So, this pre-season, we've seen Rioli, Yarran and Davis all move into a HBF role. I'm wondering if there's any underlying theme going on here. Any thoughts?
I can't speak for the others but as for Rioli I think it is Hawthorn's way of easing him into the midfield.
Hardwick touched on it last year when he loaded up with Lids, Connors and Newman in the back half, he wanted his best kicks down there to help relieve the "frontal pressure".
Rioli was misused. Must play the hardest role in the game, high half forward, rolling into the midfield for a break (I'm serious) Yarran and Davis are moving back because there are too many of the like types up forward at these clubs. Davis needed a refresh and renewed role after the pain of the GF dumping. I think he would also appreciate being part of a tight back line and feeling needed again. That said he will have to work on his body positioning, so he doesn't not just miss possession but let his opponent have a free strike at goal/pass without any pressure. Davis is clean and if stationed in defence all year will score, but I see him as very much a work in progress in terms of being a defender in the truest sense of the word. Certainly how Leon is going about things makes you look at Yarran though.
Yeah, perhaps they're all trying methods to beat the "Pies Box", like when they had to adapt to beat Hawthorn's zone.
I think Yarran's move was more facilitated by moving Gibbs back into the midfield and Walker having a crack up forward. Ratt's realised that Gibbs is a star wherever he is and that he can have the same impact in the mids as at half back, so its a bit of a waste using him there. Yarran is fast, clean and always gives 110% so moving him into half back opens up his game drastically and doesnt shut Gibbs down at all. IMO Yarran is definately a player who will take his game to the next level this year. Davis has too much competition in the forward line for a guy who is on the downslope and inconsistent so I'd assume his move is about bringing him back into the game more, whereas Rioli seems to be more based around having Hodge and Mitchell in the mids permanently, and someone filling that gap. Interesting trend though
Think the roast duck just flew into TripleM (that's Mick Malthouse's Mouth). We know he is in the genius category, but playing Neon down back so he can beat the "Pies Box" would even have Buckley confused. Thought it was only Sheeds who pulled that sort of stuff.
The reason Cyril played off half back is to become more versatile. I read in an article that Clarko has said he wants to have as much versatility as possible this year, as there are less subs. A team that has midfielders from half back through to half forward, and can rotate them throughout most of the positions in between will find it easier to deal with less interchange players.
What seems like a long time ago, Chad Cornes reinvented himself as a quarterback and gained All Australian in the process. I suspect this applies to Leon, with the addition of using this move to boost his confidence. Yarran not so sure as it may be more a question of Carlton's 2011 structure. For Cyril, it may be that Clarko wants a backstop for Hodge, who may have an interrupted season. Will be interesting to see how Sydney respond to their running backs being injured. It is worth watching who fills this role as they tend to be high scorers.
Its not all/only about structure - you can't disregard the (in)ability of the guy to execute. Justin Murphy, anyone?
<blockquote>Quote from NedFlanders on March 8, 2011, 19:35 Its not all/only about structure - you can't disregard the (in)ability of the guy to execute. Justin Murphy, anyone? </blockquote> Too true. Love the idea of Yarran down back - skills are great, but questions remain for me: 1) Has he got the engine to perform the role all game? 2) Will he win enough of the ball to really score well in SC? 3) He has a small forwards body, which could get thumped by some of the larger bodies.
HBFer is a great SC position. With Jarrod Harbrow's departure to GCS, Easton Wood has been touted for this role at the Dogs this year. Remains to be seen if he is any good at it, but a very big SC upside if he is!
<blockquote>Quote from Corks on March 8, 2011, 19:52 If only someone could tell me who will be the Lake, or even the Malceski for this year?</blockquote> Grimes will be Lake, Otten will be Malceski
As Ruddy mentioned, Clarko has made it clear that he wants as much versatility as possible. With different teams likely to have their own slightly different versions of the frontal pressure this year, some will no doubt be better than others and will require different tactics to beat. Rather than being stuck with a "this is our game plan, these are the positions you will be in, if it works against these teams but not this one, so be it", having the flexibility to adapt to the circumstances at hand will be invaluable. A horses for courses approach if you will. Against sides that perhaps havent got the frontal pressure worked out to a dangerous level, then Rioli can be used in his more traditional forward/mid role. If however the hawks come up against a side that are choking their defensive 50 and keep forcing turnovers, then having Rioli at the feet of a contested pack to crumb the spoils might help - or with his unique avoidance skills he may be able to run it through them. Training Rioli to be able to play that role if necessary, as well as giving Bruce a run up forward etc will give Clarko the ability to switch multiple players around depending on the circumstances and the needs he sees against particular opponents. I see it in a similar way to SC this year - the more players you have that are flexible and can play multiple positions (lets call them MPP, hey, that might just take off one day ) the easier you can adapt your game style to the situation at hand. Granted that's simply from a Hawthorn perspective, but I'm sure a number of clubs will be wanting to at least be in a position where they can be flexible given the uncertainty surrounding the impact that the new interchange rules will have on the game.
Good on ya spud. "Different" is what we thrive on at TS. "With different likely to have their own slightly different versions of the frontal pressure this year, some will no doubt be better than others and will require different tactics to beat."
Spud's post is a POD Pies have been rotating for generations. Good to know a few teams are starting to catch up. I'm still thinking regardless of what other reckon that the Pies and Saints will continue to give very high TOG to their key defenders. No rotation zone when it comes to the back half. Forward and mid, that's what the Pies rotate, and I think it's because all their forwards (outside of the two big lugs) can play midfield.