Aaron Davey - wasted space

[Rogue 585]

I'd blame the 15-20 metre 'chips' on the players further afield, not Davey.

[Demons 32 235]

Simple really, we have no decent users of the ball coming out of defence, Davey gets the kicks out so we don't have turnovers in the defensive 50.

[Pates 9,541]

Simple really, we have no decent users of the ball coming out of defence, Davey gets the kicks out so we don't have turnovers in the defensive 50.

Until he passes it off to someone else because apparently no one else could kick on Saturday. I was happy with his game, it's probably not where i'd like to see him stay, but he was MIA last week and considering the lack of penetration into our forward half, he probably wouldn't have got much of it if he didn't play that role.

[youami 53]

Completly agree. You just knew he was going to hit the target every time he had the ball. If he was playing that role with a better foward line the score would have been a lot different.

Agree, requires a massive engine to play that role. I was surprised Davey had it in him. Will attract a heap of attention next week as he is one of our few players that know how to use it.

[mo64 5,267]

like to see him run & carry a little more when the switch isn't on to break opposition lines.

Also happy with Morton yesterday after a poor performance the week before. I wasn't a big wrap for Morton prior to yesterday as he appeared way too much a wide outside player but yesterday showed another string to his bow doing nice evasive stuff in traffic carrying the ball & giving it effectively. Encouraging.

Agree. The idea of playing Davey out of the backline is a sound one (I proposed it before the season started), but it will only be effective if he can run the lines.

And I too have been a critic of Morton, but was really impressed with his game.

[Cards13 9,117]

Can someone explain the rationale of having Aaron Davey running around the backline racking up posessions with 15 metres chips that generally went around in circles ?

This is the same sort of junk that Travis Johnstone used to do on occasions.

Aaron needs to either play forward & kick goals or else be an on the ball where we were badly beaten after half time yesterday.

Just watching the replay and have got to say the 1st qtr it was executed brilliantly! Davey was used as the link between defence and mid's/forwards after marks. We looked fantastic when it was working well. Keeping going with it I say.

[Ooze2Juice 0]

Davey had a good game, he is simply our only reliable disposer of the ball, and we need it in his hands as much as possible. The 20m chips were due to lack of options, not through any fault of Davey's. On more than a few occasions he found a creative option and was damaging.

[MadAsHell 4,089]

When played in the forward line close to goal, Davey can get half the number of possessions and yet be three times as damaging.

Completely agree! In the absence of Wonna at the moment Melbourne need to play Davey close to goal where he can potentially kick 2-3 goals a game and assist in a similar amount. Our forward line is struggling at the moment at that is where we need him most. Once Wonna returns then by all means move Davey to the half forward flank or onto the ball.

[montasaurus 0]

Completely agree! In the absence of Wonna at the moment Melbourne need to play Davey close to goal where he can potentially kick 2-3 goals a game and assist in a similar amount. Our forward line is struggling at the moment at that is where we need him most. Once Wonna returns then by all means move Davey to the half forward flank or onto the ball.

The flip side of this is that while we are being badly beaten having davey as a deep forward is at times a waste because no touches in the forwardline is worse then creating run off half back with 30 odd good touches. In a ideal world FP is the best position for davey, but for MFC where ever he can get 30 touches ATM is best. Sadly this is not around the forwardline

[dee-luded 2,958]

The flip side of this is that while we are being badly beaten having davey as a deep forward is at times a waste because no touches in the forwardline is worse then creating run off half back with 30 odd good touches. In a ideal world FP is the best position for davey, but for MFC where ever he can get 30 touches ATM is best. Sadly this is not around the forwardline

I suppose your both right but, the Chicken & the Egg, Which is first? I suppose that the question is, are we trying to look more formidable up forward, or are we trying to create/learn the game style that will help us in future games & next year, onwards.

I think this is why we have taken Davey to play this directing traffic role when we have the ball. He is a senior player now who wants to be in the leadership group. He has to do what the team needs more at the moment than what is necessarily popular footy.

This will change when Grimes & Strauss become available no doubt.