Prediction Our side round 1, 2020...?

[Suitcase]

McStay showed good signs early in his career as a CHB before Leppa started switching him around all the time. I think he is a natural defender and would love to see him given another go back there.

 

[Berrygood]

https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/amp...-good-fit-at-lions-brown-20200306-p547fd.html

Here’s Jonathan Brown saying exactly what many of us have been saying for a while now. While Brownie concedes that McStay “might develop” on the available evidence and given his issues with accuracy, that seems unlikely. We have to look for an alternative to McStay this season and then possibly find a longer term solution at the trade table. I agree with Brown in terms of the need to play Oscar in the forward line and would like to see him named at Full Forward. The more I think of it, the more I like the idea of retaining McStay in the seniors, but as a half back. In time I think McStay has the makings of a great CHB. A backline built around Andrews, Gardiner and McStay could be formidable.

Yeah i agree with browny in regards to mcstay and i thought the same as you that he could be part of the defense. But a very good argument, earlier on this thread or another, that he has been tried back there early and his lack of positional and player awareness necessitated his move to the fwds, has changed my mind. He could possibly play a linking role like tom lynch from the crows.

I dont mind the idea of playing the big O as ff and playing an extra small or med fwd. It could open us up a bit more in fwd 50 entries and provide greater fwd defensive pressure.

If mcstays accuracy improves, and thats his major drawback, he holds on. If not, like browny says, players will be tried but in the end it will be off to the trade table to look for a longer term solution. Id love to see us throw a bucket of money long term, if we had it (and yes i know clugg is a priority), at Aaron Naughton. Maybe half a bucket to darcy fogarty, if the crows have a shit year again, off the field and on, we could encourage a move maybe. Fling some cash at hayward, i think, from the swans. If daniher free agents it to the swans, he could see a future here. Id be real happy with any of those three.

Whomever we do chase, i do hope its a young bloke (a 5-8yr prospect) and not an older injury prone, tired n looking for a fresh start, just a bit past his prime, type of player.

 

[3KZ is Football]

Yeah i agree with browny in regards to mcstay and i thought the same as you that he could be part of the defense. But a very good argument, earlier on this thread or another, that he has been tried back there early and his lack of positional and player awareness necessitated his move to the fwds, has changed my mind. He could possibly play a linking role like tom lynch from the crows.

I dont mind the idea of playing the big O as ff and playing an extra small or med fwd. It could open us up a bit more in fwd 50 entries and provide greater fwd defensive pressure.

If mcstays accuracy improves, and thats his major drawback, he holds on. If not, like browny says, players will be tried but in the end it will be off to the trade table to look for a longer term solution. Id love to see us throw a bucket of money long term, if we had it (and yes i know clugg is a priority), at Aaron Naughton. Maybe half a bucket to darcy fogarty, if the crows have a shit year again, off the field and on, we could encourage a move maybe. Fling some cash at hayward, i think, from the swans. If daniher free agents it to the swans, he could see a future here. Id be real happy with any of those three.

Whomever we do chase, i do hope its a young bloke (a 5-8yr prospect) and not an older injury prone, tired n looking for a fresh start, just a bit past his prime, type of player.

Good post. Kicking to one side, McStay’s biggest issue is that he doesn’t lead enough and he doesn’t take enough contested marks inside 50. Oscar is much stronger in that regard and he is a more reliable kick.

 

[3KZ is Football]

Anyone who thinks we just have to turn up and we will be automatically successful this season is in for a big shock. You can bet your bottom dollar that clubs have been specifically planning on how to shut us down and negate our preferred playing style. My lid is truly off, but we all know that the way to beat us is to close down our midfield in terms of goal scoring. This is why this season is going to be so interesting from a coaching and tactics perspective. We have a Premiership list, no doubt, but watching Fagan and how he marshals his troops is going to be really interesting for football purists.

 

[rangatangtang]

Anyone who thinks we just have to turn up and we will be automatically successful this season is in for a big shock. You can bet your bottom dollar that clubs have been specifically planning on how to shut us down and negate our preferred playing style. My lid is truly off, but we all know that the way to beat us is to close down our midfield in terms of goal scoring. This is why this season is going to be so interesting from a coaching and tactics perspective. We have a Premiership list, no doubt, but watching Fagan and how he marshals his troops is going to be really interesting for football purists.

It'll be interesting because a big part of our development is going to come from our youth like DevRob, E Smith, Skinner, as well as guys like Adams and Ah Chee who have known higher ceilings, all answering the demands of the coach to execute. It's already exciting to see how Rayner, Clug, and Bailey have advanced so far, I think there will be some real assets and answers there which will help us go further, as well as improving on our on paper strategy

 

[3KZ is Football]

It'll be interesting because a big part of our development is going to come from our youth like DevRob, E Smith, Skinner, as well as guys like Adams and Ah Chee who have known higher ceilings, all answering the demands of the coach to execute. It's already exciting to see how Rayner, Clug, and Bailey have advanced so far, I think there will be some real assets and answers there which will help us go further, as well as improving on our on paper strategy

Indeed. Good post

 

[T Rick]

McStay showed good signs early in his career as a CHB before Leppa started switching him around all the time. I think he is a natural defender and would love to see him given another go back there.

To different degrees Leppa, Bradshaw and Dan Merrett were all forwards who ended up being exceptional backs as well. I would really like to see Dan McStay develop as a backman who could be swung forward in need.

 

[jackess]

So we bring in a worse key forward to play McStay back?

 

[Ironmonger]

Anyone who thinks we just have to turn up and we will be automatically successful this season is in for a big shock. You can bet your bottom dollar that clubs have been specifically planning on how to shut us down and negate our preferred playing style. My lid is truly off, but we all know that the way to beat us is to close down our midfield in terms of goal scoring. This is why this season is going to be so interesting from a coaching and tactics perspective. We have a Premiership list, no doubt, but watching Fagan and how he marshals his troops is going to be really interesting for football purists.

100%. This season is going to be a huge challenge for us.

The good news is that the more teams adapt to play against us, the better we get at adapting in turn, and that'll be crucial for finals.

But we might have to be prepared to take a step back in 2020 to take two steps forward in 2021.

 

[scoman]

Was McStay really moved forward as he was a liability down back?
I thought it was more a case of him seeing himself as a forward and being given the opportunity as we didn't have anyone else knocking the door down.

 

[Dalions]

Was McStay really moved forward as he was a liability down back?
I thought it was more a case of him seeing himself as a forward and being given the opportunity as we didn't have anyone else knocking the door down.

That was my understanding too.

 

[rangatangtang]

100%. This season is going to be a huge challenge for us.

The good news is that the more teams adapt to play against us, the better we get at adapting in turn, and that'll be crucial for finals.

But we might have to be prepared to take a step back in 2020 to take two steps forward in 2021.

Those other teams still have to execute their cunning plans too, im actually pretty bullish that we are going to, for the first time since i started watching and supporting this team, kick away from sides

 

[3KZ is Football]

I just want to see what Fagan has up his sleeve.

 

[3KZ is Football]

Also expecting Rayner to go NUTS this year!

 

[Nunez]

Stephen May has shown the exact way to play Patton. Run off him, intercept and influence contests. He's good at leading and marking, but will be a non-factor around the ground.

 

[scoman]

Stephen May has shown the exact way to play Patton. Run off him, intercept and influence contests. He's good at leading and marking, but will be a non-factor around the ground.

I found this game to be thoroughly boring. Two very vanilla teams doing their best to out muscle each other than turn the ball over. Rinse and repeat for 4 quarters.

 

[Nunez]

I found this game to be thoroughly boring. Two very vanilla teams doing their best to out muscle each other than turn the ball over. Rinse and repeat for 4 quarters.

It was awful. I hope that Hawks team turn up round 1. Andrews will towel Patton.

 

[3KZ is Football]

Form of Lions recruit “hasn’t quite been good enough”: Fagan

"Just because he's been recruited to the club doesn't mean you're going to walk straight into the side."

www.sen.com.au

BTW - HAVE SOME OF THAT CAM!

I think Fagan has raised the bar this season and is going to really push the envelope, even if it does throw the cat amongst the pigeons. The corollary of Fagan’s statement is that just because you were in the team last season don’t expect to be a walk up start this season. I like the cut of Fagan’s jib.

 

[cogs2hawks]

Do you guys reckon Birch will be playing round 1?

 

[SL16]

Do you guys reckon Birch will be playing round 1?

If he's fit I don't see why he wouldn't.

Form of Lions recruit “hasn’t quite been good enough”: Fagan

"Just because he's been recruited to the club doesn't mean you're going to walk straight into the side."

www.sen.com.au

BTW - HAVE SOME OF THAT CAM!

I think Fagan has raised the bar this season and is going to really push the envelope, even if it does throw the cat amongst the pigeons. The corollary of Fagan’s statement is that just because you were in the team last season don’t expect to be a walk up start this season. I like the cut of Fagan’s jib.

Hah, it'd be nice if Rayner copped the same treatment instead of being gifted games, should've been dropped many times over the last two years.

 

[Dalions]

If he's fit I don't see why he wouldn't.


Hah, it'd be nice if Rayner copped the same treatment instead of being gifted games, should've been dropped many times over the last two years.

Although with Rayner, the persistence will pay off.

 

[jackess]

If he's fit I don't see why he wouldn't.


Hah, it'd be nice if Rayner copped the same treatment instead of being gifted games, should've been dropped many times over the last two years.

CEY mustn’t have have done a good enough job mowing Fagans lawns

 

[bungalow_bill]

Although with Rayner, the persistence will pay off.

Yes looking good at the moment- in Fages we trust

 

[pauldrc]

Form of Lions recruit “hasn’t quite been good enough”: Fagan

"Just because he's been recruited to the club doesn't mean you're going to walk straight into the side."

www.sen.com.au

I think this also speaks to just how impressive Robertson has been so far, to oust a guy who we specifically recruited for a role we identified as being deficient in....good to see the coaches backing in this also.

Robertson will be a gun, still amazed we were able to snare him.

 

[Saucery]

It was awful. I hope that Hawks team turn up round 1. Andrews will towel Patton.

Without Gunston and now possibly Lewis it could be hard for the Hawks to find another path to goal.