https://thewest.com.au/sport/melbourne-demons/melbourne-reveal-plans-to-unleash-jesse-hogan-into-midfield-mix-ng-b88752769z

Hulking forward Jesse Hogan has been earmarked for longer stints in the midfield throughout 2018 as Melbourne look to end a finals drought that stretches back more than a decade.

 

I really like this idea. Jesse has the ability to run all day and having such a big boy playing as a mid, even just for short periods, will upset the opposition in match ups both mid and forward. 

Most importantly though the guy has a really footy IQ and it wouldn’t surprise to find out that he could be bloody good around the ball. Jesse is a natural footballer 

I like the move simply for the unpredictability of it.  5 minutes in the middle keeps the forward line fresh, gets Jesse in the action and gives us some more X-Factor through the middle.  Maybe during these stints we stick Trac deep at full forward with Garlett at his toes?

 

It's hardly news. We've done this previously, albeit intermittently, with some success. In the past it seems to have been Plan B when Hogan isn't otherwise getting near the ball. 

He has always been wasted in the goal square, so this tactic can only help. 

Hopefully he gets to run..

6 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

He has always been wasted in the goal square, so this tactic can only help.

If he's not leading at the ball he's next to useless, having said that if he's further than about 40 metres from goal he will struggle to kick a goal which is the conundrum.

 

he wont last long in the midfield. he doesnt chase in the forward line let alone in the midfield 

13 minutes ago, Clint Bizkit said:

If he's not leading at the ball he's next to useless, having said that if he's further than about 40 metres from goal he will struggle to kick a goal which is the conundrum.

 

I don’t expect him to kick a lot of goals. 

He will be much better at setting them up, now that Watts has been moved on

I am happy to experiment, but Hogan's best position to me seems to be CHF/FF.

 

the pessimist in me goes  - it remind me of the chip frawley 'experiment' forward (when he was clearly out the door behind the scenes) allowing TMAC to get blooded... he's getting a run in the midfield - cause he is away back home for compassion reasons soon enough.

of course the optimist, is supportive of the idea, yet agree with @Clint Bizkit

34 minutes ago, Clint Bizkit said:

If he's not leading at the ball he's next to useless, having said that if he's further than about 40 metres from goal he will struggle to kick a goal which is the conundrum.

 

 

I could see him playing a ruck rover role like Adam Goodes but he's a better forward than Goodes. Roughead did the pinch hitting centre bounce role very effectively. Carlton's Cripps is nearly the same size and plays as a permanent midfielder. 

I see this as being a short burst thing to mix it up a bit and give us a big body in the clearances every now and then but he's too good a forward to be away from that role too much. 

The coaches weren't kidding when they said our team had to be all about versatility.

At this rate, Weideman will be our only forward who is just a forward.

It is kind of funny though - we spent almost a decade trying to find a replacement for Neitz, we finally get someone capable of being the potent target in attack, and we begin rotating them through the midfield!

1 hour ago, Petraccattack said:

https://thewest.com.au/sport/melbourne-demons/melbourne-reveal-plans-to-unleash-jesse-hogan-into-midfield-mix-ng-b88752769z

Hulking forward Jesse Hogan has been earmarked for longer stints in the midfield throughout 2018 as Melbourne look to end a finals drought that stretches back more than a decade.

 

This is symptomatic of the way the game is evolving - larger mids - less talls in your forward line, find match-ups that interrupt with your oppositions game-plan. Evolving a game plan that is less predictable and more suited to planned mid-game adjustments or tinkering instead of haphazard adjustments. 

  

He's seemingly a confidence player who needs the early touches to get going, so this move should be a given.

1 hour ago, Clint Bizkit said:

If he's not leading at the ball he's next to useless, having said that if he's further than about 40 metres from goal he will struggle to kick a goal which is the conundrum.

 

Agree with most of that, but he is great at weighting his kicks over shorter distances so if we can find someone to plonk at ff who has a good burst of speed on the lead, that is where we will get the best value from Hogan. Roaming CHF with spells in the guts. He wont need big periods resting on the pine because his tank is huge.

2 hours ago, Clint Bizkit said:

If he's not leading at the ball he's next to useless, having said that if he's further than about 40 metres from goal he will struggle to kick a goal which is the conundrum.

 

In 2015 and 2016 he regularly beat opponents in one on one situations.  I'll give him a pass for 2017 with everything that occurred.

He is actually rather clever in those situations, although last year he used it as an 'out' rather than as a way to beat his opponents when he didn't want to get on his bike and run.

1 hour ago, Little Goffy said:

The coaches weren't kidding when they said our team had to be all about versatility.

At this rate, Weideman will be our only forward who is just a forward.

It is kind of funny though - we spent almost a decade trying to find a replacement for Neitz, we finally get someone capable of being the potent target in attack, and we begin rotating them through the midfield!

Evolution. Look at buddy. Was super comfortable sitting up fwd for hawks. Now hes most potent bursting from the wing.

If jesse has the fitness, im all for it.

If he's given a little licence as to when he goes into the middle, it also then plays on the mind of his opponents. Do they follow him, how long will he be there, do they have the tank to go with him? There would be many a key back who'd struggle if they had to spend more than 5% of the game out of a defensive role, and that's what dragging them into the middle might do. 

So the move could be as much about getting Hogan some of the ball, as well as disrupting the defensive structures of the other team.

Someone like Nick Riewoldt did it for years very effectively, needing a key back when in the Fwd 50 area, but also someone who can run with him. He always seemed to kick a nag against teams that played a stricter zone (like us!!) due to the mismatch he could generate.  

If it's true that Hogan will be used in the midfield, why announce it?

From a coaches viewpoint, when it comes to tactics, I would be keeping my powder dry rather than telegraphing my punches. 

Let others draw their conclusions and keep them guessing. 

Is this coz we have so many quality tall forwards?  wtf? play the bloke up front in his position. he is by far our best tall fwd. 

the odd run in the midfield is fine to mix it up but regular midfield time?  dont get it

19 minutes ago, hemingway said:

If it's true that Hogan will be used in the midfield, why announce it?

From a coaches viewpoint, when it comes to tactics, I would be keeping my powder dry rather than telegraphing my punches. 

Let others draw their conclusions and keep them guessing. 

it takes one quarter in the jlt of hogan in the midfield for opposition to wise up methinks...

Interesting and reasonably obvious that he was going to play at CHF at the very least.

Playing in the midfield...what does that mean these days? Not sure myself.

Riewoldts (both of them ) have played up the ground but have never been called midfielders . similar with Franklin.

Last year we did not score heavily (other than the occasional blitz in one quarter) which made many games a lot closer than perhaps they should have been. Hopefully we can get on the board more often this year.

It does seem however that Goodwin is firmly in the camp of the Bulldogs and Tigers when it comes to gameplans as compared to say those of Adelaide and GWS. Does not make for pretty football but if it works I will not complain.

 

8 minutes ago, Danelska said:

it takes one quarter in the jlt of hogan in the midfield for opposition to wise up methinks...

probably true. 

6 minutes ago, DubDee said:

Is this coz we have so many quality tall forwards?  wtf? play the bloke up front in his position. he is by far our best tall fwd. 

the odd run in the midfield is fine to mix it up but regular midfield time?  dont get it

I'm with you, Dub.  First and foremost, he's our best forward.  If he's "on", which we have seen a few times, you just let Jesse do what Jesse wants.  If he's struggling to get near it, chuck him in the guts for 5 minutes, then gradually he returns forward, repeat if necessary (this isn't new).  If he's not "on", but is getting a bit of the ball, then he and Tom just rotate FF/CHF.  When one goes up the ground, one stays home (again, not new).

I don't see this tank that a lot of others seem to see.  He doesn't have half the tank the Riewoldt had (I await Saty to come on and tell me how hard Jesse is working at training.  Tells me SFA about his game day tank).

I'm all for versatility, not only as team but as an individual, but I sincerely hope Goody is more strategic when shifting Hogan in to the guts, rather than him being part of the midfield rotations.

10 minutes ago, The Chazz said:

I'm with you, Dub.  First and foremost, he's our best forward.  If he's "on", which we have seen a few times, you just let Jesse do what Jesse wants.

I agree with you Chazz - if Jesse is on and looking dominant, then leave him forward and let him do what he does best.

However, I think the midfield stints will probably come along when things aren't working as well, or they want to get Jesse more involved in the game.  A few stints through the midfield means he can get his hands on the ball a bit and work his way into the contest.  

He has the footy IQ, stamina, strength and skill to play through there when required and I'm all for giving him a few more opportunities to do so.  I don't think it will be all the time, but releasing him to run through there a little is only another adding another strength to the teams bow.