I am very interested to hear peoples thoughts on how we integrate Jack into the side later this year. Its apparent the new look midfield is lapping up the opportunity to succeed without the old guard of Oliver and Petracca. For mine Jack is still valuable but not a walk up start for prime midfield role.

Walk up start for mine.

1 minute ago, 48 Year Now said:

I am very interested to hear peoples thoughts on how we integrate Jack into the side later this year. Its apparent the new look midfield is lapping up the opportunity to succeed without the old guard of Oliver and Petracca. For mine Jack is still valuable but not a walk up start for prime midfield role.

I'm cautious that it's only Round 1, but our midfield absolutely looked better both around the contest and on the spread without the trio of plodders in there (Viney, Oliver and Petracca). I think under the current gameplan we can carry one, i.e. Steele, but I would be cautious about over-compensating and reverting back to the 2021 - 2025 reliance on a heavy contested focus at the expense of the outside game. Although it's one game in, it seems apparent we are transitioning away from a repeat stoppage environment.

That leads us to the curious case of where to play Viney.

Potentially, I think he could meaningfully transition in to the stoppage if Steele is off the ground, but I actually think he could potentially ply himself into a very solid small forward, which would also potentially allow the Pickett's to push further up the arc into the context, or act as an extra receiver off the back of a stoppage around the ground and work into the centre transition. Viney is actually a very good kick on goal and he's somewhat of a reliable marker. However, his inclusion would undoubtedly push someone out, so it's a careful balancing act.

Based on the past weekends team, in for Sparrow

He either plays as a burst player (i.e 5th man on bench, 50% tog), or plays a lot more as a pressure forward

Edited 2 hours ago2 hr by adonski

I’m not baselessly slagging off Sparrow here, but Viney would do a better job than Sparrow in his role.

1 minute ago, adonski said:

Based on the past weekends team, in for Sparrow

Limited midfield mins tho, 40-50% at most

Why copy my comment and post it before I did?

Just now, BoBo said:

Why copy my comment and post it before I did?

Because I have no issue slagging him off so my fingers type quicker

Just now, adonski said:

Because I have no issue slagging him off so my fingers type quicker

Mmmm. Yes. True.

The pro-slagging position. Touché.

22 minutes ago, Devil In Disguise said:

Walk up start for mine.

I'm more hoping its a running start DID

Yeah I'll back up a few other comments, on the weekend's performance Sparrow would go out for Jack.

52 minutes ago, 48 Year Now said:

I am very interested to hear peoples thoughts on how we integrate Jack into the side later this year. Its apparent the new look midfield is lapping up the opportunity to succeed without the old guard of Oliver and Petracca. For mine Jack is still valuable but not a walk up start for prime midfield role.

Assuming he gets back second half of the year our kids will be starting to tire and the grounds will be getting heavier. That assumes we have full mid complement at that point and no injuries. He'll slot straight into Sparrow's spot or they'll add him to the rotation to lessen the load in the middle on some of the younger mids who may start to tire.

He was on some sort of show today, heard on radio.

Stated starts running in next couple weeks and believes will be back around round 8.

3 minutes ago, Lil_red_fire_engine said:

Assuming he gets back second half of the year our kids will be starting to tire and the grounds will be getting heavier. That assumes we have full mid complement at that point and no injuries. He'll slot straight into Sparrow's spot or they'll add him to the rotation to lessen the load in the middle on some of the younger mids who may start to tire.

Agree.

He is tough and hard at it and can often get first hands on the contested ball.

If he can then give it off to a runner, we are off and away.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by Redleg

It’s round one… he is months away.

3 minutes ago, rpfc said:

It’s round one… he is months away.

We have to sort this out now otherwise Kingy and crew won’t know what to do.

I find it hard to believe that Jack will be back this year. He has had zero pre season and we all know that players who miss a pre season seldom have a good return. Having said we are at game 2, there will be injuries as the year goes on and a fit Viney will be required. There were a few times on Sunday when I thought we miss Viney.

27 minutes ago, old dee said:

... we all know that players who miss a pre season seldom have a good return.

Depends on their age and experience. Once you get 8 - 10 preseasons under your belt having a reduced one doesn't have the same impact as with younger players.

I think Jack (and relevant coaches) will be watching our midfield with great interest and using his current 'lowest activity' time to figure out a really precise comeback plan, very likely giving him a mid-year preseason to focus on the burst speed and fast hunting.

I could see him being a forward line stoppage specialist and a horses-for-similar-horses match on opposition beasts.

Hmm, he's unlikely to be back by round 12 in time to tag Oliver, unless we meet the Giants in finals. Hee hee.

Probably not a good match up for Petracca, but really nobody is, that's the whole point of Petracca. You just gotta bug him enough that he kicked it out on the full.