Discussion 2021: Strategy, Team & Player Discussions

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I'm really undecided on Cripps. He is going to be massively underpriced but shoulder reconstructions are trouble. Recently Wines and Rockliff massively underperformed after shoulder surgery. It's hard to be a bull with a bung shoulder. I think i'm leaning to no risk.
Didn’t know about a full reco, that’s not fantastic
 

Connoisseur

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Champion Data statistics show Williams spent 23 per cent of time in midfield in 2019, averaging 102.9 points per 100 minutes.

That was slightly down on his 107.7 points as a defender (67 per cent) but considerably more than 81.5 points as a forward (10 per cent).

Time in Position
Defence %

2019: 67%
2020: 77%

Midfield %
2019: 23%
2020: 8%

Forward %
2019: 10%
2020: 15%

Ranking Points
Per 100 Minutes
Defence

2019: 107.7
2020: 111.0

Midfield
2019: 102.9
2020: 131.9

Forward
2019: 81.5
2020: 60.3

Source: Champion Data.
 

Bomber18

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Champion Data statistics show Williams spent 23 per cent of time in midfield in 2019, averaging 102.9 points per 100 minutes.

That was slightly down on his 107.7 points as a defender (67 per cent) but considerably more than 81.5 points as a forward (10 per cent).

Time in Position
Defence %

2019: 67%
2020: 77%

Midfield %
2019: 23%
2020: 8%

Forward %
2019: 10%
2020: 15%

Ranking Points
Per 100 Minutes
Defence

2019: 107.7
2020: 111.0

Midfield
2019: 102.9
2020: 131.9

Forward
2019: 81.5
2020: 60.3

Source: Champion Data.
Interesting stats! Suggests that there isn’t really that much of a boost between playing as a DEF v a M/F role. I’m not quite convinced he’ll be a pure MID.
 

Bomber18

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Isn't that one of his reasons for moving? If he gets his midfield time up over 50%! The injuries are a problem though.
Yeah up over 50% is likely but would it be 80-90% midfield? Probably would spend 30-40% up fwd. His numbers drop when he has to play fwd so a 60/40 split probably may not result in that much of a boost compared to him playing as a pure def. His numbers as a pure DEF seem fairly comparable to those as a MID.
 
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Interesting stats! Suggests that there isn’t really that much of a boost between playing as a DEF v a M/F role. I’m not quite convinced he’ll be a pure MID.
His stats in defence were only good last year when Whitfield wasn’t in the side. Basically when Whitfield wasn’t there they’d look to utilise ZWilliams for run and carry and kicking instead.

In games in defence with Whitfield in 2019 he only averaged 91.
 
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Interesting stats! Suggests that there isn’t really that much of a boost between playing as a DEF v a M/F role. I’m not quite convinced he’ll be a pure MID.
Some old posts from me on this:

Zac Williams played 9 full games including finals with Whitfield in the team where he was playing in the back line and not in the midfield.

They were rounds 1-5, round 17 and the 3 finals outside of the Collingwood game.

In those 9 games he averaged 91. He was on track for a huge score vs Carlton playing in defense with Whitfield in the side but got injured on 75 before half time. He also scored 121 vs Sydney in round 6 but I haven't included that game because Whitfield copped a huge corkie early on and could barely run or move for the rest of the game.

This might just be coincidence because he was coming back from injury.

Williams played midfield from rounds 18-23 (prospectus) and against Collingwood.
Williams averaged 91 in the games where both played full games and he was in defence. They used Williams more often as he would stream off half back up the field when Whit was not there. Whitfield started centre bounces at half forward but would immediately run to the wing and would often play a positionless uncontested role across the whole ground post centre bounce and players would consistently look to give him the ball. When he was not there they tried to use Williams.

You need to take it with a grain of salt though as most of these poorer scores were in the 1st 5 rounds after Williams had barely played in 12months
 

Bomber18

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His stats in defence were only good last year when Whitfield wasn’t in the side. Basically when Whitfield wasn’t there they’d look to utilise ZWilliams for run and carry and kicking instead.

In games in defence with Whitfield in 2019 he only averaged 91.
Some old posts from me on this:
Great analysis mate (as expected from you!)

My reading of that is that ZWilliams probably has a greater upside in a pure DEF role (given the SC averages in the HS article would take into account games with Whitfield) rather than a M/F role.

Maybe an M/D role might allow him to squeeze the most out of his preferred positions.

Plenty of backline competition from Doch, TWilliamson and Nic Newman types at the Blues though so this might also hinder his upside when in a DEF role at the Blues.

Will need to make sure I revisit this discussion when the 2021 preseason games come around, not so sure that ZWilliams is that much of an “obvious” pick (is he another Houston?)
 
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Great analysis mate (as expected from you!)

My reading of that is that ZWilliams probably has a greater upside in a pure DEF role (given the SC averages in the HS article would take into account games with Whitfield) rather than a M/F role.

Maybe an M/D role might allow him to squeeze the most out of his preferred positions.

Plenty of backline competition from Doch, TWilliamson and Nic Newman types at the Blues though so this might also hinder his upside when in a DEF role at the Blues.

Will need to make sure I revisit this discussion when the 2021 preseason games come around, not so sure that ZWilliams is that much of an “obvious” pick (is he another Houston?)
Haha cheers mate.

My take is he was a better defender than midfielder when Whitfield wasn't in the team, but was a better midfielder than defender when Whitfield was in the team. How that translates to Carlton is hard to know with Doc/Newman, but I think it probably goes better at Carlton if he's in defence than it did for him this year, with Whitfield also playing down back.

However, I think he'll be playing mostly midfield. I think we've seen about 8 games worth of evidence that he's a 100 average player when he's in the midfield. Last year he had scores of 103, 70, 124, 96, 106, 100, 115 and this year he had a score of 101 vs Melbourne with 11 CBA's.

I like him as a pick as a mid, but I'm concerned about his injury history and his tendency to also pick up injuries during games. He could definitely make my team but I'll need to look at his preseason.
 
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