouldn't be going into finals without him.

That's not to say I wouldn't give him a run in the sanfl for a week to have him rip a game apart. Could be good for him.

 

[Schulzenfest]

He's not in great form, but I'm happy to back him in over the likes of Mead and Hartlett. However his spot will quickly come under threat when Gray and Motlop are available.

 

[Enviable Tradition]

He's average but wouldn't be going into finals without him.

That's not to say I wouldn't give him a run in the sanfl for a week to have him rip a game apart. Could be good for him.

I was coming in here to post exactly the same thing.

He's a wrecking ball that puts the oppo under the pump and will become even more valuable come finals time.

 

[JUSTWORK]

He’s definitely struggling for form, but he’s also playing the role that made Boak look like he was on the verge of retirement a few years back which I’m being mindful of.

That said, he may still find him self the sub in a week or so when Robbie comes back in.

 

[all seeing eye]

I reckon he is carrying to much bulk which has affected his mobility. Bash and crash is all good but I think he could do with sheding a few kgs to get some speed and mobility back , looks to be laboring a bit at times. Might be affected by lack of preseason which is cathcing up with him. May need mini freshen up and adjustment to training load.

 

[melanChronic]

Playing indoor football at Marvel for the last 3 weeks hasn't helped him either. Chip-chip uncontested ball movement is not his bag, and his physical pressure is much more likely to cause a mistake if the ball is wet or dewy.

 

[The Hobo]

Hasn't been in great form, but like many have said - he can play a key role come finals.

I'd like to see him thrown into the CB's occasionally, just to mix it up a bit - particularly when things are going against us.

At this stage he keeps his spot in the team for me, but when Gray is fit, his name will be in the mix for being dropped.

 

[Imhotep]

He’s definitely struggling for form, but he’s also playing the role that made Boak look like he was on the verge of retirement a few years back which I’m being mindful of.

That said, he may still find him self the sub in a week or so when Robbie comes back in.

Boak averaged over twenty disposals and a goal playing that role. Butters second game back from injury, playing the same role had 22 disposals a goal and a goal assist.

SPP is not a forward and looks like Sam Gray and Jake Neade up there. It's also his errant kicking and the momentum killing frees he has been giving away.

He would make a great sub come finals time. I'd happily use the last couple of games to see if HH could make an impact in SPPs spot during finals.

 

[EskimoPAFC]

A lot of players coming in to form now just might lift Pep.

Could be a big fortnight for him to cement his spot.

 

[PJ Power]

He's not in great form, but I'm happy to back him in over the likes of Mead and Hartlett. However his spot will quickly come under threat when Gray and Motlop are available.

This.

 

[PJ Power]

Boak averaged over twenty disposals and a goal playing that role. Butters second game back from injury, playing the same role had 22 disposals a goal and a goal assist.

SPP is not a forward and looks like Sam Gray and Jake Neade up there. It's also his errant kicking and the momentum killing frees he has been giving away.

He would make a great sub come finals time. I'd happily use the last couple of games to see if HH could make an impact in SPPs spot during finals.

Momentum killing frees, especially the ever so predictable high tackles, are a big issue with his game. He also seems to be getting in the way of teammates when they are about to pounce on the loose ball.

 

[Ah12]

Crazy to think his best game might be his debut. 2 goals, 7 clearances & 19 touches. His career really has plateaued.

 

[RossFC]

Give him more mid minutes.

 

[RangaInTeal]

Give him more mid minutes.

Get the feeling he is building into it. The emergence of Drew has probably pushed him back a few extra weeks.

 

[chiwigi]

He’s keeping fit by playing and if Drew goes down he’s ready.
We can also swap him out for Gray if needed.

He’s keeping Woodcock out of the team, you’d have SPP over him any day of the week.

 

[Puddy]

Really isn't a forward. Can he fit into the current midfield?

 

[TeeKray]

Whatever the hell he was up to in the pre season obviously hurt his preparation. The club imposed time away on the eve of the season wouldn't have helped either. I still think he adds a lot to our team at his best, as we saw last season. He needs to focus and have a big pre season if he wants to get back to his best. Otherwise, his career will be on the line again.

 

[powerrrrrrrrrrrr]

I think I’ve made my views on SPP quite clear lately but a genuine question, with how the game has evolved over the last few years does a ‘bash and crash’ type player suit the modern game anymore? Or does SPP need to find a new style to be relevant?

We know he gives away a lot of frees but is this just because the old bash and crash style player doesn’t fit within the new rules? At times he’s very reckless which is due to that style and giving away frees for high tackles, bumps, trips, holding the ball etc while trying to just barrel through everyone.

Very few teams play that bash and crash role player anymore and I really can’t think of another top 8 team playing one (Mitch Robinson

5

Mitch Robinson

Age

35

Ht

184cm

Wt

89kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

19.9

5star

K

11.2

4star

HB

8.7

5star

M

4.1

4star

T

4.7

5star

CL

3.2

5star

D

15.8

4star

K

11.3

4star

HB

4.5

3star

M

3.9

4star

T

1.9

3star

CL

1.8

4star

D

13.2

4star

K

8.0

3star

HB

5.2

4star

M

4.0

4star

T

3.6

5star

perhaps the closest but a much much better version). They have genuine contested ball winners (likes Wines) but not those types that just throw themselves into the pack and often not winning the ball. Bash and crash is very different to being a contested ball winner.

Does he need to reinvent himself, has the game moved on too much for this type of play or does he still have a role to play?

Im not sure he and us can rely on him just being bash and crash and it’s detrimental to our team with the way the games played now.

He needs to pick up his in close contested game and actually get hands to the ball first and get the handball out to another player rather than try barrel through everyone or just throw it on the boot. Oliver is a great example of this. May get 30 disposals but 25 will be handballs in close. Not expecting him to get anywhere near Oliver’s abilities but if he could model his game on him he could have a place going forward.

 

[bomberclifford]

SPP started the year late. As a result, he's having his mid season blues late.

He'll be fine once we hit the finals.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

When we play the Bulldogs I would sit him on Caleb Daniels and tell him to pound the little cheap shot merchant into the turf. Legally of course.

 

[The Hobo]

Momentum killing frees, especially the ever so predictable high tackles, are a big issue with his game. He also seems to be getting in the way of teammates when they are about to pounce on the loose ball.

1.2 free kicks against per game - which considering the way he plays (and the way we expect him to play) isn't all that high. In his last 6 games he has given away 1,1,0,4,1,0 free kicks away, with the 4 coming against Melbourne.

His role is as a pressure forward - and his stats show he is above average at quite a few of the key stats for it.

Averaging 4.2 tackles per game, 19.6 pressure acts and and 1.2 tackles inside 50 are all above average based on the AFL rating.
Also averaging 6.2 contested possessions, 5 ground ball gets and a contested possession rate of 41.7 - again, all above average.

He's doing his job - yes we would ideally see a bit more output from him, but it's not as bad as people make it out to be. It really is a thankless role.

 

[Marmozet]

When we play the Bulldogs I would sit him on Caleb Daniels and tell him to pound the little cheap shot merchant into the turf. Legally of course.

Id rather he go to Cody Weightman

 

[Ford Fairlane]

Id rather he go to Cody Weightman

Pity Lachie Jones is injured.