Changes v Dees

[Coburgtiger]

Balta did little when he played forward previously. He's not suddenly going to turn it on. If Balta doesn't play back we lose, he's that important for us there right now. Be brave sure but to me that would just be silly.

He only did it for a little, as a young player, and kicked 4 in a game once, as I remember.

But that's not the point.

The point is that we need a marking target forward, or a Lever and May will just the blanket the air. He doesn't need to turn it on. He needs to negate their strength.

We have exactly one tall who can reliably take a contested mark at the moment, and it's Balta.

I'm not advocating for him to be a forward. Just to play on their best aerialists for this game. Which is not Petty and Van Noone.
Grimes, Vlossy and Young can handle them.

 

[Platinum member]

I think from the extended interchange bench of Sam Banks, Ben Miller, Trent Cotchin, Rhyan Mansell, Matthew Coulthard, Noah Cumberland, Jayden Short, and Samson Ryan the final bench will be Trent Cotchin, Noah Cumberland, Jayden Short, Samson Ryan, or Miller
SUB: Matthew Coulthard,

2ND OPTION; Dees are short in the forward line, and Petty surely plays forward. Grundy misses imo.
If that scenario occurs could we see both Miller and Ryan not playing?

Soldo rucks and Pickett is 2nd ruck.

The bench would then look like this; Trent Cotchin, Rhyan Mansell, Noah Cumberland, Jayden Short
SUB: Matthew Coulthard

That’s not the extended interchange…

 

[DavidSSS]

Lever and May control the air, well then, that is precisely the place not to have the ball. We need to be rushing the ball forward. If we bomb it in we will get murdered. Play like the first 3 quarters against them last time, we know how to do this, just have to sustain it for 4 quarters.

DS

 

[AstuteTiger]

That’s not the extended interchange…

Richmond has one set of 8 names; https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1387926/tigers-name-sunday-squad

Interchange:	Sam Banks	41	Jacob Hopper	22	Marlion Pickett	50
	Rhyan Mansell	31	Matthew Coulthard	26	Samson Ryan	32
	Noah Cumberland	38	Jayden Short	15

AFL has another set of 8 names (a few names different), https://www.afl.com.au/afl/matches/4953#line-ups

[41] Sam Banks,[46] Ben Miller,[9] Trent Cotchin,[31] Rhyan Mansell,[26] Matthew Coulthard,[38] Noah Cumberland,[15] Jayden Short,[32] Samson Ryan

 

[Platinum member]

Richmond has one set of 8 names; https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1387926/tigers-name-sunday-squad

Interchange:	Sam Banks	41	Jacob Hopper	22	Marlion Pickett	50
	Rhyan Mansell	31	Matthew Coulthard	26	Samson Ryan	32
	Noah Cumberland	38	Jayden Short	15

AFL has another set of 8 names (a few names different), https://www.afl.com.au/afl/matches/4953#line-ups

[41] Sam Banks,[46] Ben Miller,[9] Trent Cotchin,[31] Rhyan Mansell,[26] Matthew Coulthard,[38] Noah Cumberland,[15] Jayden Short,[32] Samson Ryan

When do they finalise.. can’t keep up anymore.. tomorrow night or Saturday night?

 

[AstuteTiger]

When do they finalise.. can’t keep up anymore.. tomorrow night or Saturday night?

Tomorrow at 5pm by memory.

If Miller is in the team as shown on Richmond's team sheet then Ryan won't play.

 

[Platinum member]

Tomorrow at 5pm by memory.

If Miller is in the team as shown on Richmond's team sheet then Ryan won't play.

I actually wouldn’t mind seeing how it looks with both in. Soldo and Ryan changing ruck and two full time key forwards in Jack and miller.

Like it was in 19/20 with nank soldo Jack and lynch.

Or else Melbourne will mark absolutely everything in our forward 50

 

[AstuteTiger]

I actually wouldn’t mind seeing how it looks with both in. Soldo and Ryan changing ruck and two full time key forwards in Jack and miller.

Like it was in 19/20 with nank soldo Jack and lynch.

Or else Melbourne will mark absolutely everything in our forward 50

I hear you and good in theory but admittingly Soldo, Ryan, Jack, and Miller would be to slow. In 2019/20 it was a younger more mobile Jack, and lynch was simply a beast, only really soldo was slow back then. I think we'll lower the eyes, the best way to beat the dees. Just have miller/jack and soldo/jack forward combos, creating a contest and if not marking it bringing the ball to ground.

 

[Platinum member]

I hear you and good in theory but admittingly Soldo, Ryan, Jack, and Miller would be to slow. In 2019/20 it was a younger more mobile Jack, and lynch was simply a beast, only really soldo was slow back then. I think we'll lower the eyes, the best way to beat the dees. Just have miller/jack and soldo/jack forward combos, creating a contest and if not marking it bringing the ball to ground.

Yeah there’s just too much time when one of the rucks is having a rest on the bench that Jack is one out and we just can’t score at all in those periods for my liking. Especially up against lever and may.

 

[achillesjones]

If we're any chance against Melbourne, we need Shorty back.
The last two weeks have been wins, but we've been very, very poor through large chunks of those games. Noticeably missing some cohesion on the overlap run, and a target anywhere forward of centre.

Pickett has been extremely poor as a forward. He needs to play wing or not play.

He looked absolutely bereft in the forward line yesterday. I watched him a bit off the ball. He simply doesn't have the instinct or the running patterns to play as a forward. Highlights have been in his leaps over the pack, but he hasn't looked like holding a mark. And if he doesn't leap, he's a non competitor. I'd like the premiership wingers back, but if he's not in the wing calculations, he goes out. I think he could contribute as the sub, and it gives us some flexibility.

Banks is still way off the pace. He looked great the few times he gathered and instinctively raked the ball forward to a target, but is a deer in the headlights with time and space.

Coulthard is interesting. I have a feeling he will have long stretches of invisibility if he starts a game. But he has earned it. I reckon it's time to stack the forward line with spark.

I know it's never gonna happen, but I would play Balta forward in this game. Challenge May and Lever with a guy who plays in front and can take a contested mark. Young can take Brown (easily) and Miller can play on Van Noone. To make it more palatable, we can just say Balta is still playing as an intercepting defender, he's just playing on May or Lever. Doesn't it make sense for him to play on their best, and most influential aerialists?


FB: Miller Grimes Vlastuin
HB: Rioli Young Short
C: Baker Taranto Kmac
FOLL: Prestia Soldo Cotchy
HF: Coulthard Balta Bolton
FF: Dusty Jack Cumberland

Interchange: Hopper Graham Broad Ross
Sub: Pickett

I know it's fantasy. But that's a nightmare forward line to match up on.

Balta CHF.

 

[YeOldeTiger]

We had plenty of practice kicking it down Sicily's throat last week so let's hope we learn the lesson this week.

Turnovers leading to fast breaks into the forward line making Lever and May have to run back defending and also yes, lowering the eyes and hitting up leads.

 

[Jason King]

He only did it for a little, as a young player, and kicked 4 in a game once, as I remember.

But that's not the point.

The point is that we need a marking target forward, or a Lever and May will just the blanket the air. He doesn't need to turn it on. He needs to negate their strength.

We have exactly one tall who can reliably take a contested mark at the moment, and it's Balta.

I'm not advocating for him to be a forward. Just to play on their best aerialists for this game. Which is not Petty and Van Noone.
Grimes, Vlossy and Young can handle them.

Balta would work best as a shallow forward almost CHF. He can kick them mile just like the Rocca bros used to.

But he is in career best form down back.

 

[toothless]

I hear you and good in theory but admittingly Soldo, Ryan, Jack, and Miller would be to slow. In 2019/20 it was a younger more mobile Jack, and lynch was simply a beast, only really soldo was slow back then. I think we'll lower the eyes, the best way to beat the dees. Just have miller/jack and soldo/jack forward combos, creating a contest and if not marking it bringing the ball to ground.

Miller definitely isn't slow but I get what you mean.

 

[AstuteTiger]

Miller definitely isn't slow but I get what you mean.

The 4 as a combination would be slow. Could only have 3 of them, 1 rucking and two up forward. 3 up forward would be to top heavy. Need a mobile type as the 3rd semi tall, a Gunston type. For us, Jacob Bauer (192cms) fits the bill.

 

[toothless]

The 4 as a combination would be slow. Could only have 3 of them, 1 rucking and two up forward. 3 up forward would be to top heavy. Need a mobile type as the 3rd semi tall, a Gunston type. For us, Jacob Bauer (192cms) fits the bill.

Miller's athletic profile is akin to a small, he could play as such if required. Just won't ever be played as one due to his size and the perception therein.

 

[Brodders17]

Miller's athletic profile is akin to a small, he could play as such if required. Just won't ever be played as one due to his size and the perception therein.

His top speed may be quick, but he cannot play anything like a small (other than in marking contests.) He doesnt win ground balls, he doesnt bounce from tackle to tackle, his agility isnt great.

 

[toothless]

His top speed may be quick, but he cannot play anything like a small (other than in marking contests.) He doesnt win ground balls, he doesnt bounce from tackle to tackle, his agility isnt great.

His testing in agility and sprint was elite. It's perception that he doesnt possess these attributes, granted he doesn't play to his strengths enough. That's more to do with his application/mindset/temperament

 

[toothless]

"For a 196cm and 93kg key position player and ruck, Miller suddenly caught the attention of AFL supporters when he ran a 2.91 second 20m sprint and 8.10 second agility test. For any player they are elite numbers, but for a player of his size, it truly is a remarkable feat."

Ben Miller

DRAFT ANALYSIS: "An athletic ruck and key position player with great speed and agility who just needs to build his endurance and work on his consistency"

central.rookieme.com

 

[Leysy Days]

His testing in agility and sprint was elite. It's perception that he doesnt possess these attributes, granted he doesn't play to his strengths enough. That's more to do with his application/mindset/temperament

That's all fine, but on a football field a small needs to have an outstanding ground ball game. Know where the fall of the ball is, be clean, one touch, great hands.

Ben has none of that.

 

[toothless]

That's all fine, but on a football field a small needs to have an outstanding ground ball game. Know where the fall of the ball is, be clean, one touch, great hands.

Ben has none of that.

I was referring to his athletic attributes. I think his skills are fine, just lacks aggression (probably can't be fixed), and confidence (possibly can be fixed with experience). Low centre to gravity obviously helps, at 198cm that won't be of much help with some of the requirements you outlined.