Nothing wrong with giving a senior guy new challenges and sharpening up that side of things but Blitz has taken ‘Shiel spent some time in defence at an early practice’ pretty far here. He’s a clearance mid and if he’s best performing in that role that’s what he’ll be doing.
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What time is training tomorrow? Might head down and see if they don’t suck as much as they did last summer I went down
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It depends. If you’ve got a player who can play in the forward line and regularly kick goals, then you play him in the forward line. We don’t exactly have a lot who can do that at the moment.
Context does matter.
If he’s playing backline for team A, then it is a clear trial to see how things go. In general, you’re not playing someone in the Team A group unless you’re looking to build good communication habits (hand off opponents, etc) with the rest of the backline.
If he’s playing for team B, then that muddies the waters somewhat. He could be there playing against the Team A high half forward / extra midfielder role that continually works hard up the ground then back. He’s about our best consistent runner at the club so maybe it’s there to push the Team A matchup into particular habits.
For the training watchers…
@JuzzyB
@All-Star_Bomber_18
@BomberMadness
@Bomber.drum
Is there any team setup patterns in the match sims? Team A v Team B?
If they do mix the teams up, then it’s easier to tell which groups of players are usually in the same group / mix of players.
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Not that I can tell. A bit early for A vs B team. They haven’t done full match sim that I’m aware of. Maybe in the next few weeks before they break for xmas
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Cheers.
Good to get the context.
I wouldn’t worry too much about positions if a match sim hasn’t been done.
The purpose of specific players in drills can vary depending on what the coaches are trying to achieve with specific players.
We can probably spend our Blitz Panic Crypto Tokens elsewhere.
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Agree, too early to tell.
Match sims range from approx 15 minute to 5 minute quarters. From what I can tell there’s a mix of senior/newer players in each set up.
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I see your point and I’m sure he’d do very well up forward. Personally I see him as providing back line run and quick ball movement, along with McGrath. He could also ‘ping’ some long range ‘bombs’ like Redman.
Again, I’ve only seen two sessions and in the match sims he appears to be playing a defensive role, even taking kick ins.
Either way the versatility is a bonus. 
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At best it’s a sugar hit to have Shiel at HB, at worst, he’s taking development away from a young player that will be in our next flag tilt.
Not a great decision imo, I doubt that it happens but Brad has history of making poor positional changes.
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It’s a sugar hit only if you have diabetes
Shiel on the ground is a bad move. VFL is the perfect spot for him.
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I’d have thought it’s only a “sugar hit” if it produces some sort of “high”
I wanna see another post of evidence he’s playing defence at training, but if that’s the case, I’m sure sheil will be starting 22 and in defence come round 1.
Brad always backs in the older guys as a preference. This same discussion was had when heppell and Kelly were doing match practice in defence the past 2 years.
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I like the idea that both Martin and El Hawli can play Half back, Wing and Half forward and Roberts can be effective as Half back/wing.
These three provide us with different looks existing our d50 but also among our offensive threat forward of the ball.
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Martin is an incredibly versatile player, but to me you don’t get a guy who sits on the periphery of the AA list and stick him in spots that don’t maximise his effectiveness. To me Martin is most effective wing moving to forward of wing. He’s prolific and creative.
He can get plenty of ball defensively, but I don’t think it’s his best spot. You put your guys where they can be at their very best, not fill an apparent shortfall. We seem to have young options across half back, some might take a year or two to really find their feet, but best to get started getting them used to it. If that’s Roberts, or SEH or someone else we just drafted, give them a go.
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I agree. The thing we were worst at last year was kicking goals. If we have a player who kicks them, he should play in a position where he gets the opportunity.
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If 24 gave Martin some extra defensive mettle it’s not a wasted year, as long as we don’t leave him back there the next few years. Loves a goal, loves an assist, runs all day and messes with the other team’s system. Roberts takes Martin’s 24 role and back the kid in.
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We need our promising kids battling Ashcroft x2 from this point on, and Daicos x2 for that farking matter
The old “didn’t get a full pre season” rip Caldwell 2025
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