Judging from the way we develop players (we havenāt been able to develop a finals winning list for a decade and a half) and seeing the success of the SSS trade I wouldnāt be opposed to trading picks for players and outsource our development to other clubs.
I agree, to a point, our list of under 25ās (which we have drafted in) are among the best in the competition and will be the basis for genuine depth for years to come. But, because of that success, I think we now have the ability to recruit some older and more established players for a more immediate impact whilst our Hurley/Hooker window is open. I donāt think that missing out on a few drafts will have much of an impact in the future, such is the talent of our 25 and unders.
Players like Gaff, Shiel and Beams would walk into our team as Top 3 midfielders and each of them would give us something our team doesnāt have.
Then there are players like Wallis, Dahlhaus, Hall and Elliott who would all come cheap/free whilst having some decent upside, adding to our list and allowing us to either hit the draft or pick up a more expensive trade - like those mentioned above.
So the two finals so far have been high pressure and the big bodies have been getting the job done.
If we played a final against Tigers or Melbourne would we have handled the heat?
We need to get bigger to both take and receive it and be able to dispose cleanly while taking the bumps.
Richmond showed efficiency can win with ease while Melbourneās inefficiency has prevented them smashing Geelong and kept them in it until the last 10 minutes.
Long time Blitzers will remember a certain series of posts called the Mal Pascoe Awards. These were given to the biggest goon/hoon of the week. Pity they have lapsed, because this post would win 2 Mal Pascoe awards. Worst post l have read on here in years.
I think Geelong have more big bodies than Melbourne and Melbourne won easily because they won clearances, (against bigger bodied mids), were too quick, smashed them for inside 50ās, and used the ball very well (Except for goal accuracy)
Also donāt believe Richmond won because of big bodies but more due to being a better team who win virtually every week due to their style.
IMO we need more competitors. Especially when things arenāt going right for the club.
Now that Goddard is no longer at the club, I have concerns about players dropping their heads and falling back into bad habitsā¦ and not having someone in the playing group that will tell it, how it is.
Hopefully Devon Smith steps in to Goddards role, and is not afraid to offend his team mates. We need that relentless leadership.
Richmondās mids really arenāt that big. Like us, they have a lot under 182cm and a few bigger guys in McIntosh, Martin, Cotchin and Caddy when in there. Similar to us with Heppell, Myers, Langford and Stringer when in there. Similar heights but their guys a bit more solid maybe. Lambert, Prestia, Graham, Conca, Higgins, Edwards etc are all very similar heights to Merrett, Parish, McGrath, Smith, Zaka, Fantasia, however they all just look bigger to me and handle contested footy a bit better. Iād be hoping Parish and McGrath really add some muscle to their frame this off season. To me both are excellent first touch players but would be more dominant being a bit bigger, especially McGrath.
I donāt think the size of our mids are an issue at all, especially with a bit more muscle on a few guys. Need to keep working on contested footy, tackling and pressure and thereās no reason we canāt match it with the best and stand up to finals footy.
Howās Shiel go in the contest? Heās a solid looking unit and 182cm. Didnāt get to see much of him in 2017 in his AA year and have barely seen him this year. Would he improve us in that regard or is he more of a Merrett where youād prefer him to be more of the second touch player?
Played a slightly more outside game this year. But can win his own footy, and most importantly has break away strength, power and speed. Exactly what we need.
I agree with how they stayed true to their style but the catalyst to both games was both Melbourne and Richmond being strong enough. Contested situations were won by strength, deflections put both losers off balance and created errors and turnovers, the winners broke tackles.
What I found interesting in both wins was how the outside was used. Both winners moved it forward instead of sideways to get it to players in space. Both broke that first wall of defensive midfield line.
Viney, Jones, Oliver, Harmes, Vandenburg, Tyson were way bigger than Geelong and then you add Brayshaw whoās just as hard as Selwood. They monstered them.
If you are counting Viney, Oliver and Brayshaw as big bodies, then every single Geelong player is a ābig bodyā compared to Melbourne who guys like Fritch, Salem, Spargo, Melksham, Neil-Bullen arenāt.
You donāt have to be a big body to be strong and win contested posessions, although i agree it does help.
Geelong completely butchered the ball when they had it and Melbourne didnāt and they were way to quick for them in both pace and the way they moved the ball.
Finals are always more contested than H&A games but i donāt agree that the winners won because of their big bodies or strength but we can agree to disagree.