22 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

 

Personally, I don't think we have to dominate clearances to win, it's more about the quality of those clearances and what we do with them. To be clear, not just talking about Gus, I think all our centre mids have work to do on not just bypassing half forward when we're going inside 50.

It’s interesting you say that because while that is technically true, Collingwood is the only game I believe where we have won the clearances but lost the game. Other than that, every time we’ve won the clearances we’ve won the game. So on that basis, I’d much prefer to win the clearances than not. 

However I don’t disagree that he would also be an improvement on JJ on the wing. He’s also a better backman than one or two down there. He is just a great all rounder ( whose disposal could be better). 
The coaching staff obviously need to work out where he is of most benefit to the team. At the moment they believe that is as a mid. I did notice that he started one of the quarters last week on the wing, but he returned to the middle after the next goal.

As an aside, I was interested to look at average turnovers against average disposals per game for a number of our main players this year, and was surprised by the results. Gawn and Sparrow have the worst averages, with 22% of their disposals being classified as turnovers. The lowest, surprisingly to me, was Oliver with 16% turnovers, and Trac next with 17%. Gus 19% and Viney and ANB at 20%. Not sure how this compares with other teams, but if a fifth of our disposals result in turnovers, that seems like something to work on to me.

 

3 minutes ago, Neil Crompton said:

It’s interesting you say that because while that is technically true, Collingwood is the only game I believe where we have won the clearances but lost the game. Other than that, every time we’ve won the clearances we’ve won the game. So on that basis, I’d much prefer to win the clearances than not.

Not much of a difference though.

When we win games we've won clearances by 2.6

When we've lost we've lost clearances by 4.

  

3 minutes ago, Neil Crompton said:

However I don’t disagree that he would also be an improvement on JJ on the wing. He’s also a better backman than one or two down there. He is just a great all rounder ( whose disposal could be better). 
The coaching staff obviously need to work out where he is of most benefit to the team. At the moment they believe that is as a mid. I did notice that he started one of the quarters last week on the wing, but he returned to the middle after the next goal.

Yeah it's a tough one hey? TBH I think we're better with Harmes in and Gus on the wing, BUT Gus is 10x the player Harmes is. It's just a 'what's best for the team' thing IMO, rather than who plays great in a particular position.

  

3 minutes ago, Neil Crompton said:

As an aside, I was interested to look at average turnovers against average disposals per game for a number of our main players this year, and was surprised by the results. Gawn and Sparrow have the worst averages, with 22% of their disposals being classified as turnovers. The lowest, surprisingly to me, was Oliver with 16% turnovers, and Trac next with 17%. Gus 19% and Viney and ANB at 20%. Not sure how this compares with other teams, but if a fifth of our disposals result in turnovers, that seems like something to work on to me.

The numbers can be weird sometimes hey? I love stats, but must admit that sometimes they don't match what we notice as fans and they often lack the full context that explains them enough. I would guess that includes Gus' time as a loose backman?

3 hours ago, The Corridor said:

Agree with this. The mix in the middle has not been as good with him taking trac's time, and we look less balanced like in past years when he was predominantly a mid. I feel we maximise our overall team performance by playing him off hbf or wing. He clearly racks up touches in the middle and can read it well, but turns it over regularly or otherwise often puts it in a bad positions for others - whereas from hbf or wing I feel he usually uses the ball very well.

The midfield time splits are a good problem to have though!

i think Petracca is carrying some injury that doesn't allow much midfield time

Me I want Petracca in the middle, Gus on the wing, Harmes in for Sparrow and we must find space for Bowey He was very good at Casey as was Harmes

12 months ago some people had him out of the side, now AA . Cannot work "some people" out , in that they are so quick to criticise.

What a great asset Gus is to our team and our club:  Mid, wingman, defender!  You name it he excels in the role:  backline-beast-to-midfield-maestro

Gus is a true team man.

He gained a total of 11 coaches votes in 3 of the last four games since returning to the midfield.

He has worked in the shadow of Petracca and Oliver but it is good to see he is getting the recognition he deserves.

Edited August 28, 20222 yr by Lucifers Hero

Currently $21 for top 20 brownlow. Worth a look I reckon

58 minutes ago, Lucifers Hero said:

What a great asset Gus is to our team and our club:  Mid, wingman, defender!  You name it he excels in the role:  backline-beast-to-midfield-maestro

Gus is a true team man.

He gained a total of 11 coaches votes in 3 of the last four games since returning to the midfield.

He has worked in the shadow of Petracca and Oliver but it is good to see he is getting the recognition he deserves.

Look at you going around reigniting threads to keep the place ticking over, you are the James McDonald of Demonland. So first things first; we are sorry for removing you from the site a couple years earlier than you were ready, and we really appreciate you not putting a Norm Smith-like curse on the joint when this inevitably happens.

Secondly, yeah, no, Gus doing great. Efficiency down but that’s because he gets it so much and in pressure situations.

9 minutes ago, rpfc said:

Look at you going around reigniting threads to keep the place ticking over, you are the James McDonald of Demonland. So first things first; we are sorry for removing you from the site a couple years earlier than you were ready, and we really appreciate you not putting a Norm Smith-like curse on the joint when this inevitably happens.

Secondly, yeah, no, Gus doing great. Efficiency down but that’s because he gets it so much and in pressure situations.

Do you know something I don't know😬😟😢

10 minutes ago, Lucifers Hero said:

Do you know something I don't know😬😟😢

It will be a dark day when you are removed, but these things happen. Andy reinstates you, but you never return… 

Sad.

1 minute ago, rpfc said:

It will be a dark day when you are removed, but these things happen. Andy reinstates you, but you never return… 

Sad.

In that case I might get in first and retire myself!!

13 minutes ago, rpfc said:

It will be a dark day when you are removed, but these things happen. Andy reinstates you, but you never return… 

Sad.

Over my dead body!!! If this were to happen Andy would have me to deal with. And it WON’T be pretty.