2014 new boys thread!

[strider]

none of the players mentioned are out of position - they have all played numerous top grade games in the positions they have been picked in

 

[Maroubra Eel]

So you reckon it's best to pick players in position Strider?

 

[strider]

i think its best to pick every player in a position

 

[Poupou Escobar]

none of the players mentioned are out of position - they have all played numerous top grade games in the positions they have been picked in

That's right. Their coaches obviously picked their best 17 and worried about the numbers on their backs later.

 

[strider]

That's right. Their coaches obviously picked their best 17 and worried about the numbers on their backs later.

no

 

[Poupou Escobar]

So how else do players end up learning multiple positions over their careers? Osmosis?

 

[Gary Gutful]

So how else do players end up learning multiple positions over their careers? Osmosis?

We are typically talking about a small portion of players who play multiple positions. As evidenced by the fact that only around 1/4 of the likely Origin teams will be playing in a position different to their usual club position.

 

[strider]

So how else do players end up learning multiple positions over their careers? Osmosis?

photosynthesis

 

[Poupou Escobar]

We are typically talking about a small portion of players who play multiple positions. As evidenced by the fact that only around 1/4 of the likely Origin teams will be playing in a position different to their usual club position.

So this 25% of versatile players is enough for coaches to be able to pick their best 17 and worry about the numbers of their backs later, hey?

Looks like big Jack Gibson was right. Of course, you're free to disagree with him. He is dead after all.

 

[Gary Gutful]

I am not sure that you can establish that link so readily.

Just because a player has moved from one position to another, this in itself is not necessarily evidence that a coach has switched them because they are one of the best 17 and need to be fit into the squad. More often than not they are likely in that position because they play that position better than any other player in the team.

Billy Slater is the QLD fullback because he is the best fullback in QLD. Greg Inglis is the QLD centre because he is one of the two best centres in QLD. Big Mal didn't just come up with his list of top 17 QLD footballers and then allocate them to positions. He would have went through each position and worked out who was best for the job.

Jack was big on the sound bite and I understand what he was trying to illustrate when he made the comment. However, I don't believe it is necessarily an accurate description of how most coaches come up with their teams each week.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I am not sure that you can establish that link so readily.

Just because a player has moved from one position to another, this in itself is not necessarily evidence that a coach has switched them because they are one of the best 17 and need to be fit into the squad. More often than not they are likely in that position because they play that position better than any other player in the team.

Billy Slater is the QLD fullback because he is the best fullback in QLD. Greg Inglis is the QLD centre because he is one of the two best centres in QLD. Big Mal didn't just come up with his list of top 17 QLD footballers and then allocate them to positions. He would have went through each position and worked out who was best for the job.

Jack was big on the sound bite and I understand what he was trying to illustrate when he made the comment. However, I don't believe it is necessarily an accurate description of how most coaches come up with their teams each week.

Wrong again. Inglis is the best fullback in QLD but Slater is in the top 17 players so Inglis moves to a different position.

Likewise with Gallen. Do you think he will be playing prop because he is better at prop? He will play prop because only three front rowers are in our best 17 players, and five back rowers are too. So shifting Gallen is the best way to fit them all in.

We'll worry about the jersey numbers later. ;-)

 

[Gary Gutful]

Wrong again. Inglis is the best fullback in QLD but Slater is in the top 17 players so Inglis moves to a different position.

Likewise with Gallen. Do you think he will be playing prop because he is better at prop? He will play prop because only three front rowers are in our best 17 players, and five back rowers are too. So shifting Gallen is the best way to fit them all in.

We'll worry about the jersey numbers later. ;-)

If someone is picked in a position that they don't normally play do you think their ability to play that position is considered?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

If someone is picked in a position that they don't normally play do you think their ability to play that position is considered?

Do you think I think it is?

 

[Gary Gutful]

Do you think I think it is?

I think most sensible people do. Assuming you are sensible then yes I would say you do.

So, do you?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

No I think zero consideration is given to how a player might be suited to a new position.

Here's a quick quiz; you've got two big, fast merkins. What positions should they play?

 

[Gary Gutful]

No I think zero consideration is given to how a player might be suited to a new position.

Here's a quick quiz; you've got two big, fast merkins. What positions should they play?

What position do these merkins currently play?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

What position do these merkins currently play?

Right centre.

 

[Gary Gutful]

Right centre.

I would weigh up who I currently had in my team and then assess the ability of them to play elsewhere if warranted, provided that I was comfortable that they could do so.

This is a simple process that all coaches (including Gibson) would go through.

It involves worrying about the numbers on their back before you lock down your 17. It is inevitable that issues of where players will play get reviewed and considered before a 17 man team is finalised.

No-one just picks 17 merkins and then slaps a number on them.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I would weigh up who I currently had in my team

So would big Jack and I.

 

[Gary Gutful]

But the difference between you and Big Jack is that he would review a players ability to play a position before throwing him there.

You are taking his quote far too literally.