I'm curious as to what people think curnows role in the midfield rotation is/should be? He does some ok things but I'm not sure what he is in the team for?

It's often said that he is competing against ellard and mclean in the team but my question relates to whether or not that is strictly true...

Is he an in and under/clearance player? (what I see mclean as, ellard partially as) - well 5 clearances from 2 games might suggest otherwise. I think mclean is a better pure clearance player?

Does he block enough for our other mids? - no idea to be honest. Need to watch him more closely in games to see if he does that. Anyone able to comment?

Run and spread type player? (seen mentioned a few times) - well he runs well but his disposal efficiency appears a bit too low for that role (69.44% - 17th in team). If this is his role, then should we be looking at players with better disposal? (collins, walker taking his spot in the team etc)

Lockdown player? - not sure but I would have thought joseph offered more as a tagger

For discusssion purposes, from 2 games this season, curnows stats have been
18 disposals/game @ approx 1:1 K/H ratio, approx 66% contested (reasonable)
4.5 tackles/game (good)
69.44% DE (poor)
2.5 clearances/game (6th in team but poor if that is his role)
2.5 1%rs/game (equal 8th, good)


Anyway, in summmary,
1. What is curnows role in the team? (and how do you rate his performances thus far?)
2. Where does he need to improve
3. If he doesnt perform, who would replace him? (ie if its run and carry role, mclean might not be the first choice replacement?)

He adds quality depth to our midfield.
The stats also demonstrate that whilst he's not outstanding in any of the metrics supplied, he's competent in most which some of our peripheral mids are not. (Brock, no strength in the tackle, Ellard doesnt cover the ground as well as Curnow)
Most importantly, he's very good at some of the intangibles which stats dont pick up like defensive running. Curnow gets back quickly to assist our defence better than any of our midfielders.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Brock McLean 104 career games over 8 seasons 26 yo (13 games/season)
David Ellard 27 career games over 4 seasons 23 yo (7 games / season)
Ed Curnow 12 games over 1 season 22 yo (12 games/ season)

Who do you think has more UPSIDE?

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Ecclesiastes 1:4, "One generation passes away, and another generation comes: but The Blues abide forever."

It is no longer about building a team to challenge for the Flag - we are not looking for upside we are looking for the here and now - We are there

You can see Curnow has upside but at the moment to me is an average footballer at best - and I think Maclean would offer more to the side than him but Brocks problem is that he plays a role in the team that is played by the best player in the entire comp - so it is not Curnow or Ellard that keeps him out it is Judd

Curnow needs to improve his output - Defensive running is no reason to be kept in a side that is challenging for the flag we need an impact off everyone accross the board - and I dont think Curnow provides enough of an impact to keep others out of this team - He got caught regulary against light weights in Brisbane through indecision - Mistakes like that in big games cost you - He may well only be 22 and learning the game and he may well turn out to be an elite mid fielder but where the team is at right at this moment I think there are better options on the list .

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If you allow the Government to change the Laws in an emergency
They will create an Emergency to change the Laws

You cant be serious ? Did you see his gut running on Thursday night, and his goal assists?

He is very good in close and often hard to see the little things he does.

Yeh, he has the odd poor kick, but his good far outweighs few errors he makes.

I think Curnow has been outstanding in his two games this year. Yeah he has had a few blips, but he has run hard, tackled and been in the tough stuff.

The one who I hope fires up for this weekend is Mitch Robinson.

He was a bit flat against Richmond until the last quarter maybe due to match practice, and was okay/better against Brisbane but that was a cakewalk.

A fired up Robbo at the contests will surely help improve our contested possession and maybe damage a few egos the other way.

If the game was only about running Robert De Castello would have won 9 brownlows

You have to get the ball and do something with it - I'm sure Curnow will turn out fine but I still think Brock offers more to the team at the moment and I don't think the club is doing the right thing by Brock

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If you allow the Government to change the Laws in an emergency
They will create an Emergency to change the Laws

Agree, thought Mitch has been a bit flat footed and slowish so far. But no doubting he puts himself over the ball for sure. Love him and would sure love him to rough some colliwobbles up tommorrow.

Spot on.

Curnow along with Carrazzo has been the cause of several opposition turnovers in the past 2 weeks.
That will not get by Ratten and nor will Curnow presenting himself at ever opportunity.

Robinson has been good, but has plenty more to give than for his return in the past two weeks.
Expect a step up in performance starting this week.

I reckon his role is to get to as many contests as possible (which he does well with his hard gut running) and to fight tooth and nail tight in the bubble to make sure the ball only comes out on our terms. He is good at it but has room for improvment. Cant really measure his imput with the newspaper stats. The coaches will have a completely different set of stats that would tell the true story.

His disposal when used as a link man and his awareness in space can improve but isnt shocking.

That's how i see it anyway.

Agree with club blue vain etc - because of fitness and speed gets to a lot of contests and fights hard to get the ball going our way in contested situation - I dont think he is as good as an extractor as McLEAN in a pure sense but in almost every other attribute he is in front particularly when we dont have the ball or we need to spread when we have the ball
Still needs to when he has ball have greater awareness - got caught a couple of times with ball against Richmond -and disposal needs to be worked on and also kicking for goal
I think our performance around the packs dropped off when he got injured last year

A definite first 22 starter for me

Agree also about Mitch - interrupted pre-season means a more low key start than usual but hopefully with the carringbush and the bummers in the next 2 rounds he will work himself into good form

Agree with the above you cant appreciate Curnows gut running from the TV because you dont see it. His hunger for the contest is A-rate and will get better.

Curnow’s role for mine is to eventually make way for Kreuzer when Robbie Warnock gets back and in form.

Kreuzer is not only better than Curnow in every way but also, IMO, will become the next Kouta if he is allowed to play this position.

So a midfielder is holding his spot at the moment for a RUCKMAN ? Um dont think so...... Make no mistake he is important to this team, when he went down last year it was quite noticeable.

Good for his ego to hear that...this may belong in the "favourite course" thread though

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Correct on both counts.
This guy will keep going when most mortals stop.
He didn't take out the time trial and continually beat Judd in 200 and 400 mt. sprints, because he is soft of mind.
Curnow has a will that coaches just love.

I think Curnow has the discipline and concentration to fulfill his team role - a valued 'soldier'

First possession isn't covered in these metrics, and I'd suggest he'd be responsible for a good few along with Murphy & Judd.

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29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

He and Robbo are the battering rams to help out the silk like Judd, Murph and Simmo...

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James Hird and Essendon* FC - #FOREVERDRUGCHEATS

Wow!!! three players... one position

My moneys on Ed but would love to see Broccoli get another look

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“I would rather have questions that can't be answered than answers that can't be questioned.” ― Richard Feynman