Ratten on Eddie Betts:

As important as Betts may be to the Blues' forward structure, Ratten has foreshadowed a 'higher' role with more involvement at the stoppages in 2010.
"He's one of the best instinctive players that I've seen," Ratten said.
"Around centre bounces, I know every time we put Eddie in there ... more times than not Eddie gets the ball out."
"Last year even with (Chris) Judd's numbers and (Marc) Murphy's numbers inside at the centre bounce, Eddie, by percentage was the best player by about 10 percent."
"Every time he went in, he won more footy from the centre bounce than any other player at our football club."

http://sportal.com.au/afl-news-display/ ... rack-88989

I think playing Eddie in the middle full-time (if he has the tank) would give us max output from him and he can rest in the forward. Your thoughts?

I have noticed his impact when he goes in.
Think Ratts will try to rotate him through more and more.
Still think Murph, Judd, McLean, Gibbs are our best options b/c their vision & distribution is top tier which sets up the next play.
But Betts is a great option rotating through.

Eddie's a great first-touch player. Ball comes down, Ed gets it and puts it forward. Nothing fancy, not always to advantage, or even to a player - but forward of center. In this, he's very valuable, as he involves the half-forward immediately, and gives the midfield the opportunity to come at the ball with pace from the initial bounce.

Would love to see Betts given more time in the middle but not sure he has the endurance to make it work. Not only is he good at the stoppages he is very creative and will hurt you with his possessions. With Yarran and Garlett coming on we are now blessed with the option of playing Betts in the middle more often as long as he can run both ways.

I also think Walker is being wasted in negating roles down back and would benefit from playing in the middle. Would make a fine extractor and can run the lines.

Don't want to see Maclean an Hadley playing at the same time.

Conundrum

..agreed, it never takes Eddie long to get a clearance when he's been rotated through the middle..

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..if you can't be good, be good at it..

But his build and tank limits him to cameo roles which is fine. The next center clearance is crucial so you whack Eddie in the middle.

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You want the flame? Give us the marbles!!

..i agree, i don't think we 'need' him spending alot of time in the middle.. ..he's such a good overall forward that i don't wanna take him away from there too much, but if we're getting smashed in the middle and the ball's not even entering our F50 then sure throw him in for a burst on-ball..

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..if you can't be good, be good at it..

I agree. If we had a gun forward line we could afford to give him a lot more time in the midfield. But at the moment, he's our best and most dangerous forward. If/When Yarran and Mitch and Garlett start hitting the scoreboard consistently that could change. But for the moment, we can only afford him to have the occasional midfield cameo.

Considering he's one of the "most instinctive players" and he's had his best ever pre-season, he's hardly spent any time in the middle this season.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

How Flexible and dangerous will we be in the future once/if we get Yarran Garlett and Eddie all fit!

I wonder though how much of that '10%' has to do with Eddie perhaps not having the same level of opposition attention as the heavily-tagged Murphy and Judd.

..he's still too quick/slippery.. ..will regularly get loose and in space around the F50 stoppages as well..

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..if you can't be good, be good at it..

I totally agree with Ratts on this one..Betts in the middle is a must this year and onwards...and his fitness must be top notch as he has the ability to turn games and momentum our way with his spells through the middle...this is the main reason why Yazz Garlett and Betts can be played in the same side but with varied roles...

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"Truth, for the tyrants, is the most terrible and cruel of all bindings; it is like an incandescent iron falling across their chests. And it is even more agonizing than hot iron, for that only burns the flesh, while truth burns its way into the soul"     — Lauro Aguirre

Often said this about Betts, games flash back to me of repeated clearances one after the other ... bringing the disputed ball into his body while the ball was heading in one direction and his body another.

However, with the shiney new forward line and him being our most experienced and probably best forward I'd imagine his move to the midfield will be delayed until the likes of Yarran, Garlett, Hendo et al are up and flying. It'll happen, IMO may be a couple of seasons away. It's all good!

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"It was like calling your ex girlfriend after a night on the booze, just a really bad decision".