(03-28-2019, 12:03 AM)flyboy77 link Wrote:Sorry, I agree largely with what you have said re Special K but i recall his early years, he kicked a few goals and could take a grab - you rarely see that these days. Hopefully, in 2019, he'll prove me wrong!
I accept your desire but I don't expect it to happen.
If SpecialK is deep inside F50 flying against McKay, McGovern or Charlie(Not forgetting Cripps) we've got a problem. If we are not playing the three KPFs together then yes, I accept in the absence of any one of them we need a ruck to make an effort to press forward.
To me over the last year or so a big absence has been the loss of attacking run from Macreadie and Williamson. Their absence along with Docs injury has been huge, we just don't have many natural HBFs that want to hit the scoreboard. Their replacements are too focussed on staying close to D50. Even perhaps the loss of Jammo has had some effect because he often pressed well up the field in a way Jones or Weitering don't. I'd love to see Weitering, who is an elite kick, freed up to press forward of center more often. I think when we anchor Weitering at FB and let guys like Marchbank or Plowman press forward we are the losers! We need to find ways to hit the scoreboard from outside F50, that will cause opposition zones to spread and everything becomes easier. Goal or point defenders are never happy seeing the ball sail over their head at goal.
Long term, in another season or two, McKay will be significantly better at handling body defenders. At the moment relative midgets can spoil his marking attempts, it's something that should never happen when a guy his size has front position. Size relative, I think young SoJ is a much stronger mark than McKay, so I hope SoJ keeps working with the sprint coaches, it's obvious the positive effect they have had on Cripps.
"Ruck, ruck, ruck, ruck ....... Ruck, ruck, ruck, ruck"