Player Watch Aliir Aliir

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ALIIR Aliir has put his hand up to tackle the one hole Port Adelaide was unable to fill last trade period, that of a readymade tall defender.
The Power recruited shrewdly last October as they look to return to finals this year, bolstering its midfield (Jason Horne-Francis) and small forward department (Junior Rioli).

But efforts to lure an experienced backman, notably Esava Ratugolea from Geelong, were unsuccessful, although they were able to sign young defenders Tom McCallum and Kyle Marshall through the national draft. But Ken Hinkley's missing piece could be found from within, according to Aliir. Aliir, at 195cm, is the tallest of Port's key defensive batch featuring Tom Jonas (188cm) and Tom Clurey (193cm).

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Aliir open to role change as Port look to plug defensive hole

Port Adelaide's Aliir Aliir has put his hand up to play on the competition's biggest forwards this season
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He played that role well enough in the last few rounds last year, mainly out of necessity. Granted against awful teams in Essendon and Adelaide, but still against decent players with Wright and Walker.

He played it more like Steven May, taking the opposition's best at fullback, but with them often the target, still going for intercepts. Not convinced it'll work against a Hawkins type, but it could work well enough against most teams.

Still leaves a hole though. With that setup, I think we can only really play 1 of Jonas/McKenzie/Clurey to take the second tall, or be able to swap with Aliir if it isn't working. Then we need someone else who can take a third tall and play as interceptor to replace Aliir. Who's that?
 

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Gryllis said:
He played that role well enough in the last few rounds last year, mainly out of necessity. Granted against awful teams in Essendon and Adelaide, but still against decent players with Wright and Walker.

He played it more like Steven May, taking the opposition's best at fullback, but with them often the target, still going for intercepts. Not convinced it'll work against a Hawkins type, but it could work well enough against most teams.

Still leaves a hole though. With that setup, I think we can only really play 1 of Jonas/McKenzie/Clurey to take the second tall, or be able to swap with Aliir if it isn't working. Then we need someone else who can take a third tall and play as interceptor to replace Aliir. Who's that?
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Burton or Finlayson
 
Holden Hillbilly said:
ALIIR Aliir has put his hand up to tackle the one hole Port Adelaide was unable to fill last trade period, that of a readymade tall defender.
The Power recruited shrewdly last October as they look to return to finals this year, bolstering its midfield (Jason Horne-Francis) and small forward department (Junior Rioli).

But efforts to lure an experienced backman, notably Esava Ratugolea from Geelong, were unsuccessful, although they were able to sign young defenders Tom McCallum and Kyle Marshall through the national draft. But Ken Hinkley's missing piece could be found from within, according to Aliir. Aliir, at 195cm, is the tallest of Port's key defensive batch featuring Tom Jonas (188cm) and Tom Clurey (193cm).

www.afl.com.au

Aliir open to role change as Port look to plug defensive hole

Port Adelaide's Aliir Aliir has put his hand up to play on the competition's biggest forwards this season
www.afl.com.au www.afl.com.au
Click to expand...
Personally can't see this ending well. Aliir is All-Aus as a floater/attacking, forcing him to play a position which doesn't suit his attributes will have massive ramifications not only for him but for our entire transition game. Also given he is (from memory) a confidence player, a very risky position if there is a decline in form.
 
Tibbs said:
Marshall looks hilarious there ... Just having a light jog around the oval, 15m away from the action. LOL
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Thought it was a smart setup: miles infront of buddy to block his run another body in the pack to move players off it and jump, Jonas bodys ladhams (ends up trying to be hero and going for the ball) Aliir first to jump to tap it, if that fails got dixon to get hands on it, if u watch the coverage marshall comes in after the pack incase all that fails and he needs to spoil
 

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x_les_x said:
Thought it was a smart setup: miles infront of buddy to block his run another body in the pack to move players off it and jump, Jonas bodys ladhams (ends up trying to be hero and going for the ball) Aliir first to jump to tap it, if that fails got dixon to get hands on it, if u watch the coverage marshall comes in after the pack incase all that fails and he needs to spoil
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It is also interesting to see the frame where the Swans player goes off the line celebrating. Aliir still has his hands on his knees, about 5m off the line.

Here:
1681003684124.png
 
all seeing eye said:
Plays so much better with McKenzie in side.
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Seems to be a yearly ritual. McKenzie starts out of the team, defence doesn't live up to expectations. McKenzie comes in and everyone plays better.

AA was close to best on in Sydney. He keeps that form going the defence will be fine.
 
Chewy316 said:
Seems to be a yearly ritual. McKenzie starts out of the team, defence doesn't live up to expectations. McKenzie comes in and everyone plays better.

AA was close to best on in Sydney. He keeps that form going the defence will be fine.
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Mckenzie, Burton and Aliir have to be the first 3 picked in defence each week if they are fit or not suspended. Houston is almost there but he makes some bad defensive clangers. The rest should be picjed on form, but there are a couple of gold passes.
 
The commentators got one thing right. The Aliir and Finlayson trades are two of the best trades the club has made considering what we paid for them and hopefully still good years to come. Kudos to GWS for doing the right thing by Jeremy admittedly. Both players have won us games with late stage heroics this year. They should share the Robbie Gray clutch player award.

It is almost a shame that Aliir has so little key defender support (although McKenzie continues to do a great job). If only we had a Wakelin to back him up. Unfortunately Jeremy continues to have to ruck so much when he is at his best playing as a tall forward/utility. His contested marking is up dramatically which is great.
 
Powerage said:
The commentators got one thing right. The Aliir and Finlayson trades are two of the best trades the club has made considering what we paid for them and hopefully still good years to come. Kudos to GWS for doing the right thing by Jeremy admittedly. Both players have won us games with late stage heroics this year. They should share the Robbie Gray clutch player award.

It is almost a shame that Aliir has so little key defender support (although McKenzie continues to do a great job). If only we had a Wakelin to back him up. Unfortunately Jeremy continues to have to ruck so much when he is at his best playing as a tall forward/utility. His contested marking is up dramatically which is great.
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Our ability to luck out on tall trades is insane. I know it's absolutely not all luck that players chose us, but it's made up for or dearth of tall development over the same period of time.

Schulz not getting it together at Richmond for various reasons before being traded in a straight swap for Mitch Farmer and lighting it up here.
Ryder and the Essendon supplements saga and the strength of our Indigenous program under Pauly V
Dixon choosing Port, likely because of Hinkley, Pick 10
Lycett go-home factor, free agent
Mackenzie delisted as a halfback by the worst club in the league, turns into a very dependable KPD, effectively free
Finlayson family tragedy, 3rd rounder
Aliir squeezed out of Sydney by salary cap issues and an incredible bit of work by our recruiters to identify how he'd fit into our system and go and get him. 2nd rounder

3 All Australians and Schulz went close. All mainstays for us at AFL level.
 
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