Was interested to see if anyone had considerations of players moving to different positions in 2018. 

We saw Tmac move to the forwardline, which I think was only temporary. 

Hannan to the midfield I feel was a flop. He is an impact player as Jason Taylor mentioned. 

Positional changes:

- Kent: either wing or half back. Dean Kent has burst pace and is tough, him on the wing would be perfect. 

- Vince: I feel vince will get resigned. I think Vince should play midfield and forward. His mistakes in the backline are very costly. 

- Salem: I think he needs to play in the midfield more. With Hunt, Jetta and Hibberd off the backline there should be enough fire power and ball use coming out.

Any other ideas?

Kent won't be playing for the MFC next year

Tom forward, he kicks straight at the goals and his turnover at that end of the ground are not so bad.

Melksham wing or half forward he has kicked a few goals when sent forward l would like to see him get more time there.

Bernie maybe forward, if at all, when he gets the ball forward he has a decent long kick, again like tom reduce his turnovers that cost us goals.

I would like to see Frost back in the back line, i think he adds a bit or run there, given a bit more time i think he will only get better.

Trac more time in the midfield, his a big bodied lad who can make a difference.

 

 

Watts to the wing.  He's going to be squeezed out of the forward line as Weed comes on, especially if we do land Lever and TMac moves forward full-time.  He's always been better value up the ground and we need good ball-users on the outside. 

Ya gotta get it and compete first

Let's consider how the FD might resurrect the wingman position and game. Not sort of midfielders but genuine wingmen. Leave the midfielders' work to Oliver, Viney, Jones, Petracca, ANB, AVB, Brayshaw Salem etc.

Say Sam Frost, Jack Watts and Jayden Hunt as rotating connector players dedicated to providing an outlet option for the back line and the skill/speed to rapidly transfer the ball to the forward line.

Two on the ground at any time with two way running between the 50s in the space between the square and the boundary. Not down the line but wider than the corridor with a licence to run, run and run and kick long to a well prepared and spread forward line who are aware of what is coming and how.

At the other end, provide a crowd to fill gaps and frustrate opposition forwards. When we win the ball, provide a moving target and become 60-80m power players who, with good coaching and a developed game plan,  could revolutionise the game. Nothing to lose. Can't be worse than the current, unsuccessful game plan.

Finally, let's change the tone of this topic and this site. Please restrict any comments to the merits, or otherwise of the proposal, not on the players.

Hunt on the wing with Petracca more mid time

8 minutes ago, DeeZee said:

Hunt on the wing with Petracca more mid time

I think the club wants Lever to allow Hunt and Salem more time on the wings. 

Plus it might save us from Vince taking kick outs, my least favourite 30 seconds in every game. 

I really hope that Trac builds his tank and makes the centre his spot. With his strength and kicking he can grow into our version of Danger, Selwood, Mitchell or Shiel. He has the potential to be a cut above the rest of our mids and lift the team when required.

The last few weeks lead me to believe that TMac plays up forward. His kicking skills on the run out of the backline hurt us and he has shown he is a good set shot for goal. Down back I would like to remind everybody of the fact that Jesse Hogan played most of his junior career at Centre Half Back and I think he can be a more complete player and increase his tank, switch hitting down back (see Hurley at Essendon). The ability to switch Hoges and TMac between the 2 key positions gives us contested marking which was shown up by both Brisbane and Woods and leaves space for Weid to develop at Full Forward. Our goal to goal line, to me still does not look like a top 4 combo, Brisbane have a better potential goal to goal line.

Anyone who can be an outside speedy finisher. We need polish and goal kicking to cap off the contested work from the inside mids and I just cannot think of anyone on our list who can step up. I wish JKH would show something

Please MFC draft Fritsch at Casey, he is slight but he looks every bit a footballer and knows where the goals are

 

 

I could never see the sense of Vince in the backline. Everytime he kicked the ball in my heart was in my mouth. His best position is as a midfield tagger. 

Some of our best games were with Tommy at deep forward /FF.  And the Bears game aside, where he was not the subject of any defensive attention at all, Hogan has given more as a NIck Riewoldt style CHF with license to roam. 

Particularly if Lever did happen to come across, Tommy could easily be freed.

And if JW4 stays, a wing / linkage role should suit us well.   

You see Vince has always been regarded as a player with great foot skills but I must admit this season he got way ahead of himself and tried to thread passes unnecessarily, often off one foot etc. I don't mind him playing midfield as he is a good tackler but he'd need to learn  to run both ways. 

T Mac must become a permanent forward. He was phenomenal there and I cant remember his kicking hurting us once.  He was dead accurate at goal.

Went back to defence and reverted to his old ways, punctuated by 'that kick' vs the Pies.

 

Angus Brayshaw and Jayden Hunt to the midfield I also want to see.  With Vince cooked, Lewis not far behind and Jonesy being 30 at the star of next season we must restock in there and keep it filled with talent otherwise we will never make finals.

My biggest question mark is - where to play Christian Salem?

One to watch will be Maynard.First year at Vfl level and no footy since his teens is remarkable.Another pre season and he will come on.Im aware his disposal needs to improve but big bodied and strong inside player.Also thoughts on Fritsch in the Vfl would be interested to know from others there opinion?

3 minutes ago, 64" said:

One to watch will be Maynard.First year at Vfl level and no footy since his teens is remarkable.Another pre season and he will come on.Im aware his disposal needs to improve but big bodied and strong inside player.Also thoughts on Fritsch in the Vfl would be interested to know from others there opinion?

Maynard is more of what we have. Fine for back-up and cheap rookie option but he doesn't add anything that we don't already have enough of. Too much of in my opinion.

Fritsch on the other hand would be someone I'd love to give an opportunity to.

I love Bernie, but Melksham has gone past him in the midfield/tagger/forward role.  If Lever comes Bernie will be pushed out of the backline.  Bernie said he loves playing footy, wants to play on and is willing to play at Casey.  I definitely think we should extend him - it's a long season and while he may struggle for a regular spot in the 22, Bernie is pretty good depth

I like the thread.

IMO we need a radical change to a few areas and here's a lineup that will no doubt cause a ruckus and sometimes I genuinely think this could work.

 

B         Jetta              Hogan            T-Mac

HB      Hibberd          Lever              Lewis  

C         Hunt               Jones             Salem  

HF      Motlop            Pedo              Watts

F         Garlett         Weideman       Petracca

Foll     Gawn              Viney             Oliver

 

Int      Brayshaw       Hannan        

           Vince              Harmes

 

That is a line-up that I'd love to see and I would feel so much more excited and confident in knowing how strong that defence is. Knowing the we can perform without Hogan playing forward and in knowing that he played just as much key defence as an under-aged kid. In fact, I genuinely believe he'd be a better defender than forward. He could be the best in the league.

Weideman you'd hope will be able to do just as well if not better than Oscar McDonald did this year given the level of talent he has. Not only that, it's much less risky having an underdeveloped key position player in the forwardline than it is in the backline. 

Motlop would add a completely different dimension and I believe like we've seen with Garlett and Melksham that in a the right environment he'd have no trouble getting back to his best. And his best is absolutely electric. It allows Trac to play deep forward with midfield stints which is an extremely scary proposition for opposition defenders. Would also take pressure of Weed, Pedo and Watts.

In general, that kind of a lineup has very few holes compared to what we went with this year. It's also much more balanced and stable from the defence through to the wings. Better ball users, better running players.

Before any on gets their knickers in a knot, tell me what it is about that side that you think wouldn't work?

Edited August 30, 20177 yr by stevethemanjordan

People calling for Vince forward.... No.      

To play half forward these days you need pace and to be able to lock the ball in & create turnovers.. Goodwins game plan revolves around forward half pressure and turnovers, it may be adjusted next year but as it stands Vince is too old & slow for the forward line... Someone like Vandenberg would play that role so much better, can take a mark, has pace & tackles...

Edited August 30, 20177 yr by JV7

What won't work, in my opinion.

Firstly, we don't have Lever and Motlop and are no certainties to get them.  Let's stick to what we've got and make that work better. OMac was a revelation this year, particularly his ability to win the ball, remain calm and look for options. Frost's hard running ability and sheer speed, if properly harnessed, could be a weapon.

Secondly, Jesse Hogan is far too smart as a footballer to waste at FB. He would have made a great older style CHB like Neitz or Roos with a licence to roam. But in today's footy, this is not allowed and he would also be wasted at CHB having to mark opponents. He has a great football brain (which is seemingly never acknowledged) and it would be better to let the opposition try to mark him when he controls the forward line as I have previously suggested on multiple occasions. Monoccular gets it.

Thirdly, the Weed is not read yet for such an important role and would probably benefit from a change to the backline for a year where he could be more involved in the game.

Fourthly, with a more dominant Hogan, Petracca should blossom as a key forward. He can mark, kick and monster opponents and, like the young Jones, if he doesn't get the ball, no one does. He holds the ball in the forward line and provides more scoring opportunities, if we are good enough.

That's all for now.

17 hours ago, Jaded said:

I think the club wants Lever to allow Hunt and Salem more time on the wings. 

Plus it might save us from Vince taking kick outs, my least favourite 30 seconds in every game. 

What about when TMac kicks out?

Well in reply to stevethemanjordan

IMO we need a radical change to a few areas and here's a lineup that will no doubt cause a ruckus and sometimes I genuinely think this could work.

 

B         Jetta              Hogan            T-Mac

HB      Hibberd          Lever              Lewis  

C         Hunt               Jones             Salem  

HF      Motlop            Pedo              Watts

F         Garlett         Weideman       Petracca

Foll     Gawn              Viney             Oliver

 

Int      Brayshaw       Hannan        

           Vince              Harmes

I feel

• Hogan and TMac to backline  is taking away 2 of our strengths in Fwd section. Should stick with Omac as KPH and Lever (if ??). OMac is only 21/30 odd games and holding down KPD. Let him develop.
• 3 years ago we were hailing TMac as an AA (until Cloke stitched him up ) . now he everyones everyman. He is an elite spoiler. Has an excellent closing speed in defence and can run all day. When in FWD line he led well and is a big unit to dislodge. He is also a GREAT team man.( yes I know he makes the occasional mistake, but I will bet he bleeds over them like nmobody.
• Pedo (bless him ) is a depth player going forward. Should be either Pedo/Weidermann
• Lewis is a Poor mans Hodge role in Defence ( a floater),  but I feel Maynard  could fill a role on HBF)
• Watts/Salem/Brayshaw  as outside Mids or rotating wingmen.
• If Hunt could refine disposal the three of them could provide enormous drive from the middle. Otherwise get him to be more accountable with his tackling and he is a Metres gained player.
• Petracca is too important to be hidden in Deep Fwd. Needs to be in Middle. Let Jonesy start there. Will give us a lot of grunt and be easier for him to play there and could be used as a burst player..
• Angus (& Trac ) going into 3rd seasons (Yes I know they were drafted one before but both have missed full seasons) become Mids. Angus more an outside.
• Do not need Motlop (at his price tag) . Watts could play there (and use him !!!) or ANB as a resting fwd/mid ( He did improve markedly this year.
• Hannan & Harmes are great backups.
• JKH is still a very young player. Bulking up a bit so we could see a different player in 2018
• Where is Dom Tyson? When he controls his disposal he is an elite player as well as a tough in and under .
• Oliver needs to handball > 1 metre.
• Viney needs to tighten disposal as well. I have extreme confidence in the capacity of our inside mids to match it with anyone, but they all need work on their disposal skills.That could bring them all to elite level
• Gawny has got to work pretty hard during preseason to get that fitness back that made him AA.

Finally I have great confidence in our future despite some recent hiccups !!!

Salem should go forward pocket. Lethal foot to spot other players and the goals.

31 minutes ago, Redleg said:

What about when TMac kicks out?

Isn't that why we moved him forward? 

Just now, Jaded said:

Isn't that why we moved him forward? 

Most likely.

18 hours ago, Jaded said:

I think the club wants Lever to allow Hunt and Salem more time on the wings. 

Plus it might save us from Vince taking kick outs, my least favourite 30 seconds in every game. 

Really? You think he was playing backline because we didn't have anyone else?

You don't think he was playing there because he doesn't have a clear position at AFL level? Clearly he is good with ball in hand but always gets caught out on transition and doesn't chase nearly hard enough. I'm still angry when I see the replay of Collingwood's goals and multiple times he is just lopping along with no desire to catch the ball carrier. 

I don't think Lever would have any bearing on Salem's position.