Jason Blake

[stinger]

isn't our defence the most effective to date in 2009?

they must be doing something right down back given what a bunch of hack dolts they are ...

actually ...they are the most effective in the history of the game after 12 rounds.....but don't let that get in the way.....

[stinger]

Opposition clubs intentionally leave the likes of Dawson and Blake on their own because they would prefer these guys kicking rather than other guys like Goddard.

yeah....that's really worked for them hasn't it....?

[bergholt]

isn't our defence the most effective to date in 2009?

they must be doing something right down back given what a bunch of hack dolts they are ...

dan, all respect, but you didn't answer my question. i'll repeat it here:

i don't think it's coincidence that the five highest players for disposal efficiency in the side - six including max - happen to be our starting backmen.

there are two possible explanations for this:

1: we put all the players who are best users of the ball back in defence.

2: playing in defence makes it easier to dispose of the ball effectively.

which do you think it is?

[Dan Warna]

if it was that easy why isn't every team's defence as effective as st kilda's?

why isn't every backmans kicking as effective as ours?

and yes i am aware that goddard is superior player, but his job is to break the lines and run the ball, its people like blake and dawson who have to spot up fisher, gram and goddard with switch plays before the runners are closed down.

i never said blake was an elite, but he certainly does not deserve the bagging he gets here.

and i can't remember him being thrashed too many times this season.

he makes 2 or 3 mistakes a game, but then so does reiwoldt, goddard, dal santo etc...

[bergholt]

if it was that easy why isn't every team's defence as effective as st kilda's?

why isn't every backmans kicking as effective as ours?

yeah, i reckon you're right, the answer is that playing in defence makes it much easier to have effective disposals.

the reason that st kilda's defence particularly is very good at it is for the same reason that our defence is so good at defending - because of a lot of help from the midfield. and because of the game plan.

have a look at the stats for rebounds per game:

s fisher: 4.6
gilbert: 4.1
goddard: 3.2
dal santo: 2.7
montagna: 2.5
r clarke: 2.5
dawson: 2.2
hayes: 1.8
gram: 1.8
baker: 1.8
blake: 1.8
geary: 1.8

blake and dawson, the focus of your argument, aren't actually rebounding it very much. this lends support to my theory that most of their possessions are (very well-executed) switches across the ground to the free man.

this is exactly what the game plan says to do, i reckon - don't take any risks with the ball in the back half. look for a man under no pressure on his own and kick it to him. this applies across the team, but because certain players spend most of every game in the back half, it has more ramifications for their efficiency than, say, koschitzke's, who never sees the ball back there.

i happen to quite like jb, but i reckon your argument is crap.

[Leo.J]

Opposition clubs intentionally leave the likes of Dawson and Blake on their own because they would prefer these guys kicking rather than other guys like Goddard.

yeah....that's really worked for them hasn't it....?

Its has worked at times for oppostion teams, but its also a testament to how hard our midfiled works to give these guys an option.

Most clubs, us included let opposition defences get easy uncontested possession in their last line of defence, its the next kick that counts, the kick to the wing or the half back line, the kick that frees someone up.

Blake and Dawson can hit targets, but the likes of Goddard sum up a situation and he kicks it to where the player needs to run to in order to create space. Dal does this too, Luke Ball tries it but his actual ability to deliver this doesn't match his thought process atm.

Joey does it, and Kosi can do it to. BJ and Dal are the best in our team at it though.

A better stat for champion data to collect would be efficiency under pressure. That combined with the other efficiency stat would give a better indication of our best kicks.

[yipper]

Unfortunately too many starry eyed supporters can't handle any player being criticised what so ever defensively trying to build them up into something their not.

...and conversely there are also those who seem to think that anyone who doesnt average 30 touches, 8 tackles and 4 goals are trade bait (just an observation btw not painting you with that brush )

Players should be judged on one thing in a salary capped competition:

Bang For Buck.

Blakey's nine year - four coach AFL career will continue in this environment because he provides our club with terrific value for money.

Look at base level payment players from other clubs and then compare them to The Blake.

Excellent response. That's 4 AFL coaches, just on 150 games - if he really was a dud, don't you think that someone would have de-listed him by now. Don't forget, he has been playing in a good team that doeasn't need to carry any passengers over the past few seasons!! Yet he never gets dropped - why? Because he is always carrying out his role and doing what the coach wants him to do. Vital to have that type of player in any good team. Jason Blake is having a fine AFL career - he can be proud of himself. Still more to come Blakey.