Ultimate Footy Position Changes

[dewah07]

This is such a big part of how you can mould your team to take advantage of your strategy but who do we expect or hope gets a change.

for me i don't really mind if he gets it or not but weltering should get F if he continues to kick snags.

maybe charlie cameron gets C?

but who else?

 

[AxelFoley]

Robbie Gray and Dusty Martin are kicking majors but they usually dont make bold moves like that - they are very stingy with their changes...

McKernan a Ruck perhaps?

 

[LeverPuller]

Jack Watts could get R...

 

[Significant]

I am hoping an Ellis, Conca, Melksham get back status...

 

[LeverPuller]

Weitering will get F.
Would expect Melksham to get B

 

[PAFCsince1870]

Dan Houston will get B, sure as hell isn't playing as a F.

 

[Bound For Rory]

Would expect Melksham to get B & Charlie Cameron to get C

 

[dewah07]

Jack Watts could get R...

just on Jack i love him in UF, he just gets it done but don't expect him to get the R or my other forward ruck like casbult.

maybe BJ might get Back but thats asking a lot for round3 haha

 

[C_Turn]

any thoughts on Mitch Robinson getting Fwd? Was talk pre-season but i haven't watched enough lions games, FF says he was playing as defensive forward on weekend just gone. could be a handy one

 

[rOdGe]

Yes Mitch would be close C_Turn hes spending 65% in the forward half

A few guys i think are locks for B status added are
Lachie Weller - 71% possession heatmap in defensive half
Jake Melksham - 82% in defensive half
Justin Westhoff - Not quite a lock yet but perhaps at round 6 as he is 66% in defensive half.
Jack Newnes - 70% Defensive half

Then for forward status.
Robbie Gray - 67% in Forward Half plus 8 goals and 4 goal assists.

Also i think Stanton (65%) will get B added at round 6. Charlie Cameron would be a lock for add centre as others have mentioned

 

[SUNS]

Where can one gain access to heat maps

 

[LeverPuller]

If Stants gets B it will make my year

 

[Books]

Harry Taylor to Fwd
Conca and Melksham to Back

They seem like obvious ones to me.

 

[SUNS]

From the Footy Prophets page who go alright at predicting this


ED, LOCK IT IN
Robbie Gray – ADD FORWARD

He’s the biggest fish of this crop of position changes, and something the guys at Ultimate Footy will acknowledge, but surely this one has to happen. Gray is the quintessential midfield/forward type and his position should rectify that. On average, Gray has attended nine fewer centre bounces from this season to last, spending much more time forward in games this season.

Zac Jones and Curtly Hampton – ADD MIDFIELD

After previous seasons spent across half-back, both Jones and Hampton have been thrown a fantasy lifeline with a new role in their respective teams’ midfields. Their scoring so far has been shaky, however we’ve seen glimpses of what both are potentially capable of in the future. While both of these changes likely bare minimal impact in Ultimate Footy teams, it’d be nice to see fantasy imitate reality once again.

Jason Castagna, Jacob Weitering, Andy Otten and Harry Taylor – ADD FORWARD

Similar situations within each of their teams has resulted in this quartet spending plenty of time inside fifty so far this season. Castagna has been deployed as a small forward across all three games, while Otten and Taylor, despite varying levels of success in their new roles, have both been spent the majority of time across the three games down forward. At worst, we’ll see those three pick up a new position, with Weitering being a bit more touch and go this week.

Will Hoskin-Elliott. Charlie Cameron and Shaun Higgins – ADD MIDFIELD

In similar vein to Hampton and Jones, Hoskin-Elliott and Cameron have both been revelations this season, enjoying greater freedom and time further afield which has seen their scores skyrocket. For Higgins, it’s more a case of returning to an old role, his customary outside midfielder post where he can run and carry, lifting his average back around the 90 mark once again.

Shaun McKernan – ADD RUCK

Until last weekend, McKernan was Essendon’s sole and only ruckman. He wasn’t pinch-hitting as a Mr Fix It like Jack Watts, McKernan was the guy and averaging the 16th most hitouts per game this season. Leuenberger’s return in Round 3 forced McKernan out of the side, so we may have to wait until Round 6 for this change to happen.

Jake Barrett – ADD FORWARD

Brisbane already has a crowded engine room, which has left Barrett to merely rotate through there; spending most of his time at his new club floating across half-forward. Where a half-forward spends their time on the ground is normally hard to interpret, and Barrett is no exception. This move is common sense however. Make it happen Ultimate Footy.

Other likely players who will be strongly considered: Ryan Lester, Wayne Milera (both add midfield), Reece Conca, Lachie Weller and Dan Houston (all add defence).



NO CIGAR, THIS TIME
Brandon Ellis – ADD DEFENDER

There’s no doubt that Ellis will come under consideration for defender status, but it’s unlikely Ultimate Footy will pull this trigger on Wednesday. There is no doubt Ellis has spent plenty of time as a rebounding defender so far in 2017, but likely not enough to warrant a change, largely due to him continually drifting further afield week on week.

Brent Stanton – ADD DEFENDER

Yes, he is a defender now, and he is a better change than Ellis to gain defensive eligibility. After Round 1, Stanton would have been a lock, however he has drifted since, spending more time further afield since, which will ultimately undermine him in his quest for a positional upgrade. He’s a big fish in a small pond, and after Ultimate Footy pulled the trigger on Marcus Bontempelli as a forward at Round 3 last season, they’ll ensure everything is absolutely definitive, which at this stage, it’s not.

Mitch Robinson – ADD FORWARD

Similarly to Stanton, Round 1 actually saw Robinson play as a forward, however that theme hasn’t transferred into recent weeks, playing in the midfield against both Essendon and St Kilda. If we split his possessions down into the defence – extending to the centre square parallel, the midfield – the wings and centre square, and the forward line – extending to the other centre square parallel, Robinson has collected 50% of his disposals in the midfield.

Justin Westhoff – ADD DEFENDER

With Jackson Trengove setting up camp down forward as the second ruckman, Westhoff has floated further afield, finding just 13% of his disposals in the forward third so far this season. Yes, he has moved to defence, but he has accumulated roughly the same amount of possessions in the defensive and midfield thirds. He’ll definitely be one that could gain a position in the future, but after three rounds, the data remains inconclusive.

Other likely players who will discussed, but unlikely to gain anything: Jake Melksham (add defender) and Mark Blicavs (add ruck)

YOU’VE GOT, NO CHANCE!
Jack Watts – ADD RUCK

Watts has been lending a hand to Max Gawn in the ruck, but even the latter’s injury won’t help Watts’ case to pick up ruck status. We’ve seen in the past, with Kurt Tippett in 2015, that Ultimate Footy leave no grey area when it comes to secondary ruckmen. His 15 hitouts are also less than similar pinch-hit ruckmen Tyrone Vickery and Levi Casboult.

Peter Wright – ADD RUCK

Right now, he’s a forward and lends a hand occasionally. Next.

Liam Picken – ADD FORWARD

Usually when coaches advocate for a player to earn both defender and forward status, it usually means that player is just a really good midfielder. Case in point, Liam Picken. He’s currently tracking at 31% in the defensive third, and only 22% in the forward third. Turns out, he’s just really good at gut running – who knew!

 

[Significant]

Really wanted Ellis to get back, but can settle for Melksham

 

[dewah07]

who do we expect gets a change the next batch?

 

[SUNS]

who do we expect gets a change the next batch?

I have no idea

 

[Books]

Blake Hardwick will surely become a Back, but that will not be a significant move.

Sam Gibson should be a Back, but who knows?

 

[Significant]

Brandon Ellis should be close to getting back. Both games before Adelaide were 66%+ in the defensive half. Would say there is enough data.

 

[LeverPuller]

Lock Cam Pedersen in for ruck come Rd9.

Watts actually may be a chance too given he's rucked 50%+ in Rd3 and 5 and spent a significant time there in Rd6.

 

[Tas43]

Lock Cam Pedersen in for ruck come Rd9.

Watts actually may be a chance too given he's rucked 50%+ in Rd3 and 5 and spent a significant time there in Rd6.

Ellis? Guthrie? Newnes?

 

[LeverPuller]

Ellis? Guthrie? Newnes?

Don't watch enough of those sides to give an opinion

 

[Significant]

Ellis? Guthrie? Newnes?

If Pies match is anything to go by Guthrie will get it (69% backline) but his overall stats are much more even. Think Ellis is a monty while Newnes is more speculative.

 

[SUNS]

Position Changes. Back to very underwhelming

Andy Otten + Fwd

Will Hoskin-Elliot + Mid

Lachie Weller + Back

Trav Colyer + Mid

Hayden Crozier + Fwd

George Hewitt + Mid

Blake Hardwick + Back

 

[Books]

From my observation, Guthrie and Newnes seemed optimistic, but Ellis and Gibson seemed likely. I can never tell what they will do.

Has there been any explanation of their decisions this time?