Discussion 2021: Round 1: Teams & In Game Discussion

Ben's Beasts

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Is any one else concerned about how Cripps played forward a lot? I wasn't expecting it to be that much...I never side trade premiums. But should it be considered?
Certainly not writing Cripps off yet, but another score of less than 100 and if Walsh goes 110+ again then I would feel fairly comfortable with making that trade.

Would depend on whether I have two issues which are more pressing for those two corrective trades though.
 
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My thoughts. I will take a 60. If he keeps it up he will make some good cash. We all brought him it make cash, right?
If he's allowed to keep playing like that Carlton are nuts. He has to play to make cash, and after tonight he'll be very lucky to get another chance. It could depend on whether Martin will be fit next week.
 

IDIG

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He was my worry child, was surprised to see his score at half time but thought no worries but watching the game, I can see plenty of these types of scores in the future. That real contested ball from stoppages where Cripps excels looks gone to me which has me worried about the rucks. He doesn’t get to enough contests and I honestly think this may affect Oliver also. If you can’t spread, take a mark, receive a handball and kick I think their scores could suffer.
I would be very surprised if Macrae, Kelly, Neale, Bont, Merrett are not top 5 mids this season.
I was right on the fence with him. Think he’s an easy to justify pick but could have just as easily left him out (and almost did).

Think we’re going to need some rain each week 😂
 
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Dusty - Beast but his role wasn't great. Basically he wouldn't have moved the needle on anyone who didn't pick him but those who did are going to bank it for sure! If he keeps doing it, that's another story!

Cripps - Great first half and then idiot coaches strike again, our best clearance guy, so lets play him as a forward pocket for the 2nd half. Great decision. Have genuine concerns on his fitness, they did it in AAMI and now they've done it round 1. Good midfielder pushing forward doesn't equal good forward, will coaches ever get it?

Short - Saved by the Blues terrible goal kicking but survived the tag for the two quarters he copped it as a result so have to take it. Would certainly be nice if he'd take advantage of the Houli free games.

Walsh - Really good game by him, even used the ball well which is obviously his biggest problem. But for some shocking umpiring decisions he'd have pushed 140. Very happy with his game.

Docherty - What a 2nd half and last quarter in particular, first half he looked completely disinterested. Last quarter he lifted. Still some concerns, way too many kick-ins taken by others, not intercept marking, taking the best forward. Not happy with the pick but will take the salvaged score.

Dow - Great half, faded really badly, barely saw him in the 3rd, it felt like he genuinely got stuck on the bench for most of the quarter, not sure why but not a good sign. Going through their list LOB the obvious out as he ran out of steam even more but hard to find the next out, you're looking at a Murphy senior player type or someone like SPS or Williamson, who were both pretty ordinary. Jones had an absolute mare but it wont be him.

Blues - Tackling was very poor and cost them the game, the sealing goal by Bolton included two basic tackles missed by Walsh and Doch and a total non-effort from Williamson and was the textbook example. Jones' two missed tackles on Dusty that both led to goals were also criminal, basic tackles that just have to stick at this level. Take those 3 mare efforts out and it's a different game. Mckay's mental midget goal kicking tonight also a major issue, the one where he just went back and kicked it just made the other decisions that cost easy goals all the more baffling, guy actually has a great kicking technique, just baffling.

Tigers - Same old for them. They just looked so much fitter, their defensive running was so visibly better than the Blues (who were very poor in this area), pressure great, they make the tackles they need to (stark contrast tonight) and their attacking run is also just so much better. Scary team.

General - Low stoppage count with a third coming in the stagnant and sloppy first quarter. The DT scoring looks very low, well below the 3000 mark that is on the low end normally, randomly picking about 25 games from 2019 there was 1 game I hit under 3000, most closer to 3200. It would appear that the rule changes are definitely having an impact, seen many games with each team having as many tackles as this game had. Did seem that contested and clearance touches were getting a lot more of the points, so may not be a big impact. Definitely have some concerns with the ruck scoring though. Hard to tell from one game but it was basically the same as the preseason indicated so it's either 10 games in a genuine trend or 10 anomalies now, getting close to a pattern for mine.
 
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Main takeaway from tonight is how quickly in pace the game was played (due to man on the mark rule) and how spent everyone looked early on (due to the pace and lowered interchange).

Besides Walsh and Dusty of course who probably could have played another quarter.

Gut running mids who can keep making contests and defenders who stay on the field 90%+ TOG going to be gold. I think we already knew that, but good to have it re-affirmed.

Will be a war of attrition this season.
 
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