11 hours ago, Skuit said:

Poor man's Frost.

So I was kidding, in part, but Hibberd has always had a bit of headless chook about him as well - run and break the lines first and then work out what to do with the pill. I don't think he has the same natural spacial awareness as say Jetta or Salem. If he's down a yard on pace, and the outlet options aren't presenting, then he's going to struggle to find the space to run and the kick is going to be under much greater pressure. Never been the greatest aerial defender either.

Still, we have such an acutely balanced defensive game-plan, that the (relatively) poor form of Oscar and Frost and the introduction of May, Hore, Wagner, whoever, will ultimately disrupt that mix - and it ripples down the chain. Both he and Lever even struggled when first thrown in together, and unfortunately we're a long way from our best back six finding some cohesion. Would love to see a win-loss or points conceded graph as measured against our number of weekly back-line changes.

What's the old saying: Father time is undefeated?

Hibbo was huge for us in 2017 but it would be a bit much to ask him to replicate that form with another 2 years of tread of the tyres at the tail end of his career. He is in our best 22, and probably holds that spot this season. Next season is his last contracted season, and his position in the side depends on the development of other players around him and his ability to hold off decline in his game.

He will pick up his form this season, but the 2017 form is probably unattainable for him so we need to keep our expectations in check.

14 hours ago, beelzebub said:

There's a universe...but is it 'organised' ?

Organised requires a construct and design. Unless you wish to invoke the God-clause ?? I don't think there's a master plan .

Actually if you watch simulations of the universe expanding and the big bang you will see chaos but also organisation. thus, organised chaos. the formation of a star or a planet for example is chaotic but it's still organised. the universe is bound by both laws of science and theory but also randonmess. 

Anyway I think Hibberd will find form.

I remember his debut match for Melbourne when we played Richmond on Anzac Eve on wet conditions. He played so well and made it look so easy. Hopefully we can recapture his form in 2017.

On 4/8/2019 at 12:53 PM, phuket demon said:

Jones could play the defensive forward pocket role

Yes been hoping that might happen since around this time last year.  Goody says  he's much more valuable off a wing though ?

Edited April 10, 20196 yr by Rusty Nails

On 4/8/2019 at 12:24 PM, DeeSpencer said:

Spot on.

If I had a major concern about our training - apart from the injuries - it would be that we did far less ball movement / decision making drills this year from what I saw.

It was a lot of skill development ‘craft’ stuff, plus running, plus match simulation. 

I think we missed a step that we used to do a lot of under Roos which is drills that emphasise 2 way pressure and pressure release. Drills that teach players how to cover off opponents as a team and at the same time teach guys to release team mates in to space. 

According to Champion Data we were the number 1 pressure team last year.  You might be on to a significant part of why we've dropped so far this year DS.  Allowing much more space / time to our opponent?  Forgetting the reason why we got to where we were last year and instead just focussing on manic ball movement foward maybe at the expense structure and 2 way running?

When you say we did alot more "skill development craft stuff" would you mind expanding on what you mean pls?