I thought I would bring this topic up as it seems as though the players have lost their natural 'flair'.

Obviously they are being taught to play their roles within a team environment but I think they have been bludgeoned with a (too) defensive mindset since Neeld arrived up to now.

Just a little extra leash length for the players to play to their strengths in positions that suit them.

I'll get started with a few -

Dawes - Must play 'DEEP' forward. The best he can do is bring the ball to ground. Why all the way up the wing/half back to the oppositions advantage?

May as well be where Garlett etc. can get a chance at goal.

Watts - Wing. Must be given licence to 'BE' that dangerous player. Its then all up to him. His kicking is elite and thats what we need with delivery forward.

Hogan - Playing a Richo type role. Basically free licence to wreak havoc wherever he feels its needed. The kid has a football brain. He will just be where he needs to be and deliver what needs delivering.

Howe - Similar to Hogan but staying in the forward half. He needs to put the highlights reel on in the forward line. If he's going at years end this strategy will bring the best compo. If staying then we have lost nothing in the backline anyway...

Thoughts on these and other?

I would be happy if someone would stay inside our attacking 50 with Garlett . It sh*ts me that when we do get a turnover from the opposition and our players look up and all they see is Garlett with two sometimes three defenders on him.

So then we need to look at kicking sideways and allow time for our forwards to get back. Then we get pressured , rush the kick/handpass and turn it over then we are the ones that do not have enough player back and the oppostion gets a free run into their 50 and score.

YES PLEASE Players play in your positions and Coaches let them so that they can use their strengths. Getting 10-15 touchs on the wing and half back is of no use if you are in the team to kick goals towards what we hope will be a winning score.

Edited May 19, 201510 yr by Umpire Please

I think Watts should be given free reign to run through the midfield and try to accumulate as much ball as possible. He could be that really big midfielder like a Mundy at Freo and would be so hard to match up on. I just feel he can be too team oriented at times and just needs to play.

Agree with all of those. Dawes should never leave the forward 50. At least when he drops chest marks in the goal square, Garlett can swoop.

Watts is the one who should be running all over the place chasing kicks, not Dawes. We are much better with him kicking inside 50 than 90% of his teammates.

Howe has comprehensively proven time and time again he is not a defender.

Hogan can do whatever he wants at this point. Just make sure his teammates stay out of his way.

Dawes-Full Back.

Spoils beautifully inside the 50.

I think Watts should be given free reign to run through the midfield and try to accumulate as much ball as possible. He could be that really big midfielder like a Mundy at Freo and would be so hard to match up on. I just feel he can be too team oriented at times and just needs to play.

Watts doesn't have the tank, he is a burst player. I reckon time to put him a full forward, drop Dawes, Hogan out to CHF. Give Watts space in front and behind. I reckon he needs all the play in front of him.

Vince on the Hff, we need him with the ball kicking inside 50m.