Opinion Unpopular Opinions: Dons Edition

[Booplaz]

He has an attribute which would have me putting a line through him in the top 10, narrow shoulders at 6'6. Will he ever carry the weight to be a kpp? If he can't, what is he?

To date, he hasn't done anything he couldn't have done at 6'3. At 6'3, who cares?

I can't tell with Reid though my impression is that he will/can carry weight.

The narrow shoulders worry me too, surprised he is 94kg and still so slender in his upper body. Here's some possible matchups for each team if he played as a 2nd tall down back next year. With another pre-season I don't see most of the below group as too advanced for him physically.

Adelaide: Himmelberg
Brisbane: Hipwood
Carlton: Silvagni/TDK
Collingwood: Kreuger
Fremantle: Amiss
GWS: Himmelberg
Geelong: Cameron
GC: Chol
Hawthorn: Koschitzke
Melbourne: Weideman
North: Comben
Port: Marshall/Finlayson
Richmond: Ryan
St Kilda: Hayes
Sydney: McDonald
West Coast: Allen
WB: JUH

 

[BrunoV]

You know what I've been railing against for a while and has only really just struck me.

I really do not like Merrett as a player.

You get me a top 15 pick for ech of Merrett and Parish and I'm not even thinking twice. I suspect you could get more but that wouldn't break the deal.

The more I read poster projections for future teams the more the sense of angst grows.

Merrett and Parish in every midfield rotation. No defence, no physical impact and lots or junk possession. You're going to need 2 guys who are hydrids of Hewett and Taranto in each rotation to offset that.

I can't really think of any good teams who's best mids are the Parish/Merrett style of player.

 

[faible]

I can't really think of any good teams who's best mids are the Parish/Merrett style of player.

Cotchin before he reinvented himself wasn't that different to Parish iirc. We're going back a ways though.

 

[citizen-erased]

You know what I've been railing against for a while and has only really just struck me.

I really do not like Merrett as a player.

You get me a top 15 pick for ech of Merrett and Parish and I'm not even thinking twice. I suspect you could get more but that wouldn't break the deal.

The more I read poster projections for future teams the more the sense of angst grows.

Merrett and Parish in every midfield rotation. No defence, no physical impact and lots or junk possession. You're going to need 2 guys who are hydrids of Hewett and Taranto in each rotation to offset that.

I can't really think of any good teams who's best mids are the Parish/Merrett style of player.

Brissy with Neale and Zorko
Zorko has an unsociable edge about him though.
They also run Bailey through there, but also have the likes of Berry, Clug, Lyons and Mitch running through there too

Neale laid 5 tackles on the weekend too I'd add.

Pretty obvious we've rolled out a midfield core of Shiel, Merrett, Parish & McGrath, when we can sustain at best 2 of them in there at the same time.
Lack of Stringer to go in and get the ball through bullocking and sheer will/effort is severely lacking. As is option 2 when he's not doing it.
I think for the rest of the season it needs to be Heppell, then we need to go and get it.

Where I'll disagree, we don't have the luxury of depth to trade them. And each is worth at least a top 5 pick. they are reigning AA mids who when the rest of the team aligns for them, they are weapons.
Parish is one of the few goal kicking mids we have. He is also one of the better players at positioning himself for a forward ball at a stoppage. Ideally we get him to stop hunting it so much and be ready to play 2nd or 3rd in the link of play.
Merrett is top 3 (if not our best) user of the ball. Again, not blessed with a lot of skilled kickers, so shouldn't be jettisoning them

 

[BrunoV]

Brissy with Neale and Zorko
Zorko has an unsociable edge about him though.
They also run Bailey through there, but also have the likes of Berry, Clug, Lyons and Mitch running through there too

Neale laid 5 tackles on the weekend too I'd add.

Pretty obvious we've rolled out a midfield core of Shiel, Merrett, Parish & McGrath, when we can sustain at best 2 of them in there at the same time.
Lack of Stringer to go in and get the ball through bullocking and sheer will/effort is severely lacking. As is option 2 when he's not doing it.
I think for the rest of the season it needs to be Heppell, then we need to go and get it.

Where I'll disagree, we don't have the luxury of depth to trade them. And each is worth at least a top 5 pick. they are reigning AA mids who when the rest of the team aligns for them, they are weapons.
Parish is one of the few goal kicking mids we have. He is also one of the better players at positioning himself for a forward ball at a stoppage. Ideally we get him to stop hunting it so much and be ready to play 2nd or 3rd in the link of play.
Merrett is top 3 (if not our best) user of the ball. Again, not blessed with a lot of skilled kickers, so shouldn't be jettisoning them

I dont see it as being depth when the players we are relying on are the problem.

 

[citizen-erased]

I dont see it as being depth when the players we are relying on are the problem.

fair, but they're midfielders. and if we trade them away, who's left?
Shiel, Caldwell, Hobbs, McGrath

I think we got ahead of ourselves with our midfield depth in the pre-season.
An assumption Merrett and Parish would back it up, Stringer repeats his season (still time, he did start off with an injury ;p), McGrath off a pre-season would take a similar step to Parish in 2021 & Shiel would just top it off.

 

[I Remember Bluey]

You know what I've been railing against for a while and has only really just struck me.

I really do not like Merrett as a player.

You get me a top 15 pick for ech of Merrett and Parish and I'm not even thinking twice. I suspect you could get more but that wouldn't break the deal.

The more I read poster projections for future teams the more the sense of angst grows.

Merrett and Parish in every midfield rotation. No defence, no physical impact and lots or junk possession. You're going to need 2 guys who are hydrids of Hewett and Taranto in each rotation to offset that.

I can't really think of any good teams who's best mids are the Parish/Merrett style of player.

 

[Milanista28]

Bump.

I'd let Parish walk in FA next year, providing the compo pick nets us similar to what it did for Joe. It's clear we need a better midfield mix and whilst he is obviously a very good player, I can't help but feel our current midfield is too samey in skillset, size and playstyle. Caldwell and Hobbs should be our smaller-bodied inside mids going forward but we need a couple of bigger bulls. Andy McGrath and another pencil neck isn't going to win us anything. Could be a scenario where we lose Parish, but gain Hopper and a top 10 pick. I'd do that and not look back.

Hopper cancels out Parish compo if you wanted to target Hopper as a FA.

If we were to lose Parish, trading him this year would be the play, I think Richmond, Port and Geelong would be very interested.

 

[Schnitzengruben]

Hopper cancels out Parish compo if you wanted to target Hopper as a FA.

If we were to lose Parish, trading him this year would be the play, I think Richmond, Port and Geelong would be very interested.

Fair point. I could see Geelong being very interested. Brayshaw this year, lose Parish next year but gain compo. I'd do that.

 

[ant555]

Our persistent injuries since relocating are due to the hard airport surface we built on.

Ever walked the ground ? 100% not the case.

 

[Foxx]

Ever walked the ground ? 100% not the case.

This is the unpopular opinions thread Ant. It's satire.

 

[ant555]

This is the unpopular opinions thread Ant. It's satire.

Thread has changed direction.

 

[foj1]

Andrew mcgrath

1

Andrew Mcgrath

Age

26

Ht

180cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

22.7

5star

K

11.6

4star

HB

11.1

5star

M

1.6

2star

T

6.4

5star

MG

252.9

4star

D

22.7

5star

K

11.6

4star

HB

11.1

5star

M

1.6

2star

T

6.4

5star

MG

252.9

4star

D

22.0

5star

K

11.0

4star

HB

11.0

5star

M

1.2

2star

T

6.4

5star

MG

219.0

4star

is a small defender. He is not a midfielder.

 

[Albertross]

Andrew mcgrath is a small defender. He is not a midfielder.

Who feels unnessecay pressure across half back and blind dumps a high ball along the wing.

 

[foj1]

Who feels unnessecay pressure across half back and blind dumps a high ball along the wing.

Is very good one on one and rarely gets beaten
let him settle as a small defender who plays on opposition best small forward- i Would be surprised if Cody weightman kicked 5 on him

 

[Duckworth]

Is very good one on one and rarely gets beaten
let him settle as a small defender who plays on opposition best small forward- i Would be surprised if Cody weightman kicked 5 on him

Seems like a good move. I think having McGrath back would also help Hind's game.

 

[Squeaky]

Is very good one on one and rarely gets beaten
let him settle as a small defender who plays on opposition best small forward- i Would be surprised if Cody weightman kicked 5 on him

If he gets 4 of them from free kicks he might...

 

[Howard Moon]

our list (or recruiting) isnt the problem - its the shitty way they are being asked to play

i think this team is brimming with quality youth and potential and only needs one or 2/3 items to finish it off

laverde - Reid - (lock down small)
Mcgrath - Ridley - Redman
Durham - Hobbs* - Langford
Perkins* - Jones - Martin*
(crafty small) - Wright - Stringer
Bryan - Caldwell* - Parish*

Draper - Merrett* - Hind - (Strong tall mid)

how this team can finish 16th without an inquiry into the coaches is beyond me

 

[eth-dog]

our list (or recruiting) isnt the problem - its the shitty way they are being asked to play

i think this team is brimming with quality youth and potential and only needs one or 2/3 items to finish it off

laverde - Reid - (lock down small)
Mcgrath - Ridley - Redman
Durham - Hobbs* - Langford
Perkins* - Jones - Martin*
(crafty small) - Wright - Stringer
Bryan - Caldwell* - Parish*

Draper - Merrett* - Hind - (Strong tall mid)

how this team can finish 16th without an inquiry into the coaches is beyond me

Because you're playing one genuine key defender, a lack of strong inside midfielders and a bunch of players that don't run defensively.

 

[Lore]

our list (or recruiting) isnt the problem - its the shitty way they are being asked to play

i think this team is brimming with quality youth and potential and only needs one or 2/3 items to finish it off

laverde - Reid - (lock down small)
Mcgrath - Ridley - Redman
Durham - Hobbs* - Langford
Perkins* - Jones - Martin*
(crafty small) - Wright - Stringer
Bryan - Caldwell* - Parish*

Draper - Merrett* - Hind - (Strong tall mid)

how this team can finish 16th without an inquiry into the coaches is beyond me

Being asked to pressure the ball carrier is hardly revolutionary… Otherwise you end up like Carlton under Bolton, or us under Woosha in 2016.

If they can’t do the basics in 2022 then they’re going to end up missing finals or bombing out in the first round regardless of who the coach is or what else the coach tells them.

What I will say is that this game plan probably looks a lot better when the lynch pins are in place— Langford holding down the fat side wing and Stringer providing the burst from stoppage, stupid-angle kicking and forward pressure together with Snelling and Langford when we don’t have it, and Snelling getting across to frustrate the coast to coast play if it does get out the back, which it’s less likely to if Langford is playing the role Perkins has been dumped into.

Like those guys are probably the difference between 16th and 10th-ish, and without them morale seems to dive and makes everyone play worse.

10th isn’t the goal though. And not being able to cover those injuries effectively is a bit of an indictment on list management.

List management is more than the best 22 at the start of pre-season.

 

[boncer34]

our list (or recruiting) isnt the problem - its the shitty way they are being asked to play

i think this team is brimming with quality youth and potential and only needs one or 2/3 items to finish it off

laverde - Reid - (lock down small)
Mcgrath - Ridley - Redman
Durham - Hobbs* - Langford
Perkins* - Jones - Martin*
(crafty small) - Wright - Stringer
Bryan - Caldwell* - Parish*

Draper - Merrett* - Hind - (Strong tall mid)

how this team can finish 16th without an inquiry into the coaches is beyond me

The strong tall mid we've been crying for since Jobe.

That's absolutely an indictment on recruiting for me Howie.

 

[Howard Moon]

Being asked to pressure the ball carrier is hardly revolutionary… Otherwise you end up like Carlton under Bolton, or us under Woosha in 2016.

If they can’t do the basics in 2022 then they’re going to end up missing finals or bombing out in the first round regardless of who the coach is or what else the coach tells them.

What I will say is that this game plan probably looks a lot better when the lynch pins are in place— Langford holding down the fat side wing and Stringer providing the burst from stoppage, stupid-angle kicking and forward pressure together with Snelling and Langford when we don’t have it, and Snelling getting across to frustrate the coast to coast play if it does get out the back, which it’s less likely to if Langford is playing the role Perkins has been dumped into.

Like those guys are probably the difference between 16th and 10th-ish, and without them morale seems to dive and makes everyone play worse.

10th isn’t the goal though. And not being able to cover those injuries effectively is a bit of an indictment on list management.

List management is more than the best 22 at the start of pre-season.

its not the pressuring the ball carrier - thats non negotiable, its imo the ground set up thats the problem. and the by product of the set up is the witches hats not there to pressure the ball carrier, its just gets popped over the top of each man til its through.

Surely you could see the difference in the wet when it was more ad hoc. They couldn't ping the ball at pace so we didn't get exposed - it was slow motion football which allowed us to keep the pressure up at the contest.

 

[Howard Moon]

The strong tall mid we've been crying for since Jobe.

That's absolutely an indictment on recruiting for me Howie.

the guy that everyone seems to find for chips except for us!

true thats a clear failing, i reckon the pieces are there otherwise - hesitant to pile on the davey wagon but if he fills a small fwd role surely we arnt that far off a decent group.

I just think how this group would be performing under some of the other coaches or systems in the comp - i guess its moot cause we will never know, but i just see a bunch of guys restricted, unsure, walking round on egg shells, little flare ups at each other.

A bunch of guys probably running at 40% of their capability

 

[Howard Moon]

Because you're playing one genuine key defender, a lack of strong inside midfielders and a bunch of players that don't run defensively.

i was more projecting with the line up, to when Reid may be able to hold a big key - i still dont mind Stewart but agree a big gorilla would be a nice add

 

[LB#16]

The strong tall mid we've been crying for since Jobe.

That's absolutely an indictment on recruiting for me Howie.

Dodoro immortal.