Round 4 Selection Dilemmas

[bergholt]

This is where the coach earns his money. Two main questions right now.


Who Supports McEvoy in the Ruck?

McEvoy had a poor opening round when paired with Hickey and has been better the last two weeks without him. I reckon those two things are related. McEvoy looks best when he spends 80% of the game in the ruck and the rest either forward or on the bench - he's got great stamina and this allows him to really get into the game. So you need someone else in the team to take the ruck for 20% of the game.

At the moment Blake does that job, playing back most of the time. But he's not doing a great job in defence - conceded 4 frees, had 6 clangers on yesterday - so can we replace him with Simpkin and get someone else to chop out McEvoy?

Hickey's the obvious one, but where does he play when not in the ruck? Forward I guess, but is he really a good enough forward to play 50-60% of the game down there? I reckon not at this point, but maybe you look to give him more experience and hope that he learns the tricks of the trade. In that case Lee or Maister have to go out to accomodate him.

Maister went into the ruck briefly last week, and a little last year, but looks very unconvincing especially against anyone taller or a better jumper than him - which is all the ruckmen in the comp. Still, he's reasonable up forward and OK around the ground. Maybe you're happy to concede a little in the ruck for a fifth of the game, and that gives more flexibility in selection.

I don't think you can disturb Stanley, because he's just starting to look solid at the back, and if he's going to be a long-term option back there then he's got a lot more learning to do. Obviously he's very good at rucking for 20% of the game though, so maybe that's a consideration. Might also get him injured more.

The best fit is Kosi, believe it or not, because his skill set is well suited to playing forward for 60% of the game and then the ruck for 20%. Could he possibly be picked? In that case Maister or Lee have to go out, probably Maister.


Does the Mosquito Fleet Actually Work?

Milne, Milera and Saad each have five goals so far, almost two a game, which gives them about 35 each for the season. That's not bad. 100 from those three, maybe 60 from Riewoldt and 40 from the second tall - 200 goals for the season, almost 10 goals a game right there.

But I can't shake the feeling that it's not quite working. Milne and Saad both feel like they've had little involvement except kicking goals, Milne especially. These two can't really go through the midfield and I reckon that's hurting our rotations. You can always chuck a mid down there and they might kick some, as Joey or Armo or Steven did early in their careers.

Which other club has two specialist forward pockets? Maybe the Hawks, with Breust and Rioli? But Rioli gets up the ground a lot more. Dahlhaus and Giansiracusa at the Dogs? They're not exactly a role model. Garlett and Betts? Not yet this year.

I reckon we need to get down to just one forward pocket - which means dropping one of Milne and Saad - working with maybe a resting mid, two/three tall forwards and two high half-forwards who get well up the ground. If that's the case then who are the high half-forwards?

There was only one in the side this week and that was Milera. He's well-suited to that role, as he's willing to run and carry, try to spot up a guy inside 50 or make position in there himself. I'm still not completely sold on him as a player - makes a lot of mistakes - but he's doing a solid job and as the incumbent deserves more chances.

Schneider was great in that role when he came on last week but we won't see him for another month. No doubt he's straight back in when we're sure he's fit, he's our best player in that role.

Siposs might be a good show. We know he can play up forward, he's trying to build running power and Wright seems to have grabbed his half-back spot with both hands. Maybe he'll be better able to influence the game across half-forward as he continues to develop as a player. Not sure if he's playing for Sandy but I reckon he's a good chance of coming back in and playing half-forward again.

Gilbo? I don't reckon he's much chop as a forward but superficially he could fill this role, certainly he's good at spreading into space for the out kick from the back line. But do we really want him kicking for goal or trying to spot up a forward? Probably not ideal.

Dunell could definitely do the job, he looked reasonable down there last year in his few games. If he has a good game for Sandy I reckon he's a monty for the role.

I reckon Dennis-Lane is better suited closer to goal - though I haven't seen much of him, and this does raise the question of why the f*** we signed him. Quite possibly he can play that higher role but I think others are ahead of him at this point.

Curren, maybe. He's quick, good workrate, can kick a goal, disposal seems to be a question though so maybe the same question marks apply as for Gilbo.

Could Ledger play the role? He's got to find a spot quick smart or he's in a bit of trouble, not sure if he's much of a goal-kicker though, and he's certainly not particularly tall or good over head. Would have to use smarts to play high half-forward in the same way Schneider does, but I'm not sure he's that good.

Left-field option could be Jimmy Webster... He seemed to have an OK game for Sandy last week, another couple of good performances and he might just be putting his hand up. He's got good size about him, not sure about the rest of his capabilities. It'd be great if he did come up and show that he could play a role though.


Long post, a lot of unanswered questions. I reckon the coach has some pretty tricky questions to answer, and we'll see in the next couple of weeks how good he actually is.

[bergholt]

My opinion:

I reckon Hickey will come in for Lee this week, and then he'll look OK in the ruck but will be anonymous up forward, maybe kick a goal and drop a couple of marks. McEvoy won't be as good with Hickey in the side and we won't have the solution. At some point in the next month we'll try Kosi.

I don't think Milne or Saad will be dropped in the short-term, but I reckon there's a fair chance one of them will be sub this week. Newnes will go out and be replaced by Dunell or Siposs to play high half-forward. And that just might work. (Dennis-Lane will kick 70 or 80 in the VFL and win the Frosty Miller because he'll barely get a game for the Saints this year.)


IN: Dunell, Hickey
OUT: Lee, Newnes (inj)

[Cairnsman]

I reckon we've created a myth in the first three rounds regarding McEvoy being a better player without another ruck in the team as I've heard it mentioned on here a few times now. Could it be he didn't play well in that first game for other reasons, like maybe it was round one or like maybe he just had an off game.

Premiership contenders need two really decent ruckman, or at least one elite and one decent 2nd fiddle. We need Hickey to succeed...badly.

[bergholt]

Premiership contenders need two really decent ruckman, or at least one elite and one decent 2nd fiddle. We need Hickey to succeed...badly.

Fair enough. So in that case it comes down to whether you want Hickey to play forward and develop, or whether you want Lee to play forward and develop and put someone else in the ruck for a bit of the game.

[plugger66]

Premiership contenders need two really decent ruckman, or at least one elite and one decent 2nd fiddle. We need Hickey to succeed...badly.

Fair enough. So in that case it comes down to whether you want Hickey to play forward and develop, or whether you want Lee to play forward and develop and put someone else in the ruck for a bit of the game.

That is the question. Can Maister ruck for 40 minutes in a ruck. Doubtful but can Hickey play as well as Lee. Maybe but does Ben play as well when not rucking 80% of the game. Probably not. Really tough decision.

[PJ]

Probably only one change this week if Newnes goes out. Not sure who comes in.

[FQF]

Lee did not play as a key forward this week, and from the very short amount of gametime I've seen from him before that he never seems to play as a key forward. He ventures quite high up the wings and plays third fiddle to Riewoldt and Maister.

Therefore, I see no reason why Hickey/Kosi would come in at the expense of Lee. Lee gives us some versatility in the forward line and those two do the opposite.

So, if Hickey was to come in, I would say Maister has to go out. Which might be detrimental to our forward line, but he hasn't exactly been setting the world on fire. Hickey is less of a forward but adds a lot to our ruck division and is also a much more difficult forward to line up on which creates the possibility of mismatches who always help.

I wouldn't be surprised if Maister made way for Kosi either. I don't think it is our best option, but I wouldn't be spitting chips either.

[bigcarl]

T
Who Supports McEvoy in the Ruck?

Just my opinion and I'm talking long-term here.

I reckon McEvoy had a poor first week (as did Hickey and most of the bigger guys on the ground) because the ball was as slippery as a cake of soap.

I think having a genuine second ruck on the ground like Hickey will only benefit Mac. You can't do it all yourself, even if you are a machine like McEvoy or Riewoldt and think that you can. It is a team game and Ben, as much as anyone, already knows that.

Just get McEvoy either to go forward or drop back into the backline when he's having a rest.

There's going to be plenty of times this season when we need a big body in defence. It would have been handy against Richmond's big forwards, for example. Mac reads the play particularly well and is ideal for that role.

The other side to this poses the question: Did the club recruit Hickey using a precious first-round pick purely as insurance for Ben being injured/unavailable?

I hope not.

I reckon they can be an A-grade ruck combo, which is the starting point for a dominant midfield.

[bergholt]

Just get McEvoy either to go forward or drop back into the backline when he's having a rest.

I'm with plugger on this. You don't see ruckmen wander back to stand around in defence while the other ruckman takes the center bounce, it just doesn't happen, so I can't see why that would be our plan.

The other side to this poses the question: Did the club recruit Hickey using a precious first-round pick purely as insurance for Ben being injured/unavailable?

I hope not.

I reckon they can be an A-grade ruck combo, which is the starting point for a dominant midfield.

That said, I reckon you might be right about this. So my question remains - where does Hickey play when he's not in the ruck, and how does he fit there? Who goes out for him?

[dragit]

I don't think the club took Hickey expecting him to be at full flight this year… I imagine they are hoping he becomes a good enough forward to play the fwd/2nd ruck role… David Hale style…

But after one match in awful conditions, we really can't form much of an opinion on him yet. At any rate, he just turned 22, so it could be a few years before he realised his potential. He may well be in & out of the side for a good while yet.

This week will depend as bit on what happens with Essendon. Ryder, Hurley, Fletcher potential outs could dramatically change how we set-up. I would like to see Lee given another game, he needs a couple for confidence… I guess if Hickey plays really well this week, he could come in for Blake, Simpkin for Newnes. Perhaps the forward line would be too tall/slow though… interesting.

[bigcarl]

When he is not in the ruck Hickey can either play forward or pick up his opposite number ... The resting opposition ruck, if they have one.

The bloke has a super leap and will develop the knack of kicking goals. Reminds me a bit of an Everitt ... Hopefully without the d**khead factor ... Or even better a Simon Madden.

Who would miss? Either Lee or Maister, probably Lee at this stage, I guess. But his opportunities will come.

[plugger66]

When he is not in the ruck Hickey can either play forward or pick up his opposite number ... The resting opposition ruck, if they have one.

The bloke has a super leap and will develop the knack of kicking goals. Reminds me a bit of an Everitt ... Hopefully without the d**khead factor ... Or even better a Simon Madden.

Who would miss? Either Lee or Maister, probably Lee at this stage, I guess. But his opportunities will come.

So you want Hickey to play in the backline if their ruckman rests forward. That will not happen BC. He has to learn to play forward for most of the game otherwise he wont play.

[bigcarl]

Why can't he pick up a resting opposition ruck? Sounds like a fair match up to me. Similar heights and skill sets.

The logical extension of your argument is that a midfielder should never play on another midfielder ... Yet we see it all the time

[plugger66]

Why can't he pick up a resting opposition ruck? Sounds like a fair match up to me. Similar heights and skill sets.

Except one is playing in a position he would used to and other is playing in a position he has never played before. I know Blake plays down back but second ruckman or part time ruckman play forward in nearly every case.

[bigcarl]

So a midfielder should never play on another midfielder?

[dragit]

So a midfielder should never play on another midfielder?

strangest thing i've ever read on here.

[plugger66]

So a midfielder should never play on another midfielder?

Not if the other midfielder is a cricketer.

[lefty]

Don't know about playing Hickey just yet. Ryder looks like he won't be playing, so it depends if Essendon go with 1 ruckman, which is Bellchambers right? The only other ruck they have is Hill but I don't know whats the go with him atm.

[Junction Oval]

This is a very interesting situation. In the context of the Essendon game, is there a place for Hickey?

It was interesting that Fremantle had a small, nimble forward set-up, against a much taller Essendon backline. Fletcher ended up coming off (injured), but Heard said that the smaller replacement gave them better balance, which indicates to me me, that it's not this week for the taller Hickey on the forward line. Etihad is a small ground, so Macca & a chop out from Blake should work effectively, although Blake's costly mistakes (holding frees) are concerning me more and more.

[magnifisaint]

Probably only one change this week if Newnes goes out. Not sure who comes in.

What position does he play?

[Junction Oval]

From PJ :

PJ wrote:Probably only one change this week if Newnes goes out. Not sure who comes in.

From Magnificent :

What position does he play?

Who? - Newnes, or "who comes in." ...... I just couldn't help myself

[bigcarl]

So a midfielder should never play on another midfielder?

Not if the other midfielder is a cricketer.

Yes. It depends on the individual match up, obviously.

[To the top]

Have to go with Hickey - and McEvoy.

That is why we recruited Hickey.

We also recruited Lee with a high Draft Pick - so have to go with him also (and he showed a bit).

The number of "small forwards" is for questioning even allowing for the goals each kicked yesterday (against GWS remember).

It is a matter of who of Dennis-Lane, Schnieder, Milne, Milera or Saad - but they will not all play and I would prefer only 2 to play INCLUDING that they can impact on the mid-field rotations.

I have said for some time that our current status as a developing team means that we can not afford "specialist forward pockets" (even allowing for averaging 2 goals a game!) because our mid-field rotation options do not run that deep - and need to be further developed.

Given that status, I would not have any of Blake, Maister (his hands are just not clean enough by a long, long way), Geary (tries hard, wins some ball but has no composure with it which inflicts just too much damage) or Milne (specialist forward pocket with shocking disposal if forced to the mid field rotation and nil defensive skills).

Jones is on the radar - and needs to "shut down" big names week in and week out to be retained.

The positives so far are the performances of Stanley in defence, McEvoy (with Hickey to assist), Armitage and Steven plus Newnes (unfortunately concussed early yesterday), Lee, Siposs and Wright.

I do not know why Simpkin is languishing at Sandringham - and, at Sandringham, performances will be monitored each week including particularly those yet to debut at AFL level - and Koschitzke.

The draw, once again, tells against us including attracting memberships if we lose a few, which we have.

The lack of winning momentum plus a bye and playing in Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and New Zealand over the early stages of a season does St Kilda FC no favours at all.

It is interesting that there is now talk about our recruiting practices under Lyon - and, to boot, we jettisoned all of the younger selections untested because they were never given opportunity.

If you draft kids, you at the very least give them an opportunity over 1, 2 or 3 years.

They were obviously (you would hope) drafted on some credentials.

And we have the experienced players we have particularly Riewoldt, Fisher and Koschitzke in key positions.

[FQF]

Maister Geary and Milne out, Kosi in is what you are suggesting TTT?

Lucky you aren't coaching.

[bergholt]

Given that status, I would not have any of Blake, Maister (his hands are just not clean enough by a long, long way), Geary (tries hard, wins some ball but has no composure with it which inflicts just too much damage) or Milne (specialist forward pocket with shocking disposal if forced to the mid field rotation and nil defensive skills).

I'm not sure I understand. Who's in and out, and what's your preferred team for next week?