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Weekly Prize - Join Any Time - Tip Round 11
The Golden Ticket - MCG and Marvel Medallion Club tickets and Corporate Box tickets at the Gabba, MCG and Marvel.
Redman has really had his position pulled from underneath him by Martin.
I think Martin could be the best wingman in the competition.
So you are saying we would be 4-1 if he played on the wing ?Bombers, the team that robs Peter to pay Paul.
Bombers, the team that robs Peter to pay Paul.
I heard so much about Nick Daicos and how he played the greatest first 50 games. Martins haven’t been to bad. No big games compared to Naicos but still very good in an average side
That would be John Coleman.I heard so much about Nick Daicos and how he played the greatest first 50 games. Martins haven’t been to bad. No big games compared to Naicos but still very good in an average side
the EFC interview on the website?Does anyone have audio of what he said about draper
I think it was perceived lack of competitiveness and he slipped through the net. Guy I know played with him and reckons he was good but not this good so blossomed a bit later - vagaries of recruiting. Saying that surely always had that kicking skill I think on that level is a natural gift.reckon this was his best game of the season, looked really comfortable in the role last night.
retrospectively i don’t know why he wasn’t picked up at 18, he’s such a solid player
MY BOY!
I'm with you. Agree that he is getting better week by week at that defensive role but I don't think it is his best footy nor position. Last two weeks (according to heat map) he has played more forward/higher on the ground so perhaps the adjustment has been made.This may be an unpopular opinion, but I still don't like the change to HB. What will it take to move him back onto the wing? His kciking hasn't been good enough to warrant the change.
I prefer 2023 Martin far more than 2024 Martin. Maybe when Ridley comes back?
Exactly. He was on track to be one of the best wingman in the game. He's nowhere near the best HB. I have high hopes for Martin so I think he should go back to what he was doing last year.I'm with you. Agree that he is getting better week by week at that defensive role but I don't think it is his best footy nor position. Last two weeks (according to heat map) he has played more forward/higher on the ground so perhaps the adjustment has been made.
What made him lethal last year was the disposal inside 50.. martin was a big reason why Langford suddenly looked like a forward.. for me it is not a surprise that langford has looked 'human' this year without martin hitting him up. One of the few blokes who can actually read a leading target. I also think that Redman has lost his role and that is why he is well down on last years form.
I'm not opposed to trying things and it isn't an epic disaster or whatever.. but for me.. I'd move Martin back to the wing and let Redman be that HB distributor.
Precisely.. but I suppose I was always confused as why you would take any player that is literally in the top 3 in any position in the comp and then give them a new role.. didn't make sense over offseason and is making even less sense watching it live.Exactly. He was on track to be one of the best wingman in the game. He's nowhere near the best HB. I have high hopes for Martin so I think he should go back to what he was doing last year.
Excellent post.. but I thought they had started grooming Redman for that role? I think he was getting similar metres gained last year?FWIW Martin is averaging more inside 50s now than he was in the last two seasons (3.5 vs 2.7 last year). He's also averaging more metres gained (590 vs 334) and is leading the AFL there.
This is despite still having a lot of turnovers so there's even more upside in his game if he can iron those out.
A lot of teams have a really damaging player off half-back that can open the game up, and have used them to good effect.
Brisbane had Daniel Rich for years then had Coleman take a PF apart off half-back and very nearly do it again in the GF. They've now moved Zorko back there to do it.
Collingwood have moved Daicos back to half-back after struggling for drive out of the back half.
Geelong have Tom Stewart, Freo has Luke Ryan, Kangaroos use Sheezel, Swans use Blakey so on and so on.
Essendon has spent years struggling to escape the high-press once we're in the back half and desperately needed some line breaking users - especially with Ridley out.
Martin may not be playing the best role for him personally right now, but it's probably the one the team needs him, in at least until we've got Ridley back.
Since saad and mckenna left this is the best we've looked coming out of the backline...and its still a work in progress. I would put that down to martin and mcgrath. Im excited to see how it goes with ridley in mix too.FWIW Martin is averaging more inside 50s now than he was in the last two seasons (3.5 vs 2.7 last year). He's also averaging more metres gained (590 vs 334) and is leading the AFL there.
This is despite still having a lot of turnovers so there's even more upside in his game if he can iron those out.
A lot of teams have a really damaging player off half-back that can open the game up, and have used them to good effect.
Brisbane had Daniel Rich for years then had Coleman take a PF apart off half-back and very nearly do it again in the GF. They've now moved Zorko back there to do it.
Collingwood have moved Daicos back to half-back after struggling for drive out of the back half.
Geelong have Tom Stewart, Freo has Luke Ryan, Kangaroos use Sheezel, Swans use Blakey so on and so on.
Essendon has spent years struggling to escape the high-press once we're in the back half and desperately needed some line breaking users - especially with Ridley out.
Martin may not be playing the best role for him personally right now, but it's probably the one the team needs him, in at least until we've got Ridley back.
Excellent post.. but I thought they had started grooming Redman for that role? I think he was getting similar metres gained last year?
Or even our form #1 pick.. Andy McGrath??
Like most media.. they base things week to week. We had a very good win against the Dogs.. clearly our best win of the season.. but dogs have been struggling with form and it was in the midfield where that game was won.. not off half back. Yes we beat the crows but they are 1-5.. with only a very streaky win against FC to boot. So let us not think we have unlocked the keys to a premiership just yet. In both tests against in form, contested, high pressure teams we have looked very very ordinary. Downright putrid.Since saad and mckenna left this is the best we've looked coming out of the backline...and its still a work in progress. I would put that down to martin and mcgrath. Im excited to see how it goes with ridley in mix too.
Im really happy with redman switching to a more defensive role too, he looks exciting coming out of backline but i feel like he is one of the guys whos game really gets impacted by high forward pressure teams.
Even david king was giving our backline structure props aftet the last 2 weeks, feels like the switch of redman to a secondary sweeper role to assist mckay allows us to be more aggressive with forward pressure with martin and mcgrath being the primary distributors.
Agree that pies will be the best test of our defensive set up but you can only go by who you play and dogs/crows may not be the best at transition but they arent slouches either.Like most media.. they base things week to week. We had a very good win against the Dogs.. clearly our best win of the season.. but dogs have been struggling with form and it was in the midfield where that game was won.. not off half back. Yes we beat the crows but they are 1-5.. with only a very streaky win against FC to boot. So let us not think we have unlocked the keys to a premiership just yet. In both tests against in form, contested, high pressure teams we have looked very very ordinary. Downright putrid.
So I am super keen for Thursday.. because a) hope we win and b) I am keen to see how we measure up against the top teams. What do our structures look like under pressure against the best. That is how we will be able to see if our "re-jigged" defence has actually improved since Port.