We could have a fwd line of:
HF: Higgins, Waite, Cooney
FF: Thomas, Petrie, Black
With the likes of Harvey, Ziebell, Cunnington, Wells rotating with Higgins and Cooney for stints inside F50, it looks like it could wreak some havoc, especially now on the turnover which hasn't always been the case with us. Turner will continue to develop in the two's and I don't see a problem with this as he is still the youngest in the comp before all the new kids come in, and still needs to work on plenty of areas in his game. Brown, don't actually want him out but it creates pretty good competition for spots amongst the other tall forwards, so the least performing one should miss out.
So with the 3 inclusions (if Cooney comes in/don't really want Varcoe) it looks like this to me:
FB: Firrito, Thompson, Hansen
HB: McDonald, Grima, Wright
C: Atley, Cunnington, Wells
HF: Higgins, Waite, Cooney
FF: Thomas, Petrie, Black
Foll: Goldstein, Swallow, Ziebell
IC: Harvey, Dal Santo, Gibson, Macmillan
There just looks like more class in that team than we have had for a long time. There's 'class' outweighing 'average' skills on almost every line there. I don't know why some of you were/are against bringing in skillful players as it will make a big difference to our side. We'll get to supplement our core 16 or so players with more highly skilled players. Just from the Sydney PF, Higgins replaces Jacobs, Cooney replaces a Turner, Waite replaces a Brown or Black who had 2 disposals and 2 tackles that night, and 1 goal in the last 5 weeks of our season (yes he was injured for most of the season, and he played a higher role up-field, but this is exactly the benefit we will reap when we can replace him for a guy like Waite when Blacky is struggling).
As for the calls that the young'uns we have that might have their development stymied, lets look at the younger players who miss out on a spot in the 22:
Bastinac: Maybe this will actually force him to pull his finger out and work his butt off to get back into the side. This is my opinion only of course but to me he was extremely lucky to play all but one game for us this year. This could be the catalyst that pushes him to be that player we thought he could develop into after his pretty good debut season.
McKenzie: Has to show continuing physicality and consistency in the two's first. Shouldn't just be allowed to come into the 22 because of his left boot. Has to earn it, should work for it and thus steadily develop and improve in the seconds.
Harper/Garner: Like McKenzie, have to show that they can consistently perform at VFL level first. Once their output is of an adequate level that's required of Brad and others involved in selection, I'm sure we'll see them replace a Cooney/Higgins. Which is how it should be. They shouldn't have to come in and develop in the ones like how the likes of Bastinac/Cunners/Ziebell etc. did when they were thrown into the deep end 4-5 years ago because we had nobody else.
Jacobs: He will go back and show us he's too good for the VFL and I feel he needs an extended run in the ones to develop confidence and get the best out of himself. He's one that I can see being in and out of the side and his develop could be stunted. But he'll replace whichever one of the HB/Mids that isn't performing which will only make our side stronger.
Dumont: Like Jacobs above, I feel next year he'll show that he's way too good for the VFL. But he doesn't need the full 26 games next season, nor will he get it. Through form and inevitable injury, he should get his chance and depending on how well he does, he will get around about the amount of games he deserves. Here's hoping anyway.
Wood: Is probably the one (with Jacobs) that is most difficult to find a spot in the 22 for. Again he'll most likely do very well next season in the VFL and thus require some AFL games to develop further. Question is whether we can play the three talls AND Wood. If not, he would probably be behind all of the tall forwards for a spot in the 22, depending on form of course, and would find it tough to get a gig.
All in all, it's tough. For one, I can see the inclusion of players not really affecting or actually improving the development of some of our own (Basti, McKenzie, Harper, Garner). But for Jacobs and Wood, games may be taken from them and yes it might hinder their development. Dumont not so much as I feel he'll get a handful of games which will be enough for him being a second year player. In the end though, I do believe it makes us a stronger, highly skilled (how often have we been able to say that or even be close to thinking it this past decade?), and possibly formidable unit if most of the important core players stay on the park. Even if we don't get Cooney, I am bloody excited not only for 2015, but several years beyond because we have both utilised the FA well and recruited well and will continue to invest in recruitment.