Jump to content

Filling the hole left by Jake Lever’s injury

PaulRB
PaulRB
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

You don't need to be super tall to play the intercept role, but you need a good footy IQ.

Doedee at Adelaide is playing it at 188cm.

I haven't seen enough of Joel Smith, but my guess is they either give him a go as Lever's direct replacement, or Hibberd takes over the role.

Frost may come in, but I certainly can't see him playing as the intercept defender.

Edited by ProDee

  • Quote
    • Like 2
     
    6 minutes ago, ProDee said:

    You don't need to be super tall to play the intercept role, but you need a good footy IQ.

    Doedee at Adelaide is playing it at 188cm.

    I haven't seen enough of Joel Smith, but my guess is the either give him a go as Lever's direct replacement, or Hibberd takes over the role.

    Frost may come in, but I certainly can't see him playing as the intercept defender.

    Only 188cm, that surprises me...

    As I posted earlier Josh Gibson played the same role at Hawthorn at 189cm and they seemed to go ok.

    Howe does similar at Collingwood.

    I think Smith could be a good option. Has speed, good overhead, good leap...only thing is does he have the footy IQ for the role?

  • Quote

    As many have mentioned, it doesn't have to be a like for like replacement. 

    The worries are the five options (Wagner, Frost, Smith, Keilty and Hunt) lack the composure to play the Lever role. The disposal of Frost, Hunt and Wagner is inconsistent as well.

    Hibberd isn't good enough in the air to step into the role. If he was we could bring Hunt back.

    I have a feeling they will go back to Wagner.

  • Quote
    •  
    48 minutes ago, dee-tox said:

    As many have mentioned, it doesn't have to be a like for like replacement. 

    The worries are the five options (Wagner, Frost, Smith, Keilty and Hunt) lack the composure to play the Lever role. The disposal of Frost, Hunt and Wagner is inconsistent as well.

    Hibberd isn't good enough in the air to step into the role. If he was we could bring Hunt back.

    I have a feeling they will go back to Wagner.

    Hope not

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    Try not to disturb existing players from the roles they are currently playing.

    They are doing this with their eyes closed at the moment.

    I have read that the only open day of training is on Friday.

    I believe that the day/s of closed training will have 3 guys playing levers role.

    The one who does this the best gets the nod.

    The 3 who are in the box seat are Frost, Smith and Wagner.

    If Tim Smith doesn't pull up well, Pedo should be his replacement, although having a Weideman playing against them again could be good.

    Billy Stretch has been BOG 3 out of the past 4 games in the VFL (although a shocking kick, unless he has ironed that out.)

    So if someone needs a rest he is a good replacement.

  • Quote
    • Like 2

    8 hours ago, TGR said:

    I think us MFC supporters (especially our FD) overrate Lever and underrate Frost.  Brian Taylor elevated Stringer to AA-status, and I reckon, did the same with Lever.

     

     

    Good opportunity for Frost now.  He needs to ignore the groans of the simpletons when he gets caught HTB, and continue to grow and take risks.

     

     

     

     

    The idea that Brian Taylor could elevate anyone to All-Australian is rather... interesting.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Sad 1
    7 hours ago, ProDee said:

    You don't need to be super tall to play the intercept role, but you need a good footy IQ.

    Doedee at Adelaide is playing it at 188cm.

    I haven't seen enough of Joel Smith, but my guess is they either give him a go as Lever's direct replacement, or Hibberd takes over the role.

    Frost may come in, but I certainly can't see him playing as the intercept defender.

     

    Does the intercept defender need to be a tall? i.e. if Hibberd is to fill this role, does he need to play on a taller player also? Surely Frost can come in & still be accountable on a tall, without being required to have great footy IQ.

    I understand the opposition will try to force Hibberd to be accountable, but I think we'd be able to cope.

  • Quote
    1 hour ago, Mach5 said:

     

    Does the intercept defender need to be a tall? i.e. if Hibberd is to fill this role, does he need to play on a taller player also? Surely Frost can come in & still be accountable on a tall, without being required to have great footy IQ.

    I understand the opposition will try to force Hibberd to be accountable, but I think we'd be able to cope.

    I don't believe they need to be a giant but they've obviously got to be able to hold their own in the air. Also they have to have the strength to go one on one or have the strength and power to impact and spoil in the air. 

    If you are going to be played as the intercept defender you need footy IQ to choose the moments when or when not to run off your man or where you are protecting space. Personally I think that is where Frost has been pretty bad in the past and gets lost ball watching. You need to know when to go to a certain contest, when to drop deeper behind play, how to hold your position in the zone and not get lost by ball watching or following the play. If it was just about Frost being accountable and locking down one on one I'd assume he'd be capable, but it's not just one on one defending which I believe is the problem. Also I think the intercept defender needs to be a safe set of hands so to speak and Frost is far from safe with the ball in hand.

    Hibberd can probably play the role but it will take away from what he is good at in my opinion. His strength is his distribution and running off half back as well as winning the ball at ground level. I'm not sure he's our best option in the air and I don't know if he plays tall so to speak.

  • Quote
    •  
    2 hours ago, Mach5 said:

     

    The idea that Brian Taylor could elevate anyone to All-Australian is rather... interesting.  incredibly weird and if true an indictment of the AA process.

     

  • Quote

    Don't mind this from Greeny.

    I'd certainly give Weids a go at CHB for Casey for a few weeks. I think he'd hold a lot of marks he gets his hands on up forward and his clean handballing and tackling would be useful. It would help his kicking under pressure and second efforts as well.

  • Quote
    • Like 3
    • Thanks 1
    13 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

    Don't mind this from Greeny.

    I'd certainly give Weids a go at CHB for Casey for a few weeks. I think he'd hold a lot of marks he gets his hands on up forward and his clean handballing and tackling would be useful. It would help his kicking under pressure and second efforts as well.

     

    Can not imagine Weideman playing as a key backman.  Just doesn't look like it would suit him.

    But Jetta was reinvented as a gun back, T Mac as a gun forward.  So I am open to anything and I will back the coaching staff in all the way on whatever they try.

    Edited by Petraccattack

  • Quote
    8 minutes ago, Petraccattack said:

     

    Can not imagine Weideman playing as a key backman.  Just doesn't look like it would suit him.

    But Jetta was reinvented as a gun back, T Mac as a gun forward.  So I am open to anything and I will back the coaching staff in all the way on whatever they try.

    I think he should be tried down back, suspect he has all the tools needed to be a mobile intercept back, depends if he can read the play back there. He doesn’t mind tackling people but we need to give him time there to prove he can play the role. 

  • Quote
    1 hour ago, Petraccattack said:

     

    Can not imagine Weideman playing as a key backman.  Just doesn't look like it would suit him.

    But Jetta was reinvented as a gun back, T Mac as a gun forward.  So I am open to anything and I will back the coaching staff in all the way on whatever they try.

    A lot of key forwards learn their craft as a back. Think back to Nick Reiwoldt, David Netiz, the G train all spent time back to master their craft. 

    I just dont think putting Weid in as a intercept back would be a smart move, he would need to take more of a one on one defensive role allowing hibberd to play the intercept role. 

    The thing I do love about Weid is he gives a contest can bring the ball to ground, and competes when it does hit the deck, also seems to be a clean kick on both sides. 

  • Quote
    35 minutes ago, GCDee said:

    A lot of key forwards learn their craft as a back. Think back to Nick Reiwoldt, David Netiz, the G train all spent time back to master their craft. 

    I just dont think putting Weid in as a intercept back would be a smart move, he would need to take more of a one on one defensive role allowing hibberd to play the intercept role. 

    The thing I do love about Weid is he gives a contest can bring the ball to ground, and competes when it does hit the deck, also seems to be a clean kick on both sides. 

    different game back then GCD. It used to be the semi soft position if there ever was such a thing in AFL. But these days,  with the forward press youve to be really competitive  at ground level too,  and Im just not convinced re Weid and that part of his game. Love to be wrong on this though. 

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    2 hours ago, Wells 11 said:

    different game back then GCD. It used to be the semi soft position if there ever was such a thing in AFL. But these days,  with the forward press youve to be really competitive  at ground level too,  and Im just not convinced re Weid and that part of his game. Love to be wrong on this though. 

    yep ... in the even older days HBF was where a young player often debuted....It was not considered a vital position unlike say CHB.

  • Quote

    • Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

    Guest
    Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
    Reply to this topic...
    Go to topic listing

    Featured Content

    • PREVIEW: Richmond

      A few years ago, the Melbourne Football Club produced a documentary about the decade in which it rose from its dystopic purgatory of regular thrashings to the euphoria of a premiership victory. That entire period could have been compressed in a fast motion version of the 2025 season to date as the Demons went from embarrassing basket case to glorious winner in an unexpected victory over the Dockers last Saturday. They transformed in a single week from a team that put in a pedestrian effort of predictably kicking the ball long down the line into attack that made a very ordinary Bombers outfit look like worldbeaters into a slick, fast moving side with urgency and a willingness to handball and create play with shorter kicks and by changing angles to generate an element of chaos that yielded six goals in each of the opening quarters against Freo. 

        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • NON-MFC: Round 07

      Round 7 gets underway in iconic fashion with the traditional ANZAC Day blockbuster. The high-flying Magpies will be looking to solidify their spot atop the ladder, while the Bombers are desperate for a win to stay in touch with the top eight. Later that evening, Fremantle will be out to redeem themselves after a disappointing loss to the Demons, facing a hungry Adelaide side with eyes firmly set on breaking into the top four. Saturday serves up a triple-header of footy action. The Lions will be looking to consolidate their Top 2 spot as they head to Marvel Stadium to clash with the Saints. Over in Adelaide, Port Adelaide will be strong favourites at home against a struggling North Melbourne. The day wraps up with a fiery encounter in Canberra, where the Giants and Bulldogs renew their bitter rivalry. Sunday’s schedule kicks off with the Suns aiming to bounce back from their shock defeat to Richmond, taking on the out of form Swans.Then the Blues will be out to claim a major scalp when they battle the Cats at the MCG. The round finishes with a less-than-thrilling affair between Hawthorn and West Coast at Marvel. Who are you tipping and what are the best results for the Demons?

      • 3 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • REPORT: Fremantle

      For this year’s Easter Saturday game at the MCG, Simon Goodwin and his Demons wound the clock back a few years to wipe out the horrible memories of last season’s twin thrashings at the hands of the Dockers. And it was about time! Melbourne’s indomitable skipper Max Gawn put in a mammoth performance in shutting out his immediate opponent Sean Darcy in the ruck and around the ground and was a colossus at the end when the game was there to be won or lost. It was won by 16.11.107 to 14.13.97. There was the battery-charged Easter Bunny in Kysaiah Pickett running anyone wearing purple ragged, whether at midfield stoppages or around the big sticks. He finish with a five goal haul.

        • Love
        • Thanks
      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • CASEY: UWS Giants

      The Casey Demons took on an undefeated UWS Giants outfit at their own home ground on a beautiful autumn day but found themselves completely out of their depth going down by 53 points against a well-drilled and fair superior combination. Despite having 15 AFL listed players at their disposal - far more than in their earlier matches this season - the Demons were never really in the game and suffered their second defeat in a row after their bright start to the season when they drew with the Kangaroos, beat the Suns and matched the Cats for most of the day on their own dung heap at Corio Bay. The Giants were a different proposition altogether. They had a very slight wind advantage in the opening quarter but were too quick off the mark for the Demons, tearing the game apart by the half way mark of the term when they kicked the first five goals with clean and direct football.

        • Thanks
      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: Richmond

      The Dees are back at the MCG on Thursday for the annual blockbuster ANZAC Eve game against the Tigers. Can the Demons win back to back games for the first time since Rounds 17 & 18 last season? Who comes in and who goes out?

        • Thanks
      • 262 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PODCAST: Fremantle

      The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on TUESDAY, 22nd April @ 8:00pm. Join Binman, George & I as we analyse the Demons first win for the year against the Dockers. Your questions and comments are a huge part of our podcast so please post anything you want to ask or say below and we'll give you a shout out on the show. If you would like to leave us a voicemail please call 03 9016 3666 and don't worry no body answers so you don't have to talk to a human.

        • Thanks
      • 47 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland
    View All