I would have said Lambert still takes some centre bounces each game though (although tbh can’t recall if he did or not on Friday). Graham doesn’t seem to get any.
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Pick 53: Jack Graham
- Thread starter puregreen
- Start date
Lambert attended 0 Centre Bounces. Graham attended 7.
Based off your earlier comments, Dimma does put him in the middle therefore he must see some value in him as a mid. Not suggesting he's All Australian because of this, but the comments that he's poor or whatever exaggerated word that was used, is incorrect.
and Graham had the same amount of centre clearances as Lambert on the weekend.
We'll have to agree to disagree on Graham being a poor midfielder but appreciate the discussion.
Yet the club keep putting him in that position.
Which says either the club are asking him to do other things as a priority, or our three time premiership coach and his panel are going a little loco. My point is, you're judging him off your expectations. The club are judging him off theirs. If they keep picking him and using him the same way, doesn't that mean he's doing what is asked of him?
Yes my expectations are different. I haven't hidden that. If the club gets every decision on every player right every single week then we don't have any need for a supporter forum do we?
I was a long time critic of Daniel Rioli's position in the team as a forward from 2018 until 2021, they picked him there every week which I disagreed with. The same things were said to me about Rioli too. "The club knows better" Eventually I feel I was correct as they decided he was better suited as a backman. I was critical of his ability to play defence because i'd felt he was too soft in 2020. However his pressure, hardness and ball use in 2022 has been exceptional. I was completely dead wrong.
For a player of Grahams size, weight and speed I expect more output as a midfielder. I don't believe mid teen possessions is enough for a long term position in the side, and I don't believe he has the flexibility Rioli has to be much else than a pure mid. He's in the side at the moment, but I believe his spot in the 22 is not safe if he doesn't improve. This is 100% my opinion only and I understand we disagree.
LOL! The club got 2 premierships out of having Rioli as a forward. I think Rioli's move to the backline is more to do with him wanting to get more $$$, than it is him being capable of playing that role. Put simply, high pressure small forwards who might kick twenty goals a year at best, are not worth 400-500k on the open market.
However, a creative half back is worth that much. There's no coincidence Rioli moved into that role in a year he was out of contract, and that he's not going to sign a contract until the end of this season, when he's inflated his worth. We all knew Rioli was skillful. That's never been in question, but coaches coach clubs to win games. They take their list and ask people to sacrifice their own personal game to help the club win.
Rioli, Graham, McIntosh, Cotchin. They're all playing the role that it takes for us to win a game. I believe all of them have sacrificed their own games (Cotchin the most) to help the team win. We don't need 6 midfields all trying to clear the ball out of the centre in our 22. Someone's got to block, someone's got to be prepared to stop the opposition runner. If that means a person drops to 5 possessions a week so that Prestia, Edwards or Bolton can use their skills to get our game going, then I ask them to do that.
My recollection was that Rioli lost form and was not being productive as a small forward - combined with a need at half back given Stackie going AWOL etc
I'd be genuinely surprised if Rioli had said "I want more dollars so play me at half back or I leave". I'd accept Rioli saying "gimme a run at half back Dimma and see how I go". More likely I see the brains trust saying "he's out of form up forward, we have a need at half back so lets train him up for that role and see how it goes"
I'd be genuinely surprised if Rioli had said "I want more dollars so play me at half back or I leave". I'd accept Rioli saying "gimme a run at half back Dimma and see how I go". More likely I see the brains trust saying "he's out of form up forward, we have a need at half back so lets train him up for that role and see how it goes"
I felt Rioli was trending right up until the 2017 GF, then got worse each year after that. His 2020 prelim & GF was some of his worst games. The softness I thought I saw was clearly a complete lack of confidence because he's taking the game on and pressuring back to his absolute best.
I don't think he requested to go into the backline at all. Agree with Ant, but I think it was more Houli on the way out than Syd that brought about the idea.
Does he get a Brownlow vote - 30 posies, 6 tackles - best game of the year by a long shot.
I agree. Had a lot of the ball but not as damaging as a couple of other mids. Still would take that if he played like that every week.
Was taking the Prestia role today and did well. If Prestia back next week watch his possessions drop back to sub 20 in more of a defensive role against a Mitchell or O'Meara
Graham was very good by foot against the WAFL reserves but bungled disposal today. Had he hit targets he'd have been good.
Graham is an outside player. That doesn't mean he can't or won't win contested. But his job is to get there to bring heat. And get on the gallop. He will give an outlet and can kick.
He bats well down the order as he should. But his best use is very good. We want more of his best use.
Graham is an outside player. That doesn't mean he can't or won't win contested. But his job is to get there to bring heat. And get on the gallop. He will give an outlet and can kick.
He bats well down the order as he should. But his best use is very good. We want more of his best use.
Not a bad game from a "poor" midfielder. .......
As I've said all along. We have players who sacrifice themselves for the good of the team. Graham tries to do what he's asked to do - everytime. He may not succeed everytime but you know, as do our match committee, exactly what they're going to get from fridge.
As I've said all along. We have players who sacrifice themselves for the good of the team. Graham tries to do what he's asked to do - everytime. He may not succeed everytime but you know, as do our match committee, exactly what they're going to get from fridge.
