Aitken or Lomax, who should be right centre?

[dangerousdave]

bullshit .. the centres prime job on the bomb is to block the chasing wingers ... Lafai wins us the game doing it.

get into the right position early on the correct line .. it is coached and it is a must have skill for the top centres.

Lafai's brainfart of an escort was lucky not to cost us the game. That's called a penalty 9/10 times.
From an analytics perspective, there is no way that using blockers like that provides a net positive over a large sample.

If that's your example of what the good centres should be doing, you don't hold much credibility.

None the less, obviously happy with the no-call after being shafted all night.

 

[RufusRex]

Lafai's brainfart of an escort was lucky not to cost us the game. That's called a penalty 9/10 times.
From an analytics perspective, there is no way that using blockers like that provides a net positive over a large sample.

If that's your example of what the good centres should be doing, you don't hold much credibility.

None the less, obviously happy with the no-call after being shafted all night.

Bill Harrigan disagrees with you and it must just be lucky that Lafai (any other quality centres) offer protection for their wingers ...

Getting into the right position early is a practiced skill and I know for a fact is definitely coached at st least two other clubs

 

[RufusRex]

Of course that doesn’t mean we practice it .. it is a little bit too much out of the box for a mary plan

 

[Belta]

I'm not 100% sold on Lomax like a heap on here are but I say give the kid a go to find out what he's got.
We know what we get from Aitken and Lafai and thats a 7/10 at their absolute peak. Why not give Lomax two months of footy starting 3 and see if he is an 8, 9 or 10.
If he isn't up to NRL after a couple of months of starts then drop him back to CC but at least we would know what we have.
I don't think we really know how good he is after only 2 games last year where he looked great and a couple of trials this year where he was poor.
Give the kid a crack.

This is it in a nutshell and one of the reasons why I believe many fans get frustrated with Mary. Other (more successful) coaches are giving thier youngsters plenty of opportunities. For us it appears we will need an injury to see if Lomax is any good. And it would have to be a centre at that.

 

[dangerousdave]

Bill Harrigan disagrees with you and it must just be lucky that Lafai (any other quality centres) offer protection for their wingers ...

Getting into the right position early is a practiced skill and I know for a fact is definitely coached at st least two other clubs

Bill Harrigan's opinion is irrelevant to the conversation. Irrespective of the fact that he's a twat, Annesley is the one who dictates reffing directives.

 

[RufusRex]

missed the article on that ..

anyway ... doesn't change the fact that at two clubs that i consider to be extremely profesional the centres train to block and protect their wingers (Melb and Bris if you want to know which ones). Have a mate who has played at both.

 

[RufusRex]

Anyway - this is the definition

Escorts
A player is not to ‘deliberately obstruct an opponent who is not in possession’
Section 15 (j) It will be interpreted to be an obstruction in regards to a player catching the ball from a kick if: 1. A player arrives at the same time as an opponent and obstructs him deliberately; or 2. Deliberately runs an opponent off the ball. This applies to both the kicking and non-kicking teams.

It will NOT be considered an obstruction in regards to a player catching the ball from a kick if:
1. A defending player moves directly towards the ball; and
2. Takes up a position prior to the ball being caught.

In my opinion (not that it matters) ... Lafai ran a straight line, got into position and braced. He was there before the ball was caught.


What is practised is exactly that ... They run to a position about 2m in front of where they expect the catch to be taken .. Any closer and they can be used as a step ladder afl style .. any further out and it is easier to run around them.

Lafai to me ran straight across (as he is entitled), got there first and stopped.

The argument is did he brace or did he "shoulder charge" Garrick off the ball ...

Most of the escort plays this year have been where players are running back with the chaser and changing line to push them off the ball - that didnt happen in this case.


Now - there is no doubt that Lafai stopped Garrick contesting the ball ... But he did it legally to me.

 

[LINESPEED]

Lafai's brainfart of an escort was lucky not to cost us the game. That's called a penalty 9/10 times.
From an analytics perspective, there is no way that using blockers like that provides a net positive over a large sample.

If that's your example of what the good centres should be doing, you don't hold much credibility.

None the less, obviously happy with the no-call after being shafted all night.

Yeah agree totally

But I’m an old fart

In my early days there were few bombs with the unlimited tackle scenario - which was only changed to stop StGeorge’s dominance & run of titles - 100%

So centres passed the fuc*er & had real ball & man beating skills

Old habits die hard & I see bombs as 50/50 Hail Marys & a blight on a game that’s begging for linebreaks with centres & wingers in the open.

That’s when the crowds roar

Give me the Gasniers, Pongas & Lomaxes - you know - thems with fairdinkum skills


- WTF - give us more TA’s, TB’s, LBA’s & LB’s - not AFL corner contests where the penalties now flow & the frig*in* bunker intervenes ad nauseum for a fried chicken ad.

Bombs I call them the poor man’s cutout for the skilless Ones ( ours can’t even catch the bomb lol).
FMD am I agreeing with Waterboy on this one?


Instead of the 5/8 bombing to the midfield or corner, old back lines just ran the ball after the Provans, Clays & Rapers had softened the opposition.

Knives thru butter.

Fuc* it was good



- so run the fuc*er through the hands one more time boys then teach wingers to grubber if you must

Did the Cows win their title on the last tackle thru the hands?

Give us speed & passing skills - not an aerial circus

Reg would roll over in his grave if his skill set now had to end in an escort or blocking run FFS

 

[RufusRex]

There is a documented rule interpretation on it for a reason.
I am not making shit up here ... for better or worse it is now part of the centres game and one that is practiced in defensive formation.

I actually agree that it is a negative tactic but that doesnt change its importance now in the game.

Looking at Rava's ability in the air he needs all the help he can get.

 

[Como Connection]

There is a documented rule interpretation on it for a reason.
I am not making shit up here ... for better or worse it is now part of the centres game and one that is practiced in defensive formation.

I actually agree that it is a negative tactic but that doesnt change its importance now in the game.

Looking at Rava's ability in the air he needs all the help he can get.

CC for Rava
CC

 

[possm]

There is a documented rule interpretation on it for a reason.
I am not making shit up here ... for better or worse it is now part of the centres game and one that is practiced in defensive formation.

I actually agree that it is a negative tactic but that doesnt change its importance now in the game.

Looking at Rava's ability in the air he needs all the help he can get.

If it is part of the training program, does Aitken get special permission to leave when escort training is being conducted lol

 

[RufusRex]

he is still trying to get through basic passing training ...

 

[redandwhite4evr]

I can't see Mary changing a winning side, but in my opinion sooner rather than later he should start Lomax for a few reasons.

Obviously goal kicking is the big one.

I do think Aitken has started the season well but in my opinion his game has 2 glaring issues. Number 1, his passing game is non existent, and when he does attempt to pass it's so bad it's comical, he looks so uncomfortable passing, like he's never seen it done before. Number 2, not his tackling, but his defensive decisions, he can tackle fine, but he frequently is out of position to make the tackle, he's jamming up too fast, or hanging back too long. Lafai has been excellent the last few weeks getting this timing right and it's critical.

Now for Lomax, he is absolutely wasted sitting on the bench, he's there until either someone gets injured, or the game is over one way or the other. I would start Lomax and move Aitken to the bench. If an injury occurs anywhere in the backs, Aitken comes on into the centres and the back line reshuffles. If however, an injury does not occur, you can still use Aitken in the middle to cover 13 and give Lawrie a rest.

Doing this, Lomax is on the field for 80 mins and you have a gun goal kicker, we are not wasting a bench spot having a guy sit there for 80 mins just in case. Aitken can play in the middle, he can run hard, does not have to worry about passing and can defend in the middle where he does not have to make those defensive decisions on when to jam in, he can just get in and tackle.

I think this is best for Lomax's development, but more importantly, best for the team.

 

[j0nesy]

I went with Aitken, but I reckon he has a season (at most) before Lomax goes past him.

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

I went with Aitken, but I reckon he has a season (at most) before Lomax goes past him.

Lomax is already past him, everyone can see it besides Mary..

 

[RedVDave]

Ravawala is the problem not Aitken.
Lomax to be our goalkicking winger.

 

[redandwhite4evr]

Ebbedfred

I don't like this analysis- it makes sense and will make SGI a stronger team. This sort of subversive thinking is exactly what Mary and his merry band of so called coaches, high performance analysts etc will resist as they believe that there is an 11th commandment which only applies to NRL teams- (said in deep booming voice) "Thou shalt not change a winning team".

This, of course conveniently overlooks the fact that apart from the blow out against an inexplicably butter fingered and hapless Bulldogs, SGI in recent weeks have won twice in golden point and by two points against Manly. We cannot afford the shanks and other embarrassing kicks produced by Lafai last Saturday night to be repeated against the Roosters.

The 12th commandment, of course, is that even if the 11th commandment was scrapped, Aitken is not to be dropped/moved. I think we all agree that Aitken can only play in straight lines- otherwise he gets confused. At 13 he can just charge like a Rhino at the defence a la Taumalolo without having to worry about setting up a winger. In turn, he can receive a charging player and tackle him head on. He can then use those powerful quads to break and make tackles.

 

[RED73V]

Up by 40 and he puts a kick in. He needs more control in his game hence why he's picking splinters watching Euan.

I'd much prefer Lomax play bigger minutes in reserve grade and potentially try to bulk up for a future in the back row.

At least Zac knows how to set up his outside man!!!! He showed in one game more nous & foresight then Aitken has in 3 years

 

[Frank Facer]

Imagine if Lomax reads this forum. He would be thinking that 53 to 8 want him in the team, but Mary sides with the 8.

 

[emack]

Just asking if any of the "8" that voted for Atiken could please share your rationale in choosing him above Lomax? Its a forum, so you can't be wrong or right, just trying to understand.