I believe Choco is finally seeing the light

[FishingRick04]

To quote him from the Power site

"
“I thought Chad’s last quarter was his best for a long time and it was in the back line, so it might mean we play him back there,” Williams said.
“We’ve spent a long time talking about Westy [Westhoff]. He does so many good things and his possessions and marking is right up there with last year, but his kicking for goal isn’t, so that’s the one area that’s down.
“Do you drop him and let him have a few weeks with Centrals to get some real confidence back? Or, do we keep persisting with him because we know he’s our future?
“We will do the best thing for him.”"

Sounds like Chad will play down back for awhile, which I believe alot of will htink is great.

As for Westhoff I agree he is our future and he has been good, so I would probably like to see them persist with him, I don't think his performance against Geelong shouldn't be considered, seeing we were woeful.

If Chad goes back it may keep Damon out.

[dyertribe]

If Chad goes back it may keep Damon out.

I hope so. A player with genuine creative running drive who can both read the play expertly and defend properly.

If Damon comes in we get the old structure. Carlile at fullback + 3 bigs who don't know whether they're Arthur, Arthritis or Arthbandits.

[Porthos]

Yay. Even more talent behind the ball.

[kaysee]

Yay. Even more talent behind the ball.

How so with a backline of Chaplin, Pettigrew, Carlile, and a mix of Logan, Surjan, Lower, Stuart, Thrustans, a recovering Wilson and Snr Burger?

Those 'behind' the ball are, at best, honest players except Snr who has talent.

[ExpectToWin]

Moving Chad back to defense will solve 2 problems

1) We get the best CHB option (Chad finally playing in a settled position)
2) The need for an extra mid-fielder to cover Chad (P.Burgoyne finally out of defense and back to where he plays his best football)

Hopefully it will also allow for an experiment of Pettigrew up forward so we can get some modile size running around up there

[deeps]

If Chad goes to the backlines, Peter might actually go back into the midfield which would solve alot of problems

[Macca19]

If Chad can go back there, play somewhere near he did in 04-05, meaning running straight at the ball, attacking strongly and creating plenty of run and directive drive...then im all for it.

If Chad is gonna go back there and handball over his head to players with 3 opponents on them, chip sideways, run into trouble and turn the ball over a lot like Peter and a couple of other defenders, then its a complete waste of time.

A straight swap of Chad for Peter might be good for the team.

[dyertribe]

A straight swap of Chad for Peter might be good for the team.

At the start of the year when we were picking our best 22s, I had Peter starting from the bench in a Hardwickesque burst role - not so much for the niggle aspect, but primarily to inject fresh into the midfield at opportune moments (like a tactical reserve for the military buffs among us).

He's clearly lost a yard or two and his evasive ability isn't even what it was last year, so maybe it's time we tried this, rather than have him continue to perform as a clanger'n'panic merchant in the D50 or go into the midfield when he's half-spent and the horse has already bolted.

Thood for fought anyway.

[Loyal2Port]

i agree with a lot of the posts here, chad should go back in defence as I think the straight running will help the club manage his knee.

the thing about playing chad in defence is, what quality of player do we want him matching up against, the best? where chads positive contributions are stifled or do we trust our other backmen to take the best and allow change to defend the 2nd or 3rd forward and be creative.

this week i would love to see chad smash richo up and down the ground

[deeps]

straight swap with peter me thinks.

Carlile to get no1 tall
Chaplin to go to 2nd
Pettigrew to 3rd tall - or the marking small depending on the team.
Chad to float around taking marks and generate run with Pettigrew.

Peter Burgoyne to the midfield to get some clearances.

[portly]

How about Westhoff vs Richardson. Height, motor, good tackler. At least worth a try for a while. Could learn something too.

[hereselmo1]

How about Westhoff vs Richardson. Height, motor, good tackler. At least worth a try for a while. Could learn something too.

I very much doubt westie has the motor to go with richo.

[Power King]

Agree with height and tackler, but not motor.

Would be good experience for a quarter or so though.

The way I view Hoff's year is one of investment. Pain now, but he'll be better for it in the future.

[portentous]

Richo has too much strength for the Hoffman.