Mick McGuane: Release the shackles on players and give fans attacking footy
Amid all these changes, brave coaches willing to try a new attacking, burst style might end up being the big winners. Mick McGuane lists the players who could thrive at your club.
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The AFL got the green light to play on Wednesday; now it's time for the coaches to take that green light and quite literally run with it.
The slashing of game time to 16 minute plus time-on per quarter - changes required to keep the AFL running through this coronavirus crisis - will alter the game in ways we probably haven’t even thought about yet.
That will equate to almost a quarter of game time gone.
With this change comes opportunity for coaches and players willing to take risks and to be daring.
If I was a coach, I’d be looking to attack early in games and put the foot to the pedal - and the throat of the opposition - to try and put games away.
That's why this could be the year of the “burst player”.
They might also transform the stop-start, kick-mark game that has cut scoring back to record low levels in a modern sense.
As Clarko said recently: “no bugger can score”.
All of this might change. And brave coaches willing to try a new attacking, burst style might be the big winners.
Here’s how your club might approach it.
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ADELAIDE
Matt and Brad Crouch are good players but pedestrian in their X-factor and speed. Matthew Nick should use Brodie Smith as his burst player. Smith played the first three quarters of last season in defence before taking on a wing/forward option. He ranks sixth in the AFL for metres gained, so he might be the Crows' best option.
BRISBANE
Dayne Zorko can play that role, but a real option might be using the electricity of small forward Charlie Cameron in midfield for five-minute cameos. Cameron did it a bit at Adelaide. He is a very good deep forward, but what a weapon it would be if he could go in there and change the dynamic of games.
COLLINGWOOD
Jordan De Goey was made for this role. Like Dustin Martin, he is the template. The Pies have been looking to give Jamie Elliott more time in the middle. I'm yet to see enough evidence this role suits him. Jaidyn Stephenson is good when isolated in attack, but his top-end acceleration in the midfield could be a weapon.
ESSENDON
With Devon Smith returning, it might provide John Worsfold and Ben Rutten with the opportunity to allow Dylan Shiel to play a slightly different role. Smith could do some of the grunt work in the middle, which might allow Shiel to play forward early in games. Then the coaches could say 'Let's inject Shiel in there for a quick burst'. His teammates would know that's the signal for the green light of all-out attack.
FREMANTLE
Michael Walters is your man. You still want him forward, to kick goals and apply pressure. He was only one of three mid-forwards to rate elite in rankings points. But the damage he can do as that burst player could wreak havoc on opposition teams.
GEELONG
The Cats have midfield bulls in Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield and use Mitch Duncan for outside balance. Nakia Cockatoo might have been the excitement machine required as a circuit breaker if his body hadn't let him down. Brandon Parfitt could fill the role. But I would be using Gary Rohan. Get him up to a wing for periods, a role he played at times in Sydney.
GOLD COAST
The acquisition of Hugh Greenwood is a masterstroke. His work with the Crows last year saw him stand up when others didn't. Darcy Macpherson has been a Supercoach spruik player since the pre-season games and he can be another player used in there at stages.
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
I’m a massive fan of Toby Greene. This quickfire, attacking footy will suit him down to the ground. He brings a level of creativity and spark that few players can boast and wins win his own footy - a rare combination.
HAWTHORN
Last year Paul Puopolo scored his lowest number of goals since moving forward in 2012. But his defensive output was still high. So why not stimulate 'Poppy' by throwing him into the middle for short periods to bring that helter-skelter style that seems to suit.
MELBOURNE
Christian Petracca was seemingly born to play this role and anyone who saw his first pre-season game (38 disposals) would know why this shift in attacking philosophy will suit. The Demons' new fitness guru Darren Burgess has done a great job in getting him better prepared physically. His natural instinct when he gets the ball is to go forward, not laterally, as so many others do.
NORTH MELBOURNE
Rhyce Shaw might be ready to unleash the two Z's - Jack Ziebell and Cam Zurhaar. Zurhaar is a pressure machine. He has that power and speed to break lines, even if I don't know whether he has the tank to do it for long stretches. This could add another string to bow.
PORT ADELAIDE
We were always going to see more of Connor Rozee in the midfield this year, but this move to burst players would guarantee it. He will get plenty of attention from the opposition this year as a permanent forward, so this role will act as a release valve.
ST KILDA
This might be the chance to use Jack Steele in a more offensive role. He knows how to get the footy, so why not utilise it. Jade Gresham looks much fitter and ready to go to the next level. He can play forward and mid when the demands require.
SYDNEY
The gap between Isaac Heeney's best and worst must be narrowed. We see a few minutes of brilliance then he can go missing for periods. As much as Tom Papley is required as a goalkicker, his competitiveness, creativity and ball use means he is also an option.
WEST COAST
With the addition of Tim Kelly to an already strong midfield, this might provide the opportunity to play Elliot Yeo in a different role. He is a strong contested ball winner, but with Kelly and Luke Shuey in there, why not use Yeo as a forward or back and then inject him to complement Nic Naitanui in there, giving them the licence to have that burst mentality.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Jason Johannisen has a great run-and-carry game out of defence, but maybe now is the time to allocate some time for him through the midfield in bursts. He doesn't look to have a great endurance base, but let's maximise his speed by giving him four or five minutes around the midfield per quarter.