SPUD ROCKLIFF!

Red Dirtie · May 28, 2012, 09:33:45 AM

is spud Rockliff gonna play this weekend??? he got injured inn the last qtr with hyperextened his knee, is this serious? Im ready to cull this pr!#k

elephants · May 28, 2012, 11:53:53 AM

If he's out I'll be tempted to move him on... Probably won't though. Haven't got the trades.

Fenno · May 28, 2012, 12:27:01 PM

He isn't the spud it's the bloke who runs the team. Give Rocky a break he does well whenever he gets a chance

Justin Bieber · May 28, 2012, 12:29:07 PM

I could of told you that.

MLS · May 28, 2012, 01:17:09 PM

He will come good, although the deviation is killing me atm

the raven · May 28, 2012, 01:52:41 PM

I am also getting sick of his pathetic scores, however I am not sold on the hype/excuses being made. I chose him over scott thompson based on his last half to the year thinking he would be a consistent pick up which has not.

People keep saying "its vossy" and "voss is playing him in the fwd line".

Yes I have seen him played in the fwd line and probably a lot more in comparison to last year. The real problem is that when he is in the midfield he doesn't seem to be near the ball and is lurking off the packs about 20-30 metres away. To me it also looks like he isn't working hard enough as sometimes he is out of position and not working hard enough to get back or push forward to shark a running goal (in comparison to a set shot). Also with rockliff out of the midfield there are only a few people to deliver the ball forward in which case brisbanes midfield is getting over run by more potent combinations (e.g, swan, beams, sidey, pendles VS rockliff, redden, black). with that example a team with true elite mids is going to win more of the ball.

Even if he is played in the forward line it shouldn't effect his scores too much. Elite midfielders are spending more and more time up forward to rest with only 3 bench rotations (look at swan for example) or to break a tag/reduce influence of tag (stanton. Sometimes may go back though).

He can rest forward and still score well when he has the opportunity to play mids. If rockliff was to play 3 quaters mid you would expect 25 each quater at least. and when resting forward he may only get 15 points for that quater. (25+25+25+15 =90). While still not overwhelming a much more better return than a 73.

Also in recent weeks there seems to be a lack of tackles contributing to his scores. Whether this is a direct result of being played in the forward line for a quater or so his average tackles is down from 5 to 4 when compared to last year so far (could easily change). His last 4 weeks have only 7 tackles laid @ an average of 1.75. As mentioned previously, this could be a result of him being in the fwd line and the ball not being there but it also could suggest that when he is in the mids, he isnt working hard enough to lay tackles OR he is waiting off the packs while others are in there working to get the ball out to him.

Overall verdict- It's a risk keeping him and a risk trading him.

EDIT- Other worthy notable points. Scores this year have so far come against "dud" teams with geelong being the only exception (however there is an exception to this exception).

High scores
Melb-130, GC- 143, GWS- 125, GEELONG- 128

Low scores
carltank- 61, fre- 91, ess- 73, pies- 73 north- 76*

Firstly his scores have really only come against dud teams who leak points (even though gws dont leak many massive individual scores they still allow a fair few points). His big score against geelong was also in the wet so he bagged 6 tackles that game. The way geelong are playing who havent won contested ball count once this year would suggest they arent as damaging as last year. All of his low scores have come against quality teams (still top 8 material for most bar freo/north) and freo being a defensive team. His 76 was injury affected but really only missed about 3-4 minutes max meaning his game time wasnt cut too much and scoring could still have occured.

EDIT 2- With black in doubt who knows how this will affect his scoring. Now means he could get more attention but could also see a move to mid for 4 quaters. Ironically if he plays fwd vs eagles backline his score will be destroyed.

TL;DR- Rockliff is on the slide due to a combination of voss's erratic coaching, an underperforming team failing against other potent mids/decent opposition, lack of form/consistency and a fade off from last year. Could see rockliff holding a 97-102 pt avg from here on in but not a 110avg some would have been hoping for.

While my analysis may not be 100% correct from what I gather I would be happy for rockliff to dominate and average 105+ as I have the dud in my team

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs.

elephants · May 28, 2012, 02:26:47 PM

Hmmm some good points in there raven... I really don't know what to do... If I want another sneaky unique Redden or Dale Thomas are lurking... Or even my boy Matty Rosa...

I'll hold. Blacky out means more midfield time... Surely...

the raven · May 28, 2012, 02:37:12 PM

Quote from: elephants on May 28, 2012, 02:26:47 PM
Hmmm some good points in there raven... I really don't know what to do... If I want another sneaky unique Redden or Dale Thomas are lurking... Or even my boy Matty Rosa...

I'll hold. Blacky out means more midfield time... Surely...

I was tossing up between him and thompson. I just don't rate him as highly in comparison to other midfielders. I really just hope that he comes out firing and does what he did in the last half of last year to salvage a 105 average preferably consistent (none if this 120, 70, 130, 70 bs). Thing I am stuck to having to keep him now.

Ziplock · May 28, 2012, 02:37:56 PM

Just shorten it to spudcliff.

just saying.

Red Dirtie · May 28, 2012, 03:04:50 PM

Thx Raven for the time of this superb analysis, with this concept i might hold him till after the byes and see were he's at, hopefully he gets more mid time now! Cheer for you mate!

treebeard · May 28, 2012, 05:02:02 PM

Quote from: the raven on May 28, 2012, 01:52:41 PM
Even if he is played in the forward line it shouldn't effect his scores too much. Elite midfielders are spending more and more time up forward to rest with only 3 bench rotations (look at swan for example) or to break a tag/reduce influence of tag (stanton. Sometimes may go back though).

Good point - look at Ablett the last couple of weeks. Been playing in defense and up front quite a bit but still getting a ton.

Windigo · May 28, 2012, 05:04:13 PM

Hm, my Red-Rock combo has seen better days.

I'd hold him. But his scoring has been spasmodic and very disappointing. :(

mdub · May 28, 2012, 05:43:33 PM

The only spud here is the spud that made this post! Rocky is a boss, just vossy is probley this showertest coach in the afl and plays his second best midfield in the forwads to much. And that efects his score

HappyDEZ · May 28, 2012, 06:36:42 PM

No mention of Luenberger here that I could see. Could be a contributing factor. I notice his knee was lightly taped last week but not this week so he is maybe carrying a slight knee complaint. Still seems to be working hard around the ground to get to the contests. Pity about his scores as I paid top dollar for him :( P.S. I am hanging onto him - no choice atm.

Red Dirtie · May 29, 2012, 09:33:50 AM

Quote from: mdub on May 28, 2012, 05:43:33 PM
The only spud here is the spud that made this post! Rocky is a boss, just vossy is probley this showertest coach in the afl and plays his second best midfield in the forwads to much. And that efects his score

Obviously you must be real crap at DT or SC because you wouldnt be writing such shizen! This is clearly for DT advice not some stupid Brisbane fan who loves his spudrock! Im not blind as i do watch alot of footy and i know Vossy is another dud who has destroyed Rockliff i just wanted to see other peoples advice if to keep or not as he is now not considered a elite premo mid.