Vacancies in the 18 for young players

[hotpie]

With our side back to full strength, hopefully that means that every spot in the senior side is up for grabs. But realistically certain players wont be able to crack a game unless we get injuries.

So where are the potential vacant positions for a young kid to play seniors? (Obviously theres the bench, but apart from that...........)

Heres my take on it.
Key defence. No vacancy. Hall, Walker, Anthony, C Cloke, J Cloke and Maxwell will not get a game ahead of Clement Presti and Wakes, although Maxwell will probably find a spot on a flank or pocket. The tall defenders will however be fighting out for a long term spot in defence as all our senior talls are getting on.

Small defenders: Plenty of vacancies. Lonie is under the pump to hold his spot, Cole is gone, and Johnson (hopefully) will play midfield. This opens up 2-3 positions for anybody good enough to grab a spot. H Shaw and Swan will be first in line (along with R Shaw when fit) but I woudl not be surprised to see a first/second year player slot right in to this role.

Midfield/wing - Potentially some vacancies. Burns and Buckley are getting on and will spend a lot of time forward and on the bench. O'Bree is solid but not guaranteed a spot. The first three to take a new role in the middle should be Johnson Didak and Egan, but any first year player with any form will quickly find himself in the rotation.

Ruck - No vacancy. Hall Fanning and C Cloke will find it hard to get a game ahead of Richards and Fraser (if they stay fit)

Small Forwards - plenty of vacancies - step right up!!! Obviously Burns and Buckley may fill a role here, but if Thomas or anybody else shows any form, theres a spot here ahead of Leon Davis (and Didak who hopefully will play midfield)

Key Forwards - no vacancy. T Cloke Rocca Tarrant and Fraser have this role covered.

[dids4]

im too tired so i wont go too in-depth, but as i see it these kids should play on sunday;

S.Iles - HBF
H.O'Brien - HBF / HFF
D.Thomas - FP
S.Cox - HFF

with JA a roughie if a maxwell / clement type is left out due to being rested.

[Coin_Toss]

Great post, hotpie! :thumbsu:

Key defence:
No Vacancy. Clement, Wakes and Presti have got that area covered. Long term spots are up for grabs though: Walker, Anthony, Maxwell and Jason Cloke are in the mix.

Small defenders:
No Vacancy. Swan, HShaw, RShaw, Johnson, Maxwell Lonie and O'Brien can all make up the role short term. Long term I think we are safe too, but most of them must continue to improve.

Midfield/Wing:
Vacancies. Bucks and Burns will spend much more time up forward and on the pine this year - leaving Licuria, O'Bree, Holland, Davies, Didak, Johnson, Davis, etc on there own. One bloke can possibly replace Bucks' or Burns' spot in the midfield at the end of this season. Long term the same.

Ruck:
No Vacancy. Richards, Fraser, Cam Cloke, Fanning and Hall are long and short term prospects. We easily have enough ruckmen and key forwards.

Small forwards:
Vacancies. The likes of Didak, Holland, Davis (and even) Caracella will spend some quality time in the midfield this year. Dale Thomas, Scott Burns and Nathan Buckley will be hoping for spots to appear in the forward line.

Key forwards:
No Vacancy. Rocca, Fraser, Tarrant and Trav Cloke have all got that area covered. Long term the same.

[MarkT]

Agree with most of that hotpie except I think caracella has a small forward role stitched up. With Didak playing as a forward in the main (or 50/50 maybe) and Buckley/Burns resting I can't see a starting 18 spot for a small forward.

[hotpie]

Agree with most of that hotpie except I think caracella has a small forward role stitched up. With Didak playing as a forward in the main (or 50/50 maybe) and Buckley/Burns resting I can't see a starting 18 spot for a small forward.

Fair enough, forgot about Caracella.

[Lonie_from_50]

Good post. The 'no vacancies' just shows that we do have strong side, with atleast some depth, of players fighting for a spot. I have a feeling that 4 talls may play defence. Wakes and Presti KPP, while Jimmy and Maxwell are capable of pretty much playing tall or small. Jason Cloke may get a bench spot as they like to move him around.

[yeah-nah]

KP Backs: Presti, Wakes, Tex (cough), Hall (cough)
Tall HB Flankers: Clement, Maxwell, Lonie, J Cloke, Obrien, Anthony, The Chad
Small HBFlankers: Lockyer, Johnson, Heater, Swan, Illes,

KP forwards: Rocca, Tarrant, T Cloke, Rusling, C Cloke
Small forawrds: Cara, Didak, Leon, Thomas, Cox, EGan, Cook

Midfielders: Buckley, Burns, Licca, Holland, Davies, Rowe, OBree, Stanley, Pendlebury, R Shaw, Iaccaboochi,

Rucks: Fraser, Richards, Flaps

Says to me we are short on numbers in the key backs so there is really an opportunity for Hall and Tex. Unfortunately qn is are they good enough to take it.

Quality in the midfield is a problem. So is quality for smaller defenders. So there is an opportunity there for younger guys to take an opportunity. Everywhere else looks covered.