Its the forward line stupid

[dpositive 1,665]

Jacksons development will depend on his capacity the role he is given obviously, but more important is the status and support he is given from his teammates.

Ours is a team game and it is critical that roles are clear, recognised and accepted by every individual in that team.

Short term or long term individual roles and development must be communicated within the team.

As we are in a competition with other teams external transparency does not need to be high. We as supporters cannot expect to be told or know. Our hopes assumptions and projections can be accurate or fanciful. I hope they continue and we can respect everyone's opinions but ultimately it is the club officials who must decide. I support them wholeheartedly as I always have despite the anguish and frustration they have continuously given me. Go Dees

[Diamond_Jim 12,576]

Given the gameplan it is difficult to envisage a forward line including Fritsch, MacDonald, Jackson and Weideman.

If we played with all of those in the forward line it could resemble a trampoline with the speed that the opposition will rebound.

[old dee 23,788]

1 hour ago, JakovichScissorKick said:

Havent seen one person even allude to LJ being the 'messiah' for us,  not sure what OD is on about.  

I just see a lot of cautious optimism.

Saying he should  play second round 2 is hardly cautious optimism.

all I am saying is give the kid a chance, he has played most of his short career as a Ruckman at under 18 level.

Becoming a Ruckman / goal kicking  forward is a big step up at Senior level.

Edited December 1, 2019 by old dee

[DeeSpencer 25,687]

13 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Given the gameplan it is difficult to envisage a forward line including Fritsch, MacDonald, Jackson and Weideman.

If we played with all of those in the forward line it could resemble a trampoline with the speed that the opposition will rebound.

Don't forget Jake 'I'll just jog and watch my man run off' Melksham. 

I think we can fit them all in but it's going to take a massive shift in the training methods to get more pressure out of those guys. Fritsch might not be a great tackler but he's an excellent mover, no reason for him not to get pressure on. Jackson's somewhat the same, if he does make it as a forward early in his career forward pressure will be a decent part of the reason why. Weideman or Petty - they aren't bad movers, just a matter of them showing they've got the tank, smarts and urgency. 

But Tom and Jake, two guys who's backs and ankles don't seem to move when the opposition have the ball, that has to change this year.

[Macca 16,963]

44 minutes ago, old dee said:

Saying he should  play second round 2 is hardly cautious optimism.

all I am saying is give the kid a chance, he has played most of his short career as a Ruckman at under 18 level.

Becoming a Ruckman / goal kicking  forward is a big step up at Senior level.

You make sense with what you're saying but the leap forward for draftees is always a factor.  And that includes the gap from the VFL (Casey) to the AFL

If he wasn't also a ruckman I'd be more cautious but we need someone to give Gawn a rest during the games so who plays that 2nd ruck role instead of Jackson?  Effectively.

We need T-Mac to focus on his role as a KPF and if Jackson plays then Weideman probably doesn't play.  Petty or Oscar are vying for the one KPD spot it seems.  Pruess is pure back-up for Gawn.  And then there's Smith who might be able to play a role forward or back

There's a number of options but who is best equipped to play as the 2nd ruck/Forward? 

Give us your alternative plan old dee

[Adam The God 30,237]

3 hours ago, RDBhero said:

Including the opposition?

Sometimes, but Richmond's predictability hasn't hurt them, nor did Hawthorn's.

Edited December 1, 2019 by A F

[Guest]

3 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Your first mistake was taking anything Buckenara says serious. 

The guy is a drop kick. Go look at his highlights. His contested marking is one of his strengths.

It is and it isn't.

He struggles to hold his position when checked by a bit of body pressure and allows himself to get under the ball a lot.  Once a key defender works this out he becomes a lot easier to counter

It sounds like he has been beefed up.  This season we will find out a lot more.

His two finals in 2018 we're excellent and displayed that he has ability and temperament.  

[Macca 16,963]

20 minutes ago, Stretch Johnson said:

He struggles to hold his position when checked by a bit of body pressure and allows himself to get under the ball a lot.  Once a key defender works this out he becomes a lot easier to counter

It sounds like he has been beefed up.  This season we will find out a lot more.

His two finals in 2018 we're excellent and displayed that he has ability and temperament.  

Weideman's 2 excellent games in the 2018 finals were more '3rd Forward' style rather than 'Power Forward' style, SJ.  The 2 games had a touch of opportunistic about them.

And that's ok too because a player doing well as a 3rd forward is a valuable commodity.  But these days the 3rd forward is often surplus to needs if your 1 & 2 are functioning well.  Fritsch is a better option (right now)

Where it all changes is if the one of the 2 KPF also plays on the ball or up the ground (periodically)  We know T-Mac can play that other role and by many accounts Jackson might be able to play that role as well.

So there is room for Weideman in the right mix as long as Sam finds a vein of form (or starts bringing-it in the pre-season)

But being able to play well in the ruck as a relief ruckman is also extremely valuable and that's where Jackson could fit the bill.

Previously when Max has been rested we've often struggled at the stoppages. 

[Adam The God 30,237]

No chance we could get the title of the thread correctly written is there?  It's triggering my OCD.

[Demonstone 22,505]

Makes a change from the pandemic of nuffies inserting apostrophes unnecessarily, AF!

[Left Foot Snap 2,402]

23 minutes ago, demonstone said:

Makes a change from the pandemic of nuffies inserting apostrophes unnecessarily, AF!

I am an apostophile - I use them a lot.....

[dazzledavey36 54,882]

5 hours ago, Stretch Johnson said:

It is and it isn't.

He struggles to hold his position when checked by a bit of body pressure and allows himself to get under the ball a lot.  Once a key defender works this out he becomes a lot easier to counter

It sounds like he has been beefed up.  This season we will find out a lot more.

His two finals in 2018 we're excellent and displayed that he has ability and temperament.  

Who are you talking about exactly?

I am talking about Jackson not Weideman.

[Guest]

7 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Who are you talking about exactly?

I am talking about Jackson not Weideman.

I made a mmm....

Mmm..

There was a misunderstanding.

 

[monoccular 17,427]

 

On 11/30/2019 at 2:10 PM, Soprano661 said:

Melksham being fully fit will help - curtains for weid after this year,** but surprisingly he looks way bigger in the training photos I’ve seen. 

** unless he steps back up to the form he showed in those 2 MCG finals, which he could well do.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,754]

15 hours ago, A F said:

No chance we could get the title of the thread correctly written is there?  It's triggering my OCD.

You'd think one of the site's administrators would of fixed it by now. 

[Diamond_Jim 12,576]

8 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

You'd think one of the site's administrators would of fixed it by now. 

From today's Guardian..

A society dedicated to preserving the “much-abused” apostrophe is to be shut down as its chairman said “ignorance and laziness” had won.

John Richards, who worked in journalism for much of his career, started the Apostrophe Protection Society in 2001 after he retired.

Now 96, Richards is calling time on the society, which lists the three simple rules for correct use of the punctuation mark.

“We, and our many supporters worldwide, have done our best but the ignorance and laziness present in modern times have won!”

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/dec/01/laziness-has-won-apostrophe-society-admits-its-defeat

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,754]

7 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

From today's Guardian..

A society dedicated to preserving the “much-abused” apostrophe is to be shut down as its chairman said “ignorance and laziness” had won.

 

John Richards, who worked in journalism for much of his career, started the Apostrophe Protection Society in 2001 after he retired.

Now 96, Richards is calling time on the society, which lists the three simple rules for correct use of the punctuation mark.

“We, and our many supporters worldwide, have done our best but the ignorance and laziness present in modern times have won!”

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/dec/01/laziness-has-won-apostrophe-society-admits-its-defeat

I guess we should just be grateful that the Guardian's link didn't have an apostrophe in the middle word of "admits-its-defeat".

[TRIGON 4,783]

48 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

John Richards, who worked in journalism for much of his career, started the Apostrophe Protection Society in 2001 after he retired.

Now 96, Richards is calling time on the society, which lists the three simple rules for correct use of the punctuation mark.

“We, and our many supporters worldwide, have done our best but the ignorance and laziness present in modern times have won!”

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/dec/01/laziness-has-won-apostrophe-society-admits-its-defeat

Lived in the UK for a decade (90's). Set an example and did manage to raise the English skills of those I had regular contact with. Sadly, recent evidence suggests that they've slipped backwards since.

If only they logged in to Demonland...

[old55 23,559]

5 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

You'd think one of the site's administrators would of fixed it by now. 

I'm hoping this is the joke, right?

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,754]

1 hour ago, Fifty-5 said:

I'm hoping this is the joke, right?

Definately.

 

(Sorry, can't help myself)

[Demonstone 22,505]

Your funny!

[old55 23,559]

46 minutes ago, demonstone said:

Your funny!

Yes, his really funny. He's jokes are the best.

Edited December 2, 2019 by Fifty-5

[Demonstone 22,505]

Defiantly, their hilarious.

[old55 23,559]

There actually is a certain mad logic in that possessive use of he's

Edited December 2, 2019 by Fifty-5

[MikeAlphaTango 150]

On 12/1/2019 at 12:27 PM, Macca said:

You make sense with what you're saying but the leap forward for draftees is always a factor.  And that includes the gap from the VFL (Casey) to the AFL

If he wasn't also a ruckman I'd be more cautious but we need someone to give Gawn a rest during the games so who plays that 2nd ruck role instead of Jackson?  Effectively.

We need T-Mac to focus on his role as a KPF and if Jackson plays then Weideman probably doesn't play.  Petty or Oscar are vying for the one KPD spot it seems.  Pruess is pure back-up for Gawn.  And then there's Smith who might be able to play a role forward or back

There's a number of options but who is best equipped to play as the 2nd ruck/Forward? 

Give us your alternative plan old dee

Grundy the most comparable player, played 7 games in his debut year. 

Pre-season games will give us a good indication whether he's going to be pushing for an early debut.

I think you have written off Pruess too early, from training reports he appears to have slimmed down remarkably and coaches have him working on his forward craft.