1 hour ago, McQueen said:

Apart from having to have a few guns to have finals success, you also need a handy bottom six of your best 22.

Will Grimes thrive in a more attacking style of play? It could be argued that he was a better player under Bailey than compared to Neeld and Roos...

Thoroughly agree, Steve......many put all the emphasis on top 10 in a team, which is of course very important.....but successful teams have at least 'good' 18-26.  That IMO is where that Saints just missed out in that period around 2010.   Their 18-26 was not up to that of their more successful opponents.  Their top 8-10 was about as good as the others'.

Good teams win Grand finals with players like Jack Grimes in a back pocket, Jack Watts in forward pocket, and a 'we don't know who yet' popping and kicking 5 goals!. So we support our team, and we support the fringe players. If they wear our jumper we support them....

But gee i would love some of those players that we stuffed up in the '186'  era ..... I would love just one of them to come good and absolve us of our sins! Jack G?  Jack W? I would really love one of them the opportunity to play some finals and maybe even and win a GF! They deserve it. 

I really wish Jack G, all the Jacks actually,  the very best..

Go dees.

In one preseason Grimes has gone from being a depth player who was dropped 3-4 times throughout last season (if you include rd 1) to a versatile dual position player. 

Keep those training reports coming....

Being on the wing opens up a whole half of players for JG to pass to.

7 hours ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

Who misses out for him to come in?

the good thing is just that,  that they all have to perform,  or lose their position.

competing against team mates for a place.

 I sense they are trying to unburden him,  & let him find the flow.

4 hours ago, binman said:

.. and before his suspension the Melk as rebounding HB.

Presumably covered by White, if not (cough cough) Terlich, or perhaps Wagner.

Which frees up Grimes in any case, especially if Salem can stay on the park.

Hopefully his disposal issues are helped when he has fewer disposal options to have to deal with.

Grimes just has to go with his first option. It's when he thinks twice about his first option that he dithers and turns it over. If he can sort that out, he's best 22.

There's probably less of a chance of him thinking twice if he's more forward. And if he does think twice, he's always got the "bomb it to Jesse" option.

16 hours ago, The Song Formerly Known As said:

Decision making and disposal is mind boggling terrible sometimes.

Nice guy though, hard worker, and who else do we really have. 

 

12 hours ago, deanox said:

I reckon his boat problem is taking too long to dispose of the ball from a mark. That is where most of his clangers occur. 

 

Getting him forward of centre may encourage him to move it quickly as there is more incentive to move it quickly and less reason to hang on and be cautious. Plus his closing speed in the midddle of the ground may make for good defensive play.

 

Not sure he will make it but I hope he does. 

While I'm not sure where he fits in the team, he seems to me to have been so conditioned by the Neeld gameplan that he takes too much time looking for an option before disposing of the ball. That then inevitably puts him under pressure which then leads to many of his turnovers. (It's hardly surprising that the player Neeld chose as captain would embrace the Neeld way of playing - whether he agreed with it or not.)

If he can fully disentangle himself from the Neeld style he may yet resurrect his career. I'd like to think that after more than two years, he will be able to play the game we need him to play today.

Edited February 18, 201610 yr by La Dee-vina Comedia

I hope he turns his career around because if this doesn't work for him I can't see him lasting must longer on our list.

13 hours ago, Franky_31 said:

Being on the wing opens up a whole half of players for JG to pass to.

From my reading of the training reports it seems that the lazy buggers formerly positioned ahead of the guy with the ball may have, eventually, been transformed into gazelles who are now prepared to run and lead, even knowing that they may not necessarily be the primary target, drawing defenders with them  

Having more running targets downfield can surely only help the defenders and mids to not be left dithering with no options, as has happened for such a long time.   The (previous) dearth of options can only make the guy with the ball look indecisive and hesitant.   

Stagnancy downfield makes anyone look slow. 

He will never make it in the Hawthorn spare parts want list. 

Edited February 19, 201610 yr by america de cali