It's the wingmen, stupid!

[Chook 14,467]

I'll make this short and sweet: We won't be a good side until Simon Goodwin begins to respect the wing position's importance in the modern game.

I call your attention to this article by forward-cum-midfielder-cum-defender-cum-ruckman-cum-wingman Mitch Robinson, of the Brisbane Lions (y'know, the 2019 version of 2018's Demons, except they actually made the top 4):

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/mitch-robinson-why-allaustralian-panel-made-a-mockery-of-players-by-not-selecting-genuine-wingmen/news-story/9e0d4e49d1770d54788d0a2174461cef

I serously doubt there's a single player on the Demons list who could write an article as nuanced and informed on the wing position as Mitch Robinson has. And until we have at least a couple of modern wingers (and a coach who knows how to use them), we'll go nowhere in 2020 or beyond — and that's regardless of how many or how few injuries we get across the rest of the field.

[DeeSpencer 23,113]

A 2 year chase of Ed Langdon is probably a fairly big sign the club wants better wingman.

As was using Dom Tyson, Lewis and then Jones in the role just as Brisbane have with Mitch Robinson. And getting KK.

It's easy to see that as not respecting the position by using not typical outside players but I get the feeling Goodwin has always wanted smart players and good stoppage players on the wing as much as looking at the negatives of lack of pace and skill.

Tyson and Jones weren't great fits on the wing in many ways but we were strong at stoppages, they worked back hard to help the backline and they pushed forward to close outlets. All the things Mitch talked about.

 

[DemonWheels 962]

28 minutes ago, Chook said:

I'll make this short and sweet: We won't be a good side until Simon...

Awesome read, thank you.

Best pure football article I’ve read in a long time.

[PaulRB 5,919]

I heard Goodwin mention the significant and under appreciated impact of having his first two choices for our wings, in Kk and VDB, out. In that it threw out our ability to impose, defend and attack across the middle in 2019. Was a brief comment from him as while back, but it stuck with me because I too believed that this season would have been ok if these two men had played 20+ games apiece.

Edited August 29, 2019 by PaulRB

[praha 10,270]

1 hour ago, Chook said:

I'll make this short and sweet: We won't be a good side until Simon Goodwin begins to respect the wing position's importance in the modern game.

I call your attention to this article by forward-cum-midfielder-cum-defender-cum-ruckman-cum-wingman Mitch Robinson, of the Brisbane Lions (y'know, the 2019 version of 2018's Demons, except they actually made the top 4):

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/mitch-robinson-why-allaustralian-panel-made-a-mockery-of-players-by-not-selecting-genuine-wingmen/news-story/9e0d4e49d1770d54788d0a2174461cef

I serously doubt there's a single player on the Demons list who could write an article as nuanced and informed on the wing position as Mitch Robinson has. And until we have at least a couple of modern wingers (and a coach who knows how to use them), we'll go nowhere in 2020 or beyond — and that's regardless of how many or how few injuries we get across the rest of the field.

Pert actually specifically mentioned the club identified a lack of space and skill on the wing and this is why they drafted KK. Now with Langdon as well it's clear it's on the club's conscious. It's also clear that Stretch, JKH are probably done at AFL level.

[Earl Hood 5,788]

19 minutes ago, praha said:

Pert actually specifically mentioned the club identified a lack of space and skill on the wing and this is why they drafted KK. Now with Langdon as well it's clear it's on the club's conscious. It's also clear that Stretch, JKH are probably done at AFL level.

I don’t think KK is going to make it back and unless we can draft in several winger types I wouldn’t be unloading Stretch or JKH too quickly. Stretch has a high DE percentage when he is fit and playing amongst a midfield that regularly butcher the ball going forward. 

[Fork 'em 6,507]

Well there you go.
Seems Robinson might be more intelligent than he looks.
And for the record .... I would've taken him when Carlton unloaded.
Has the c#*t in him that we needed.

Edited August 29, 2019 by Fork 'em

[Go the Biff 3,127]

13 minutes ago, Fork 'em said:

Well there you go.
Seems Robinson might be more intelligent than he looks.
And for the record .... I would've taken him when Carlton unloaded.
Has the c#*t in him that we needed.

Bloody good article. Respect to Robinson, He has completely reinvented himself with the Bears and is a damn good footballer and a key part of their resurgence. Whether he could have done that in the Melbourne footy fishbowl will never be known but if memory serves Fork 'em, picking up both he & Jeffy at the same time might not have been the brightest bit of business

[Fork 'em 6,507]

Yes it would have been a risk but it was around the same time that Pederson had his nose spread over his face late by Merrett and not 1 Melbourne player remonstrated.
I knew a bloke like Robinson wouldn't have stood for that.
And I've watched us get physically beaten up for as long as I remember so probably would have taken him over Jeffy for that reason alone.
But anyhow ..... He certainly has exceeded what i thought he would have produced football wise though.
The move up north was obviously the wake up call he needed.

Edited August 29, 2019 by Fork 'em