Budzy, if you don't run 12km in a game, you should be dropped IMO.

Richo ran 14km and he is a lumbering oaf, but will bust a gut to get to the ball when switched on.

...you don't belong" or something like that, was what the boys on 'On The Couch' were banging on about last night. And they're spot on!!! ...and they mean run hard and run your guts out and break the lines and create!

I'd say Simmo and Juddy are far and away our best runners. Murph AW & Scotto go pretty hard as well but there's not much after that.

We need more?

Who??

..and whom do they replace

Banno and Houlahan.

Both have no future with this club. As talented as Houla is, he is to slow and to soft.... kick him to curb and throw Banno out with him

Banno and Houlahan.

Both have no future with this club. As talented as Houla is, he is to slow and to soft.... kick him to curb and throw Banno out with him

So, nothing meaningful to contribute to the thread then Melvey?!

Didn't think so - just shitcanning players in the team you support at any opportunity again, right??


Anyway...

One of the only positives I've seen come from the Richmond game was Simmo and Judd carrying the ball through the corridor from half-back to half-forward - like you said budzy, creating something.

The wonderful thing about carrying the ball is that - apart from being run down and tackled - you are not at risk of dodgy possession or turnovers... and if you are quick enough or have enough support from your team-mates you are not going to get run down in the first place.

Grabbing the ball and running is THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY of getting the ball from the forward to the back with no errors.

Betts has the pace, Banno has it - who knows if either would be effectively used in that role. Apparently Anderson is damn quick too, right? Apart from that you would probably look at Carazzo (better for him to run with the ball than kick it anyway ), Armfield, Pffeifer... heck I dunno.

But running with the ball is definitely the way to go.

How is what i said deemed as being not being meaningful.

I ask you and please be honest, would either get a gig in any other of the 15 teams.... hell no we wont go.

I have mentioned it before we are missing some spark, some flair. The team we fielded was to one dimensional, no tricks in the bag, no player who can burst and weave through a pack, do that something out of the ordinary but is natural.

Banno did his job on Deledio but shutting down one player is not enough these days. He turned the ball over, has no pace to burn, he doesn't win enough of the ball.

Houlahan is soft. The quicker the club moves this bloke on the better we will be. He does not work hard enough. We all witnessed over round 1 you got to run and run hard. Houla has been fortunate over the years to be selected in a side that had no depth, he didn't have to work hard for his position and the day he dived out of the way when buddy took that mark was the last game he should have played for this club.

These tough decisions have to be made just like they made with Lance. We need to inject pace into the squad.

We have to learn to let go

Good list Bondi... But I'm more interested in your assessment of foot speed v. game speed in those players listed above.... By 'game' speed, I don't just mean a player's ability to find space in congested areas (although it is the most visible result), but the combination of agility and awareness.

Also, how you would rate those players' pace if they had to turn and sprint the other way... Call it a 'second effort' if you like - How far are those blokes going to be able to run at top pace in the opposite direction? How many steps will it take for them to hit top gear?

I see foot pace as a more defensive weapon, the ability to chase down and harrass opposition players. Attacking wise speed by hand or foot is what opens up spaces and gives the forwards the 1-1 opportunities to break open games.

That's a good point if difference Crusader...the pace in the second effort, or are you also taking about brain speed? (awareness)