Nick Stevens of Carlton is pressured by Brent Prismall (L) & Cale Hooker (R) of Essendon during the AFL Round 13 match between the Essendon Bombers and the Carlton Blues at the MCG. Slattery Images
You might not have felt it, but there was a definite shift in the AFL this week. It might have been a minor one, but it was unquestionably there: the beginning of the end for what is known as the outside player. The omission of Nick Stevens rammed it home.
Stevens had, of course, put in a performance well below par in the Blues’ loss to Essendon last Friday night. He had been exposed by the attack on the ball by his younger Essendon opponents.
It was probably the worst game Stevens had played for the club. Essendon supporters walked away chuckling in satisfaction at the superior hardness of their player. Carlton fans trudged away questioning Stevens’ future role in the side.
Evidently, so did Carlton coach Brett Ratten.
Stevens, along with another player who could be considered an outside player in Heath Scotland, felt the cold steel of the selectors’ axe and will spend his Sunday running around Coburg City Oval with affiliate Northern Bullants.
Stevens and Scotland are, of course, not the first such outsiders to find themselves exactly that with their coaches.
St Kilda dropped Jason Gram earlier this season, while Joel Bowden may find himself standing Scotland or Stevens on Sunday for Coburg.
It highlights a change in the thinking of coaches; a change brought about by the way the game has changed over the past two seasons.
Just a few seasons ago, flooding was the buzzword. It created an arena outside players could thrive in, as teams churned through possessions in a way to break the flood.
But the game has changed now.
Collingwood was perhaps the first to really show the benefits. The Magpies had to produce something special to defeat a gang busting Geelong back in Round 9 last year. They duly did.
They harassed, mauled and corralled the Cats, pulling off a remarkable 86-point win. While Collingwood struggled to consistently replicate that performance for the remainder of the year, an 85-49 tackle count in the Magpies’ favour spoke volumes.
AFL football has developed since that May night. Tackling has become a real focus for sides, and frontal pressure – such as that put on by the likes of Cyril Rioli – has become the latest catch phrase.
But the shift has exposed the likes of Stevens and co. Given time and space, they use the ball skilfully and decisively.
And therein lies the problem. The league’s space players are no longer getting that. They are being closed down and harassed into mistakes.
Then, when expected to put on the same pressure their opponents afforded them, they are found further wanting.
Back in the VFL, Stevens, Scotland and Bowden must do more than regain their knack for racking up possession.
They must also realise that the way that footy is played nowadays is no place for the one-dimensional outside player.
They must adapt, or fall by the wayside.
pH
Guest
Al - how on earth does your comment tally, except as a purile jab at a sport that is not your favourite? Cheap comments like this are not what "The Roar" seems to be about. AFL (who is the ALF by the way? - Al's football league maybe??!) players need to be endurance athletes, sprinters, jumpers, have arm, leg and core body strength, eyes in the back of their heads, use hands and feet whilst running at full speed, lightening reflexes, get the ball from the ground to 4 metres off the ground, read the play when the play can go in any 360 degree way...and the list goes on.
Bruce Walkley
Roar Guru
They used to be called "fringe players" or "receivers", and some, but not many, have been of tremendous value to their teams, particularly in recent years since the player going in for the ball has veen victimised by the modern umpiring interpretations. The new art of the defensive forward, about which I wrote back in April, has had a lot to do with it, too. One player who springs to mind as an expert at being in the right place at the right time to receive the ball and make the best use of it is John Pitura. He was so good at the art that South Melbourne and Richmond fought a bitter clearance war over him in the 1960s. Pretty handy golfer, too - he was playing top-grade pennants in Sydney, for Pennant Hills, I think it was, a few years ago.
Redb
Roar Guru
pure gold Pip. I have my own copy on the Foxtel IQ watched a dozen times. :-) :-)
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Speaking of the bombers - they have another big game this weekend, somewhat overshadowed by the 1 vs 2 match. Especially for redb, I all thought we might like to relive that final minute in the ANZAC game earlier this year: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VWhUEt5ZJc
BigAl
Guest
Steven's wearing a cap at Richard Pratt's funeral the other day would have done his cause at Carlton no good at all !
DP
Guest
Paddy its a shame that teams like St. Kilda are making in-roads in the competition.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Good article Paddy, and good comments from Ben and redb. 1. In a roundabout way, it's almost a return to the fundamentals: hardness at the footy, running straight at the ball, being physical in the contest, hunting in numbers and harassing the opposition when they have it. 2. Such developments make sense when viewed from the prism of some basic truths, such as, the flexible player will always be preferred if he can do the job of two specialists just as well. In other words, why have a specialist outside player, if your inside player can be just as good both in and out. Just look at Geelong last couple of years - and then look at the Bullies from a few years ago - and we have our answer.
Redb
Roar Guru
Good article. Essendon's attack on the ball and the player with the ball was a sight to behold last week against Carlton. The Bombers literally worried them off the ball. Footsteps footsteps is the old chant...the Blues were frightend by the footsteps and harassment of a young, fast and attacking Essendon side. When Davey tackled Simpson on the run from behind it brought the house down. Stevens as one of Carlton's prime midfielders has to take his turn underneath the pack (Jobe Watson style), get the ball and get it to a teammate under enormous pressure. Collingwood will bring it to the G tonight - not so easy for Essendon this week. Should be a cracker. Go Dons! Redb
Ben Somerford
Roar Guru
Good stuff, spot on. And I tell u what, it's refreshing to see footy evolve by itself rather than courtesy of the AFL rules committee tinkering with this and that. It makes for a better and more exciting competition when coaches come up with new ways to play the game and that point is highlighted by the joy which I, at least, felt when Collingwood beat Geelong much to my surprise. I'm not a pies fan, but it meant the Geelong monopoly (for want of a better term) was being threatened and it made for a more exciting AFL season. all the more of it, i hope.