This whole trade Fyfe, Fyfe's going to be a distraction, Fyfe is going to mess with our midfield mix, and even 'play-Fyfe-forward' for me is laughable.
If you take Melbourne as the current archetype, and sporting dynasties, everyone knows their role and job on game day. This includes what you're not meant / allowed to do. A man's got to know his limitations
Look at the Melb mids, wingers, and utilities (HB, HF and mid) some are asked to:
- win the ball at the source and get it out to others
- be designated user of the footy going i50 and from defensive 50
- provide offensive and/or defensive run
- provide spacing / positioning / blocks or have a defensive roll at stoppages,
- and some rare players are allowed to do it all.
Fyfe has always been a contested ball winning and clearance beast. Statistically in 2022 clearances is one stat we're lagging in. I think we were 12 or 13th last week on this stat across whole season.
So at centre square and around the ground stoppages he addresses the gap in our armour.at the moment.
We dont (ordinarily) do any dump kicks out of defence at the moment, and long may this continue. But we are comfortable kicking to a contest and backing our players to mark the ball or break even. Anyone remember how Fyfe goes in a marking contest?
And if you buy in to the boffins from champion data he is ranked elite for contested possessions, Intercept possessions, Ground ball gets, Contested marks, Intercept marks, Centre clearances, Stoppage clearances.
The elephant in the room - disposal efficiency.
His career DE is higher than Petracca and Touk Miller are tacking this year. Anyone chipping them in the press? It sits just below Neale and Oliver's season to date. (Outlier is Cripps who is winning and using it better than everyone else).
Role I'd like to see him play for us. Is one Oliver plays for Dees. Win it at the coal face. More handballs than kicks, and release their better users and runners. And you know how many goals he's kicked this year? One!!!! And no one in press is calling him out over it.