Left of the Dial - Positional Changes

[mjp]

One of my fave ever bands (The Replacements) sang one of my fave ever songs - "Left of the Dial". In it, Mr Westerberg lamented he couldn't talk to his girlfriend as they were both touring musos (but in different bands) but he could always search for her 'left of the dial'. Never mind that a savvy journo once pointed out to Paul that most of 'those' bands were on the RIGHT of the dial...he simply shrugged and said everyone knew what he meant.

ANYWAY. We have this bloke playing for us (Liam Jones - you might have heard of him) who was a key defender ALSO located on the left of the dial...aka, the forward line.

Given we are playing in two months, which positional change would you be VERY excited to see when the players return to training tomorrow? Which 'left of the dial' change of scene do you think would 100% work. And no, you can't suggest either Jones or Dale to the backline...both of those have worked already. And you can't suggest JJ to the forward line - that one, well, it didn't work quite so well.

[Countrydog5]

I wouldn't want to see it for a year or two (sorry I know that ignores the question a bit), but I think Bont would be a freakish 3rd tall defender / general in the backline similar to Hodge. His reading of the play, ball use and ability to direct traffic would be 2nd to none and would prolong his career by 3 or 4 years.

To give an answer to your actual question of 'at training tomorrow', I wouldn't mind at all seeing Williams training alongside Libba as a pure inside mid. Has the body size, strength and evasiveness in traffic that could ply well in that position

[Sedat]

When English is not in ruck, I'd deploy him on the wing for stints. He has an elite tank and is a quality ball user by hand and foot. He also won't bet bashed around like he will up forward (where he would still be a handful), which will help him run out games/seasons better.

[Bulldog Joe]

I renominate my 2023 suggestion of Aaron Naughton to the wing or occasional Centre Bounce midfielder.

His ground ball game is very good and he would certainly create some aerial problems for opposition wingers.

It would also open up opportunity at deep forward for Sam Darcy.

[mjp]

With no disrespect to everyone who has submitted ideas...most of these are situational moves not 'MOVES'. Liam Jones is no longer a forward. He is a 100% time key defender. That's what I'm looking for.

Example (and this isn't one I believe in but is what I'm after): Charlie Clarke has fallen behind Arthur Jones as a small forward. We are SCREAMING out for a small defender who is committed to the contest and can kick it to take over from Duryea.

Left of the dial: Move Clarke to the backline.

[GVGjr]

My left of field recommendation is Oskar Baker to the small defenders BP role.
Williams has established himself as the preferred 1st winger and Poulter seems to be ahead of Baker for the 2nd spot. We've also brought in Bramble who might get his chances as well.

Why would it work?
We've been tuned up a couple of times by quality small forwards and Duryea has done a fine job but there were certainly some concerns last year.
With a questionable job security as a winger now Baker should be selling his abilities to Daniel Pratt and at least looking to add that versatility string to his bow. He is certainly quick, he can be tough when it counts and he could be capable of earning a spot as that 7th defender we've been discussing here on WOOF.
It might even allow him to come off his opponent in a run and carry role which he is probably suited to.

[bornadog]

Duryea to switch to the forward line for this year before his retirement and until Clarke and Arty gain a bit more experience.

Duryea played forward a bit for the Hawks and is a good leader and organiser in his current role and should be able to help out in a leadership role.

[GVGjr]

Duryea to switch to the forward line for this year before his retirement and until Clarke and Arty gain a bit more experience.

Duryea played forward a bit for the Hawks and is a good leader and organiser in his current role and should be able to help out in a leadership role.

He has played at least part of a match sim up forward. If we felt we needed a bit of organisation up there it could be a chance.

[josie]

I wouldn't want to see it for a year or two (sorry I know that ignores the question a bit), but I think Bont would be a freakish 3rd tall defender / general in the backline similar to Hodge. His reading of the play, ball use and ability to direct traffic would be 2nd to none and would prolong his career by 3 or 4 years.

To give an answer to your actual question of 'at training tomorrow', I wouldn't mind at all seeing Williams training alongside Libba as a pure inside mid. Has the body size, strength and evasiveness in traffic that could ply well in that position

The Bont to backline was gonna be my suggestion.

I think another woofer mentioned Richards as an occasional mid. Don?t mind that idea although he is a good distributor for us in backline.

Looking forward to seeing Gallagher debut, possibly as a mid, seems like a versatile sort so possibly could play wing or backline (Duryea replacement).

[jeemak]

I had Scott as the rolling up or defensive half forward in my predicted team. He's usually been played further up field.

There's not really a lot more that makes sense to me.

[hujsh]

When all else fails put them in the backline. Macrae's turn. Matty Boyd style. Everyone is going to look at this and say, no chance, it'll never work. And I'll say, you'd have said the same thing about Boyd. And I'll be right.

I mean we do already kind of have a glut of players down there and the role he'd fill isn't the one we're actually crying out for but... has that ever stopped Bevo before?

[Mofra]

Well, given our desperation for a small defender and the way we need all of our defenders to be able to cover ground and get their positioning right without thinking... Oskar Baker as a back pocket full time.

I have little evidence for this, but he does give the veneer of having that little dose of 'bastard' that all good back pockets need and given he's previously played wing at AFL level, holding position and being able to cover the ground well should be in his arsenal.

[jeemak]

Baker panics when deep in defence. It was the first really strong weakness I picked up in his game last year a few games in.

[GVGjr]

Baker panics when deep in defence. It was the first really strong weakness I picked up in his game last year a few games in.

Yep, it's my concern with him as well but he has a few of the other attributes.

[jeemak]

Yep, it's my concern with him as well but he has a few of the other attributes.

The issue we have generally, and Baker has when it comes to small defenders, is that the best small forwards are animals who aren't just quick but also strong.

Duryea was effective in the role at his peak because he was a unit and quick at the same time.

[Hotdog60]

Aaron Naughton to full back....(Just kidding BAD).
Ed Richards into the middle as the Libba replacement when he pulls the pin.
Has speed is evasive and if someone gets a break he may have enough pace to catch them.
The next question who take Ed's role.

[hujsh]

Being a bit more serious I'd consider Artie Jones for a back pocket role. Think he has the physical attributes (I might have a tendendcy to over rate players with good physical attributes for a role) to play on the small forwards that trouble us and contribute on the rebound as well. Whether he has the smarts or determination or whatever mental stats he might need as a defender (or whether he can learn quickly enough) is another question

[hujsh]

Aaron Naughton to full back....(Just kidding BAD).
Ed Richards into the middle as the Libba replacement when he pulls the pin.
Has speed is evasive and if someone gets a break he may have enough pace to catch them.
The next question who take Ed's role.

Macrae
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[GVGjr]

Being a bit more serious I'd consider Artie Jones for a back pocket role. Think he has the physical attributes (I might have a tendendcy to over rate players with good physical attributes for a role) to play on the small forwards that trouble us and contribute on the rebound as well. Whether he has the smarts or determination or whatever mental stats he might need as a defender (or whether he can learn quickly enough) is another question

It's a good suggestion worth considering. In a practice game about 12 months back Jones was run off the back line and was quite prominent. The following game he was moved forward but he did really well in that cameo in back line.

[Axe Man]

How about MJP to AFLW head coach? :p

[soupman]

Weightman to midfield.

Sure he is our only good small forward, but I don't see why he couldn't be very effective and a point of difference in the midfield.

He brings tenacity, pace and defensive work rate, all things we lack there. I think he could be very effective as a Dahlhaus type player there.

[lemmon]

I actually wouldn't mind going the other way and trialing Baker as a genuine forward pocket. He's quick, he finishes his work in front of goal, he likes to niggle and chat the oppo. Not sure if his lateral movement or ability to read the ball are quite what you'd like from someone in that position, but we really need one and I don't think he's in our best side as a wingman,

[FrediKanoute]

I would suggest Bont to CHB. He becomes the tall interceptor and launches from the backline.

[GVGjr]

I would suggest Bont to CHB. He becomes the tall interceptor and launches from the backline.

Do you think that would be a positive for the team?

[Grantysghost]

I would suggest Bont to CHB. He becomes the tall interceptor and launches from the backline.
That is left field! We do need to strengthen the backline, I'd be loathe to move Marcus out of the midfield for too long though and generally if you're a defender you don't rotate through.

[Grantysghost]

Not sure it's mega left field however Garcia as a permanent pressure forward.
Question would be speed and tank so basically everything; I just like his devotion to the contest and think he could be like a little pit bull down there.

[josie]

Not sure it's mega left field however Garcia as a permanent pressure forward.
Question would be speed and tank so basically everything; I just like his devotion to the contest and think he could be like a little pit bull down there.

Like. (My like & thx buttons disappeared).

[soupman]

Not sure it's mega left field however Garcia as a permanent pressure forward.
Question would be speed and tank so basically everything; I just like his devotion to the contest and think he could be like a little pit bull down there.

Isn't this effectively the role he has been playing? The Vandermeer/McNeil role where their chief role is to close down space and not get involved too much?

[Grantysghost]

Like. (My like & thx buttons disappeared).
Interesting mine are there. If you're using a mobile try desktop mode in your browser. Should be in settings depending on your browser of choice.

[Grantysghost]

Isn't this effectively the role he has been playing? The Vandermeer/McNeil role where their chief role is to close down space and not get involved too much?
Basically yes. No one has grabbed it yet, I really rate Riley and think he could do this role effectively.

A lot would have to go right though and I question his speed.

[bornadog]

That is left field! We do need to strengthen the backline, I'd be loathe to move Marcus out of the midfield for too long though and generally if you're a defender you don't rotate through.

I would rather put Naughton down there than the best midfielder in the AFL

[SquirrelGrip]

If we want truly left field suggestions, how about Weightman as a flying intercept defender?

(FWIW I would only try that if we had someone else step us as a leading small forward for us and surpass him).

[Virgin-Dog]

I would rather put Naughton down there than the best midfielder in the AFL
Same could have been said about Pendles a few years back - one of the best midfielders of this generation, and he's played a decent amount of his post-30 footy off half back while still running through the middle. Has arguably prolonged his career and he's now within a sniff of the games record at this rate

[bornadog]

Same could have been said about Pendles a few years back - one of the best midfielders of this generation, and he's played a decent amount of his post-30 footy off half back while still running through the middle. Has arguably prolonged his career and he's now within a sniff of the games record at this rate

Bont is 28 and at his peak as a midfielder. Not yet in his 30s.

We have to do what is best for the team

[Grantysghost]

I would rather put Naughton down there than the best midfielder in the AFL
Well, that's only natural.

[Grantysghost]

Same could have been said about Pendles a few years back - one of the best midfielders of this generation, and he's played a decent amount of his post-30 footy off half back while still running through the middle. Has arguably prolonged his career and he's now within a sniff of the games record at this rate

Not a bad comparison. He's still got 50 games to go to get the Harvey which is crazy in itself.

Bont off half back as he gets older may not be a bad idea.

[Virgin-Dog]

Bont is 28 and at his peak as a midfielder. Not yet in his 30s.

We have to do what is best for the team
Oh I wouldn't advocate for it any time soon - maybe in 2-3 years time it's something we'd consider. That, or putting him forward though his set shot goalkicking probably kills his chances of being anywhere near as damaging

[Bulldog4life]

My left of field recommendation is Oskar Baker to the small defenders BP role.
Williams has established himself as the preferred 1st winger and Poulter seems to be ahead of Baker for the 2nd spot. We've also brought in Bramble who might get his chances as well.

Why would it work?
We've been tuned up a couple of times by quality small forwards and Duryea has done a fine job but there were certainly some concerns last year.
With a questionable job security as a winger now Baker should be selling his abilities to Daniel Pratt and at least looking to add that versatility string to his bow. He is certainly quick, he can be tough when it counts and he could be capable of earning a spot as that 7th defender we've been discussing here on WOOF.
It might even allow him to come off his opponent in a run and carry role which he is probably suited to.

Bramble played backline impressively for Box Hill and is super speedy. I would like him to have first dibs on back pocket position. Agree Baker too who would be my second preference.