Mids

[B.M]

They get a game when they deserve one

[Shaggy]

If our window opens in 2024-26
We are better off playing Byrnes over Hannaberry

100% agree Hanna's is shell of the player he was & won't be part of our push to win a flag so give Byrnes a chance to see what he has to offer

He may be injured most of the time but he is not a "shell" of the player he was.

He won our 2021 time trial and he was best 2 in our last final's win. If he could stay on park he would be great. I am amazed how well he does with so limited games.

[skeptic]

He’s been ok in the majority of games he’s played and that finals game has turned into the most overrated patch of football since Luke Balls 1st half GF

[samoht]

They get a game when they deserve one

We need to get away from playing 3 or more small forwards. The sooner we can do that, the better.

As long as there's a plan to play as many of the new midfielders/playmakers as soon as is practicable "when they deserve to be played" (maybe as flankers or mid-sized forwards initially). That's what I'm hoping for.

Playing 3 or more small forwards is just too many (especially in the finals - where they will just get outmarked and brushed outside too easily, and where we'll need playmakers, not "finishers" - who just sit back and wait for the ball to arrive) - and let's not forget that Gresham is returning too, who's potentially our best small forward.

I think for team balance, some of our new midfielders might even have to come in "early" anyway to replace a couple of our small forwards - as playing 4 small forwards would not be good for the team.

[saynta]

If our window opens in 2024-26
We are better off playing Byrnes over Hannaberry

100% agree Hanna's is shell of the player he was & won't be part of our push to win a flag so give Byrnes a chance to see what he has to offer

He may be injured most of the time but he is not a "shell" of the player he was.

He won our 2021 time trial and he was best 2 in our last final's win. If he could stay on park he would be great. I am amazed how well he does with so limited games.

I agree with you. That was a ridiculous statement to make. Way off the mark.

[CQ SAINT]

If Hannerbery is fit all year, we play finals, simply really.
He has provided poor value for many, but if he plays, he will draw close attention and provide drive.

[Ghost Like]

Surely if Gresham and Higgins both desire to run through the midfield then that leaves Butler as our only specialist small forward in our best 22.

Until we have a small forward who can produce a better season than Butler's 2020, the position is his. That's actually produce, not potentially produce.

It's an important position, too important to become a graveyard for a young developing mid.

[freely]

Surely if Gresham and Higgins both desire to run through the midfield then that leaves Butler as our only specialist small forward in our best 22.

Until we have a small forward who can produce a better season than Butler's 2020, the position is his. That's actually produce, not potentially produce.

It's an important position, too important to become a graveyard for a young developing mid.

We're giving him a years grace, are we, pretend last year didn't happen? Let's play someone who betters his 2021. It'll be a novelty for us but I'm hopeful we might start selecting players based on current form rather than vague recollections of how they once kicked this really good goal.

[Ghost Like]

Surely if Gresham and Higgins both desire to run through the midfield then that leaves Butler as our only specialist small forward in our best 22.

Until we have a small forward who can produce a better season than Butler's 2020, the position is his. That's actually produce, not potentially produce.

It's an important position, too important to become a graveyard for a young developing mid.

We're giving him a years grace, are we, pretend last year didn't happen? Let's play someone who betters his 2021. It'll be a novelty for us but I'm hopeful we might start selecting players based on current form rather than vague recollections of how they once kicked this really good goal.

As soon as someone's exposed and current form is better, by all means. Sadly as bad as his 2021 was in comparison to his 2020 no one took their opportunity to take the position from him.

[Impatient Sainter]

Surely if Gresham and Higgins both desire to run through the midfield then that leaves Butler as our only specialist small forward in our best 22.

Until we have a small forward who can produce a better season than Butler's 2020, the position is his. That's actually produce, not potentially produce.

It's an important position, too important to become a graveyard for a young developing mid.

We're giving him a years grace, are we, pretend last year didn't happen? Let's play someone who betters his 2021. It'll be a novelty for us but I'm hopeful we might start selecting players based on current form rather than vague recollections of how they once kicked this really good goal.

Butlers scoring was down last season but he was one of the best pressure small forwards all year. Sometimes players do a lot of unrecognised work spectators dont notice, but are highly rated by coaches.

[samoht]

=
repeat post

[samoht]

Surely if Gresham and Higgins both desire to run through the midfield then that leaves Butler as our only specialist small forward in our best 22.

Until we have a small forward who can produce a better season than Butler's 2020, the position is his. That's actually produce, not potentially produce.

It's an important position, too important to become a graveyard for a young developing mid.

Gresham and Higgins will also spend time forward ... and with Butler that makes 3 small forwards?'
All 3 will generally be forward of centre.

I feel Butler might come under pressure - purely from a team balance point of view. Too many smalls?

There''ll be an opportunity for 1 maybe 2 mid sized players to come in and balance things out - if they are good enough, granted.
Let's hope that they are.

[skeptic]

Unlike Kent and Lonie before he was cut... Butler has a few features to his game that sees him able to contribute even if he’s not kicking goals.
Work rate has already been highlighted... speed, disposal and creativity are big pluses too

Bad as his season was... he was better then just about any season those two put together.

[Teflon]

He’s been ok in the majority of games he’s played and that finals game has turned into the most overrated patch of football since Luke Balls 1st half GF

Lol Luke Ball was THE difference apparently between Gary Ablett tie poke and Chapman getting off the leash...
Folk lore on a GF loss to some muppets..lol

[saynta]

He’s been ok in the majority of games he’s played and that finals game has turned into the most overrated patch of football since Luke Balls 1st half GF

Lol Luke Ball was THE difference apparently between Gary Ablett tie poke and Chapman getting off the leash...
Folk lore on a GF loss to some muppets..lol

[Scollop]

Quarter by quarter scoring breakdown for GF 2009

https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_ ... d=4960#brk

Take note of ‘final quarter’ stats. Even if you exclude the gift that JBlake gave them by not manning the mark for the final kick it STILL looks like St Kilda ran out of gas rather than Geelong were a better team. They kicked 3 goals 4 behinds to our 3 solitary points.

If you take it a step back to the last handful of games in H&A you see that we busted our arses in round 16, 17 and 18 which was the wrong strategy leading into finals. We already had a top 2 place guaranteed. We needed to take it easy from round 16 onwards AND not from round 19 or 20 onwards (that’s way too close to finals).

Lyon was instructing his players in rounds 21 and 22 not to go too hard. That’s ok from an injury perspective, but not ideal if you want the best practice simulation in games and the best form leading into finals.

The signs were clear that there was going to be a price to pay for peaking too early in the season and not managing your stars. The coach conceded that his players needed a rest BUT the fool did it too late. We lost momentum and many players struggled to recapture their best form. On top of that you see statistics in that last half of the GF that highlight a coach with a defensive mindset and a focus on restricting the opposition rather than creating scoring opportunities

[B.M]

Richmond and Melbourne (in fact every good team!) play 3 small forwards

Didn’t hurt them?!

It’s a requirement and a specialist role in modern footy

[Gershwin]

Richmond and Melbourne (in fact every good team!) play 3 small forwards

Didn’t hurt them?!

It’s a requirement and a specialist role in modern footy

So lets do what worked in the past because surely it will work in the future. I don't think so.

[Yorkeys]

Oh the unfairness.
When we had a barrow load of half backs and no mids there was always a desperate chance a HB could run through the middle;
now we have more mids than HBs, but excess mids won't get a HB gig. We have specialists for that.
See what happens with a professional recruitment approach.
You get what you wish for.

[B.M]

If we consider the past a few moths ago?!

[skeptic]

No amount of rationalisation will alter my opinion that picking more limited players reliant solely on their ability to get onto the end of opportunities created by others, that don’t have the flexibility/ability to contribute in other ways... opposed to having other players that have that skill set but can also push into the midfield, is a good strategy

Heaven knows what will convince you if actually sitting down and watching it play out and fail miserably over 5 years hasn’t.