It’s the long running bounces that get me. You kick it as soon as you have an open target, not as far as you can run. And then he runs 5 paces too far to put himself in range of being smothered.
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You could argue that Roberts plays similar!
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Watching Zorko last night just demonstrates the importance of an elite kick coming out of the backline. Merrett’s bullets and pinpoint passes would be nice back there. Only issue is, that we need about 5 of him
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It also demonstrates that midfielders with good disposal that are struggling can move to half back and look like millionaires. Easiest position on the field by a long way, it’s why i laugh when clubs talk of guys like rioli and houston requiring two first rounders 
.
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True. However, Zorko barely made a mistake (unlike our back flankers) and he set the game up with elite kicking, particularly through the corridor. Who would we trust to do that for us?
Junior
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As much as the Sydney final was incredible, Hawks played well as did the Cats…for some reason I think we’re not that far off but geez Scott has mucked around with the side this year and hasn’t let the players, play to their strengths. If, big if, we had Saad, Roberts, Merrett coming off the back flanks…Duursma, Martin, Durham on the wings, Caddy and a CHF draftee (ala Shanahan) up forward with Kako (yes an actual small forward and not a manufactured one)…I’d actually play Tsatas as the extractor as he does have elite hands…it’s a much much different looking side. We just found ourselves playing blokes out of position, poor defensive run and ball use and a one-paced, same size forward line. What Geelong and Hawthorn have shown through playing not notable players is that its about confidence, development sure but players can play that role required but it needs to be round peg, round hole
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I think this is wrong but I wholeheartedly agree with it.
Essendon have huge problems in each arc.
Midfield? We are motoring along fine.
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Other than the fact they can’t hit a target in the forward 50 and are one way runners who don’t defend on the turnover yeah they are doing just fine
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No we aren’t.
Why do you think we play Stringer and Perkins at CB regularly, even though they aren’t that good at it ?
We’re small and it shows.
Rowell smashed us like guitars in both games this year.
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Well Stringer didn’t attend any CBs for the Freo, GC and Swans games and only attended 16% of the CBs from the Lions game. I think the last time Perkins attended one was the Crows game (13%)
Id love to see this list of 25 players from that draft better.
I ran a quick look over it and had about 15-17
Its hard to make definitive statements as player form as well as team form is ever changing throughout a season.
My feeling is that when we had a bigger body in there, the balance looked more favourable and allowed some of our better mids to shine.
I cant understand why we didnt slot Setters straight back in once he was fit with VFL games under his belt.
Ive said it before, a guy like Conor Nash would be perfect for our midfield mix.
He’s about as refined as 80 grit sandpaper.
We desperately need someone who can bang away at guys like Rowell, Green, Heeney, Cripps (though, we interestingly do well on Crippa most games).
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Disagree with that completely.
The fact we tried to up our offer once he wanted out kinda proves that (as well as Duursma being contracted so obviously no guarantee).
Mass was a combination of Brad Scott not rating him and us offering a rubbish deal. Had absolutely nothing to do with Duursma.
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Sounds like Duzz is the guy you’re looking for. I still think he was a bit fked at the end of the season from carrying us so hard through most of the season and laying it all on the line
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It was overall a shocking draft for us.
Hobbs, lord and mcdonagh and Voss
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He’d have to put on another 10kg of muscle before i’d want him playing every week on Bonts, Rowells, Greens, Cripps etc…
Again, if he’s banging away with these monsters most of the year, whats the chances of him reaching August and September with the same zip in his legs ?
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Needed to do everything possible to get NWM but sat on our hands hoping he’d reach us.
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It was, though only having one pick in the top 45 helps to explain it.
I guess we technically got half a Caldwell too.
I’m not ready to give up on Hobbs but obviously the rest were busts for us (Though I always maintained that Voss deserved a shot, nice to see him get a new 2 year deal at Freo).
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