when brayshaw plays through the middle he gets 'lost' and doesn't seem to know when to run defensively and how to move from stoppage to stoppage - he gets caught between offensive and defensive play

it's a no from me

3 hours ago, Lord Nev said:

He had a dip in form recently when playing mid/forward, just had his best game for weeks back on the wing.

It's a no from me.

 

I think his best position (for individual performance) is in the middle.

For the sake of the team I think he is the best option for defensive wing position, reads it well as shown by his intercept marks/spoils/possessions etc. 

 

46 minutes ago, allanjakovich said:

Does anyone here actually think Viney, JJ or Harmes are satisfactory starting on-ballers in a team that genuinely fancies themselves as a potential premier? You're kidding yourselves - good depth players at best.

#getgusintheguts

 

 

Im not saying harmes viney or jj are the answers. But when gus was in the centre we were free flowing, attacking and dominant. Right up until it we werent and shown up as frauds.   

We really a classy mid in this draft period. 

Ps. I really like the idea of Spargo through the middle. Him and viney switch up roles a little more next year perhaps.  His touches through the middle would be great for a forward to lead to. 

Edited August 4, 20214 yr by Jjrogan

Before moving Brayshaw from one wing I would want to see Langdon back to his best on rhe other. Sadly he hasn't been the same player since his concussion.

5 hours ago, trucka said:

Following Viney's 2 game suspension (and arguable drop of form) - it would seem as though we have a hole in our midfield for a third on-baller. Why haven't we given Gus a go back on the ball in the position he dominated in 2018? He has past the worst of his concussion and James Jordon has played very well as that defensive wingman in the past. Is there something I'm missing?

Everyone remembers Gus' game against Adelaide where he racked up 37 possessions and 3 goals - wouldn't be the worst tactical change come finals time. Looking at what his brother is doing over at Freo, we all know Gus can match it and go one better!

It also allows Tracca to spend more time as that dangerous Dusty-type player up forward as Oliver's midfield workload would be shared with Gus.

100%

6 hours ago, trucka said:

Following Viney's 2 game suspension (and arguable drop of form) - it would seem as though we have a hole in our midfield for a third on-baller. Why haven't we given Gus a go back on the ball in the position he dominated in 2018? He has past the worst of his concussion and James Jordon has played very well as that defensive wingman in the past. Is there something I'm missing?

Everyone remembers Gus' game against Adelaide where he racked up 37 possessions and 3 goals - wouldn't be the worst tactical change come finals time. Looking at what his brother is doing over at Freo, we all know Gus can match it and go one better!

It also allows Tracca to spend more time as that dangerous Dusty-type player up forward as Oliver's midfield workload would be shared with Gus.

This is the time - prior to the finals - to see if Gus is enjoying a return to good form, as depicted in our match against the Suns. If he has turned a short-term slump into the Gus we know, he's a ripe cherry for the midfield and, right in the guts, at that. Against the Suns, Gus moved like a midfielder on a mission, his anticipation for the ball and handy space utilization was just wonderful.    The benefits for Tracca and Oliver are noted.

Gus seems to be really enjoying it on the wing and is only getting better. Langers /Gus hopefully become formidable wingers. Gussy’s concussion issues keep him outta the engine room I reckon, everybody is now very aware of the future health of all players. Speed in the middle offensively and defensively is my call = Kozzie. He’s that quick he can crumb his clearance into the fwd line and GOAL ?. Spargs might surprise but he ain’t quick, has he ever been in there at a centre bounce, can’t recall it?

I’ve likes his year as a winger, he’s played a massive role that is so underrated on this forum. But for the sake of a bit of flexibility come finals time I wouldn’t say no to him getting some time in the guts vs WC. The question becomes who takes his defensive wingman role? 

He's playing the winger role really well, was glad to see him back there on the weekend

23 hours ago, binman said:

Pre season is the time to experiment.

Three weeks out from a finals campaign is not. 

If we beat West Coast, we will have beaten every team in the top 8. So we know we have a game plan, systems, set up and structure that works against the best teams, and therefore in finals. Why on earth would they want to change any part of tjhat system tat this satge of the season? 

And i don't understand what the issue is with predictability, or why we would want to charge players role to be less predictable.

I suspect we will introduce some minor tactical tweaks and set plays in the finals to create some new looks or disrupt opposition planning.

But given their focus on the importance of each player playing their assigned role, and how hard player must work to make their role second nature, i can't see the logic of changing anyone's role at this stage of the season

Its about throwing a spanner in the works. Our system stacks up - no doubt as we have beaten almost all teams in the top 8. But we cannot remain complacent and settle for our system vs opposition to see who can execute better on game day. This is all about coaching, which in finals, is it will boil down to. 

 

Wouldn't be changing a important component in our team this late in the year. We can through him in the guts if need be in a final if we need some spark.

58 minutes ago, Win4theAges said:

Wouldn't be changing a important component in our team this late in the year. We can through him in the guts if need be in a final if we need some spark.

It reduces - not eliminates - our predictabilities. 

On 8/4/2021 at 12:26 PM, binman said:

Gus has been really important on the wing this season. It is a hard position to play that involves a lot of defensive spread and and pressure acts that can go unnoticed (although not by the coaches). And he has had to work hard to learn how to play the role so well. 

Defensively has improved out of sight. He gets involved in a lot of contests, and importantly many of them in the the back half. Interestingly he is averaging 7.2 contested possession a game this season, which is only marginally less than his career average of 8. By way of comparison Salem averages 5.5 contested possession a game this season.

And I reckon his marking is increasingly important in stopping teams transition.  

The other thing is that Gus is not not in Tracc's league as a mid. Few are. Apart from his brilliance, tracc is possibly the strongest mid in the AFL and the best and getting a possession off when being tackled and fighting his way through tackles. He is worth two mids.

This is key to our set up of allowing the opposition an extra at the contest  and having our extra behind the ball. We would lose too may clearances if tracc played less time as a mid and more time up forward. And so would struggle to implement our preferred set up. Which in turn would impact on our ability to win intercepts in the back half.

 

This thread has been closed by binman.

6 hours ago, CYB said:

 This is all about coaching, which in finals, is it will boil down to. 

 

Bollocks