Genuine Key Defenders

[Barrels]

Clearly I'm asking this out of (vicarious) self interest as a Saints supporter, but;

Are there any 195cm +, mature-bodied, 18-24yr old genuine key backmen out there worth drafting for teams in need of a FB or CHB, particularly if they're not challenging any time soon?

Pace, tank and kicking need to be adequate at AFL level, but not spectacular. Genuine body strength and a solid leap are a must.

The only genuine star key defender in the TAC Cup or state unders that seems to be appearing in the early Phantom Drafts is the Falcons' Darcy Gardiner, but at 192cm he's not a giant and may be suited more to being the third tall in modern AFL footy - currently - and other than him, only a few names like Fraser Fort, Alex Pearce and Cameron Giles pop up as having the required 195+cm size required for future defenders to play on blokes like Tom Boyd, John Patton and Joe Daniher.

As far as the state leagues go, the only bloke I'm aware of is 20yr old Matt Sully at Geelong in the VFL.

So, come at me, who's out there?

 

[Colin D'Cops]

Pears from us, unless he finds some confidence in the seniors and one of our key defenders gets seriously injured.

Wouldn't cost too much, upgrade of a mid/late pick would get you his services. We probably need the cap space as well.

 

[Barrels]

Pears from us, unless he finds some confidence in the seniors and one of our key defenders gets seriously injured.

Wouldn't cost too much, upgrade of a mid/late pick would get you his services. We probably need the cap space as well.

Not really a monster KD though is he... More of a third tall

 

[Colin D'Cops]

He has taken a few big scalps over his time in the AFL (J. Brown for one). Has just fallen rightly out of favour by our coaching panel as he hasn't found a lot of continuity in his footy with his injury history.

Don't think there's a place for monster KP players though anymore, unless they are exceptional.

Lake was a monster but was told to shed the weight and adapt to the modern game if he had a future in the AFL. Roughead also has trimmed down a heap, and this is just from the Hawks.

 

[cmpower]

in regards to Mature Aged recruits
Joel Tippett (west) is playing well, and was also the FB in the team of last year. Kory Beard (port) is also capable of holding his own.

 

[tunksy]

david astbury.

 

[Tulip]

david astbury.

This. Being squeezed out but should be Best 22.

 

[Barrels]

david astbury.

Great size. Remember him doing quite a job on Riewoldt Snr.

Hows his knee? Is he able to play as a "gorilla-tamer" or is he a massively oversized runner?

 

[Green Eggs]

Not that I'd want to lose him, but Jack Frost has the potential to be a gun defender. Is listed as 194 cm but is strong as an ox and shows a lot of grit and velocity at the contest. Is currently 21 years old and only played 2 games in the 1's but has shown enough to suggest he could be a very very handy defender.

The only reason I mention him is because we currently have Brown, Reid, Keefe and Goldsack who can all play on the talls and not sure whether he will be able to squeeze into the side in the future.

 

[Barrels]

Not that I'd want to lose him, but Jack Frost has the potential to be a gun defender. Is listed as 194 cm but is strong as an ox and shows a lot of grit and velocity at the contest. Is currently 21 years old and only played 2 games in the 1's but has shown enough to suggest he could be a very very handy defender.

The only reason I mention him is because we currently have Brown, Reid, Keefe and Goldsack who can all play on the talls and not sure whether he will be able to squeeze into the side in the future.

Pretty hard to get blokes from your mob, they're not the most genial trade partners. Is he likely to be prepared to go? Has Keeffe gone past him or is he more of a ruckman? There's no doubt to me that your preferred KPD are Brown and Reid, with Maxwell and/or Goldsack on the 3rd tall, so I see what you're saying about his likelihood of playing in the seniors regularly, but surely he'd be ahead of Keeffe as a backman

 

[MeisterBot]

Not that I'd want to lose him, but Jack Frost has the potential to be a gun defender. Is listed as 194 cm but is strong as an ox and shows a lot of grit and velocity at the contest. Is currently 21 years old and only played 2 games in the 1's but has shown enough to suggest he could be a very very handy defender.

The only reason I mention him is because we currently have Brown, Reid, Keefe and Goldsack who can all play on the talls and not sure whether he will be able to squeeze into the side in the future.

Pretty hard to get blokes from your mob, they're not the most genial trade partners. Is he likely to be prepared to go? Has Keeffe gone past him or is he more of a ruckman? There's no doubt to me that your preferred KPD are Brown and Reid, with Maxwell and/or Goldsack on the 3rd tall, so I see what you're saying about his likelihood of playing in the seniors regularly, but surely he'd be ahead of Keeffe as a backman

Keeffe is ahead of Frost. Held up our KPD division by himself for 2-3 weeks in 2012 while Taz, Reid and Brown were either injured or just coming back from injury even when he only had about a dozen games worth of experience under his belt.

He's also more versatile with the ability to play forward, or possibly go in the ruck. Plus, he has the potential for a very good rebound game - reads the play well, very good kicking skills. Not at all unlikely to see a Keeffe/Brown spine with Reid playing on the third tall when Maxwell retires.

Frost on the other hand will be a very good stopper who is strong enough to play on the gorillas and quick enough to play on the lead up forwards. His tackling is nothing short of ferocious and you can't help but love the way he drills opponents into the dirt. I also reckon he has potential to play smaller opponents like how Clement did and Toovey (at 189cm) does, but that's just a theory of mine.

Will be a very good pickup for a team like the Saints but I believe Collingwood will be loathe to let go of Frost unless it can fill a need with the trade since Frost will still be required for depth.

 

[Bugglz]

As stated earlier Collingwood have plenty of young KPB's, I could see any of Brown, Keefe, Frost, Hartley, or Gault being traded. All young and have all shown potential (or have delivered in Brown and Keefe's case), if I were St Kilda i would go for Frost or Hartley, either would come cheap and would slot straight into St Kilda's back line. Gault doesn't look like he'll make it and Brown and Keefe would both demand a high pick.

 

[cmpower]

any chance Keeffe could find himself on the market?

 

[Green Eggs]

any chance Keeffe could find himself on the market?

It's always a possibility but I'd say once Maxwell retires he'll settle in to our backline for good; even if Maxy doesn't retire I wouldn't be suprised to see Keefe force his way into the side.

Whats on offer in return?

 

[cmpower]

It's always a possibility but I'd say once Maxwell retires he'll settle in to our backline for good; even if Maxy doesn't retire I wouldn't be suprised to see Keefe force his way into the side.

Whats on offer in return?

not too sure, anyone of interest? Port are lacking some 195+ Defenders, especially now Treggers has gone down. We've forced Jonas to play to tall, and Alipate is more suited to a third Tall.

 

[Barrels]

Michael Hartley any good? Genuinely?

 

[Bugglz]

any chance Keeffe could find himself on the market?

If the right offer came along I assume he would be. He is still behind Reid and Brown and CFC wouldn't miss him too much with Frost not too far behind him.
Saying that he would probably command a highish draft pick, young, tall, extremely agile for his hight, showed plenty down back with the potential to go forward and into the ruck. I'm never any good at putting a price on players but if Dawes netted us 20 then you would think Keefe would be in the same ballpark.

 

[Bugglz]

Michael Hartley any good? Genuinely?

Has showed plenty of potential when he can get on the park, and apparently destroyed Patton in a TAC cap game. Could be a really good pick up, his major issue is his injury history, particularly shoulder related. Would come cheap.

 

[Daz]

As others have already said, Collingwood is the place to go if you're looking for key defenders. Wouldn't be surprised if they tried to return Keefe to the forward line, though.

 

[nickrebellious]

Reid looked okay forward on the weekend. Would be interesting to see Keeffe & Brown down back, Cloke & Reid up forward and Lynch playing the ruck/forward role.

 

[jusjoshin]

KPD? Yes please. Freo will be chasing a few KPP this summer. Apart from McPharlin/Dawson we have Faulks (unproven)? Tanner Smith(work in progress)?

Would like to see a trade for someone like Tayte Pears.

Pears from us, unless he finds some confidence in the seniors and one of our key defenders gets seriously injured.

Wouldn't cost too much, upgrade of a mid/late pick would get you his services. We probably need the cap space as well.

Would gladly give the Don's a pick upgrade for him. Our second for your third? Or maybe we can find an earlier 2nd rounder to swap for your late 2nd rounder?

 

[DustinsGuns]

Great size. Remember him doing quite a job on Riewoldt Snr.

Hows his knee? Is he able to play as a "gorilla-tamer" or is he a massively oversized runner?

To be honest he has had quite a few injury concerns over the last 18 months.

There is no doubt he is above VFL level though. On Sunday not a ball got past him. He is more suited to CHB rather then FB though as he has a fairly solid rebound game aswell. Can also swing forward and kick goals.

His biggest shortful - which is why he is out of the team imo, is that he doesn't move the ball on quick enough. He will take a mark, and always slow it down. He rarely plays on and isn't super creative.

 

[Colin D'Cops]

Would gladly give the Don's a pick upgrade for him. Our second for your third? Or maybe we can find an earlier 2nd rounder to swap for your late 2nd rounder?

Yep something like that would probably work if Pears is guaranteed game-time.

 

[bumsonseats]

Not sure there will be to many established KPD on the market at the moment. Seems to be a few clubs sniffing around for the 195cm KPD........Adelaide being another. If I was looking to poach an up and comer KPD from another club right now, it would be Cam Delaney from the Kangaroos. Listed at 194cm and 99kgs, mobile, good overhead and good skills. Behind McMahon, Thompson and Firrito at the moment.

The other one I would love to get my hands on at Hawthorn would be Matthew Watson from Carlton.
Also not getting a game at the moment.

I doubt either club would be willing to part with these 2, unless you were able to make an offer they could not refuse.

 

[Barrels]

The other one I would love to get my hands on at Hawthorn would be Matthew Watson from Carlton.
Also not getting a game at the moment.

Great size (bordering on short these days ). Naturally a CHB, with a booming left foot from memory, and will only be 21 next month. Not getting a game this year for the Paperbaggers due to pace concerns by the whispers on the Carlton board.

By the looks of him, stays onside with my 'no scrawny bastards' rule... Reminds me a bit of a young Goose Maguire with the long kicking.

Wonder what it might take to prise him away?

Good shout.