TigermanM2
Norm Smith Medallist
- Mar 7, 2013
- 8,145
- 26,240
- AFL Club
- Richmond
A few things. Grahams last half showed that he can gut run and get the ball, good sign as we are going to need it. Our midfield is very thin with Cotch and Martin miles above. Prestia is good but there are lots of Prestia types running around. We are really going to need some more strength and speed in the middle. Not sure who will help there as Higgins is good but not fast and Edwards fast but not big... hence the draft Collier Dawkins and Ross, but they aren't ready. Could be a real problem without Caddy and Grigg and nobody coming through the VFL.
I'm a bit of a critic of Butler, but his speed is really important. Mistakes early in the season are normal, but his upside is there if the coaches demand more from him. Same reason I like Markov, and to a lesser extent Menadue. Sure they made some mistakes, but we have Dusty regularly drilling it down the throat of the opposition, so they all make mistakes. But when they get the ball they can clear an area and get the ball moving. Markov has very good carry in his kicks, and can also hit up targets. We have seen what we will get from Ellis, so give Markov a good run at it. Might even be a live wire half forward if he and Weller swapped places at times.
As much as we need Balta in the ruck, he really doesn't know where to run as a forward. He hardly ran at all. He will be the best CHB we have ever had if we played him there.
Rance looks great this season, and moved all over the backline. Made a mistake or two but for a key back his work linking up and at ground level is amazing. Looks really set for a good season. Astbury looks a bit flat, Garthwaite sure picked a bad time to get injured.
Reckon we might struggle a bit early in the season until we get our personal all sorted out.
Gee, Kane Lambert has done ok last couple of years in the midfield. I wouldn't say our midfield is "very thin" but not as stacked as others. I guess where we more than make up is an elite backline and pretty close to an elite forward line with big Tom up there.