TheGreatBarryB
Hall of Famer
Heppell as well. Stringer was a huge loss etc. I know people say injuries are no excuse but they really are these days and impacts teams outside top 4 far greater
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AFLW 2024 - Round 9 - Indigenous Round - Chat, game threads, injury lists, team lineups and more.
Team Mgmt. Talk about the makeup of our list - midfield balance, height profile, endurance runners
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The forward line is fine in terms of players available.
I am glad Caracella is around, if nothing else then to teach how to kick straight and lead for a mark.
I'd still look at incorporating a kicking and marking coach.
I am glad Caracella is around, if nothing else then to teach how to kick straight and lead for a mark.
I'd still look at incorporating a kicking and marking coach.
ant555
The Oracle
- May 4, 2004
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Agree on the injury front. Middle of the road sides do get hurt by injuries to key players. At times this year we had 4 or 5 of our first choice forwards out injured.
It will be interesting to see how much of a loss they really are, as it seems Rutten wants a more 'blue-collared, team defense, less-flashiness' type of team.
Does that mean there's less of a role for those run and gun types under the new structure, or does it mean their value to the team would've been greater given there's greater numbers behind the ball?
If we don't run and carry as much or as well we exit by foot, but one of our issues this year has also been the lack of marking power up the ground. A more mobile ruckman in Draper helps out with that a bit. Not sure where else though...
Yeah our lack of marking power up the ground has been an issue forever. It seems like as a team we have tall forwards, tall defenders and ruckman and everyone else can't take contested marks (even comparable to other players their size). Obviously having a smaller midfield compounds this issue. There's maybe one exception or two but that's been our team and our losses in finals have totally highlighted this issue.
Whilst you don't want to be moving the ball by taking contested marks one after another, sometimes a big contested mark in the middle of the ground will totally open up a play and you'll go straight into your forward line after that for a relatively easy score if you execute well. Conversely we concede too many contested marks the other way.
Probably something that will continue to be an issue for a few years at least.
Undertook a bit of a scan of guys under 30 who have put in more than one A grade season in their careers.
I found two players
Maybe not a bad thing though.
Time for the sum to become greater than it's parts.
If i'm drafting based on immediate needs
Perkins -> Heppell
Reid -> Hurley
Cox -> Ambrose
Crookshoulder
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I had a source tell me that Mason Redman is going to be moved to the half forward line.
He played HF in his draft year and was influential. His highlights were great and provided great leads and strong marks.
I think with him, Stewart, Walla, Wright, Stringer, Laverde & Smith used throughout the year, it will be a good mix of Big, med and smalls.
He played HF in his draft year and was influential. His highlights were great and provided great leads and strong marks.
I think with him, Stewart, Walla, Wright, Stringer, Laverde & Smith used throughout the year, it will be a good mix of Big, med and smalls.
eth-dog
Tier 1 WW Player
The problem with that is we've lost our two quickest defenders and we're going to shift our other quick defender forward (even though he isn't blistering by any means).
eth-dog
Tier 1 WW Player
He's not a medium
- May 6, 2007
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how many nothing players do we have on our list already? I mean guys with no defined role at AFL level?
You can count maybe a dozen guys on our list at vary ages/skills/experiences.
This is arguably my biggest gripe with Dodoro and his ability to build a list. So many nothing players.
187 v 191.
I'd say Redman is low end of medium whilst Laverde is top end
Neither is KP tall or your typical small.
Personally don't mind Redman fwd. He's a tough competitor and a really good kick.
Redman Stewart Laverde
Stringer Wright Tippa
?
forward planning and depth too.
eth-dog
Tier 1 WW Player
Stylistically he isn't a medium. It's bizarre how many people list him as a "medium" at either end. He's a definite small. Jamie Elliott is more of a medium forward than him despite the height difference
fair point
Can't say i've ever seen him play forward to judge it.
I don't think there's anything to be worried about with this. It's the off-season. We had a dismal season. Of course the coaches are going to experiment a little bit. At this stage, what does it matter?
Don't mind the idea and even though it will leave us incredibly light on for medium and smaller defenders I reckon finding blokes to play HBF and back pocket is pretty much the easiest area to fix. Its the type of area you can fill in a draft even with later picks or mature agers etc. Plus there's always forwards that don't work out that you can play back there.
One nice thing about Redman is he's a pretty good mark and has good pace and skills. Plus he's actually spent a fair bit of time up forward earlier in his career. He might be a more realistic guy to shutdown some of the more explosive half back flankers.
- May 6, 2007
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Looking at our current list and the make up of our best 22, we have a reasonably good opportunity to make a seemless transition from our current stars.
Do the match committee have the balls to play Hurley, Hooker, Zaharakis, Heppell, Ambrose in the seconds? We could have some kids fill there roles and do well or will the coach and co play there favorites?
The other glaring thing is establishing positions for a number of guys who don't necessarily have a specific role at AFL level.
Do the match committee have the balls to play Hurley, Hooker, Zaharakis, Heppell, Ambrose in the seconds? We could have some kids fill there roles and do well or will the coach and co play there favorites?
The other glaring thing is establishing positions for a number of guys who don't necessarily have a specific role at AFL level.
Dons4Life
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- May 22, 2016
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I think it needs to be a mix of giving the younger guys games but not throwing them all to the wolves at the one time. They will need some senior guys in the side to help them with the transition and step up in speed that is required.
I reckon Hurley and Heppell out of that list play every week in 2021 barring injuries. I reckon we need Hurley's experience to teach all the young blokes and organise our defense. Heppell isn't even that old. If he gets fit again could have a number of good years ahead of him. Hooker and Zaka should be used sparingly. I'd use Hooker when we have injuries as cover either back or forward but he shouldn't be legit best 22. Zaka will probably play as a small forward. He shouldn't be a walk up start.
I definitely don't think we should be full don't play any older guys but it should be harder for them to keep their roles than in prior years. Ideally 2 of those 5 playing most weeks.
- Apr 23, 2016
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This is you being Ethan again.
Yep.
Hepp is captain. we aren't going to drop him while he is.
Hurley is effectively a VC in many ways. What he needs is a system around him and the likes of Zerk & Francis to really step up and give him a chop out.
Both should still be decent players for the immediate future.
Speculation only, but this seems possible next year;
Ess 1st round pick
Coll 1st round pick (after splitting 2020 Pick 8)
AFL 1st round pick (compo if ZMerrett departs)
+ Davey twins as FS picks (?)
...and the back of my mind is thinking Josh Misiti is there somewhere?
Ess 1st round pick
Coll 1st round pick (after splitting 2020 Pick 8)
AFL 1st round pick (compo if ZMerrett departs)
+ Davey twins as FS picks (?)
...and the back of my mind is thinking Josh Misiti is there somewhere?
The talls are just stupid now, in a good way.
We have invested a lot in tall players in the last 2 drafts.
As much as I appreciate the time it takes to develop tall players the need doesn't seem that urgent that we needed the second tall in the top 10.
Having said that I suppose we bank what we have now and round the list out.
I'd say Cox's athletic profile makes him somene we have to lool at as a CHF. Use the tank on the lead and the kicking to deliver the ball inside F50.
Long term, given the investment made we're looking at something like:
FB: Brand / McBride
CHB: Reid 3TD: Eyre
R: Draper
CHF: Cox 3TF: Jones
FF/R2: Bryan
As a raw set of attributes it doesnt get any better than that. Tall, super athletic and versatile.
It's a long way off, though. I'd be hoping Stewart and Wright own the forwad spots for the next 3 years at a minimum.
More immediately Reid and Cox play at half back.
Really like the Perkins selection too. He's as un-Essendon as a midfielder gets which is a very good place to start.
We have invested a lot in tall players in the last 2 drafts.
As much as I appreciate the time it takes to develop tall players the need doesn't seem that urgent that we needed the second tall in the top 10.
Having said that I suppose we bank what we have now and round the list out.
I'd say Cox's athletic profile makes him somene we have to lool at as a CHF. Use the tank on the lead and the kicking to deliver the ball inside F50.
Long term, given the investment made we're looking at something like:
FB: Brand / McBride
CHB: Reid 3TD: Eyre
R: Draper
CHF: Cox 3TF: Jones
FF/R2: Bryan
As a raw set of attributes it doesnt get any better than that. Tall, super athletic and versatile.
It's a long way off, though. I'd be hoping Stewart and Wright own the forwad spots for the next 3 years at a minimum.
More immediately Reid and Cox play at half back.
Really like the Perkins selection too. He's as un-Essendon as a midfielder gets which is a very good place to start.
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