Zac Smith vs Rhys Stanley

[Vdubs]

So we gave up pick 21 for a guy we can't even compare favourably to Trent West?

Smith first ruck. Blicavs second.
Stanley VFL.

Strange assessment.
My 2c worth-
RS is better than TW.
For team balance second/2 after ML went down, ZS was benched
This week, the ultimate challenge and we don't want to be caught short- both S's play.
Blicavs on Fyfe- why not?

 

[Stan The Caddy]

Strange assessment.
My 2c worth-
RS is better than TW.
For team balance second/2 after ML went down, ZS was benched
This week, the ultimate challenge and we don't want to be caught short- both S's play.
Blicavs on Fyfe- why not?

Smith was benched after he was embarrassed in the 2nd quarter by an under sized Mckernan mate. Let's not go down the alternative facts route.

 

[Ricky Vaughn]

What makes you think Smith is ahead of Stanley? I would have thought Smith sitting out nearly the final three quarters of the Essendon match would mean he's third in line.

Nothing, I reckon Stanley is probably ahead, but he shouldn't be.

 

[Ricky Vaughn]

Strange assessment.
My 2c worth-
RS is better than TW.
For team balance second/2 after ML went down, ZS was benched
This week, the ultimate challenge and we don't want to be caught short- both S's play.
Blicavs on Fyfe- why not?

I don't rate Stanley above West, they're about on par.

IMO we look like a much better side without Rhys Stanley.
They'll both play though.

 

[Vdubs]

I don't rate Stanley above West, they're about on par.

IMO we look like a much better side without Rhys Stanley.
They'll both play though.

Fair enough.

 

[Vdubs]

Smith was benched after he was embarrassed in the 2nd quarter by an under sized Mckernan mate. Let's not go down the alternative facts route.

Fair enough, I did not see first/2.

 

[ShaunWDT]

Both are pretty average, still young enough to both have their best footy ahead of them though.

 

[Partridge]

Both are pretty average, still young enough to both have their best footy ahead of them though.

Stanley is 26, and Smith is 27. They better get a wriggle on.

 

[Cronin]

I don't rate Stanley above West, they're about on par.

IMO we look like a much better side without Rhys Stanley.
They'll both play though.

Surely if Smith and Blicavs are playing in the ruck then Stanley has to play KPF, allowing Taylor to play in defence where he belongs.... Surely?

 

[Ricky Vaughn]

Surely if Smith and Blicavs are playing in the ruck then Stanley has to play KPF, allowing Taylor to play in defence where he belongs.... Surely?

I wouldn't play Stanley at all, but if they choose to play all 4 (and they will), I suspect it'll be Blicavs mid, Smith Ruck, Stanley KPF/Ruck, Taylor KPF.

 

[Cronin]

I wouldn't play Stanley at all, but if they choose to play all 4 (and they will), I suspect it'll be Blicavs mid, Smith Ruck, Stanley KPF/Ruck, Taylor KPF.

Well I hope we've got some high-quality small forwards who can apply immense forward pressure then.

 

[Ricky Vaughn]

Well I hope we've got some high-quality small forwards who can apply immense forward pressure then.

McCarthy and Cockatoo, and Cockatoo should be a mid.

 

[Vdubs]

Stanley is 26, and Smith is 27. They better get a wriggle on.

Still relatively young in ruckmans terms. If we can get 3-4 really good years out of both, we'll be laughing. But as you say, it'd want to start this year.

 

[Cronin]

McCarthy and Cockatoo, and Cockatoo should be a mid.

I agree with both of them, along with Motlop playing forward, which is why if you take Cockatoo out of the forward line then it's going to come out even more easily than it already does.

I hate Hawthorn, but their forward pressure and intensity puts us to shame.

 

[Ricky Vaughn]

I agree with both of them, along with Motlop playing forward, which is why if you take Cockatoo out of the forward line then it's going to come out even more easily than it already does.

I hate Hawthorn, but their forward pressure and intensity puts us to shame.

Too true.

I doubt many would agree, but I think Cyril Rioli would be the player to improve us the most in 2017 from any other club. Elite forward pressure, and while he doesn't get alot of it, he makes good decisions going into the 50. He would dramatically improve our forward efficiency, which is still our biggest issue IMO.

 

[Cronin]

Too true.

I doubt many would agree, but I think Cyril Rioli would be the player to improve us the most in 2017 from any other club. Elite forward pressure, and while he doesn't get alot of it, he makes good decisions going into the 50. He would dramatically improve our forward efficiency, which is still our biggest issue IMO.

Shhhh

And I don't see any reason why Cockatoo couldn't become the player that Rioli is; a deadly HFF who can push into the midfield.

Not only do our small forwards need to apply better pressure, but they need to get better and smarter at crumbing the ball because if our plan is to bomb it in long then we need them to get to the right spots.

 

[Down at K Park]

Stanley is 26, and Smith is 27. They better get a wriggle on.

Smith is 27? Really?

I would have him pegged for 24/25.

 

[Partridge]

Smith is 27? Really?

I would have him pegged for 24/25.

Me too. Born 22nd February 1990.

 

[Down at K Park]

Me too. Born 22nd February 1990.

That's crazy. How old was he when the suns drafted him? He must have been a few years older than the average draftee.

 

[Vdubs]

Me too. Born 22nd February 1990.

All those guys we recruited were of the "right" age- those players we lacked in 2015, the 25-26 yo's. 2 seasons later now, yep, approaching 27

 

[CatRiot]

Given that Blicavs is in the leadership group, you can bet your bottom dollar that he will be in the team week in week out this season.

So this leaves us with the conundrum, do you play the 3 talls, or 2 talls, meaning Smith or Stanley are dropped in the latter. Stanley has the slight form advantage based on JLT so far, but I think we may go with 3 talls against 211. I can see Smith getting dropped against teams with weak rucks early this season.

 

[Stan The Caddy]

I agree with both of them, along with Motlop playing forward, which is why if you take Cockatoo out of the forward line then it's going to come out even more easily than it already does.

I hate Hawthorn, but their forward pressure and intensity puts us to shame.

We were number 1 in the entire competition for time spent in our forward half in 2016. Our forward pressure was not the issue, it was our ability to actually win the ball inside 50 when the ball hit the deck that was the main problem.

 

[Vdubs]

We were number 1 in the entire competition for time spent in our forward half in 2016. Our forward pressure was not the issue, it was our ability to actually win the ball inside 50 when the ball hit the deck that was the main problem.

That is enlightening. Not aware .

 

[Vdubs]

Me too. Born 22nd February 1990.

Sorry to say P but I really thought you were a bit older.
You wear it well.

 

[catempire]

We were number 1 in the entire competition for time spent in our forward half in 2016. Our forward pressure was not the issue, it was our ability to actually win the ball inside 50 when the ball hit the deck that was the main problem.

I think another issue was that it's too predictable and in high pressure games it breaks apart. It works well when you are getting enough good, quick long ball inside 50 but when you are under more pressure at the stoppages (as the Swans did well to us twice) the rushed long ball after a slow build up is easily swept away. In 2017 we need to have other, more efficient avenues to goal.