Imagine this scenario. The Giants trail by one point entering the final minute of the qualifying final against Adelaide.
Phil Davis has marked inside defensive 50, kicks to Heath Shaw, and they’re out. However, their most experienced player is taking it out of defensive 50, and their only other 200-gamer playing, Brett Deledio, is on the bench, therefore meaning they don’t have as much experience and leadership to direct traffic and get their formation going.
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Callan Ward is directing all this traffic, Shaw kicking up the wing to Jacob Hopper, then handballing over the top to Tom Scully in space. Scully goes for a bit of a run into their forward half, then finding Lachie Whitfield on the hands who is bursting into forward 70 with many options ahead.
However, their most experienced head in their forward 50 is Matt de Boer, who hasn’t directed traffic quick enough. Their young players are under immediate pressure. Whitfield kicks to Jeremy Cameron quickly inside the final 35 seconds, but Hartigan goes back with the flight, reading the play well and taking an intercept mark.
The Adelaide Crows start to slow the play down, making it incredibly tricky for the Giants to win from there.
(Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
Now, let’s replay that situation with Steve Johnson inside forward 50 and his experience in finals knowing how to effectively direct the traffic and formations. It’s all the same up until the Whitfield kick, however, Stevie J has made sure there’s no loose men, with Lobb or Patton manned up on Hartigan, preventing him going back with the flight.
Jeremy Cameron marks the ball inside 50 with 35 seconds left. He takes the full 30 seconds to take his kick, and kicks the winning goal for the Giants with under ten seconds to play. The Giants are into their second consecutive preliminary final.
That could be the difference between Steve Johnson being in the Giants team. They’re ins of Matt de Boer (150 games) and Harrison Himmelberg (13 games) for Devon Smith (109 games) and Steve Johnson (291 games) means a lot less experience, 237 games less experience to be exact.
De Boer has played in finals before, having played in ten finals before, however he has only notched 20 or more disposals in two of those finals, and only kicked one goal in those ten finals, proving he doesn’t seem to be a big game player.
Harrison Himmelberg has never played a final, and being young, may falter under pressure. Devon Smith was a forced out due to a knee injury, but notched more than 20 disposals in one of the two finals he played in last year, and kicking at least a goal in each of those finals, with inaccuracy costing him from having big games.
Stevie J has shown his ability to perform in big games, having played 24 finals, having reached 20 plus disposals in 14 of those finals and kicking 38 goals in those 24 finals.
He is also a three-time premiership player, and knows what is takes to play finals and how to guide traffic. Had Stevie J been playing last year in the preliminary final, the Giants may well have won the premiership last year.
He did have a bad game against Geelong, but is an experienced player and a September specialist, having been playing on the final day of September four times throughout his career, and you would expect him to rebound.
What are your thoughts on Stevie J being dropped? Do you agree that he should be playing, or is it fair?
spruce moose
Guest
Agree on Stevie J, disagree on McVeigh. His return brought profound order and discipline in the backline that was sorely lacking early this season.
Leonard
Guest
R, "imagine this scenario. The Giants trail by one point entering the final minute of the qualifying final against Adelaide" and the ball is 20m from their goal, and it's a last 10 second race between a 34 year-old with dodgy knees and a young Crow who can run close to even time.
Rich_daddy
Roar Guru
A tough call to drop him, but I think the right one. His key stats have been down from last year and he was very poor against the Cats. De Boer has been added to apply some defensive pressure inside their attacking 50, something they badly need. The whole talk about Stevie being a big game player is all well and good, but I counter with "What has done recently?". He was ok in the qualifying final last year, but he wasn't exactly the dominant player. Going back to heroics from 5+ years ago looks a bit dated and stale. The reality is he is nowhere near the player he was and his recent form suggests he is not in their best 22. If the Giants get thrashed this week, my guess is they'll bring him back in.
gameofmarks
Roar Guru
If Stevie J played the chances of GWS being behind by 1 point with 60 seconds to play are none and buckleys. He is now a liability to GWS with his knee.
Ben
Guest
Imagine this: The Giants lead by one point heading into the last minute of play at Adelaide Oval. Talia takes an intercept mark inside the defensive 50 and immediately plays on, sending the ball wide to Cameron on his own. Cameron takes off towards the attacking 50 and from nowhere, Matt De Boer runs him down from behind and strips the ball. Just as likely as Stevie J calling the shots from the opposite position. The difference being, De Boer has been doing it all game and is integral to the Giants being in front.
Conor
Roar Guru
Yes, apologies, my mistake - will get that fixed
Paul D
Roar Guru
If they still had the sub rule he’d be a perfect 4th quarter injection but from what I have heard he hasn’t been pulling his weight for some weeks now so I don’t see how they can carry him for a full game in a final. Sometimes you get old. Happened to Scott Thompson earlier this season, happens to Stevie J, happens to us all. Stevie will probably regret his indiscretion even more from last season because I daresay it wound up costing him playing in a final at GWS.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
Except that (based on his recent form), it's entirely likely he would be such a liability the game wouldn't be that close. Great player, great career, but hung on for a season too long. Isn't the first time a player has done that and it won't be the least (I fear Jarrad McVeigh will be in the same boat for the Swans next year).
Brayden Rise
Roar Pro
I think with the need to run forward and back like basketball nowadays sadly you can't afford to keep your X factor player in the side just for that one minute of magic. Players need to be aerobic beasts now and just one player who can't run up and back all day becomes a liability. Yes you want him there for that moment but you have also had to restructure your team to allow for his lack of running capacity the rest of the game. The trick is to capitalise on his replacement so you don't even need the clutch goal in the dying seconds.
Avatar
Roar Guru
"The Giants trail by one point entering the final minute of the elimination final against Adelaide." Did you mean qualifying final?
TomC
Roar Guru
He's been a liability for weeks. They can't afford to play with 21 players.
truetigerfan
Guest
Absolutely should be playing! I can only assume he's being given another week or 2 to rest up so he can be available for the prelim and granny.