List Mgmt. TIMBER!! Another defender gone, What happens now?

[mad_eagle]

I'm already having nightmares about our games against Sydney, Hawthorn & Adelaide. Potential bloodbaths in the making with nobody to stop their talented forwards.

It's going to be a long year...

 

[The Falcon Strike]

I'm already having nightmares about our games against Sydney, Hawthorn & Adelaide. Potential bloodbaths in the making with nobody to stop their talented forwards.

It's going to be a long year...

The loss of Brown isn't that bad for the hawks.

However - we will still get annihilated.

 

[Patron]

Without Brown and Mackenzie/Glass/Waters, with our midfield, I think there is a chance we could be bottom 4. I wouldn't tip it but I would be baffled if we make finals. It wouldn't even bother me that much if we could just write this year off as a development year but who knows if mackenzie and brown will ever come back the same, especially brown. Time to go the full rebuild.

 

[mad_eagle]

The loss of Brown isn't that bad for the hawks.

However - we will still get annihilated.

I'm just thinking about how Roughy kicked 8.2 last year...and that was with E-Mac & Brown both in the team.

 

[The Falcon Strike]

I'm just thinking about how Roughy kicked 8.2 last year...and that was with E-Mac & Brown both in the team.

We have a match up for Roughead - but the guy is quality.

The bigger issue is how do we stop Puopolo, Rioli, Breust, Hill, Smith, Gunston...

 

[kingerzz]

well they did beat The Suns and we lost to the Dawgs

Did you see that game the suns were horrendous

 

[Woobla Stainz]

Did you see that game the suns were horrendous

yes they were its only round one but i believe Eade has taken them backwards.

 

[Eagle87]

yes they were its only round one but i believe Eade has taken them backwards.

There's a big risk with Eade, he's had a while out in an ever evolving game, he's not young and he's tended to be a bit of a system coach.

There is a very real risk he will squash their flair, the upside is he might create a fertile ground for trades from disgruntled players

 

[swannies]

There's a big risk with Eade, he's had a while out in an ever evolving game, he's not young and he's tended to be a bit of a system coach.

There is a very real risk he will squash their flair, the upside is he might create a fertile ground for trades from disgruntled players

I like that upside....

 

[boondy]

When jako did his knee years ago , we blooded fraser gehrig . .. hopefully barrass and powell be the new jako , mcintosh

 

[ConcreteWaters]

Could we potentially add Darling to a backline rotation once he's back? I know he's not huge (only a centimetre taller than Yeo, but 7kg heavier), but he's good one on one, his defensive pressure is excellent, solid mark, good skills and chases like a man possessed. Perhaps Schofield as our senior tall down back, with McGovern playing mostly down back and having Darling and McInnes as 3rd and 4th backline tall options depending on form/injuries/matchups (and playing them mostly in the forwardline).

 

[Dark Sharks]

Jones is a Ranga, let Barass take him.

 

[Tom Kerrigan]

Could we potentially add Darling to a backline rotation once he's back? I know he's not huge (only a centimetre taller than Yeo, but 7kg heavier), but he's good one on one, his defensive pressure is excellent, solid mark, good skills and chases like a man possessed. Perhaps Schofield as our senior tall down back, with McGovern playing mostly down back and having Darling and McInnes as 3rd and 4th backline tall options depending on form/injuries/matchups (and playing them mostly in the forwardline).

Good idea but definitely not immediately, he would have just come back from a niggling injury and the last thing he'd need would be to play him in a position he wasn't comfortable with just to shake him up mentally even more. I'd rather play him as an occasional swingman throughout the course of the season - eg if a not-too-tall tall forward is kicking goals on us maybe switch darling back and develop his versatility as well as fixing the defensive problem.

But I like the thought just coz I'm thinking that if he can add backline skills to his game that versatility might benefit him in future moves to the midfield, an area I'd really like to see him contributing too since he has the pace, skills and size we've been crying out for

 

[ConcreteWaters]

Obviously not a first choice option, but if our backs are getting beaten it's good to have options. I think Darling has all the defensive attributes which might lessen the damage that might occur if we play some of the very young guys who are still playing WAFL reserves in the backline. I'd think it'd be worth trying as a 3rd of 4th option if the Gov or Schofield are being beaten (and switching them to the forwardline). In reality, we're not going to be making any real advances in the finals should we pull a rabbit out of the hat and make it, so we might as well try and develop some versatility in our players.

 

[kranky al]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-04-06/browns-season-over


WEST Coast is backing Jeremy McGovern to become the club's new rock in defence after Mitch Brown's worst fears were confirmed.

Brown will miss the rest of the season after scans revealed he had torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee for a second time.

The 26-year-old is expected to have a traditional knee reconstruction after suffering the injury during Saturday's 10-point loss to the Western Bulldogs.


interesting that he is not interested in lars - i would have thought that an injury prone guy like him who has a chance to make a mark this season with emac out would have leapt at it


www.pixelpac.com.au

 

[ziad]

There's a big risk with Eade, he's had a while out in an ever evolving game, he's not young and he's tended to be a bit of a system coach.

There is a very real risk he will squash their flair, the upside is he might create a fertile ground for trades from disgruntled players

He has also lost three lists previously. The swans boomed once he was sacked.

But that doesn't help out problems.

 

[ziad]

Could we potentially add Darling to a backline rotation once he's back? I know he's not huge (only a centimetre taller than Yeo, but 7kg heavier), but he's good one on one, his defensive pressure is excellent, solid mark, good skills and chases like a man possessed. Perhaps Schofield as our senior tall down back, with McGovern playing mostly down back and having Darling and McInnes as 3rd and 4th backline tall options depending on form/injuries/matchups (and playing them mostly in I the forwardline).

I think you are over rating darling, his marking isn't that good and he fumbles the ball. His handball is also poor.

 

[ConcreteWaters]

I think you are over rating darling, his marking isn't that good and he fumbles the ball. His handball is also poor.

I'm thinking more in terms of a backup to the backup (the 14 gamer McGovern) to the injured backup (Brown) to EMac as an option in a backline rotation. I think he'd be better than our key position depth who in the words of the coach aren't ready for the AFL, and as a more experienced option for a bloke who hasn't played a game in McInnes, who could take his position in the forward line (without the pressure of conceding a goal). We're going to be exposed regardless, I'll be interested to see who they try down there.

 

[LordHaart]

I'm thinking more in terms of a backup to the backup (the 14 gamer McGovern) to the injured backup (Brown) to EMac as an option in a backline rotation. I think he'd be better than our key position depth who in the words of the coach aren't ready for the AFL, and as a more experienced option for a bloke who hasn't played a game in McInnes, who could take his position in the forward line (without the pressure of conceding a goal). We're going to be exposed regardless, I'll be interested to see who they try down there.

I wonder if Hill might be an option down back? His work rate is generally underrated, has decent speed and can play tall. With Cripps, Lamb, Newman, Darling and LeCras all looking like better forward options at this stage, he's the one who I think (a) we can spare the most and (b) actually has the most tools to at least compete as a 2nd or 3rd tall.

 

[Eagle87]

Could we potentially add Darling to a backline rotation once he's back? I know he's not huge (only a centimetre taller than Yeo, but 7kg heavier), but he's good one on one, his defensive pressure is excellent, solid mark, good skills and chases like a man possessed. Perhaps Schofield as our senior tall down back, with McGovern playing mostly down back and having Darling and McInnes as 3rd and 4th backline tall options depending on form/injuries/matchups (and playing them mostly in the forwardline).

There's an element of robbing Peter to pay Paul with many suggestions out there.

Even on the weekend, we wasted Yeo back there. We'd do better to accelerate the development of those tabbed as KP defenders than to buggar around with the area we need to improve on (Midfield - Yeo) and the area that is decent but still needs work (Forward - Darling).

FWIW, McGovern could be one of the finest forwards in the game .... So while I understand playing him back, I'm not in love with that move either

 

[bombard]

I'm thinking we just tie Mitch and Eric to opposing goalposts and let them swing their arms around.

 

[LordHaart]

FWIW, McGovern could be one of the finest forwards in the game .... So while I understand playing him back, I'm not in love with that move either

Personally I think we have enough height in our forward line without him there (Kennedy + a ruck as the 'true' talls, Darling, Lamb and LeCras can all play tall) that he isn't really needed as much there right now. And it's not like playing FB on some of the best forwards and CHFs in the comp won't teach him a thing or two that he can use if and when we transition him to a CHF role in a year (or even in a few).

Yeo is a bit of a tricky one since he has more experience in the backline than our other midfielders. Personally, I'd rather we tried Rosa, Hill or even Wellingham as a 3rd tall before Yeo, but even playing down back I think he'll still get a lot experience which will help if he does later move to the midfield. I mean, our defensive 50 is going to be crazy congested for the rest of this year so he'll definitely pick up on how to get the ball through traffic if nothing else.

 

[Eagle87]

Personally I think we have enough height in our forward line without him there (Kennedy + a ruck as the 'true' talls, Darling, Lamb and LeCras can all play tall) that he isn't really needed as much there right now. And it's not like playing FB on some of the best forwards and CHFs in the comp won't teach him a thing or two that he can use if and when we transition him to a CHF role in a year (or even in a few).

Yeo is a bit of a tricky one since he has more experience in the backline than our other midfielders. Personally, I'd rather we tried Rosa, Hill or even Wellingham as a 3rd tall before Yeo, but even playing down back I think he'll still get a lot experience which will help if he does later move to the midfield. I mean, our defensive 50 is going to be crazy congested for the rest of this year so he'll definitely pick up on how to get the ball through traffic if nothing else.

I understand the arguments.

But re our midfield, surgery is required urgently IMO. I agree we can wait re our forward line but given McGovern has a chance to be one of the best I'd rather play him there ... But on him I understand the EMac, Brown injuries are problematic.

Yeo was acquired to be a mid. He has a lot of what our midfield lacks. We just need to play him midfield.

 

[LordHaart]

I understand the arguments.

But re our midfield, surgery is required urgently IMO. I agree we can wait re our forward line but given McGovern has a chance to be one of the best I'd rather play him there ... But on him I understand the EMac, Brown injuries are problematic.

Yeo was acquired to be a mid. He has a lot of what our midfield lacks. We just need to play him midfield.

Honestly, I think our midfield will take at least 3-4 years to fix, not 1-2. Which means that EMac, Kennedy, LeCras and possibly Brown will all have moved on (as my have Priddis and Rosa). In the intervening time I can see McGovern getting played at either end at various times (and I don't think he'll need to stay in one place to be great there), so really we need to be looking for 1-2 KPFs and 1-2 KPDs in the next draft or two (while simultaneously getting mids... ugh).

Our current depth in those roles is limited to: Barrass and McInnes (and Powell?), i.e. we're short in depth in both positions. I also think it takes longer to develop a good KPD than a good KPF (think of how many young KPFs come in and have strong debut seasons vs. how many seasons it takes before KPDs stop becoming a liability). Even if both Barrass and Powell come good by the end of this year and are regulars, I still see us needing someone who can go back and cover a KPF, so McGovern playing back this year will mean that he has those skills not just for this season, but for the next 3-4.

Completely agree on Yeo, but as others have said it just doesn't appear that he'll be moved there this year. That said I still think Simpson will give him stints there like last year and if one of Barrass or Powell comes in I think that might free him up. Though as I said I'd rather try for something more creative like trying Hill as a 3rd tall first.

 

[Mancey]