Lord Nev

Mate, don't turn on the news whatever you do...

I've always thought the 'backslapping' and 'bath water drinking' was more an issue in the playing group around each other, rather than coming from Dees supporters who are famously fragile and weary of any kind of success.

And end up playing Port at Adelaide Oval? Don't think so mate...

Ah yep, I get ya mate! Yeah the future role stuff is all guess work hey? He may very well play the Hunt style role this week, I just personally hope he doesn't due to his disposal. He seemed to have improved slightly in that area at VFL level this year, but just makes me nervous bringing him in for that role in the week before finals. For mine, May on Hawkins, Petty on Cameron, Smith on Rohan and Lever free to do what he does best seems the way to go, but I'm just another Dees nuffie on the internet with too much time to think about this stuff in lockdown. Cheers binny!

Mate, I didn't say he never ran forward, I just said he wasn't doing it in the same way/amount as Hunt. I don't think using Eddie's commentary as a reference gives your argument much credit tbh, and if he was the 'link man' so often then his disposals and heat map would reflect that. They do not. I thought we were in agreement Smith played May's role? Not sure why you're still pushing this barrow. For comparison of what I would consider key run and carry stats, here's Hunts season averages for Smith's game: Disposals: Hunt 14, Smith 9 Inside 50s: Hunt 3, Smith 0 Uncontested Possessions: Hunt 9, Smith 5 Bounces: Hunt 1, Smith 0 Score Involvements: Hunt 3, Smith 1 Metres Gained: Hunt 300, Smith 172 Maybe we move on hey? Somehow we're seeing very different things, or perhaps we're not connecting in what we're trying to say?

Nice, thanks mate. Noticed on a couple of those possessions he either stopped once he got to defensive 50 or ran back inside 50 after he got rid of it. Definitely not run and carry in the first half at least. No 2nd half vision unfortunately given he didn't touch it.

He didn't have any inside 50s, Hunt averages nearly 3 a game. Not the most in-depth stat, but hard to find those real in-depth ones that we need. Someone should email the club for his vision! haha

If he didn't get a possession in the second half, it could be a safe bet then that he wasn't playing as a run and carry player like Hunt... ;)

Sure heat maps only show possession, but you're going to get possessions where you're spending most of your time so they're still fairly indicative of where a player is positioned. It's pretty clear Smith came in for May and played his role, I honestly don't understand how you can argue that. If Smith had been playing Hunt's role as you suggest then his heat map would at least be similar given he would have had more possessions in that role. OUT: Hunt, May IN: Hibberd, Smith Come on mate, doesn't get simpler than that. I've watched all the VFL games. He definitely played a little higher up the ground at times, but he wasn't running the lines like Hunt does. Even in his higher possession games I don't remember him often getting past the middle. It's more a Lever role he plays at VFL level IMO. True, he may play on Cameron, will be interesting to see, but 2020 GWS is a different team and forward lineup to Geelong 2021. I'd be pretty worried having either Petty or Lever on Rohan tbh. I hope we're not relying on Smith, who is not a great user and only played 1 game, to provide the overlap run and carry and leave Cameron open. We have plenty of players to provide that without leaving a dangerous tall forward open for the rebound.

No, I was replying to binman's assertion here that I disagreed with:

Agree, that's what I reckon the match up will be too.

Errrrr that's the whole point of my post....

Disagree again. In both the VFL and AFL games he's played this year he has never played as a run and carry half back. He rebounds somewhat from the contest, because that's how he's always played, he hits the contest and keeps momentum forward, but he is not a run and carry player who will go further up the ground like Hunt does. Here's Hunt's heatmap from his last full game (v GC): Here's Smith's from last week v Adelaide: Pretty clearly those are the heat maps of two completely different roles.

Sorry binny, couldn't disagree more with this. He may run off his opponent at times, but Smith is being used specifically as a match up for Rohan IMO. Rivers, Salem, Bowey along with Langdon will provide the run and carry most of the time. This is a coach who spent big money and big trade currency to fix our back half turnovers (bye bye Frosty), so I have high doubts he would then turn to Joel Smith the week before finals to provide our run and carry out of the back line.

I reckon Jezza would get him for height and reach though, prefer Petty. I still think I would have preferred Hibberd over Smith, but I don't absolutely hate the matchup of Smith on Rohan (I may eat my words there though).

So do we go: May - Hawkins Petty - Cameron Smith - Rohan ?

We spoke to soon....

Winger with a good kick, outside mid with a good kick, perhaps a medium sized half forward... with a good kick.

I kinda hope not. Prefer things as 'settled' as possible from a role perspective. The changes seem relatively obvious this week, so hope we don't get too cute.

Personally I'd rather play Port (or Brisbane) in week 1 than the Dogs, despite the last few games I think the Dogs are a more finals hardened team than Port. So for mine a win is still important Saturday night.

Swans apparently have a very tight cap squeeze this year.

I was wondering that not long after I posted it actually! Got confused because the offensive half at 61% is to the right.