Lets be serious about Kosi

[Sobraz]

Great post To the Top...

Agree 100%...

Also, not much of a surprise to see B.S. knows where kos lives and what car he drives...

[Teflon]

I wouldnt mind Ross taking some heat off Kosi up fwd this week and see him start the game in the centre at ruck - McEvoy up fwd....

Kosi to the goal square is expected and its fair to say hes struggling despite the effort at the contest.

Get him in the game early - let him drift fwd and who knows if he slots one what that means for his confidence.....and its ALL confidence.

[SainterK]

Agree Teflon

Just for a week, Ben could hold FF couldn't he?

[Saintsfan]

Agree Teflon

Just for a week, Ben could hold FF couldn't he?

Probably not. Ben looks like he is going to be a decent ruckman (at worst) that can actually go forward and contribute or become a bit of a link up player between forward and back through contested/uncontested marks in the center of the ground.

He should become a multi-faceted contributor in the future for us and has shown potential to become a solid player at worst.

In a nutshell. The Saintsfan is a big fan.

The majority of people on this forum believe that any ruckman can go forward to rest and contribute. The majority of ruckman rarely contribute anything on the scoreboard or take contested grab or literally do anything whilst 'resting'.

MG can. But that is because he is The Big Show.

I believe that Big Mac can follow in the steps of the Big Show and give me Big hard-on's for the next ten years with good efforts going forward and actually being useful up forward as most ruckman are not.

[Teflon]

Agree Teflon

Just for a week, Ben could hold FF couldn't he?

Im thinking even just to get him into the game early - no reason Kosi couldnt rotate through FF later but why not give him a chance to break the shackles a tad...

I think its Simmonds last game???......they'll be pumped the Tigers....

[SainterK]

Agree Teflon

Just for a week, Ben could hold FF couldn't he?

Probably not. Ben looks like he is going to be a decent ruckman (at worst) that can actually go forward and contribute or become a bit of a link up player between forward and back through contested/uncontested marks in the center of the ground.

He should become a multi-faceted contributor in the future for us and has shown potential to become a solid player at worst.

In a nutshell. The Saintsfan is a big fan.

Not even for a week, or a couple of quarters?

I thought Kosi's first game against the Swans was actually quite good, I liked how he started in the middle.

I'd do the same against Richmond, tell him to go nuts in a good way, right now getting suspended would be the least of his troubles.

If he needs to play on the edge to get the best out of himself, bone crunching tackles, hip and shoulders, let him go.

[Moods]

Still the same crap on this site?

Still attacking players significantly from what is seen on TV screens?

Kosi did a job against Adelaide as he does his job every week.

The problem was our small forwards, again, taking time to have an influence if have any influence at all.

Because they get plenty of opportunities with the defensive focus being on spoiling Kosi - and then the defenders run off down the ground with no pressure creating easy scoring opportunities at the other end.

Koschitzke is a 197cm utility player playing in the forward line - (and able to drift back to take defensive grabs) and he has the support of the likes of Milne, Schnieder and McQualter to feed off hands and to pressure the defenders looking to clear the ball from the area.

In the last 2 weeks he has had the support of Stanley and McEvoy and Gardiner going forward. So we are now going with 3 talls (Koschitzke the shortest at 197cm) in the forward line - as we saw on Saturday night again.

Plus Gwilt moving forward.

This has meant that our "smalls" are not matched up on bigger bodies and finding it difficult - and they have become more dangerous as we have evolved to 3 talls forward.

Much is made of Goddard's mark (and goal) but who was the screen to allow him to take that mark?

Who has holding back the 2 defenders whose objective was the player doing the team thing and creating the screen for Goddard to mark strongly in front?

And who protected the ball after being spoilt, holding the defenders off it except the "smalls" did not arrive to capitalise?

Adelaide eventually picked the ball up and off they went.

I do not know that the majority who comment on this forum know what football and playing in a team is all about.

It's the reason I stopped contributing - and defending.

Incidentally, how is Raph Clarke going?

You know what mate, not everyone who contributes on here views the game from the comfort of the living room. Most appear to attend games. You're right Kosi does do many team things that probably go unnoticed. He'd want to be doing something! Whilst it's commendable that he's clearing a path for smaller players to grab the ball or other players to mark it, occasionally I don't reckon it's too much to ask that he actually win the thing himself. I want more from my 10yr 100 game FF than clearing a path for smaller players - I want some marks on the lead or in a contested situation. I want him to compete without looking completely buggered after 10 minutes. I want to him at the very least to smash some packs and bring the ball to ground in a meaningful way.

Don't get me wrong I like the guy, and the most vocal against I get against him at a game is a quiet groan and a shake of the head. But I understand the frustrations of others on here.

As for Raph - competed hard and won lots of the footy. Still no-one turns the ball over resulting in opposition scores quite like Raph, do they? His clangers are worse than almost every other players, b/c his are a result of holding onto the ball too long more often than not. THis means the ball often doesn't move fwd, is turned over in an instant putting all team mates out of position, and causing a goal to the opposition. Once again though - I like the bloke and like the way he tries to take the game on, but let's not view the whole world through rose coloured glasses.

[AnythingsPossibleSaints]

I haven't read past the original two posts on this topic, but I agree completely with GT. At the moment, Kosi is by far and away better suited playing in the ruck. Unfortunately, with the previous coach so vocal about it, it's unlikely to happen. So that leaves a stint at Sandy.
When he's moved into the ruck he looks like he's been "let off the leash" and he runs forward with real purpose and energy. While when he's playing FF... well we've all seen how that's going. It's not working and probably doing him more harm than good.
I'd play him at FF for some of the time that Gardi is in the ruck and move him into the ruck for most of the time Gardi is not. McEvoy wouldn't do any less than Kosi is at FF at the moment and may well do more. Kosi, on the other hand, looks far more dangerous and likely to score when he's playing in the ruck and pushing forward, so hopefully we'd get more goals on both fronts. He's also more likely to do more around the ground than Mac does and probably wouldn't get any less in the way of hitouts. So it really could be a win-win and get Kosi back into form and confident, at the same time. Then he can go back forward.
I realise having Mac and Stanley as our key targets in the meantime is far from ideal, but we don't have many other options at the moment and it is basically the same as the set-up we had against Adelaide on the weekend and that got the job done.
We'd probably need to get the ball in there more quickly, though and kick it long and high, which would give Ben and Rhys a better shot. I thought we erred on the weekend by not kicking it in long to Stanley more often, especially early, as he was "on" and running around with a real spring in his step (especially after his early goal). I felt that he'd have been a huge chance to grab a couple, if our guys had just banged it long and high to him a few times, but it didn't happen and in the end he ran out of puff. That was a real opportunity missed, to both score more and get his confidence right up.
I'd also still be putting BJ forward more, though, to help out, as he still clearly looks like our most potent up there and with Joey, Dal and Lenny going so well, we can afford for him to play forward more.

[dcstkfc]

Looking forwards to finals we need Kosi to be our 2nd key forward, Rooey cant do it by himself.

Interesting comment because Roo had to do it himself in the 2009 finals series,his mate Kosi was like a spectator in the finals and Kosi's form hasn't improved since....

Hope someone knows how to get him playing well or at least playing better..

Bad call! Kosi was solid in the Collingwood final, just missed some gettable shots, was marking well. Was quiet v the Dogs and he was competitive on Grand Final day in conditions that didn't suit.

[Saints43]

they'll be pumped the Tigers....

...by the Saints.

[SainterK]

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/k ... -wub3.html

[saintkid]

If that effort from Koschitzke on Saturday was very good, I would hate to think what a bad effort from him would be like.
His body language at times against the Crows was nothing short of terrible. Then again what would you expect the coaching staff to say publicly.

[SydneySainter]

I haven't read past the original two posts on this topic, but I agree completely with GT. At the moment, Kosi is by far and away better suited playing in the ruck. Unfortunately, with the previous coach so vocal about it, it's unlikely to happen. So that leaves a stint at Sandy.
When he's moved into the ruck he looks like he's been "let off the leash" and he runs forward with real purpose and energy. While when he's playing FF... well we've all seen how that's going. It's not working and probably doing him more harm than good.
I'd play him at FF for some of the time that Gardi is in the ruck and move him into the ruck for most of the time Gardi is not. McEvoy wouldn't do any less than Kosi is at FF at the moment and may well do more. Kosi, on the other hand, looks far more dangerous and likely to score when he's playing in the ruck and pushing forward, so hopefully we'd get more goals on both fronts. He's also more likely to do more around the ground than Mac does and probably wouldn't get any less in the way of hitouts. So it really could be a win-win and get Kosi back into form and confident, at the same time. Then he can go back forward.
I realise having Mac and Stanley as our key targets in the meantime is far from ideal, but we don't have many other options at the moment and it is basically the same as the set-up we had against Adelaide on the weekend and that got the job done.
We'd probably need to get the ball in there more quickly, though and kick it long and high, which would give Ben and Rhys a better shot. I thought we erred on the weekend by not kicking it in long to Stanley more often, especially early, as he was "on" and running around with a real spring in his step (especially after his early goal). I felt that he'd have been a huge chance to grab a couple, if our guys had just banged it long and high to him a few times, but it didn't happen and in the end he ran out of puff. That was a real opportunity missed, to both score more and get his confidence right up.
I'd also still be putting BJ forward more, though, to help out, as he still clearly looks like our most potent up there and with Joey, Dal and Lenny going so well, we can afford for him to play forward more.

Not completely sold about Kosi as a ruck. Firstly, GT's perspective about Kosi being played as the number one ruck sucks big time in my view. Kosi has played a lot in the ruck over the course of his career and I've never seen him be any more than commendable at best. Gardy is just a much better ruck and should remain the number one option.

Kosi playing more time in the ruck isn't a bad idea, but it's wishful thinking if anyone reckons it will be the magic tonic to Kosi's form. Same as the notion of Kosi playing CTB. Again, may not be a bad idea, but far from convinced that all of sudden Kosi will be 'back in town'. I know it's not what you're suggesting AnythingsPossibleSaints, but I believe some are almost using the ruck and CTB option for Kosi as a scapegoat.

In my view, Kosi is a forward with no confidence. How starting in the ruck may help him is to get some early hit-outs which may help his confidence. I don't buy this theory that Kosi is being played out of position. Marking has always been one of his best assets, but if dropping them like it's going out of fashion is a sign of being played 'out of position', then it makes him no more than a second option tap ruckman and I know he's much better than that.

Maybe Kosi is just a much better playing with Roo in the team.

[spert]

If we played Geelong in a final tomorrow, they wouldn't even put their best defender on Kosi as he is a weak link in the team. Scarlett made him look like a schoolboy footballer in the GF, and he has gone backwards since then. At least Milne picked himself up from his poor GF and had a real crack this year, Kosi needs to do the same, though I think he will be off to Sandy soon.

[bigcarl]

Gardy is just a much better ruck and should remain the number one option.

agree, but kosi would be very useful as number two ruck around the ground and would almost certainly kick more goals in that position than he is at ff.

ross has made it pretty clear that goddard will not play ff, so it might be mcevoy in the short term. he couldn't do worse than kosi and may well do better.

longer term i'd be looking at tommy walsh. if he starts kicking bags of goals for sandringham playing forward he cannot not be overlooked.

[Bernard Shakey]

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/k ... -wub3.html

Good to see the defensive coach giving Kosi a wrap.

[Teflon]

What is obvious to me is that Kosi - to take those bone crunching pack grabs needs a run at the footy.

He cant stand toe to toe and wrestle - he needs to be on the move.

The weird part is to me he aint a great lead up fwd.....he's almost clumsy on the lead and appears to take grabs in slow mo allowing the defender to close the gap and spoil fast.

IMHO if floating fwd from ruck gives him that room to move and stay in touch with the game then for burst periods its worth a shot. Not 2 minutes - a reasonable stretch to allow him to settle into the role.

I certainly think he couldve been rotated out of FF a little more against Crows - even give Gardiner/McEvoy stretches there...mix it up. But watching Kosi sit down there go completely out of the game and look despondent....Im noy sure how that gets his confidence going to be honest.

And yes - Riewoldt takes enormous heat off him up fwd.