Strategy Trade and List Management Thread Part 7 (opposition supporters - READ posting rules before posting)

[VitalDread]

Yeah, I'm kidding myself. Our midfield was great and Libba wasn't letting players just run around him as he was not slowing down in 2024 after a good start to the year at all. And his poor 2km time trial last week is all fine and dandy.

Counter point

The Vibes are up

 

[Mofra]

Counter point

The Vibes are up

I hope so, but I have concerns.

 

[Foxman98]

Yeah, I'm kidding myself. Our midfield was great and Libba wasn't letting players just run around him as he was not slowing down in 2024 after a good start to the year at all. And his poor 2km time trial last week is all fine and dandy.

Not to mention he is 1 more concussion away from very serious questions

 

[Libbaaaa]

I hope so, but I have concerns.

Its a valid concern, for all the tinkering throughout the year and the emergence of Richards in the midfield, the trio of Bont/Adz/Libba were in the majority of CBAs agaisnt the Hawks (Bont less so once the game was lost) and we got smashed.

 

[Mofra]

Not to mention he is 1 more concussion away from very serious questions

He's been one of my favourite players ever so it would be great to see him go out on his terms.

I do think we need to rejig things and rotate heavier through the middle.
On top of Libba potentially slowing down or needing to be rested a bit more, Treloar just had a career best season and with his age and soft tissue injury history we need to perhaps lighten his workload as well. Red can step up for a full season, Sanders is absolutely ready to go and Matt Kennedy will get midfield rotation time too.

 

[Dogs_r_barking]

He's been one of my favourite players ever so it would be great to see him go out on his terms.

I do think we need to rejig things and rotate heavier through the middle.
On top of Libba potentially slowing down or needing to be rested a bit more, Treloar just had a career best season and with his age and soft tissue injury history we need to perhaps lighten his workload as well. Red can step up for a full season, Sanders is absolutely ready to go and Matt Kennedy will get midfield rotation time too.

Yep and knowing Bevo there will be someone else in the mix.

 

[CarnTheScray]

I must have been watching a different game. Our midfield was absolutely destroyed in the final.

Our entire team was lol. R Lobb the exception

 

[threenewpadlocks]

Our entire team was lol. R Lobb the exception

J. Freijah might have something to say about that too

 

[Graeme Cook]

Heard some stuff about Jamarra's behaviour pre the Hawks final which was slightly concerning. That being said, we'd want to be well and truly looked after if there was a trade/FA scenario

Yes I heard similar story re the bye before Hawks game, hence his disinterested performance in the final.

 

[dergert]

Yeah, I'm kidding myself. Our midfield was great and Libba wasn't letting players just run around him as he was not slowing down in 2024 after a good start to the year at all. And his poor 2km time trial last week is all fine and dandy.

Lucky we have Garcia...........?

 

[Mofra]

Lucky we have Garcia...........?

Seems to be putting in the hard yards this pre-season. Positive signs, and he's just far too good for VFL

 

[_Cerberus_]

Honestly, I reckon this is Libbas last season. Would not be surprised if he is rotated more often than usual. Or if he spends some stints in the forward pocket. Been a great servant to the club for so long. So hopefully he is able to hold off time, and give us a productive season. Would love for him to finish up with a flag.

 

[Arkangel]

Libba's skills, vision, and quickness of thought are good enough that, to my mind, it's not inconceivable that he could be valuable in either the forward or backlines if we wanted to reduce his midfield minutes. Could reduce the risk of any further concussions too.

 

[Golden_6]

Libba's skills, vision, and quickness of thought are good enough that, to my mind, it's not inconceivable that he could be valuable in either the forward or backlines if we wanted to reduce his midfield minutes. Could reduce the risk of any further concussions too.

I disagree. Any time he’s been plonked in the forward line he’s looked average.

For as great as he is, Libba tends to be exposed in wide open spaces. He’s an inside midfielder and that’s it but happy to be proven wrong.

 

[threenewpadlocks]

I disagree. Any time he’s been plonked in the forward line he’s looked average.

For as great as he is, Libba tends to be exposed in wide open spaces. He’s an inside midfielder and that’s it but happy to be proven wrong.

He was decent enough in 2016 playing just as much forward and mid rotation as the Wallis, Picken, Smith, Dahlhaus types that were in the team. 14 goals for the year, "only" 4.5 clearances a game compared to 7+ he's had every season in his career as a permanent onballer.

 

[Golden_6]

He was decent enough in 2016 playing just as much forward and mid rotation as the Wallis, Picken, Smith, Dahlhaus types that were in the team. 14 goals for the year, "only" 4.5 clearances a game compared to 7+ he's had every season in his career as a permanent onballer.

The difference is that he’s an extra ACL tear and 9 years older than 2016.

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

For me Libba has earned the benefit of the doubt until the evidence that he's done is insurmountable.

His form absolutely dipped in the back half of the year. Whether that was from fatigue or the inevitable decline, time will tell.

One thing is for sure, though: we asked too much of him last season. He absolutely needs to be rested more this season.

 

[Wizard17]

For me Libba has earned the benefit of the doubt until the evidence that he's done is insurmountable.

His form absolutely dipped in the back half of the year. Whether that was from fatigue or the inevitable decline, time will tell.

One thing is for sure, though: we asked too much of him last season. He absolutely needs to be rested more this season.

Should give him rests this year. Especially if we sign Brew who can come in and play a similar role in games where he is rested.

 

[ossie_21]

For me Libba has earned the benefit of the doubt until the evidence that he's done is insurmountable.

His form absolutely dipped in the back half of the year. Whether that was from fatigue or the inevitable decline, time will tell.

One thing is for sure, though: we asked too much of him last season. He absolutely needs to be rested more this season.

We need to take a leaf out of Geelong’s book, they manage their old players incredibly well. This also means putting faith in some younger players from time to time.

English/Bont/Libba/Treloar has been the main 4 in the middle for a while until Richards broke in, so I wouldn’t mind a max 2 of Bont/Libba/Treloar making up the numbers, but preferably 1 per rotation as much as we can get away with.

 

[stefoid]

Richards and Lobb likely to be better in their roles this season, after surprise moves. The fact that Richards performed credibly in the midfield after just a few weeks is a minor miracle.

 

[cecil]

English/Bont/Treloar/Richards/Libba/Kennedy to be the main midfield rotation for me. Even Kennedy doing 60% TOG as a mid would mean we can pull Libbas minutes down slightly.

Sanders is next in and you'd think there will be at least 10 games which we will rest Libba/Treloar or there will be an injury. Those games plus another 6 or so as sub where he'd come straight into the midfield mix would be a solid block.

 

[Mofra]

Should give him rests this year. Especially if we sign Brew who can come in and play a similar role in games where he is rested.

Without Brew, we still have Sanders and Matt Kennedy to rotate as tough ball winning mids

 

[Mofra]

Richards and Lobb likely to be better in their roles this season, after surprise moves. The fact that Richards performed credibly in the midfield after just a few weeks is a minor miracle.

He had two preseasons training with the mids at times, it's been a long term plan to rotate him through there. Baz's ACL made it a bit more urgent.

 

[threenewpadlocks]

Without Brew, we still have Sanders and Matt Kennedy to rotate as tough ball winning mids

And we still could very well repurpose West as a midfielder too

 

[Cudi]

Without Brew, we still have Sanders and Matt Kennedy to rotate as tough ball winning mids

Garcia too