Sincs and Taking His Game to the Next Level.

[Vortex]

Sinclair has always been stocky

Low centre of gravity, big calves!

Yeah but I'm curious as to why now, usually AFL players don't make decisions to bulk themselves do they? Isn't it usually a club/coach decision that is a carefully implemented and monitored program with some ultimate aim to modify a players game?

[skeptic]

Certainly doesn’t seem like something that would enhance his game
Extra bulk would slow him down if anything and contested possessions aren’t really his forte

[CQ SAINT]

Certainly doesn’t seem like something that would enhance his game
Extra bulk would slow him down if anything and contested possessions aren’t really his forte

Bulk will certainly improve his contested possession in close and increased strength may actually increase his power off the mark and his ability to withstand grappling, a tackle or a bump.

If he can improve in these areas and impact more at stoppages, the midfield will improve as a whole. Similarly with Seb Ross's changes to his game play last year they improved the chances of the guys around him, though he did a little less.

Not saying he will take a full time midfield role but if he can be more flexible, nrotate and impact more then all the better.

He got 2.3 clearances and 3.3 score involvements a game last year at 75% efficiency and 40% contested possesion.

4 clearances, 5 score involvements and 50% contested would be a significant advantage from a p/t rotation midfielder.

[Vortex]

Certainly doesn’t seem like something that would enhance his game
Extra bulk would slow him down if anything and contested possessions aren’t really his forte

It's interesting isn't it, there must be a plan for him by Ratts, as you say bulking up generally slows a player up and for a coach that has made no secret of his plans to have a quick style of play which is supported by the imported speed type players Ratts must need Sincs to be stronger, possibly for the reasons CQ points out.

Can we start this season already.

[B.M]

Sincs has ALWAYS been solid and

He is a top 5 runner at the club

[Yorkeys]

To repeat*, for something to do on a lockdown Sunday morning after watching Man City toy with Spurs: Sincs next level would be to become an average good player with consistency. Might be lockdown angst but I cannot remember him doing something really courageous and effective a la Steele or Dunstan in the heat of a tight match; just have this (unwarranted?) image of someone flapping on the edge of rucks and packs that can occasionally steer a pass given the ball and some space. We have enough of the flapping kind (e.g. Hill ), I hope we can quickly develop a hard edge/enforcer core esp. within the fwds and mids so teams like Geelong and Richmond and even WCE cannot ragdoll us so easily, and Sincs seems easily rendered ineffective in a contest (again that might be unfair, I'd have to go back and watch replays carefully, just the impression I have). Sincs is a talented athlete, no doubt, but not, I think, hard or clever enough (see Gresham) or able to win his own contested ball when required to be an automatic pick (contrast: Higgins). Practice matches are hardly a furnace that highlights the real goers. (Footnote: watching Spurs under Mourinho makes me so pleased we have Ratts).

*apologies, repetition and negativity.

[B.M]

See,

I think Sincs is a clever, creative footballer. To me, that’s his main asset

He plays on the wing and at HF which means he will win far less contested ball being on the outside.

Hill, Billings also play those positions and have low contested ball numbers. It’s because the are rarely at stoppage

I have seen Sincs play as a pure mid at VFL level
He was a cut above and dominated

[Scollop]

Certainly doesn’t seem like something that would enhance his game
Extra bulk would slow him down if anything and contested possessions aren’t really his forte

Bulk will certainly improve his contested possession in close and increased strength may actually increase his power off the mark and his ability to withstand grappling, a tackle or a bump.

If he can improve in these areas and impact more at stoppages, the midfield will improve as a whole. Similarly with Seb Ross's changes to his game play last year they improved the chances of the guys around him, though he did a little less.

Not saying he will take a full time midfield role but if he can be more flexible, nrotate and impact more then all the better.

He got 2.3 clearances and 3.3 score involvements a game last year at 75% efficiency and 40% contested possesion.

4 clearances, 5 score involvements and 50% contested would be a significant advantage from a p/t rotation midfielder.

+1

Seeing's though we don’t have a Dusty, Danger, Pat Cripps, Fyfe or Lachie Neale type, we need a team of mids to get us through. I suppose every team needs more than just 1 superstar. It’s a long year and there’ll be weeks where some of our guys will have injuries or be sore.

Guys like Gresh and JB and Hill will probably be heavily tagged throughout the season. We need to outsmart our opposition and play through guys that the opposition isn’t expecting.

If Ratts can fashion a different game plan to suit some guys like Sincs and get Sincs in the thick of the action it’s a positive. That means that the specialist goal kickers like Butts and Higgins can focus on getting themselves in attacking positions and doing what they do best.

[B.M]

Don’t think Gresham will ever be tagged, his disposal is poor.

[Scollop]

Don’t think Gresham will ever be tagged, his disposal is poor.

Ever??....hmmmm...

I reckon he will improve and mature as a footballer under this coaching regime and he will definitely be closely tagged when he plays forward.

[CQ SAINT]

Don’t think Gresham will ever be tagged, his disposal is poor.

You will need to pay more attention BM. In the last 2 seasons, Gresh has averaged around 20 disposals, 3.5 F50 entries, and just under 5 clearances. This is a dramatic increase in these stats, since he started going into stoppages. He warrants attention.
Yes, Gresh's disposal isn't great but neither is Patrick Cripps' who decides to go more by hand these days because of the intense tagging he receives.
No, Gresh isn't comparable to Cripps in most respects but one thing they have in common is the power to hit a stoppage hard and another is the tagging attention they recieve before the ball leaves the umpires hands at stoppages and they are both closely checked, dangerous forwards when down there.
Also interesting is the increase in Gresham's contested possesions in this time too and his disposal efficiency has suffered. Another indication he is getting more attention but still winning the ball more. I'm not sure many opposition coaches worth their salt will let this go unchecked. Particularly now we have a lot more midfield talent and grunt.
Don't take my word for it though, there is 30 games of footage Gresh has played in the last 2 years which may shed some light.
Your opinion, cheaply based on a negative trait of Gresh is noted but far from correct.

[skeptic]

Thought we really lost some hurt factor last year when Gresh went down

[Ghost Like]

Don’t think Gresham will ever be tagged, his disposal is poor.

If poor disposal was a tag repellent then Jack Steven should never have been tagged. That said, an opposition will likely put more time into shutting Hill & Billings out of a game.

[B.M]

Not sure Jack was tagged very often??

[B.M]

I would clearly tag Hill and/or Billings if I were the opposition

Not sure Crouch or Steele could be tagged that easily being clearance beasts.

Zac Jones was tagged a bit last season, after he dominated first quarters, although he has average disposal too

[ausfatcat]

I would clearly tag Hill and/or Billings if I were the opposition

Not sure Crouch or Steele could be tagged that easily being clearance beasts.

Zac Jones was tagged a bit last season, after he dominated first quarters, although he has average disposal too

Zac got tagged / lot of work put into him after the first 5 or so rounds

[Kilda]

I've always hoped Sinc would become a solid, regular contributor to the side. Certainly, 2020 saw an elevation in his game but not quite enough to ensure he's cemented a spot. I guess that's the reason for the thread: can this be the year he does so? I like his ground coverage, speed and his tackling. Not sure about his ideal position though... some others have suggested high HF but I don't reckon he's got the knack around goals required for the role. Not sure about HB flank either; earlier comparisons of Sinc to Caleb Daniel are a bit of a stretch.

[CQ SAINT]

On average, we won every basic statistic against our opponents last year barring 3.
We accumulated slightly less disposals, mainly because we handballed less than our opponents and we kicked less behinds than our opponents. But it was a rarity to see use implode and give up without a ghost.
We won 25% more hit outs and narrowly won clearances even in some of our losses.
Steele lead the way in the midfield, Ross added poise to his repertoire and Jones, Sinclair and Gresham increased our ability to get our hands on the ball first. Ryder was fantastic and the prospect earned his name.
Clearly, we looked to take control of the stoppages with both strength and pace and through this we got the ball to more dangerous scoring zones, over and over again.
What a coup getting Crouch was if he and Hanners can stay on the ground, we will begin to dominate most midfields.
My hopes arent high for Hanners but my belief is that if Sinclair can take his skill set and capitalise on our dominance of the ruck and strength at the fall of the ball to become a balanced 20 possesion mid with 5 clearances, 5 forward entrees and 5 score involvements a game, the forward line will start to become very dangerous, particularly after regaining Gresham, adding Higgins and then there is the highly anticipated rise of The King. Clark and Coffield are coming too. Teams may try to stop Billing and Hill but they can't stop everyone.
Say what you like about why improvement happens. It is clear that there are many reasons with this team. You can also argue that the top 8 teams need to win more often than they lose, which is all we have achieved so far.
What AR failed to instill into the team was belief and there is no doubt that belief and unity are the driving force in this team and our football department. This is most definitely a feel good fluff piece but I make no apology and dare anyone not to feel good about where we sit now as opposed to this time in 2019, when belief was just hope.

[Joffa Burns]

Don’t think Gresham will ever be tagged, his disposal is poor.

You will need to pay more attention BM. In the last 2 seasons, Gresh has averaged around 20 disposals, 3.5 F50 entries, and just under 5 clearances. This is a dramatic increase in these stats, since he started going into stoppages. He warrants attention.
Yes, Gresh's disposal isn't great but neither is Patrick Cripps' who decides to go more by hand these days because of the intense tagging he receives.
No, Gresh isn't comparable to Cripps in most respects but one thing they have in common is the power to hit a stoppage hard and another is the tagging attention they recieve before the ball leaves the umpires hands at stoppages and they are both closely checked, dangerous forwards when down there.
Also interesting is the increase in Gresham's contested possesions in this time too and his disposal efficiency has suffered. Another indication he is getting more attention but still winning the ball more. I'm not sure many opposition coaches worth their salt will let this go unchecked. Particularly now we have a lot more midfield talent and grunt.
Don't take my word for it though, there is 30 games of footage Gresh has played in the last 2 years which may shed some light.
Your opinion, cheaply based on a negative trait of Gresh is noted but far from correct.

I agree with your statements CQ.

Gresh and Jones were the go to players for the Ryder knock at centre bounces and clearances and both did very well and getting free by hand or foot a clearance. Jones did this by using speed and strength and Gresh more through evasiveness.

These contested style possessions will always hurt your efficiency numbers as sometimes you are just hacking it forward.

I don't agree Gresh disposal is overly poor around the ground (though he can deliver and up and under hospital ball) but his set shot kicking over the last two years was horrible.

Jones delivers at full speed under pressure more often than other Saints and does spray some.

The beauty of Hill is he is so smooth across the turf that he can deliver beautifully at close to full tilt.

[Scollop]

Speaking of Ryder...can we all please cross our fingers and toes on a regular basis and be good to your neighbour and maintain good karma...and please oh please may Paddy remain fit for most of the year

That will ensure that Sincs...and Gresh and Steeley and Zac and the Brads and even Sebby all get silver service from the great man

[B.M]

I would definitely argue Greshams disposal is poor

He kicks across his body and sprays it a lot. Which is why he is more comfortable snapping at goal or being on the run rather than kicking over the man on the mark from a set shot. Even then he runs right of the target at kicks around his body.

As pointed out, Jones kicks at full pace a lot (ala Jack Stevens) therefore sprays it. A few composure steps to balance himself before kicking would help.

I do agree both a clearance players, therefore kicking efficiency is poorer but even so, they are not great kicks by any means.