List Mgmt. Round 1, 2015 Full strength team

[POBT]

When Cox and NicNat played together, they were both occasionally in the midfield together but it was far from a regular thing. That's arguably the most mobile ruck duo the game has seen, including one bloke (Cox) who is the most "midfielder like" ruckman I've seen.

Instead, by putting a very mobile ruckman in the forward line effectively as a "third tall" meant that West Coast could stretch the opposition for height. It also allowed the resting ruck to push up to forward half stoppages, which is where having two big bodies at work can be so successful.

That's a model we can adopt.

 

[Nunez]

When Cox and NicNat played together, they were both occasionally in the midfield together but it was far from a regular thing. That's arguably the most mobile ruck duo the game has seen, including one bloke (Cox) who is the most "midfielder like" ruckman I've seen.

Instead, by putting a very mobile ruckman in the forward line effectively as a "third tall" meant that West Coast could stretch the opposition for height. It also allowed the resting ruck to push up to forward half stoppages, which is where having two big bodies at work can be so successful.

That's a model we can adopt.

I agree with this. Having two rucks who are as adgile as ours gives us a lot of options. Playing one of Luey or Martin in the forward line gives them yet another tall to beat, and if needed we can place both in the middle to completely throw the opposition off. I'd have the second ruck running from the forward line to the wing, but not predominantly through the mid.

 

[Skoob]

Maybe some people are confused over what a midfielder is/does, maybe I am. I'd describe him more as a utility, very much in the same vein as Mitch Clark. Good ruckman who is also very good around the ground, but not what I'd describe as a midfielder. Mitch was also much better utilised around the ground than up forward (when he was at Brisbane anyway), but on last year's form, I'd have Martin ahead of Clark when he was here. I'm still interested to see him rest forward/half forward. I know most have written him off (as a forward) after his first year with us, but until I am blue in the face, I will repeat that was a different man at a different time. The new and improved Stef Martin could surprise a lot of people. He could also disappoint many.

 

[cotter101]

I'd rather Martin rest forward than as a midfielder. He has bulked up considerably and looks more capable of taking a contested mark and replacing Merrett as the big body up there. All he has to do is crash packs, and help out the younger KPF's we have. In all honesty, he is a better ruckman than Leuenberger imo. May not win as many hitouts but the ones he does win are of higher quality and provides more in general around the ground.

 

[POBT]

I have no idea what to expect from Leuey. So much natural talent and is now a perfect age for a ruckman. But is it ever going to come together?

I've seen him have games where he's been a physical inside presence. I've seen him rack up 15+ touches as a running, mobile type. I've seen him take contested marks. I've seen him create opportunities up forward.

Injuries have impeded his progress - the question is whether we will see the potential realised. His 2013 was very good - putting together his complete game would take him to the next echelon.

 

[Billy Puller]

I seem to remember Leuy has shown glimpses as a forward

 

[SizeMatters]

chances of Berger leaving the Lions at the end if the season? Fresh start
Might be the best for him personally.

 

[Milux]

chances of Berger leaving the Lions at the end if the season? Fresh start
Might be the best for him personally.

I would be less pissed if luey decided to leave then if did. Luey has put in effort and stuck through when things where looking shit.

 

[Billy Puller]

chances of Berger leaving the Lions at the end if the season? Fresh start
Might be the best for him personally.

Depends what we can get for him. If Darling rumours are true then I would be all for it

 

[SizeMatters]

I think he is restricted not entirely sure but i think we would get a second round pick for him from the AFL if we decided not to match.

 

[a mayes ing]

Depends what we can get for him. If Darling rumours are true then I would be all for it

What rumours?

 

[Billy Puller]

What rumours?

Apparently we have thrown a big offer at him

 

[dlanod]

Depends what we can get for him. If Darling rumours are true then I would be all for it

Darling wouldn't be on the cards - Leuey's a free agent.

 

[iBeng]

Darling wouldn't be on the cards - Leuey's a free agent.

Restricted though, and if we told him we'd get him where he wanted to go, say, West Coast...

 

[Panthera]

I seem to remember Leuy has shown glimpses as a forward

Having either Leuey or Martin roaming inside our F50 means that an extremely tall and capable defender needs to follow them. Both are agile and good below the knees when up and going. It also allows Close / Freeman etc. that little bit of extra room they may need to lead into...

As negative as the 2015 prospects of our forward line have been, we have at our disposal:

A quality resting ruckman Leuenberger or Martin
An annoying goalsneak Green
A promising leading tall Close
A classy, marking target Mayes
A defensive hitman Robinson
A high octane runner Zorko

with Freeman, Staker, Christensen, Paparone, McStay, Taylor as well as resting midfielders (primarily Rockliff and D.Beams).

I think we'll be difficult to match up on, especially as all can float in from other positions apart from Close.

 

[Billy Puller]

I

Darling wouldn't be on the cards - Leuey's a free agent.

think last years trade period showed anything is possible. Wouldn't discount anything to be honest no matter how far fetched it may seem

 

[Happy_Neale]

I remember the last 5 games or so a bit different to you. He was one of the reasons things started to work, we looked better at the clearances because of his 'spread', he was linking up with others in the midfield quite a bit. The commentators mentioned it a few times as well.

He is definitely one of the more mobile ruckmen but I was referring to the Geelong match where he played as a mid when Leunberger rucked. Quite simply couldn't go with the genuine mids.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Darling is a good player but not really the power forward we are after IMO. I'd happily sign him up though.

 

[Milux]

He is definitely one of the more mobile ruckmen but I was referring to the Geelong match where he played as a mid when Leunberger rucked. Quite simply couldn't go with the genuine mids.

But to be fare he was playing on Selwood most of the match and his one goal come from bartel following him down the forward line.

 

[John_Proctor]

leuenberger is a terrible contested mark - one of the worst in the league given his height. when he's rested forward he's tended to get his goals/marks from on the lead.

Martin doesn't have enough footy smarts to play as a key position player. When he is on the ball (as ruck or midfield) he can play 'see ball, get ball, kick/handpass ball' but even when he gets a mark in open play he often panics a bit with the ball and either moves it immediately to a player under pressure or takes too long and kicks it to a man being shut down... Unlike Leuenberger though he was a handy 'bailout' option from kick-ins as he could clunk the odd contested mark.

Don't get me wrong Martin was awesome last year as a ruckman and if he'd been in the team and held that form for 22 games he'd have been deservedly all australian ruckman but I really just don't see him working out as a KPP.

For me our ruck play next season should be something like.

Leuenberger 3 quarters in ruck, 1/2 quarter forward, 1/2 quarter bench
Martin 1 quarter in ruck, 1 quarter forward, 1 quarter midfield, 1 quarter subbed off.

(and you could obviously rotate which one gets subbed off based on form, maybe give Leuenberger more forward time and less ruck time based on form etc... but something like the above).

 

[The Flying Belgian]

leuenberger is a terrible contested mark - one of the worst in the league given his height. when he's rested forward he's tended to get his goals/marks from on the lead.

Unless you've got someone like Sandilands, the days of whacking a ruckman in the goalsquare and getting him to stick his hands up and mark the ball are gone. I'd have though the fact he get goals from marks on the lead is a good thing.

 

[Billy Puller]

With adcock no longer captain I am almost inclined to have cutler or c.beams in ahead of him

 

[winged1]

Unless you've got someone like Sandilands, the days of whacking a ruckman in the goalsquare and getting him to stick his hands up and mark the ball are gone. I'd have though the fact he get goals from marks on the lead is a good thing.

Back in the day the ruckman was considerably bigger than the key position players, but now there are guys 198 playing key posts.

 

[winged1]

With adcock no longer captain I am almost inclined to have cutler or c.beams in ahead of him

It doesnt change what he offers to the team (not being captain), so he should be given the opportunity if he is best 22.

Interesting not any mention of Jed in the media release I saw

 

[Fatcat08]

It doesnt change what he offers to the team (not being captain), so he should be given the opportunity if he is best 22.

Interesting not any mention of Jed in the media release I saw

Yeah there was something about him stepping into a mentoring role with younger players similar to what Brown did last year.