VFL Round 11

[Dave The Man]

Josh Eyre playing forward. He shouldn't be. Far better last year and the preseason down back. Can't work out why he's playing forward when Melbourne has 3 tall forwards and we have 1 medium tall defender in Glover.

Because we don't have any KPF in the VFL

Has way more chance of Getting a Game at AFL Level up Forward then Down Back

[Dark Beanie]

Match replay:

https://www.afl.com.au/video/1148612/vf ... MATCH:6436

Mini match:

https://www.afl.com.au/video/1148365/vf ... MATCH:6436

Round 11 review:

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1149831/rev ... l-round-11

[The Black and White Lion]

Has way more chance of Getting a Game at AFL Level up Forward then Down Back

Not on that showing yesterday. First day back and all that I know. He was well beaten on the day by Casey's Tomlinson. I don't remember him taking 2 marks but that's what the stat sheet says.

To be fair to Eyre pretty much he and every VFL Pies forward were ineffective due to our deficiencies in the middle and the defense. McInnes and Johnson's games weren't much better to watch than Eyre's although they moved up the ground and got a bit more of the ball without being damaging.

We got our goals from Ryan off half back (nice long goal after a 50m penalty and a head wound from a mark on the wing), Demattia (nice long goal from a set shot just inside 50m), Johnson when it was over and 9 goals from VFL listed co-captain Lane in the first, Sparkes (x1), Farrant x2 (exciting player), Tom Wilson (nice bit of polish) and from VFL top up first timer Mahoney (x2) who was close to our best forward on the day except he spent more time up the ground chasing like the rest of them.

I would be happy to see Eyre settle in defense and get himself right that way. Once he's back used to playing VFL then he can try forward again but there's no way you're picking him for AFL as a forward based on that small sample.

[Kingston Lucas Tuck]

With a view to the future , who would you be playing where ?
( trying to be as positive and objective as possible)

At AFL injuries in the middle and up forward have been abundant ( Pendles, Mitch, JDG , Hyphen in the mids and Jamie, Checkers Cox and McStay up forward ) …and somehow we have covered the bases

The defence has largely absorbed the increased demands , however in a sport like this , all bases need to be covered so “ back up “ defenders need to be readied , both tall and small
Who though ?
For flankers and pockets 5 or 6 players are possibilities but not all have been used there
Reef …quick , good size at 194 and strong kick
TJ …19 and 188 plus very athletic and skilled
Allen …19 and 194 and said by MacRae to be one of hardest workers at the club
Ryan 189 and 19 and has been used in defence over the last two seasons
Parker 183 and showed a bit in his first part of a game . Said to be an elite kick
Harry D 186 and quick first yr ( looked more of a future winger to me)

Maybe also Long 21 and 192 might be used there
Carmichael seems to be under a cloud after a Concussive event but he is a possibility too. Strong, long kick and good ball handling

Remembering that injuries occur and form fluctuates these players must be given the opportunities to evolve in different roles

The ranks of possible tall defensive back ups are thin but that doesn’t mean that Ash shouldn’t be asked to play at CHB where his unique mix of abilities might see him successfully evolve in the way that Howe did

[The Black and White Lion]

Good question KLT. Who to play in the VFL defense?

It has to be Josh Eyre as a key back whilst Ryan, Parker and Jiath are already there and with VFL listed Glover and MacDonald supporting.

Parker looks the best of the smalls at VFL despite being out of the game for so long and having a limited pre-season. Defense is a good place to start but he could move to a wing in future years with some preseason and k's under his belt. Defense is a good place for him to learn for now.

Ryan seems lost with out any defensive structure around him.

Jiath seems to be next in line for an AFL debut if he can stay fit. Smooth move, good user of the ball. Needs to sort out his ankle injury but looks promising.

Harry looked better on a wing on Sunday than in defense but still doing lots of circles around the ball or the opposition player with the ball. Will take a bit of time now reality of senior football has kicked in.

Ash Johnson is worth a regular shot down back. If only to see how he reacts and if his attitude changes. he still hasn't run away from the Pies yet so maybe it's not all lost yet and hopefully Krueger's return provides some inspiration.

We've already got Frampton and Dean playing seniors and they both look good there in defense. Frampton's versatility and our injuries has him up the ground for now but I expect he returns to FB. Having said that Dean's emergence this year could tweak Fly's eyes and he might see Frampton as a better option playing Ruck/Fwd than Cox. Either way we have some options all of a sudden if we get the injured players back.

We will need Long in the middle. Missing him alongside Sparkes at the moment. Sparkes pretty much the only ball getter in the VFL team on the weekend.

Carmichael is better in the middle or front of centre and reasonable kick for goal. Hopefully he can get back out there soon.

Assuming troops return to the AFL, I think Bytel could play down back also as he will be an obvious player back to VFL.

Would like to see McInnes into the VFL centre for more games now he's had a taste. There were a couple of moments on Sunday that are worth persevering with. Will make him a more versatile option also as he's not a marking target up forward, a fast lead up yes or a lead up and sprint back to goal option yes. He's got the speed and evasion skills to excel in the middle and his physique is better than Allen's. McInnes could change as the VFL mid with Sparkes and Carmichael assuming Sullivan will stay in the seniors and Mitchell doesn't make it back in time.

Allen should be out on the wing running lines end to end, shouldn't be in the middle getting pushed off the ball by gusts of wind.