Prediction Changes: Round 3 Vs West Coast Eagles + pre-match discussion

[Spirit Level]

People watching Henry and deciding he's not a footballer baffles me tbh.

To me he looks like one of the most natural footballers on the team, but one that has had a massive (unfair) expectation on him from day one and is only just starting to be able to deal with that.

Natural footballers also look out of place in rigid systems with little to no room for improvisation or flair

 

[go_the_dockers]

The last thing this team needs is more defence.

That is a different discussion. At least hughes brings something to the best 22 and plays his role.

 

[Lach72]

That is a different discussion. At least hughes brings something to the best 22 and plays his role.

 

[freo1997]

People watching Henry and deciding he's not a footballer baffles me tbh.

To me he looks like one of the most natural footballers on the team, but one that has had a massive (unfair) expectation on him from day one and is only just starting to be able to deal with that.

Natural footballers also look out of place in rigid systems with little to no room for improvisation or flair

Issue I have is his evasiveness is poor and he’s fairly slow. His skills are ave too.

Fine with him making way for Erasmus and Johnson. Hughes should be dropped before him though.

Tabs, Banfield and Hughes should be playing for peel from now on in.

 

[go_the_dockers]

Yeah I cant disagree more, his decision making is catching up and his running has improved out of sight. Plenty of other players are making poor decisions without being crucified.

In criteria I would rate highly for him he is:

• 6th in pressure acts
• 3rd score involvements
• 9th intercept possessions
• 10th worst for clangers
• 12th metres gained (though it looks like it's bugged because Ryan has 748.3 on average apparently)
• 4th on inside 50

Honestly, the fact you'd drop him before Hughes is just mind blowing to me. Hughes is adding absolutely nothing and emblematic of all our ball movement problems

Did any of his possessions lead to a goal? or a score?

What is the point of him getting the ball if he doesn't hurt you with it?

He also is not quick enough to break the line. To me he was just sitting on the outside waiting for the easy hand ball and then did nothing with it.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

Did any of his possessions lead to a goal? or a score?

What is the point of him getting the ball if he doesn't hurt you with it?

He also is not quick enough to break the line. To me he was just sitting on the outside waiting for the easy hand ball and then did nothing with it.

He's literally 3rd for score involvements...

 

[ilikepotatoes]

Where's the hurt factor though. Kicks lack penetration and doesn't hit the scoreboard. If I'm an opposition player and there's a 50/50 ball 70m from goal is be more concerned by an overweight, stoned Junior Rioli with a bottle of Gatorade in one hand the Liam Henry ATM.

Am impressed by the shape he's come back in but I feel I'm more infatuated with the idea of Liam Henry then Liam Henry the 4th year player. Early days in the season but would love to see some of the hurt factor that he displayed in the u18s state champs.

He's our 3rd highest player on the list for score involvements.

 

[go_the_dockers]

He's literally 3rd for score involvements...

I saw nothing in the game that pointed towards him contributing positively towards goals.

I guess if you a bomb enough balls long, you will get a few score involvements

 

[ilikepotatoes]

I saw nothing in the game that pointed towards him contributing positively towards goals.

I guess if you a bomb enough balls long, you will get a few score involvements

We must be watching different players.

 

[freo1997]

I saw nothing in the game that pointed towards him contributing positively towards goals.

I guess if you a bomb enough balls long, you will get a few score involvements

Yeah his i50s were horrible. He wasn’t alone though.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

I saw nothing in the game that pointed towards him contributing positively towards goals.

I guess if you a bomb enough balls long, you will get a few score involvements

Bro, that's literally why everyone who is backing Henry likes him so much, he's one of the only ones who doesnt bomb long to a target. In fact, he is so anti bombing long to a target he can bite off more than he should. I dont even know what game you're watching

 

[freo1997]

He also shirked most contests when it was his turn.

 

[Outshined]

Henry is really living proof of confirmation bias. Kid could have a 30 disposal, 3 goal game but then turn it over once with a risky corridor kick and the knives would be out.

He's been fine. Not amazing but basically no one in the team has been great except for Walters as a sub.

 

[go_the_dockers]

Yeah his i50s were horrible. He wasn’t alone though.

I guess the point I am making, as an outside player who is not strong defensively, your skills need to be elite. Especially if you don't win your own balls, or hit the score board.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

In fact with Henry, I reckon if you went back and looked at it, he should have had more score involvements if anyone inside 50 could hold a mark. He had a couple of awesome kicks to Switta, Darcy and Jackson where they were dropped. Yes, he also completely ****ed two up

 

[go_the_dockers]

Bro, that's literally why everyone who is backing Henry likes him so much, he's one of the only ones who doesnt bomb long to a target. In fact, he is so anti bombing long to a target he can bite off more than he should. I dont even know what game you're watching

He kicked it to Schultz in a 2v1 when there were 2 players open. Did he hit any one on the lead in the forward 50?

His skills are overrated, as is his decision making.

 

[freo1997]

In fact with Henry, I reckon if you went back and looked at it, he should have had more score involvements if anyone inside 50 could hold a mark. He had a couple of awesome kicks to Switta, Darcy and Jackson where they were dropped. Yes, he also completely ****ed two up

I’ll pay that. Darcy was awful i50. Check the tapes I’m sure he dropped at least 10 opportunities.

Henry deserves to stay in but he has a long way to go.

 

[stax on the mull]

Liam has the skillset and will do some exceptional things and he'll make some turnovers, but my impression at the moment is that he's kind of got that cheerful personality out on the ground that seems at odds with the fierce winning mentality required for AFL.

Was looking at that last quarter Walters goal and Henry going up with a big smile hugging,patting him, enjoying the celebration and Walters reaction seemed like he was like saying to Liam - just get back in your position and pointing to where his position should be.

 

[Square Peg]

Right hand up up anyone who thinks Ethan Hughes

15

Ethan Hughes

Age

30

Ht

188cm

Wt

87kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.1

4star

K

8.3

3star

HB

6.8

4star

M

4.8

5star

T

1.5

3star

MG

182.0

3star

D

10.6

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

3.6

2star

M

4.6

4star

T

0.9

2star

MG

133.1

2star

D

15.8

4star

K

8.4

4star

HB

7.4

5star

M

5.6

5star

T

2.8

5star

MG

185.8

4star

has more improvement in him than Liam Henry

Left hand up anyone who thinks we're so close to a flag we shouldn't be playing undeveloped players with probable upside.

Unless you have both hands up, Henry stays.

Look I don't hold out high hopes for the guy because I suspect he will never be quick enough in mind or foot to be an elite uncontested player which is all he's built for. But I would like us to try because we so desperately need that type

 

[Dockeroo]

In fact with Henry, I reckon if you went back and looked at it, he should have had more score involvements if anyone inside 50 could hold a mark. He had a couple of awesome kicks to Switta, Darcy and Jackson where they were dropped. Yes, he also completely ****ed two up

I’m between both of you guys on this Henry argument.
He’s definitely improved since last year. That’s much is clear and it’s a positive.
He has good skills, and seems to be able to cover ground better this season.
My biggest concern is his decision making. I think he takes the wrong kick at times still, and that’s there hardest think to coach out of a player. There was 2 or 3 examples of it yesterday that cost us scores.
Overall he’s a work in progress. Still a way to go to be an established AFL player but it’s not impossible.
I have him well ahead of Hughes TBH.

 

[freoextra]

His kicking action also sucks. Always looping, never penetrating or flat. His kicking I50 is always high and so easy for opposition to track down and spoil or mark.

Don’t agree, careful with the footy but good skills of both feet. Starting to get some positive set ups for goal opportunities in the last few weeks with clever handball. Needs development but worth developing.

 

[freoextra]

Happy with the defenders.

Ryan, Pearce, Chapman
Young, Cox, Clark...........Wilson

Mids need a shuffle for contested ball competitiveness at the bounce.

Aish, Jackson, Brayshaw
Darcy, Serong, Switkowski...... Johnson, Hughes

Tabs having trouble running out games and making the sort of mistakes like he is hypoxic

O'Meara, Amiss, Frederick
Walters, Treacy, Schultz........ Henry

Out: Brodie, Taberner, Banfield
IN: Johnson, Walters, Treacy

Banfield back to sub

Hughes out as well, no one can tell me we couldn’t try and Erasmus/Johnson/ Wagner ahead of him.

 

[bushchook]

His skills are over rated, he isn't evasive and has poor goal sense. We expect him to be a kosiah Pickett, brad hill, Sonny Walters he just doesn't seem to have the X factor.

Brad Hill doesn't have a lot of x factor either, he's just a very good athlete. Henry is more like Brad Hill than anyone imo.

 

[freoextra]

Issue I have is his evasiveness is poor and he’s fairly slow. His skills are ave too.

Fine with him making way for Erasmus and Johnson. Hughes should be dropped before him though.

Tabs, Banfield and Hughes should be playing for peel from now on in.

This please make it happen and I might have the enthusiasm to watch again.

 

[bushchook]

Yeah I have to say I was baffled with the good reviews about Henry after the St Kilda game. He was getting the ball more so that's a positive, but his decision making was just so poor. He's not a kid anymore, it's his 4th year in the system.

He's not a kid but he's only played 9 games since 2021. I still think he can make it, given time.