Milne ??

[nicko016]

In my opinion, he's definately still in the 22 and while it wouldn't be guaranteed he's pretty safe at the moment. He's kicked 4 goals from 2 games which is 44 goals from the 22 Home and Games which would be a very good output. His two games this year have been pretty good.

What I find frustrating about him hasn't got much to do about his individual games but just some things which are part of his style of play. He kicks off balance alot and not always when he's pressured. This to go with his high drop off the ball means his kicking sometimes leads a lot to be desired and his kicks to teammates often hang in the air allowing the opposition to come over the top. There's just a number of litlethings he does which infuriate everyone which I was hoping may go out of his game but seem destined to be with him forever. An example is the way he in the last minute or so it looked like he'd give away a 50 metre penalty by tackling the player before he went off the mark. Luckily, it wasn't 50 because that would have been disastrous. In fairness to him, he was trying to put pressure, but he just had to think about it a bit more, especially because it would have been a shot for 9 points.

[bigcarl]

What do you expect ... Milne to play a defensive game on Hunt?


That's not Milne's style at all.


Milney played a great game today, really stood up in the second half when he was our most experienced player on the ground and showed terrific effort and leadership.

Followed on from his good contribution last week, and showed why he has missed about 1 game in 4 years.

exactly. he's still one of the best small forwards going around and his role is to kick goals, not to provide "defensive pressure".

a certain starting 22 player and someone the opposition always must be wary of.

[To the top]

Plugger, I take your point.

But, quite frankly, with the mid-field we have the potential to put on the park, with the markedly improved ruck options we hopefully will have (giving the mids first look more often) and with the forwards available to us, I would be looking at over 20 goals a game - and more against the strugglers of the competition.

This means Milne is "involved" in 30% of our goals.

And, all things being equal, our defence should not be too shabby either so there will be opportunities coming from there given the rebounding and running skills.

Relentless pressure, team focus, and game plan (particularly in regards F50 entries and utilisation of the multiple options we should have) aligned to the skills of our upper echelon players will, hopefully, result in a high scoring team, particularly given the number of games at Docklands.

In terms of Milnes impact, it includes positioning, firstly to capitalise on any spoils (whether they come or not) and secondly (and as required) to apply defensive pressure.

So positioning provides plus points (contributions) for him. Including dummy leads (honoured if his opponent does not show him due respect and he finds acceptable space), doubling back to "off hands" positioning etc. etc.

There is a lot more to it than just getting your hands on the pill, and Milne will be marked on these also.

You would expect Milne to be positioned under the target tall forward (because I anticipate we will "bomb" quickly to the "hot spot" to give our talls maximum opportunity one out) on at least a percentage of times (he can not be under Gehrig, Riewoldt and Kossy each time they are the focus of the forward entry obviously), and a higher percentage of times because of the game plan.

Milne needs to be constantly involved, because, as a "forward pocket specialist" that is his contribution to the team. If the defensive fist is effective, then Milne is there on the majority of occasions


I make the point that "2 goals a game" is not the measure, not by a long, long way.

[plugger66]

No side in AFL history would have averaged 20 goals in a game. Geelong probably averaged 15 last season so we should try 15 a game which is 50% in most games which would be impossible for any player even the great Plugger.

[TimeToShineFellas]

No side in AFL history would have averaged 20 goals in a game. Geelong probably averaged 15 last season so we should try 15 a game which is 50% in most games which would be impossible for any player even the great Plugger.

Geelong averaged just under 22 goals in 1992.

Essendon averaged 21 goals a game in 2000

Good thing you said AFL history plugger - I can't include 1989's Hawthorn and Geelong's sides.

[bigcarl]

50% in most games would be impossible for any player even the great Plugger.

you're right, but he would have given it a good shake though

[plugger66]

No side in AFL history would have averaged 20 goals in a game. Geelong probably averaged 15 last season so we should try 15 a game which is 50% in most games which would be impossible for any player even the great Plugger.

Geelong averaged just under 22 goals in 1992.

Essendon averaged 21 goals a game in 2000

Good thing you said AFL history plugger - I can't include 1989's Hawthorn and Geelong's sides.

You may be right but footy has changed over the last 10 years and I would think at the moment it would be impossible to average 20 goals a game.

[TimeToShineFellas]

No side in AFL history would have averaged 20 goals in a game. Geelong probably averaged 15 last season so we should try 15 a game which is 50% in most games which would be impossible for any player even the great Plugger.

Geelong averaged just under 22 goals in 1992.

Essendon averaged 21 goals a game in 2000

Good thing you said AFL history plugger - I can't include 1989's Hawthorn and Geelong's sides.

You may be right but footy has changed over the last 10 years and I would think at the moment it would be impossible to average 20 goals a game.

Agree with you on that point!