Remove this Banner Ad

2013 Team

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

ZoBlitz said:
Polkinghorne does play a different role than Moloney though. If Polks was dropped, who would be shifted to that forward/midfielder role?
Click to expand...

Probably shared among a number of players (Beams, Black, Rich, Rockliff, Zorko). I don't think it will affect any one player to a great degree.
 
B: Golby, Merrett, Adcock
HB: Docherty, Patfull, Hanley
C: Polec, Rich, Redden
HF: Rockliff, Brown, Zorko
F: Green, Lisle, Cornelius
Foll: Leuenberger, Moloney, Black
Int: Beams, Raines, Banfield
Sub: McGrath

That would be the side that I would like to see out there, provided they all have really good preseasons.

I think that that backline may appear to be short but it has two genuine rebounding weapons in Docherty and Hanley in there as well as 2 tall defenders and 2 lock down small defenders. MacGuire would only come in if we were playing a tall forward line. I think that we need 2 really good rebounding defenders as this will help out offensively much more.

The midfield is looking pretty good, Rich, Rockliff, Redden and Polec if he has a great preseason are all very good players and with Black and Moloney performing well we will definitely win our fair share of clearances. Polec is in there as he provides that point of difference we lack, he runs and carries the ball better than the rest and with his speed and great ball use he could be a real weapon. Depth wise we are looking pretty good as well, we have Beams who looks the goods, Raines as our tagger and Green/Zorko all able to give us some quality minutes through the midfield. Also Leuenberger is easily our first choice ruckman and will make a difference to the team IMO. I don't expect too much development from the three R's, they are all really good players now.

The forward line is still the weakness for mine, outside of Brown we lack consistent goal scoring threats. Outside of Brown as the CHF and Zorko (also Rockliff who I see as rotating heavily through the midfield) there are no locks in our forward line and the other spaces are wide open. I think Lisle looked good at the end of the year, and he showed that he could provide a strong target and play as the back up ruckman. I think Green will have first shot at the small forward role with Banfield the other option if he regains his form. I really hope Cornelius has a strong preseason as he can definitely take a position as the third tall in our forward line, he needs to improve his defensive pressure which is getting better, but he is a goal kicker and we need more of them in our forward line.

For the bench i really like McGrath as the sub as he brings pace and skill into the team when brought on, if not McGrath then Banfield as he brings pace and a goal scoring threat. I think the team is a bit slow with only Polec, Docherty, and Green being considered fast players imo. I think there is still a need for speed so Banfield and McGrath definitely have positions on the team if they regain past form imo. Also Beams is our next best mid and Raines gets a place as he is our best tagger.

We have a strong chance to be top 8 with this team imo.
 

Log in to remove this Banner Ad

That backline is much too big a risk for my liking Offsider. I can see the merit in only playing Patfull and Merrett but there's not even a legitimate swing man that you can throw down back or a medium defender who can play tall if required. This means no insurance if one of the talls are getting flogged, no coverage for an injury, no ability to cover a resting ruckman and no-one really who is even capable of taking the 3rd tall type given the other defenders are classic 6 footers with no real ability overhead.

If we only play 2 tall defenders, I think we need the likes of Lester or Staker in the 22 to provide coverage - probably both.

Assuming we don't trade a forward in, I reckon that you've nailed how Voss would love our forward 6 to line up. I reckon he'd love a legitimate 3rd tall to step up - whether Cornelius, Karnezis or Staker - as opposed to using McGrath/Bewick in that role. Those tall options have to prove themselves though - question marks on all 3. And he'd love for Lisle to own the forward/ruck role.
 
Harwood, Merrett, Patfull
Adcock, Maguire, Golby
Hanley, Rich, Redden
Zorko, Brown, Rocky
Bewick, Lisle, McGrath
Leuie, Moloney, Raines
Black, Beams, Lester
Green
 
POBT said:
That backline is much too big a risk for my liking Offsider. I can see the merit in only playing Patfull and Merrett but there's not even a legitimate swing man that you can throw down back or a medium defender who can play tall if required. This means no insurance if one of the talls are getting flogged, no coverage for an injury, no ability to cover a resting ruckman and no-one really who is even capable of taking the 3rd tall type given the other defenders are classic 6 footers with no real ability overhead.

If we only play 2 tall defenders, I think we need the likes of Lester or Staker in the 22 to provide coverage - probably both.

Assuming we don't trade a forward in, I reckon that you've nailed how Voss would love our forward 6 to line up. I reckon he'd love a legitimate 3rd tall to step up - whether Cornelius, Karnezis or Staker - as opposed to using McGrath/Bewick in that role. Those tall options have to prove themselves though - question marks on all 3. And he'd love for Lisle to own the forward/ruck role.
Click to expand...

It would be a risk agreed but Lisle could potentially go back if required, he has played down there before and he would be a swingman. Although I do agree with you and I think Staker could line up on the bench if fully fit and in form, or Lester could play that role, it would give us depth. Another concern of mine is that if we play 3 tall defenders and we play Golby and Adcock that gives us only one potentially damaging rebounding defender in Hanley. It is a massive concern for mine, although Adcock and Golby provide reasonable rebound they can not consistently be relied upon and are not damaging players. With the modern game now favouring attacks being set up from defence I think with Docherty and Hanley on the HBF line we would be a much better side. Provided Docherty has a good preseason and really utilises his kicking and running skills.

I would actually favour Lester over Staker as not only is he a capable tallish defender but he is also decent through the midfield and forward line.
 
Ok here goes nothing.

B: Jed Adcock, Daniel Merrett, Mitch Golby
HB: Ash McGrath, Matt Maguire, Joel Patfull
C: Pearce Hanley, Andrew Raines, Jack Redden
HF: James Polkinghorne, Jonathon Brown, Rohan Bewick
F: Tom Rockliff, Jordan Lisle, Dayne Zorko.
Foll: Ben Hudson, Daniel Rich, Brent Moloney
Int: Ryan Lester, Josh Green, Simon Black
Sub: Claye Beams

Stiff, to miss out:
Matthew Leuenberger - I'm still unsure whether his Achilles will be ok come round one. Should be in the side come round 5, but the coaches may ease him into the season.
Brent Staker - Same boat as Leuenberger. His knee was only operated early this year. May still need time to get some miles in the legs.
Ryan Harwood - Unlucky to be pushed out of the side completely. Loses his spot to McGrath, unfortunately not versatile enough to play anywhere on the ground in my opinion, so unable to secure an interchange position.

Players who could be smokies with a good pre-season:
Aaron Cornelius - If he can improve his tank again and possibly put a little more bulk on, he could push his way in to the side if the coaches play three genuine talls.
Jared Polec - Could be anything, needs to build a tank as he currently lacks the ability to run out a game. If he improves dramatically, we could use the class he brings.
Patrick Karnezis - Same boat as Polec, needs to build an engine, but has fantastic versatility and has goal scoring nous.
Todd Banfield - Unlucky with injury and form this year. His forward pressure is still fantastic, but he needs confidence. Surely he hasn't just forgotten how to pick up the pill.
Niall McKeever - Unlikely to push, Merrett, Maguire or Patfull out, but should injuries arise, he'd be a more than suitable replacement.

The side I have chosen is very experience driven. First and Second year players don't really feature, as they don't have the fitness to compete. It is also subject to injury or list movement, for as we all know, anything can happen at this time of year.
 
Nick Lions said:
Ok here goes nothing.

B: Jed Adcock, Daniel Merrett, Mitch Golby
HB: Ash McGrath, Matt Maguire, Joel Patfull
C: Pearce Hanley, Andrew Raines, Jack Redden
HF: James Polkinghorne, Jonathon Brown, Rohan Bewick
F: Tom Rockliff, Jordan Lisle, Dayne Zorko.
Foll: Ben Hudson, Daniel Rich, Brent Moloney
Int: Ryan Lester, Josh Green, Simon Black
Sub: Claye Beams

Stiff, to miss out:
Matthew Leuenberger - I'm still unsure whether his Achilles will be ok come round one. Should be in the side come round 5, but the coaches may ease him into the season.
Brent Staker - Same boat as Leuenberger. His knee was only operated early this year. May still need time to get some miles in the legs.
Ryan Harwood - Unlucky to be pushed out of the side completely. Loses his spot to McGrath, unfortunately not versatile enough to play anywhere on the ground in my opinion, so unable to secure an interchange position.

Players who could be smokies with a good pre-season:
Aaron Cornelius - If he can improve his tank again and possibly put a little more bulk on, he could push his way in to the side if the coaches play three genuine talls.
Jared Polec - Could be anything, needs to build a tank as he currently lacks the ability to run out a game. If he improves dramatically, we could use the class he brings.
Patrick Karnezis - Same boat as Polec, needs to build an engine, but has fantastic versatility and has goal scoring nous.
Todd Banfield - Unlucky with injury and form this year. His forward pressure is still fantastic, but he needs confidence. Surely he hasn't just forgotten how to pick up the pill.
Niall McKeever - Unlikely to push, Merrett, Maguire or Patfull out, but should injuries arise, he'd be a more than suitable replacement.

The side I have chosen is very experience driven. First and Second year players don't really feature, as they don't have the fitness to compete. It is also subject to injury or list movement, for as we all know, anything can happen at this time of year.
Click to expand...
I'd swap Beams for Green but I'm biased.
 
I think that if we are too make a real challenge and become a top 8 side and a contender then there are a few players that we need to step up and become very good AFL players:

1) Mitch Golby - He needs to become an elite small defender who shuts down the small forward of the competition, he also needs to work on his run from defence. He is very capable of taking the next step and cementing his place in our side in the long-term imo.

2) Jared Polec - He needs to become a good winger/HFF who can run and break the lines, he needs to find more of the ball and be a consistent 4 quarter player. He has the potential to really add a lot to our side.

3) Jordan Lisle - He is looking like our only other key position forward option, as well as part-time ruck. It is essential that he continues on from last year and really becomes a goal scoring threat who can take marks around the ground. We need another potential 40-50 goals a year out of him to make that step up.

4) Callum Bartlett - Has not played a game yet so this is a bit speculative but he is the type of player our team needs. He is a great contested ball winner, has a good defensive game, good pace and agility. But it is left foot that is the best as his kicking is such a weapon and combined with Rich and potentially Polec he will give us another classy ball user. He can also go forward and kick goals to great effect. He really needs to come on as we all hope he does for our team to move forward.
 
Offsider said:
I think that if we are too make a real challenge and become a top 8 side and a contender then there are a few players that we need to step up and become very good AFL players:

1) Mitch Golby - He needs to become an elite small defender who shuts down the small forward of the competition, he also needs to work on his run from defence. He is very capable of taking the next step and cementing his place in our side in the long-term imo.

2) Jared Polec - He needs to become a good winger/HFF who can run and break the lines, he needs to find more of the ball and be a consistent 4 quarter player. He has the potential to really add a lot to our side.

3) Jordan Lisle - He is looking like our only other key position forward option, as well as part-time ruck. It is essential that he continues on from last year and really becomes a goal scoring threat who can take marks around the ground. We need another potential 40-50 goals a year out of him to make that step up.

4) Callum Bartlett - Has not played a game yet so this is a bit speculative but he is the type of player our team needs. He is a great contested ball winner, has a good defensive game, good pace and agility. But it is left foot that is the best as his kicking is such a weapon and combined with Rich and potentially Polec he will give us another classy ball user. He can also go forward and kick goals to great effect. He really needs to come on as we all hope he does for our team to move forward.
Click to expand...
If Golby didn't get injured I think he would have ended up winning the Rising Star.

Will be a very good player.

I think Polec and Lisle are the two that we will really need to take some big steps, Bartlett's role isn't as important.
 
I'm seeing the potential big improvers coming from the 2010 draft: Polec, Karnezis and Green. I see star quality in those players. Sam Michael would be the other one if things clicked, but that remains a long shot at this stage. And Rich's form at the end of last year suggested he has enormous upside. These players I think are capable of single-handedly elevating the side to another level.
 

Remove this Banner Ad

I think Bartlett, Docherty and Polec all have a place and role in our side as they provide pace and elite kicking skills, this is something we lack a fair bit of. Outside of Rich we have reasonable users of the ball in Rockcliff, Black, Adcock, Beams, Zorko, McGrath and Hanley, but they don't hurt the opposition heavily (although I am starting to think that Hanley will damage opposition even more next year). We have some solid users of the ball in Redden, Polkinghorne (who might struggle for games this year), Moloney, Raines, Banfield and Green who can all be hit and miss. Its that one area we truly lack in, having elite kicks, it is why Drummond and Rich stand out so much. With Drummond gone we need some players who have great footskills and pace to come into the team.
 
It is enjoyable just reading debates about this because it means we have options and players trying to make roles their own against stiff opposition in the club. Feels like a while since it has been the case where we have a few equally good options in some roles. Not quite an embarrassment of riches yet but the fact that these discussions are becoming more complicated is a great thing!!
 

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

cotter101 said:
Still unlikely that he will be around when we challenge for a premiership. He is an AA quality full back at his best.
Click to expand...
He will buy us time to recruit a young CHF. But my comment about Rockliff has swept past. The club is trying him out at ff and he has good body work and knows where the goals are.
 
maroon and blue said:
He will buy us time to recruit a young CHF. But my comment about Rockliff has swept past. The club is trying him out at ff and he has good body work and knows where the goals are.
Click to expand...

We're trying to get one now.

And Rocky had a few niggles/injury problems this year, In the future one would imagine he will play majority of time on the ball and rotate forward like Dane Swan.
 

Remove this Banner Ad

2013 Team

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Back
Top