MDMT - not only looks at a player's capability to play 2 or more roles/positions on the field; but also evaluates every facet of the game (marking, ground-balls, mobility, defensive pressure etc...)

I think the wet (Geel) and wind (Port & Geel) has highlighted that our talls have glaring weaknesses if they don't clunk it several times a match.  Kudos to Gawn though, threw his body into unenviable positions and was unlucky not be paid 1 or 2 more marks at GMHBA stadium.

 

Leigh Matthews, 30 years ago, had the view that BT for example, had to kick 4 goals or 'x' marks a game to override his mobility liability to the team.  Even back then Matthews had his own equation/algorithm to justify selection.  Matthews also regularly stated, it is never as good as it seems (Finals 2018) and never as bad as it seems (Round 2 2019); but that is for another thread.

In the wet, Weed and Gawn aren't going to mark the pill too many times.  When you take that one-wood from them, we are essentially a man-down or more.  Gawn is one of the best rucks in the comp...virtually can't argue with that.  Of course Gawn justifies selection, but we need to acknowledge every facet of his game isn't AA.  I put him at no.2 to Grundy in 2018 for the simple reason that once the ball hits the deck, despite his 100% effort, he is slow and his change-of-direction is average.  Superimpose this on the fact that "we aren't a quick team to begin with" (Roos OTC), then this issue becomes significant.

Weed's defensive pressure when the ball went to ground was horrible last Saturday night.  I have never noticed this before, but it was glaringly obvious.  No wonder our I50 count meant little to the scoreboard.

Tom McDonald doesn't have this D-grade facet to his game, and unfortunately, we only have one of him.

 

Contrast this with Geelong's MDMTs in Blicavs, Stanley, and Ratugolea (returning from a smashed leg) etc...and the discrepancies are obvious.

Joel Smith is an answer, and it will interesting to see how we go with selection in the wet next time, particularly in relation to Weed.  Also, in the wet, TMac can't be left to rot at FF, and must play high half-forward IMO.

 

 

pTGR

 

Kielty also getting mentioned in dispatches and may prove an option.

weids is normally a ferocious tackler.  

T Mac maybe start on the wing and play higher, acting as conduit?

need good smalls at their feet.  This cupboard looks bare.

Our 'smalls' are all Players that play tall. Trac, Melksham, Fritsch - they all play taller than they are, and are more marking players than crumbers.

Great in the dry, shocking in the wet.