Why is Weightman "WELDED" to the Forward Line?

[mjp]

For those who watched the GF (and last week's game) can anyone please tell me how we are working to engage this player in the game when he isn't getting near it.

It has felt like we are playing 1-short...we have a mid-sized player on a forward line only rotation who is battling to engage in the game. Why can't we look to try and build his game into the midfield as well? Get his opponent OUT of his comfort zone (or get him a NEW opponent) rather than have one opponent essentially all game who can play inside a defensive structure?

Why aren't we looking at Weightman as Isaac Heeney rather than seeing him as (to my way of thinking) Stevie Milne? Get him up and around some stoppages...Bont forward, Weightman into stoppage for a few minutes - force the opposition to cope with something 'ELSE'. I don't want/expect him to become a 30-possession mid - we have Macrae for that - but it wouldn't hurt to see numbers in the 20's...

It feels to me that we want everyone to be 'flexible' with the exception of this one player - who plays what I think is an almost impossible role. Even Stevie J used to spend time inside the game...ANd yes, of course, play the forwards IN the forward line but this isn't going to be a 'permanent' move... 5mins here, there etc

[bornadog]

Good Suggestion but is it because he has only played less than 20 games and it is early days in his career?
certainly the last few games we aren’t getting a lot out of him and something has to change.

[Happy Days]

Probably because the position was one of extreme need when he came into the side, and now a lack of scoring options (which is only being made worse by Cody’s lack of form) has necessitated a role closer to goal at all times.

I agree though, he needs a circuit breaker because he’s miles off it right now.

[GVGjr]

I've had 2 teams meetings with Weightman since he arrived at the club and he certainly doesn't see him as much of a midfield option and he seemed to convey that neither does the MC..

[SquirrelGrip]

This is a sensible proposition. All players need other bows up their sleeve. Coming off half back isn’t really in his toolkit, but improving in a stoppage could be it.

Interesting Bevo has played many of his forwards on the wing at the centre bounce - think Tory Dickson, Billy Gowers, Mitch Hannan, and last week Josh Schache. To my memory we haven’t seen Flea do this.

For mine, he could be our Toby Greene. We can’t underestimate how difficult it is to play as a small forward these days. The best arguably have better defensive attributes than offensive,

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Great suggestion mjp.

He's been pigeonholed and it's hurting him (and us), which is opposite to our values as a footy club - to be flexible.

His game should translate fine to stints in the midfield given when he's playing well, he's a high energy player who can put his head over the ball.

On the few occasions he has found himself up the ground, he's looked fine in terms of navigating traffic and ball handling so I'm not sure why we're hellbent on chaining him to the forward line.

He really needs a change and this could be it.

[comrade]

We play everyone else through the midfield, why not give him a crack.

[Mofra]

I'll bite - because other players are better at it? He's not Toby McLean and I don't think he has that versatility in his game (yet).

Our forwardline is build on players doing 'something' when they don't have the ball - Hannan blocks, VDM leads the comp in 'repeat sprint efforts', etc. Weightman needs to develop 'something' because when he isn't getting near it (soemthing that all small/mid forwards go through), the best we can hope for is a bit of jumping around when he's on the mark.

The issue is more that Weighman has a habit of slipping into 'low percentage' mode, often trying to take mark of the year when his best option would be to put a little bit of body contact on his opponent, double back and run onto the loose ball. I think he has promise but he has a lot of growth left in his game.

[mjp]

I've had 2 teams meetings with Weightman since he arrived at the club and he certainly doesn't see him as much of a midfield option and he seemed to convey that neither does the MC..

I'm not talking about playing as a full time mid. I'm talking about a stats line that is too often still in single figures as we enter the last quarter...

Get him up and in for 3-5 minutes per quarter. Give him a different look at it. Give his opponent something 'else' to deal with. Change the forward and mid mix and give the opposition coaches box a magnet to move.

If this sounded as if I wanted him as a full time mid, well...I actually already think we play one too many (which I think everyone knows).

[soupman]

I agree this would be a good move. Weightman has contributed nothing in the last few games he has played, and while the spark he offers is great getting him into the game more would help facilitate that. I don't have much reference material for this but I suspect JUH is another for whom we don't really have a viable plan B to get him into the game when struggling. Certainly against Essendon it seemed like he set up camp in his defenders pocket and never ventured out of it, and while thats mostly to his own credit/fault it didn't appear as if we tried to get him out of it (which may've been the point, maybe they wanted to see him work through it).

Finding a way for these guys to provide value when they are down (JUH could have a stint as that intercept mark option that English floats into), (Weightman could have a run on the wing or just push up into stoppages more), would e a good way to still extra something from them for our overall performance and hopefully help them work into the game.

[chef]

Would he have the motor to play a wing role?

Seems to have the gifts to be suited there.

[SquirrelGrip]

Would he have the motor to play a wing role?

Seems to have the gifts to be suited there.

Did Tory Dickson have the motor? Does Mitch Hannan? It's more a strategic starting point before our high half forwards morph into the extra midfielder, then we have a more pure forward running offensively into the forward line.

No-one is talking about this for entire games, more just as a burst to mix it up and get him involved when required.

[jeemak]

I think you should let one of your forward pockets pretty much decide how to control the game in terms of disrupting a loose/ zoning defender, folding up to generate numbers, or get high as an outlet - in addition to their traditional (if that is a thing) forward role.

To me Weightman could be able to do that, but first and foremost, I want an extremely talented and likely candidate who could thrive in the hardest position in footy to be given the chance to do so. If we can get him to be that player in today's game, which I think we can with maturity/ time, then we are so much better off than having another number around the ball when having another number around the ball hurts us a lot of the time if our forward movement is off.

[kruder]

Really like your suggestion MJP I was thinking the same when watching Heeney on Friday night. I think in time he can be more flexible his pressure was excellent in the second half but he looks to me like a guy who has had an interrupted preseason. It still seems to be the key to having a good year.

It's taken Heeney along time to become consistent obviously injuries have held him back but I do think Cody is an elite talent who has more to offer than just playing inside 50.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Weightman got up the ground a little v Carlton and was better for it.

14 touches and a goal.

He still looks like a guy out of form that hasn't really touched the footy for... well, a while. But I thought his approach to the game was BETTER than it has been (it's been deplorable, to be honest).

[soupman]

Yeah I was pleased to see him work to be an option up the ground as he wasn't offering anything forward. If he can give that on days where it isn't clicking for him he becomes much less of a liability.

[ratsmac]

I think Cody is a victim of the fact we look to kick to Naughton most of the time. For a small leading forward he has to continually double back after leading to try be front and centre. We just don't seem to look for the best option in f50 imo.
Everyone is up the ground these days with the defensive press so he's around. He is still finding his feet at senior level and just needs to learn how to stay involved more often.
I get what your saying but like you said we have too mids as it is. It's worth a try but does he have the game nous to make the right decisions to set up forward entries?

[DOG GOD]

We are severely lacking genuine fwds. Cody looks like one so for mine, he stays in the f50

[bornadog]

We are severely lacking genuine fwds. Cody looks like one so for mine, he stays in the f50

Agree, 31 goals in 21 games. He is slowly getting back to form, after an interrupted preseason

[Danjul]

Weightman got up the ground a little v Carlton and was better for it.

14 touches and a goal.

He still looks like a guy out of form that hasn't really touched the footy for... well, a while. But I thought his approach to the game was BETTER than it has been (it's been deplorable, to be honest).
As the ball started coming out of the backline to Hunter Weightman ran (past me on the wing) and made perfect position just inside the 50m arc. He had no opponent.

when Hunter marked the ball he looked towards CHB and held the game up. He eventually kicked to someone behind the centre who then kicked towards Weightman. Hunter never looked in Weightman’s direction. It is hard to learn the game when you are not actually in it.

[DOG GOD]

As the ball started coming out of the backline to Hunter Weightman ran (past me on the wing) and made perfect position just inside the 50m arc. He had no opponent.

when Hunter marked the ball he looked towards CHB and held the game up. He eventually kicked to someone behind the centre who then kicked towards Weightman. Hunter never looked in Weightman’s direction. It is hard to learn the game when you are not actually in it.

And Hunter has a knack or getting the ball, stopping, turning around, going sideways or backwards, and killing fwd momentum. If I was a fwd making space, Hunter would be the last person I’d want with the ball.

[ratsmac]

And Hunter has a knack or getting the ball, stopping, turning around, going sideways or backwards, and killing fwd momentum. If I was a fwd making space, Hunter would be the last person I’d want with the ball.

This is what drives me nuts about Hunter. He's better under pressure when he doesn't have time to think. When he does have time he does exactly what you explained, so frustrating

[soupman]

We are severely lacking genuine fwds. Cody looks like one so for mine, he stays in the f50

No one is suggesting he not play forward though? Just that playing purely in the forwardline he can be a bit of a non-factor, so does giving him the occasional circuit breaker move up field help his overall game.

[DOG GOD]

No one is suggesting he not play forward though? Just that playing purely in the forwardline he can be a bit of a non-factor, so does giving him the occasional circuit breaker move up field help his overall game.

I understand, but with the way our fwd line is, I just don’t think we can afford it, even if it’s a small amount of time. If we had Bruce and a Gunston type in the mix then yeah, I would give him a few mins up field, but we just don’t have that luxury. Imo that is.

[Mantis]

I understand, but with the way our fwd line is, I just don’t think we can afford it, even if it’s a small amount of time. If we had Bruce and a Gunston type in the mix then yeah, I would give him a few mins up field, but we just don’t have that luxury. Imo that is.

So the alternative is that when he isn’t getting his hands on the ball that he just anchors himself in F50 and loses confidence?

I thought he worked up the field much better against Carlton which is what we need to see more of from him…. As well as being dangerous and converting his opportunities when they come.

[SonofScray]

For mine, I’d like to see him get on his bike more often and get up the ground, working hard back to be at the fall of the ball or pressing on the defence if they clean up. He looked his best doing that v Carlton. What I don’t want is him being the target for a contested mark in the middle of the ground, it’s too big an ask under pressure and fraught with danger, especially if he seeks out a bit of contact and the free never comes.

[azabob]

I would assume his interrupted pre season wouldn’t be helping with his match fitness either.

[EasternWest]

Has provided outstanding forward pressure so far this year, his repeat efforts are incredible.

[bornadog]

Has provided outstanding forward pressure so far this year, his repeat efforts are incredible.

Gee he covered some ground chasing down the Swans backman.

[Grantysghost]

Has provided outstanding forward pressure so far this year, his repeat efforts are incredible.

There was one effort where he did about 5 repeat efforts/chase downs single handed and nearly beat 2 or 3 defenders.

His energy is contagious.

[Happy Days]

Between his Mr Perfect style flat back bump selling for free kicks and that change of direction using his knee thing he does, I’m gonna assume that Cody has studied a fair bit of pro wrestling and looked to work it into his game. Really awesome stuff.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Has provided outstanding forward pressure so far this year, his repeat efforts are incredible.

It's no coincidence that when you are prepared to work hard and play the percentages, you inevitably reap the rewards and play yourself back into some form. This is exactly what's happened with Weightman - he's no longer playing for freekicks and he's playing a hell of a lot better because of it.

[Twodogs]

There was one effort where he did about 5 repeat efforts/chase downs single handed and nearly beat 2 or 3 defenders.

His energy is contagious.




Has provided outstanding forward pressure so far this year, his repeat efforts are incredible.



I watched the game from level one around the 50 metre line. It was pretty obvious as the game wore on that the Swans defenders were getting more and more Cody conscious as they ran to contests or were disposing of the ball.

[Twodogs]

Between his Mr Perfect style flat back bump selling for free kicks and that change of direction using his knee thing he does, I’m gonna assume that Cody has studied a fair bit of pro wrestling and looked to work it into his game. Really awesome stuff.

Love it! From now on his nickname should be Hulkster. I have a particular hatred of giving our players nicknames of players who played with other clubs.

Dale Weightman was a great player but Cody Weightman is a Bulldog player and should get an original nickname not a second-hand nickname based on having the same surname as someone else.