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OUR USE OF THE SUB RULE

John Crow Batty
in Melbourne Demons

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A lot of clubs are using the sub rule late in the game to put in play their sub for a player with only a minor injury and getting away with it. We have used our sub the least since in the rule was brought in. Why are we not exploiting this rule as well? We leave our sub on the bench usually a quick speedy player like Bedford to vegetate when we sorely need their skills as we seem to stop late in most games. Surely there is a player we can substitute who is carrying some form of injury or tiring. 

Edited by John Crow Batty

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    Yep, we refused to cheat.

    Although I do wonder if it’s because there’s not really a clear option with the current side?

    We need Jackson to cover Gawn. We need Weid at least in part for a forward target. Taking Melk off removes a guy who used to have the ability to snag a goal late. Taking Tomlinson off would’ve left us short down back as our flankers aren’t really adept on covering talls as well as some are. 
     

    JJ was hampered by his knee splitting in half last night. I would’ve pulled the pin on him at 3/4 time. But that would’ve meant some Spargo or Bedford wing minutes. 

    Easier to justify the cheating if you’ve got more versatile players. 

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    3 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

    Yep, we refused to cheat.

    Although I do wonder if it’s because there’s not really a clear option with the current side?

    We need Jackson to cover Gawn. We need Weid at least in part for a forward target. Taking Melk off removes a guy who used to have the ability to snag a goal late. Taking Tomlinson off would’ve left us short down back as our flankers aren’t really adept on covering talls as well as some are. 
     

    JJ was hampered by his knee splitting in half last night. I would’ve pulled the pin on him at 3/4 time. But that would’ve meant some Spargo or Bedford wing minutes. 

    Easier to justify the cheating if you’ve got more versatile players. 

    Jayden Hunt is the clear stand out in terms of versatility as he is able to play back and forward and can even have a run on a wing.

    James Jordon hobbles around on one leg all and someone like a Hunt could have been subbed on for him. You then move Brayshaw to a wing and Hunt goes back to take his spot in the backline.

    But no, we use a player that's pigeon holed only for a small forward position. 

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    37 minutes ago, John Crow Batty said:

    A lot of clubs are using the sub rule late in the game to put in play their sub for a player with only a minor injury and getting away with it. We have used our sub the least since in the rule was brought in. Why are we not exploiting this rule as well? We leave our sub on the bench usually a quick speedy player like Bedford to vegetate when we sorely need their skills as we seem to stop late in most games. Surely there is a player we can substitute who is carrying some form of injury or tiring. 

    Yep most other clubs are abusing this every week now whenever they can.

    SG and the crew need to start gilding the lilly and take advantage of the sub to bring us into line with the teams we're competing against.

    One fresh pair of legs could be the difference on the day in a close encounter and sitting on our hands while we watch others use this against us...wakey wakey time.

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    38 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

    Jayden Hunt is the clear stand out in terms of versatility as he is able to play back and forward and can even have a run on a wing.

    James Jordon hobbles around on one leg all and someone like a Hunt could have been subbed on for him. You then move Brayshaw to a wing and Hunt goes back to take his spot in the backline.

    But no, we use a player that's pigeon holed only for a small forward position. 

    I agree. Sometimes the sub must rotate for match fitness but I’d much prefer Hunt or go with Chandler and actually brave some on ball minutes for him 

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    39 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

    Jayden Hunt is the clear stand out in terms of versatility as he is able to play back and forward and can even have a run on a wing.

    James Jordon hobbles around on one leg all and someone like a Hunt could have been subbed on for him. You then move Brayshaw to a wing and Hunt goes back to take his spot in the backline.

    But no, we use a player that's pigeon holed only for a small forward position. 

    Hunt was the obvious sub.

    Next year Joel Smith if fit is a good sub candidate

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    6 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

    Hunt was the obvious sub.

    Next year Joel Smith if fit is a good sub candidate

    If he's on the list that is..

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    Giver the question marks over our walls, both forward and back, if Lever gets back next week then I would use Tomlinson.  He could replace one of the big defenders, or release perhaps Petty to go forward if a tall forward was needed.  Even play wing.  

    And if a small mid was needed he could release someone like Jordon from the wing to the midfield.

    Makes zero sense to keep on playing naming Bedford (or Chandler)

    Or, as others have said, Hunt is the other good option.

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    If the sub is going to be used as a "match winner" as teams are exploiting it atm, Hunt isn't the guy.  has to be someone explosive and dynamic.  Chandler is that player and Laurie can be too.  last year we were very lucky that it was Jordon or Sparrow.

    maybe we should have kept VandenBerg on the list for another year,  he would be great for that role.

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    5 minutes ago, Travy14 said:

    Hunt isn't the guy.  has to be someone explosive and dynamic.

    Uhh, what? You've just described Hunt. 

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    7 minutes ago, Travy14 said:

    If the sub is going to be used as a "match winner" as teams are exploiting it atm, Hunt isn't the guy.  has to be someone explosive and dynamic.  Chandler is that player and Laurie can be too.  last year we were very lucky that it was Jordon or Sparrow.

    maybe we should have kept VandenBerg on the list for another year,  he would be great for that role.

    Vandenberg never was/is a match winner. 

     

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    Hunt, can run. that is it.

    he can't play midfield or wing, he can't kick,  he can only play leading fwd or lockdown.  

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    1 minute ago, dazzledavey36 said:

    Vandenberg never was/is a match winner. 

     

    In this side as a sub i think he could be with fresh legs,  I admit i always thought he was better than he actually was.  he showed so much potential.  but his style of player is perfect for a sub

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    2 minutes ago, Travy14 said:

    Hunt, can run. that is it.

    he can't play midfield or wing, he can't kick,  he can only play leading fwd or lockdown.  

    "Hunt, can run. that is it.", then you go to say, "he can only play leading fwd or lockdown."

    🤣

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    Yeh he can run to the ball or with an opponent.  ball in hand he is horrible.  and that shows with him losing his spot as a Fwd, then as Wing, then as HBF. and only regaining his spot last year as a lock down def.

    Id love for him to be peeling of the HBF breaking lines and hitting Brown on the lead,  but he has been tried there and he doesn't have the tools

     

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    Ha. If we started exploiting the sub after loads of other clubs have been doing it, the AFL would nail us. Tanking deja vu.

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    12 hours ago, david_neitz_is_my_dad said:

    Should have pulled Jacko off and injected Bedford into the match

    This sounds like one hell of a party

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    Just like dropping your knees to get a free it's cheating. AFL has to step in now and stop it. Not sure how you stop it but they have to. The rule was for concussed players when it was brought in and should never have been changed.  

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    14 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

    Yep, we refused to cheat.

    Although I do wonder if it’s because there’s not really a clear option with the current side?

    We need Jackson to cover Gawn. We need Weid at least in part for a forward target. Taking Melk off removes a guy who used to have the ability to snag a goal late. Taking Tomlinson off would’ve left us short down back as our flankers aren’t really adept on covering talls as well as some are. 
     

    JJ was hampered by his knee splitting in half last night. I would’ve pulled the pin on him at 3/4 time. But that would’ve meant some Spargo or Bedford wing minutes. 

    Easier to justify the cheating if you’ve got more versatile players. 

    SO MAKE HUNT OR CHANDLER THE SUB

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    1 hour ago, Ham said:

    "Hunt, can run. that is it.", then you go to say, "he can only play leading fwd or lockdown."

    🤣

    Hunt might have been handy for when Garcia got free on the go-ahead goal. Hindsight but I'm still not over it yet. 

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    The rule should be that if a player is subbed off, they can't play the following week. That would limit it to serious injuries.

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    6 minutes ago, mauriesy said:

    The rule should be that if a player is subbed off, they can't play the following week. That would limit it to serious injuries.

    "The rule should be that if a player is subbed off, they can't play the following match week. That would limit it to serious injuries."  Of course this wouldn't stop cheating in GFs.

    Edited by monoccular

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