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McKernan is more than depth. How good would he be going if we had 2017 Joe in the same forward line and not have to out mark two defenders.Im under no illusions that injury is going to require us to call on McKernan and Brown. And their current output means they are great depth.
McKernan's ability to assist in the ruck and Brown's ability to get back is also quite helpful.
When these guys are depth, we're stronger as a team.
I am still not 100% sold on Francis. I do not question his skills and ability but I just wonder if he is a tweener. Not quite big enough to play genuine KP at either end. If he can find a spot where he plays flank or a sort of floating defender it may be his go. Right now his marking is not as strong as it has been so it is hard for him to be a forward. I think he is stuck in the middle a bit. Too short to play KP and not quite quick enough or big enough tank to play half back. The plus side is he has been getting second up to spoil a lot and he has a lot more second and third efforts now.
I suppose i look at 2 options. And yes, he is more than depth. Which is also good.McKernan is more than depth. How good would he be going if we had 2017 Joe in the same forward line and not have to out mark two defenders.
He’s 192cm, same as Hurley and a touch taller than Ambrose.
Most key defenders are around the 195/196 mark, with a few taller these days and pushing 200.
He’s on the smaller side, but not by heaps and plenty of others (incl Hurley) have made it work at that height. Hurley is a dual AA.
A lot of it comes down to matchups. Ideally you have a giant if the opposition has a tall bastard you need to specifically counter. That’s always been Hooker for us and beyond him it’ll be Hartley or BZT.
After that your second or third defenders can be a bit smaller and Francis can play there. I think long-term he’s ideally the heir apparent to Hurley, can play one-on-one and is super-competitive, but has a real ability to set up plays out of D50 with his kicking. He’s better in the air than Hurley too (Hurley has those well documented wrist and thumb issues which I think have probably affected his marking).
He’s shown his ability as an interceptor and his kicking skills, I have little doubt the coaches have told him his area for improvement is his one-on-one defence and that’s what he’s been focussed on the last month or so. And he’s done a pretty good job tbf.
It’s a delicate balance and we need to think ahead. People love Ambrose and he does what he does very well but he’s limited beyond that. If Francis continues to up his defensive work he may well squeeze Ambrose out - what you lose with Ambrose as a better negator you gain going the other way. In a couple of years when Hurley is done, that’s when we may see Francis properly loosened up a bit.
People don’t want to hear negatives about Ambrose because he’s so reliable - I get that - but they are there. Firstly he’s one-dimensional, and secondly he’s not totally a long-term planning prospect. He’s 28 in a few weeks and plays like an absolute battering ram which will have an impact on his body. He’s not the long-term play that BZT/Francis/Gleeson are.
Right now I would take forward line with McKernan.I suppose i look at 2 options. And yes, he is more than depth. Which is also good.
Backline with Hooker and no Francis vs Backline with Francis & forward line with no McKernan.
At the moment, it's not really an issue.
Daniher and Hurley are out. If one was to return, you place Hooker based on who (If its Hurley, send Hooker fwd, if it's Daniher you send Hooker back)
Gleeson does it better than FrancisDoes he need to be a kpd? Why can’t he be what he was late last year when he was our best player in rounds 22-23. The good teams are still manufacturing the plus one role that suits him so why can’t we?
We’d be lucky to get a second round pick for himI can see him going to Port Adelaide at the end of the season. Not the end of the world though. We do need a high draft pick.
Height never stopped Dane Rampe and Josh Gibson playing on KPFs and hopefully it wouldn't stop Aaron either.I am still not 100% sold on Francis. I do not question his skills and ability but I just wonder if he is a tweener. Not quite big enough to play genuine KP at either end. If he can find a spot where he plays flank or a sort of floating defender it may be his go. Right now his marking is not as strong as it has been so it is hard for him to be a forward. I think he is stuck in the middle a bit. Too short to play KP and not quite quick enough or big enough tank to play half back. The plus side is he has been getting second up to spoil a lot and he has a lot more second and third efforts now.
Gleeson does it better than Francis
Rampe is enterprising tho. He jumps on goal posts, to elevate himself.Height never stopped Dane Rampe and Josh Gibson playing on KPFs and hopefully it wouldn't stop Aaron either.
Ease up. I love Ridley and reckon he’s a massive part of future years. I’m not hanging s**t on him, just saying he’s badly out of form.
You can’t pick teams on purely conceptual terms.. you have to pick guys in form who can do the job. You’re saying you would rather Ridley in right now and but I reckon dropping Francis for a guy that had two handballs and a kick last weekend is probably pretty rough.
I can see him going to Port Adelaide at the end of the season. Not the end of the world though. We do need a high draft pick.
Whipping boy much. A few times where he looked wasted but he and Gleeson were the only ones getting around to support and take the game on. Was one of our best. Should be 15 players you have a go at before the one constantly putting his body on the line.
Nah, there were several moments where he just stopped dead in his tracks when he should've gone. Like a deer in the headlights.
It should be Hartley but at this stage he may not even be on the list.
Back to Francis being compared to Hurley. Francis came through the under 18 Champs as a flanker playing a Brendan Goddard type role. Hurley was an AA full back who always took the number 1 defender. Yes they are around the same height but they played totally different roles even though Hurls is not at his best defending one on one. Francis is a very long way behind where Hurley was as a junior. Hurley would have been number 1 pick in that draft by a mile.
People do not want to here that Ambrose is in the best 22. He may be one dimensional and 28 but he is the best one on one defender we have and Francis will be lucky to get close to his defending level.
It is easy to say "if" Francis improves his one on one defending but it is something he has never had.Not as a junior and not now. His spot in the side will always be third defender / intercept player with good skills. That will mean will will always need an Ambrose (type) in the side. He is not ever going to be a great one on one defender. Lets face it their was the rubbish talk from the club after that he could play some midfield time. He is a flanker and the reason I am not 100% sold is he has struggled to get the fitness and engine to the level needed to suite his strong point due to various reasons. I called him the best player in that draft but his one weak point has progressed at a very slow rate.
That looks good but I think our troubles are in the ruck. I'm thinking if our mids get more opportunities the forward line might function better with quick and clean delivery? And the backs can do there thing on fewer occasions.Redman Ambrose Francis
Saad Hurley McKenna
w/Gleeson
Fairly happy with that backline
*** Daniher Tippa
Fantasia Hooker Stringer
*** any number of players can take the 6th forward spot. But i like Hooker, Daniher and Stringer up forward.