The Buck Stops Here.
Nathan Buckley has gone through his five biggest takeaways from the weekend of footy.
He has touched on Collingwood, Carlton, Melbourne and an underrated Magpie.
1. No concern for Collingwood’s ruck stocks
“I’ve got last night’s game well and truly in my mind.
“The Pies’ ruck stocks, with Brodie Grundy out, was never going to be a concern. Darcy Cameron and Mason Cox have the capacity to do it, it’s more about the second tall forward, but Darcy Cameron’s game was really strong last night.
“That’s not to undermine Brodie Grundy’s impact on the team, but in terms of balance, the challenge for Collingwood is their aerial presence in the front half and in wet conditions like yesterday (Sunday), not a concern, and Ollie Henry stood up.”
Garry Lyon added: “That’s a $7 million investment from Collingwood for someone that you said without him is not a big deal.”
Buckley: “I think for the balance of the side it’s a big deal.
“When ‘Brodes’ comes back I think Collingwood are improved because their prospects in the front half of the ground are improved.
“I think Darcy Cameron is actually a really good ruckman and will continue to be strong in that role given that he’s actually their next best aerial target in the front half and I think Craig McRae is trying to keep that ruck role filled so that Darcy Cameron can go forward, but I think his best position is actually in the ruck.
“Let’s watch and see on that one.”
2. Carlton the biggest mid-season improver
“I reckon the Blues are the most improved team in the year.
“And that’s not compared to their last year, I think that’s evident, but since the season has been going, I think they’re the most improved team in-season.
“They were 3-0 at the end of Round 3 when they hadn’t lost a game, I think their improvement since that point exceeds every other team’s improvement in-season.
“They’re withstanding Harry McKay, who’s been one of their standout players who’s not in the side, they’re actually starting to rotate now.”
Lyon said: “(Zac) Williams, (Mitch) McGovern, (Jack) Martin, (Marc) Pittonet all out.”
Buckley: “They’re now playing like a solid unit together in all phases of the game. Now they’re going to take on more top eight teams over the next five or six weeks and the challenge for them is to see how they can execute the brand that is very established and is doing the job for them against better opposition.”
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3. Demons and Blues the league’s best contested ball teams
“In that sense, and this is number three, Melbourne and Carlton are the best contested ball sides in the competition.
“It’s not just about winning balls at stoppage … it’s not just when the ball is in a contested one-on-one, do you put enough pressure on the opposition when you’re outnumbered?
“I think Melbourne are the best when they’ve got two Melbourne players and three or four opposition players, they pressure to prevent the opposition getting away just as much as when they win the ball in that situation. Carlton is doing that as well as anyone.
“Keep an eye on that because the best sides in the competition do that. That’s why St Kilda are going well, that’s why Melbourne have been so good over the last couple of years.”
4. Importance of resting and managing players
“Resting and managing players is an underrated, under the surface aspect of team’s performances that we see throughout the season – and Tom Mitchell over the last couple of weeks is evidence of that.
“I’m going to ask you a question Gaz: He missed a game and there was obviously a fair bit of criticism for his game two weeks ago. Got rested, came back in, went back into the midfield and was a significant performer for Hawthorn in their win against Brisbane.
“Is he a tried and true rolled gold midfielder and should you just play him there?”
Lyon: “It’s interesting because Sam Mitchell was on the record of saying we don’t necessarily want Tom or need Tom to be getting 35 or 40 touches, and then he played him outside the centre square, then he tried to develop his forward instincts, and then he got the flu and was crook.
“He came back in – they got absolutely pulverised in the middle of the ground in the game that he missed – he goes back in, has 36, if not best on ground or the best handful. I reckon there’s your answer.”
Buckley: “Does what a Brownlow Medallist does.
“The other thing that Hawthorn is doing is with their young players. They’ve played seven of the top eight sides and they’ve performed really admirably, 4-6, they’ve rotated their young fellas as well.
“The sides that do that well – we saw Scott Pendlebury after a week out came back into the midfield, been tried as a half-back, put back into the midfield in those conditions and had a significant game.
“While we look at the physical aspects of resting, the biggest aspects are the mental and emotional regeneration or considerations.”
5. Underrated Magpie keeps on keeping on
“The last one this morning, and it’s got a Collingwood feel.
“I unashamedly love this bloke. Jack Crisp, whose performances over years have been that consistent, he’s one of the most underrated players in the competition.
“But once again yesterday, he stood up and keeps going, even though he was apparently crook himself. A great game yesterday.
“His 173rd game in a row … it doesn’t matter what the conditions are, he just keeps running, he does the basics of the game really well … does he fly under the radar?”
Lyon: “I don’t think anymore.
“I think that’s absolutely a reasonable comment in years gone by, but I think everyone’s got an appreciation for what Jack Crisp is able to do week in, week out.”
Buckley: “Arguably Collingwood’s best player.”