Opinion Best 22 for 2019

[Pure_Ownage]

True enough. But it's some seriously handy hindsight we have now.

When Hendo came at the end of '15, Kolo was a young draftee who was not seriously being considered for KPD duties. He didn't show much at all as a possible KPD until his opportunity to show his wares there came along in early 2018.

And Blitz was still a couple of years from finding his place in the backline. Harry was turning 30 in the next season, and Domsy was about to be 32. Made lots of sense to me to be bringing in a very capable KPD to provide some ongoing stability in the back six.

Also, at that stage, you have Henry still a year off even being drafted onto the rookie list. And Stewart still 12 months from coming in as an AA-revelation by his second year in the AFL system.

So we definitely look unbalanced back there now. But without the mostly unforeseen rise of both Kolo and Blitz as potential KPD's (and the ascent of a rookie pick and another mature-ager), we would now have only Hendo as an experienced KPD (or third tall) option back there that's likely to play footy beyond 2019.

Ironically for those who want to decry the club's recruiting (with the odds and ends picks we keep assembling in the top half of the ladder), we somehow look to have several long-term options for KPD roles on the list already.

So we've ended up better off than we would have otherwise expected. But even our best prognosticators here surely wouldn't have expected two rookie picks, a P40 mature-ager and a P41 to be the basis for our tall/third tall stocks down back for the next few seasons.

If even one of those hadn't worked out, I figure Hendo is a massively required player. As it is, any serious injuries come along and I can see him being a really important cog.

He's already been a handy pick-up in my view (last year's injury frustration, notwithstanding). And I still can see him justifying the deal we did to bring him in before his time in the hoops is over.*

* The Tankers handed the pick to GWS, who then traded the pick to Brisbane. Who drafted Jarrod Berry at #17. And this is of course a draft that we look to have aced in any case. All with picks in the second round or later. Parf, Stewart, Rata, Narkle and Abbott in the main draft. With Henry, Zuth, JJ and SOS in the rookie draft that followed.

We werent even expecting Blitz to play kpd when you could go 3rd man up in the ruck he was one of the best mid/rucks in the comp he was our point of difference. Then the afl changed the 3rd man up rules and we had to find a new role for him. At the time rivers was retiring kolo was an unknown we had unsuccessfully chased Frawley we didnt have Henry Stewart or Tuohy and Taylor was ageing so we very much needed Hendo. Hindsight is a wonderful thing which is why list management is hard.

 

[Cataholic]

While Scooter out helps Constable its not a moot point. For eg they can easily move say a Parfitt or Menegola into the mids full time and bring in another fwd (narkle miers etc) or say Guthrie to mid and bring in another defender. Constables lack of versatility will make it a bit harder for him.

Yeah, fair point.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Yeah, fair point.

Having said that I like Constable's game so I hope we play him. But its hard when our MF is more stacked than our fwds and he cant really play fwd.

 

[Cataholic]

Having said that I like Constable's game so I hope we play him. But its hard when our MF is more stacked than our fwds and he cant really play fwd.

Well, we need someone who can find the ball relentlessly as our MF struggled last year.

With Albert out of there, and someone like Constable finding and firing out a quick ball we may just look, and be, better.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Well, we need someone who can find the ball relentlessly as our MF struggled last year.

With Albert out of there, and someone like Constable finding and firing out a quick ball we may just look, and be, better.

I agree but he needs to be fit enough to play high TOG in mid bc he cant play fwd and if we bench him for 30 % of the game it hurts our rotations too much esp if we are already rotating a 2nd ruck or kpd thru the bench. He brings a lot of pluses but atm that is his minus.

 

[Cataholic]

I agree but he needs to be fit enough to play high TOG in mid bc he cant play fwd and if we bench him for 30 % of the game it hurts our rotations too much esp if we are already rotating a 2nd ruck or kpd thru the bench. He brings a lot of pluses but atm that is his minus.

Is he GHS Mk2?

 

[catswhiskers]

Is he GHS Mk2?

May be ........................may be not. Lots of water.......

 

[Turbocat]

While Scooter out helps Constable its not a moot point. For eg they can easily move say a Parfitt or Menegola into the mids full time and bring in another fwd (narkle miers etc) or say Guthrie to mid and bring in another defender. Constables lack of versatility will make it a bit harder for him.

You cant cut a cake with a hammer.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

You cant cut a cake with a hammer.

Good call mate.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Is he GHS Mk2?

I think he is more polished than GHS but he might have the same issue GHS did fitting into the team.

 

[FredLeDeux]

I think he is more polished than GHS but he might have the same issue GHS did fitting into the team.

Killer handpassing?

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Killer handpassing?

Just lack of versatility counts against him in 50/50 calls.

 

[FredLeDeux]

Just lack of versatility counts against him in 50/50 calls.

I haven't seen enough of him.
Yes, GHS' killer handpassing was a problem because of his lack of versatility of course - Menegola's is bad, but he gets away with it because he has other strings to his bow (eg all those 40m kicks to a contest )

 

[catempire]

Is he GHS Mk2?

I really like him but I have this fear. They’ve never been big on players whose key strength is just winning a shit tonne of footy. They have to be athletes or pacey to appeal. Like Parsons or Murdoch.

 

[Cataholic]

I really like him but I have this fear. They’ve never been big on players whose key strength is just winning a shit tonne of footy. They have to be athletes or pacey to appeal. Like Parsons or Murdoch.

It's a fear of mine too...... Exacerbated by the conflicting opinions on his pace and kicking.

Punters are saying he's slow and can't kick; Knights said he's quick and an accurate kick.

Which is it?

The vibe gives me a GHS feel.

 

[catempire]

It's a fear of mine too...... Exacerbated by the conflicting opinions on his pace and kicking.

Punters are saying he's slow and can't kick; Knights said he's quick and an accurate kick.

Which is it?

The vibe gives me a GHS feel.

I don’t think he’s slow. His knock was a fitness one. Some examples of him at pace in JLT leave me with no concerns.

Haven’t seen enough of his kicking to know.

 

[PatrickBateman]

If Constable is named R1 how likely would he be to hold his spot when Scooter returns?

As far as I'm concerned it'll depend on how the side is going.

Young players make many mistakes, it's inevitable, even if they're contributing well at the same time. Scooter gets in if we're struggling as a team IMO, if a side is going well, you'd normally side with young talent over senior 'fringe' players.

My concern with the new rules is what many are saying, the heavy reliance on one-on-one footy. Defensively we've been awful... and by that I don't mean in the back line, I'm talking ALL over the ground. 2016-2018, 3 years, it's been obvious what sides have thrived - those playing hectic, intense defense across the ground. The GFC haven't adjusted yet, I feel Sydney are in a similar boat.

As it is so obvious what's required for the side, I'm very interested to see how good our coaches really are. How they go in choosing a side to play a modern style that can win in finals. I think on paper we're good enough, the way we play is the unknown.

 

[Cataholic]

I don’t think he’s slow. His knock was a fitness one. Some examples of him at pace in JLT leave me with no concerns.

Haven’t seen enough of his kicking to know.

Fitness is an expected issue. That'll take a while.

 

[bulletproof]

I really like him but I have this fear. They’ve never been big on players whose key strength is just winning a shit tonne of footy. They have to be athletes or pacey to appeal. Like Parsons or Murdoch.

The philosophy may have changed a bit over the summer. Cunico and Parsons have not been seen, and they are more the athletic runners. Seem to be favoring more contested players this year (Atkins and Constable) in the line ball calls. This is a good thing I think, though in some cases it has been detrimental, Narkle seems confused by his role. I see him more as a runner, but they want him inside at the contest.

 

[catempire]

The philosophy may have changed a bit over the summer. Cunico and Parsons have not been seen, and they are more the athletic runners. Seem to be favoring more contested players this year (Atkins and Constable) in the line ball calls. This is a good thing I think, though in some cases it has been detrimental, Narkle seems confused by his role. I see him more as a runner, but they want him inside at the contest.

It will take ten games in the VFL to start the season for Parsons for me to believe they’ve seen the light!

 

[catswhiskers]

It's a fear of mine too...... Exacerbated by the conflicting opinions on his pace and kicking.

Punters are saying he's slow and can't kick; Knights said he's quick and an accurate kick.

Which is it?

The vibe gives me a GHS feel.

There is nothing wrong with Constables kicking. Most I have seen have been under pressure because he lives on the inside (and they did the job).
He is one paced I think but I am not sure at what pace yet. He relies on getting to contests not breaking away from them. Mid paced players who can read the play well have enough pace to get to breakdowns and be damaging.

 

[Landgraft]

It's a fear of mine too...... Exacerbated by the conflicting opinions on his pace and kicking.

Punters are saying he's slow and can't kick; Knights said he's quick and an accurate kick.

Which is it?

The vibe gives me a GHS feel.

Refer my signature.

We really can't say whether players are/aren't fast. Some outliers are probably safe to call, but I don't think it's at all meaningful 90% of the time.

 

[Turbocat]

I think it looks like we will be 4 to 5 players off our best side in R1 ... but I think our best side may be smoke and mirrors.. as SSelwood and Cockatoo have failed to be fit so often. 2e and Bews are in for sure. .. and id hope Narkle can find himself in the side at some stage he has something a lot do not.

 

[Matt_352]

Hey guys I come in peace, do you rkn Clark has a spot in the 22 after Tuohy comes back? Good luck for the season after round one I hope that this Friday is a good hitout with no injuries for either team.

 

[Drunkcat]

How about we wait until he has played a couple games before you say he can only play on the ball