Max must be licking his lips again.  (mods - I dont think this deserves it own topic, please put this topic somewhere else if it fits) 

 

Three weeks in a row he has opponents who are very junior in skill and experience. 

• Lloyd Meek for Freo
• Paul Hunter for saints
• and possible Matt Flynn this week v GWS. 

 

Might get some more experience against the Cats but I don't rate Rhys Stanley. 

 

Max did well on the weekend, but hoping he starts really hurting teams soon. 

Tell me how you reckon Max can really hurt these teams. 

Great vision of his work rate on the weekend on Access all areas on AFL website, llyody gave him a good pump up. 

A lot gets said about his hit outs not converting into clearance dominance.

Whilst I'm sure there could be improvement in the Gawn-mid connection at stoppages, Gawn's value is not just hit outs. He has always been a near-elite runner for someone of his size, and the work he does to either get back into the hole in defence or push forward to stretch our opponent's defence is critical.

There aren't many rucks who can do all of that alongside him. It's that sort of ground coverage which, added to actual ruckwork, make Gawn so good (and similarly are why Naitanui, Grundy and Goldstein have been good in recent years).

I think he's crucial to our forward structure while Weid and Brown are out.  TMac doesn't tend to mark big bombs kicked on his head - Gawn can.  So if we're not able to lower the eyes going forward (if our midfield is under the pump) then he will still make defenders panic.  Not saying he should play all the game up there but it is a nice change to have while Jackson is able to compete in the ruck.

 

It's interesting that essentially every kickin we take is kicked to Gawn or the side that Gawn is on.  Makes sense but is very predictable - has anyone noticed if we've mixed this up at all?

 Max could really hurt GWS by pushing forward, stretching their defense and kicking goals. We should control the game in the air, our defense is playing really well.  Let him either mark, or bring the ball down to ground for Kossie/Spargo/ANB can clean up.

The opposition would need to put thought into how to stop him and will let others off the leash.   Stretch the opposition, put him forward.  He should kick goals.

It would be good experience for Jackson going up against these less experienced rucks.  Would be giving him at least 50/50 in the middle with Max switching for bursts.   We could possibly afford to have Jackson at 70/30.  Would help him develop much more than Max imo.

Played the Old Jim Stynes role in defence on Saturday night, very effectively 

I feel like gawn is most effective against good rucks, when the mids don't all assume he's gonna win it every time

As someone who thought we should trade Gawn I’ve become a total convert. He and Jackson in combination can potentially dominate games. He’s a big reason we’re flag favourites 

24 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

As someone who thought we should trade Gawn I’ve become a total convert. He and Jackson in combination can potentially dominate games. He’s a big reason we’re flag favourites 

Wait a minute - flag favourites ? 
 

 

 

58 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Played the Old Jim Stynes role in defence on Saturday night, very effectively 

When our Forward line gets one or both of Big Ben and Weid in due course, we are going to be a leviathan beast of a team.

The way our defensive mechanisms are operating currently it's a real pleasure to watch with Gawn playing a kick behind play in defence alongside May, Lever and Tommo.

He has been a bit underwhelming in the ruck the last two weeks for mine

He doesn’t seem to be jumping at the centre bounce, seems more intent with holding the other ruckman out

Was happy to see his work around the ground was much improved than against  Freo 

1 hour ago, Roost it far said:

As someone who thought we should trade Gawn I’ve become a total convert. He and Jackson in combination can potentially dominate games. He’s a big reason we’re flag favourites 

Wow I definitely missed this memo. Care to elaborate? 

I have been holding myself back for a while now, but I think I am ready to elevate Gawn into a very elite group of ruckmen.

Best I have seen in order:

1. Gary Dempsey
2. Simon Madden
3. Peter Moore
4. Dean Cox

I am fairly happy to move Max Gawn into no.5 in this group. Watching him is pure pleasure. His tap work is as good as Dempsey, his field running as good as Cox, his kicking is now as relaible as Moore. I doubt his marking will get to the heights of Madden, but he is a very, very good mark. Absolute gun is our Max and I also need to eat humble pie about his captaincy; I wasn't a fan of his appointment but his leadership is first class. 

1 hour ago, Roost it far said:

As someone who thought we should trade Gawn I’ve become a total convert. He and Jackson in combination can potentially dominate games. He’s a big reason we’re flag favourites 

 

Edited March 29, 20214 yr by TRIGON

I thought his tap work was looking a bit more effective at times on the weekend.  Not all game, but definitely beginning to line it up nicely.  It is something that he's had as a strength in the past so it is quite realistic to hope it will return soon, at which point Gawn becomes the philosophical Conceptual Ideal of an AFL ruckman.

Coming up against a string of young and inexperienced rucks has been an interesting quirk to start the season but these guys should not be dismissed too lightly.  Hell, making a debut or near-debut against Gawn seems to be a right of passage it happens so often.

I feel like the club is using Gawn and Jackson in an interesting split based as much on risk-reward as anything else.  Where calmness and reliable dominance is needed, they send Gawn.  Where a bit of wild potential might break things up a bit in our favour or even lift the team but there's no huge disaster for an 'almost great' moment, that's where you'll find Jackson. Obviously that puts Jackson mostly on or forward of the ball.

I like it. It means Jackson can be given a licence to just go for it, do his thing while developing and without risking over-programming him and sapping that brilliant energy and initiative that he brings.

I do see similarities between Jackson and Pickett and I wonder if the club has been looking to the same development philosophy with both?

Sorry to digress from Gawn, but it is at least very relevant to how the club decides to use him.

Brown used to play forward ruck at NM quite often. If and when he gets on the park will be interesting to see if he is given that job like Geelomg use Hawkins.

13 minutes ago, Maldonboy38 said:

I have been holding myself back for a while now, but I think I am ready to elevate Gawn into a very elite group of ruckmen.

Best I have seen in order:

1. Gary Dempsey
2. Simon Madden
3. Peter Moore
4. Dean Cox

I am fairly happy to move Max Gawn into no.5 in this group. Watching him is pure pleasure. His tap work is as good as Dempsey, his field running as good as Cox, his kicking is now as relaible as Moore. I doubt his marking will get to the heights of Madden, but he is a very, very good mark. Absolute gun is our Max and I also need to eat humble pie about his captaincy; I wasn't a fan of his appointment but his leadership is first class. 

Do you remember how often Madden played forward?  He kicked a massive amount of goals.  Must have been one hell of a player.

Edited March 29, 20214 yr by Pickett2Jackson

I thought the turning point in the second quarter came when we were 16 points down and Max moved forward and Jackson went into the ruck. The rookie rucks had little impact but Saints couldn't rove to Max and his presence up forward changed the dynamic.

Re rookie ruckman I have seen in the last 2 weeks they lean in to him great a contest and try to nullify his taps conceding they wont beat him. Different situation against an attacking ruck opposition who is trying to get first hand on the ball. Agree Max does better against the better rucks as it is a contest not a rookie trying to smother him.

 

Edited March 29, 20214 yr by Older demon

3 minutes ago, Pickett2Jackson said:

Do you remember how often Madden played forward?  He kicked a massive amount of goals.  Must have been one hell of a player.

He was. A true great. 

1 hour ago, Roost it far said:

He’s a big reason we’re flag favourites 

Some just really like to get ahead of themselves.

34 minutes ago, Billy said:

He has been a bit underwhelming in the ruck the last two weeks for mine

He doesn’t seem to be jumping at the centre bounce, seems more intent with holding the other ruckman out

Was happy to see his work around the ground was much improved than against  Freo 

Spot on with the centre bounce analogy this has been happening for quite a while and against good teams it will be still a problem for the midfield group but his around the ground work is brilliant. 

2 hours ago, Rocknroll said:

Max must be licking his lips again.  (mods - I dont think this deserves it own topic, please put this topic somewhere else if it fits) 

 

Three weeks in a row he has opponents who are very junior in skill and experience. 

• Lloyd Meek for Freo
• Paul Hunter for saints
• and possible Matt Flynn this week v GWS. 

 

Might get some more experience against the Cats but I don't rate Rhys Stanley. 

 

Max did well on the weekend, but hoping he starts really hurting teams soon. 

Tell me how you reckon Max can really hurt these teams. 

He could start by tapping to a mfc player  more often rather the technically " to advantage "

2 hours ago, Rocknroll said:

Max must be licking his lips again.  (mods - I dont think this deserves it own topic, please put this topic somewhere else if it fits) 

 

Three weeks in a row he has opponents who are very junior in skill and experience. 

• Lloyd Meek for Freo
• Paul Hunter for saints
• and possible Matt Flynn this week v GWS. 

 

Might get some more experience against the Cats but I don't rate Rhys Stanley. 

 

Max did well on the weekend, but hoping he starts really hurting teams soon. 

Tell me how you reckon Max can really hurt these teams. 

Reduce patting the ball, increase directed hitting the ball to pre-advised teammates and 'spots' - particularly when rucking in the middle of the playing field. All it would take was a wink or two...

2 hours ago, deelusions from afar said:

I think he's crucial to our forward structure while Weid and Brown are out.  TMac doesn't tend to mark big bombs kicked on his head - Gawn can.  So if we're not able to lower the eyes going forward (if our midfield is under the pump) then he will still make defenders panic.  Not saying he should play all the game up there but it is a nice change to have while Jackson is able to compete in the ruck.

 

It's interesting that essentially every kickin we take is kicked to Gawn or the side that Gawn is on.  Makes sense but is very predictable - has anyone noticed if we've mixed this up at all?

Not enough mixture in 'selected' flanks from deep defence.

It is predictable, as you suggest. It also creates an amount of congestion about Gawn. The latter leads to many turnovers from which, once again, we must recover so often. Burning calories for no benefit.

I have been thinking about this for two years now. If Salem is to play backman and upon the return of Hibberd as a backman, their flank kicking could be a big improvement on Gawn (location)/ midfield kicking entries,  particularly with their noted accuracy with clearance kicks. These also crowd the midfield and often we have another turnover due to the predictability of intent.

From fullback and  HBFlank, the kicking could be alternated to the opposite side of Gawn, avoiding most of the congestion, the propensity for a turnover and selective Demon flooding (from coaching) to receive, continue or initiate an attacking series of moves; thus, opening a corridor down the 'outer flank' that leads to some 60 metres of space for the HForwards and deep forwards to move into.

Again, the bloke who I believe is ideal for this co-ordination is Tomlinson who makes space, runs both ways, takes a few difficult marks against opponents and has eyes-up for downfield teammates, gaps, taps, kicks and handballs. We have his backline role in abeyance through Petty; we currently do not have Tomlinson's spread and skills as a free-wheeling winger.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 29, 20214 yr by Deemania since 56

GWS don't have much of a backline, and Reid will end up getting suspended. I'd like to see Jackson get more ruck time to allow us to stretch GWS' talls. 

Edited March 29, 20214 yr by adonski