03-15-2018, 07:34 AM
(03-15-2018, 05:16 AM)LP link Wrote:I think if they had wanted it they would have trialled it in JLT, but I think as a quartet Lobbe, SpecialK, Cripps and Kennedy are too slow.
If Meat hadn't played so well in JLT I might be persuaded to swap him out, bring in Lobbe to ruck and Kreuzer as a mid/wing as you suggest. But again it would have to be trialled in the pre-season, in the main season if that setup goes wrong you end up in a world of pain with no way out! Even when it seems right, it would only be fit for use in a horses for courses scenario.
During JLT when we broke from the midfield SpecialK is just another runner. Some of those segments of play with SpecialK, Cripps and Kennedy linking with the smaller mids were spectacular.
What teams would SpecialK as a mid work best against, teams with strong and heavier mid-field like an Adelaide or Freo? Could SpecialK go head to head with someone like Nat Fyfe, but even so wouldn't we prefer Cripps or Kennedy to go head to head with Fyfe? What about Charlie Curnow? Kennedy looks like a ready made to take on a Fyfe type!
Plus, I think SpecialK's best work comes in his 2nd and 3rd efforts, he recovers from the ruck contest and rejoins the chain of play faster than anybody else(Except maybe Natanui who is probably SpecialK's equal in this regard) which is why when SpecialK rucks he is so influential without winning lots of taps.
FWIW, Casboult's 2nd efforts were much better in the JLT, I hope he takes that into the main season as well, but he still let play move away rather than rejoin the chain of disposals like SpecialK does. Casboult's emphasis seemed to be ruck then sit back behind play, SpecialKs emphasis was to ruck then push towards the next contest.
Yes, no doubt Krooz has been on the list long enough - if they haven't tried it by now, they clearly think it's no good.
IMO, the issue with speed is not so critical with the inside extractors / ball winners, but this needs to be offset with genuine pace on the outside. What is the optimal size/speed ratio to get us a win in any given game ? We don't have players like Buddy, who are "both/and" type players, i.e, both big and great pace, agility etc. If we give something extra in one department, we lose something in another department. The critical issue is do we gain more than we lose in any such move ?
I'm still gobsmacked that my idea hasn't been tried even once. We've been in the bottom rungs of the ladder for ages. It's not as if we're putting a flag tilt in jeopardy.