Midfield Ray

[dog town]

Ray won about the 2nd least % of contested possessions last year. Ie. For every possession he had, only about 10% were won in traffic. Only the Powers Lonie was worse. I think Ray is definently more suited to a wing - I watched at numerous times last year while he stood by and didn't throw himself into a contest, where as players like Cross, Boyd etc were regularly throwing themselves into contests and tackles to win games. I don't know if its a confidence thing due to his size - but if he wants to play in the centre square and be a good inside midfielder, he has do to better, much better.

Ray's kicking also let's him down a lot - so if he wants to be a good wingman, he has to work on it. I want our wingmen kicking long goals, and penetrating as well as running the lines well. Too often Ray sprays the ball after a good run, even when he has time to compose. At the same time I have seen him spot up some pretty ridiculous kicks from difficult positions under pressure. He has it, he just needs to get it right much more often.
I think he will be a good player, but he has a lot of work infront of him to make sure he gets to that level and becomes a genuinely good player.

Pretty much sums up the challenges Ray faces over the next few years as a player. At the moment he is an outside player who cant kick. He has creativity and ball carrying ability on his side but he wont become a top line midfielder unless he can fix atleast one of these things. Some people might be surprised but at u/18 level Ray did win plenty of disputed ball particulalrly on the edges of packs.Ray was actually well known for his courage

[GVGjr]

Pretty much sums up the challenges Ray faces over the next few years as a player. At the moment he is an outside player who cant kick. He has creativity and ball carrying ability on his side but he wont become a top line midfielder unless he can fix atleast one of these things. Some people might be surprised but at u/18 level Ray did win plenty of disputed ball particulalrly on the edges of packs.Ray was actually well known for his courage

The thing about Ray is that sometimes he weights his kicks perfectly even when under pressure and yet can mess up a kick when he is in the open. Not sure if it is a decision making or out and out skill error but either way he needs to start making some improvements.
Do we have or even have access to a kicking skills coach to try and assist him?

If he could improve his kicking by 20%, and yes there probably is that much improvement in his kicking, he would seriously be a dangerous player.

[alwaysadog]

If he could improve his kicking by 20%, and yes there probably is that much improvement in his kicking, he would seriously be a dangerous player.

We had a very quiet guy who would instruct him perfectly. Was so good at communing with the ball that some thought it even spoke back to him. I refer to the one and the only Douglas Hawkins. What he doesn't know about kicking isn't worth knowing.

[whythelongface]

Pretty much sums up the challenges Ray faces over the next few years as a player. At the moment he is an outside player who cant kick. He has creativity and ball carrying ability on his side but he wont become a top line midfielder unless he can fix atleast one of these things. Some people might be surprised but at u/18 level Ray did win plenty of disputed ball particulalrly on the edges of packs.Ray was actually well known for his courage

Interesting point that you make re: Rays courage when he was playing with guys his own age. As we know Ray is slightly built and until he bulks up a bit then the wing will be his most likely position. However, I believe a transition into the midfield is likely over the next few years and he will be a similar type of player to a Simon Black. This year though will see him definitely start on the wing but maybe toward the latter part of the year maybe given some opportunities in our midfield.

[Mofra]

Ray won about the 2nd least % of contested possessions last year. Ie. For every possession he had, only about 10% were won in traffic. Only the Powers Lonie was worse. I think Ray is definently more suited to a wing - I watched at numerous times last year while he stood by and didn't throw himself into a contest, where as players like Cross, Boyd etc were regularly throwing themselves into contests and tackles to win games. I don't know if its a confidence thing due to his size - but if he wants to play in the centre square and be a good inside midfielder, he has do to better, much better.

I like that - we need someone to feed the ball out to, and I would prefer that person to be one of our better ball carriers, such as a Ray, Eagle or Gilbee.

[southerncross]

Interesting point that you make re: Rays courage when he was playing with guys his own age. As we know Ray is slightly built and until he bulks up a bit then the wing will be his most likely position. However, I believe a transition into the midfield is likely over the next few years and he will be a similar type of player to a Simon Black. This year though will see him definitely start on the wing but maybe toward the latter part of the year maybe given some opportunities in our midfield.

The Simon Black comparisons have been mentioned before but while I am warming to it I am still not 100% convinced.
I agree that the wing is his best position but he is capable of playing in the centre square for the odd burst.
He could probably handle a run with role but I'd question his concentration. At the moment he is a great free runner but has he got the ability to play 4 good quarters and/or shut down an opponent?

[Go_Dogs]

I like that - we need someone to feed the ball out to, and I would prefer that person to be one of our better ball carriers, such as a Ray, Eagle or Gilbee.

More and more we are seeing players doing a role like that, but I think that players should be able to win their own ball. Ray hasn't really shown the ability to go forward or back yet, and if his only trick is going to be on the wing he has a lot of work in front of him to really dominate that position. He needs to be able to play in the square and win contested ball as well as play off the wing and be a good outside midfielder. There are a lot of people that would be ahead of him for the plain old wing role - Eagleton, Gilbee, McMahon, Giansiracusa - but all these other players are adaptable and can play in other areas too. With the addition of Akermanis, Higgins coming in and Addison hopefully continuing to rise through the ranks, Ray is going to have to start either - improving his delivery and his ability to kick long goals, or be able to play a more inside role and get into the centre square rotation. He's a good player no doubt and could become very effective in the role you suggest above, hopefully this can be an awesome year for Ray.



On a side note, Sam Power was next to Ray as far as % of contested ball won to percentage of disposals.

[stefoid]

His kicking is bound to improve - the old 'only played footy for 3 years' prior to being drafted puts him behind in the footy-skils/education department.

what ray does have going for him is a fairly rare combination of engine and top speed. add to that some pretty good vision and evasiveness. Sure at AFL level, someone with his light frame is going to be a reciever, but he has the ability to get a ton of posessions and be creative under pressure- that goes a long way.

[alwaysadog]

His kicking is bound to improve - the old 'only played footy for 3 years' prior to being drafted puts him behind in the footy-skils/education department.

what ray does have going for him is a fairly rare combination of engine and top speed. add to that some pretty good vision and evasiveness. Sure at AFL level, someone with his light frame is going to be a reciever, but he has the ability to get a ton of posessions and be creative under pressure- that goes a long way.

Well said!

[LostDoggy]

Sure at AFL level, someone with his light frame is going to be a reciever, but he has the ability to get a ton of posessions and be creative under pressure- that goes a long way.

Yeah he is a lot like that, he kind of reminds me of Leon Cameron when he first started playing.