Strategy 2016 Backline

[David the Cat]

I thought it was best young player award, anyhow he did very well at times and will be a positive I think wherever they play him, defender/defensive mid might see him more involved.

Yep....that might have been it....

I think he'll start up forward to begin with...maybe into the midfield on a rotational basis...looks like he'll be a good player for us.

 

[meto]

Yep....that might have been it....

I think he'll start up forward to begin with...maybe into the midfield on a rotational basis...looks like he'll be a good player for us.

I'm not against him starting forward, I mentioned defensive side only because he'll get more ball and start building good average game stats, if I'm critical on him a little it's his possession numbers atm.
Small forward is sometimes starvation corner especially for a kid, but I'm expecting him to make statements this year, "I'm one to watchout for".

 

[BlightysCats]

I think Lang would be high on the MC's players to consider......he did win best first year player last year.

Are you a fan?

I like Lang but I think GHS could be a better option off half back than Lang given his bigger size and the fact he has much more experience than Lang. The question asked in the poll is who should be in our back six? I would've thought if Lang and Smedts are options then GHS should be as well. NSFB is probably right that he won't play back there but I thought he played off half back in our last game against Hawthorn and did well? I'm willing to be corrected about that because I didn't catch a lot of the game but from what I did see I seem to remember he was playing across half back rebounding well for us.

 

[David the Cat]

I like Lang but I think GHS could be a better option off half back than Lang given his bigger size and the fact he has much more experience than Lang. The question asked in the poll is who should be in our back six? I would've thought if Lang and Smedts are options then GHS should be as well. NSFB is probably right that he won't play back there but I thought he played off half back in our last game against Hawthorn and did well? I'm willing to be corrected about that because I didn't catch a lot of the game but from what I did see I seem to remember he was playing across half back rebounding well for us.

Personally can't see GH-S or Lang off half back...its Thurlow, Taylor, Guthrie as a starting half back line for my best 22....

Just can't see GH-S keeping up with zippy small forwards.

 

[Vdubs]

Depends on the timing or context of the choice. If we are saying Round 1 then I say Lonergan will be there and maybe not Henderson. But come the finals it seems more likely Henderson will be in the side and Lonergan, unless we have injury of form issues, maybe out of the side. And sure you can be too tall in the backline.

Some of the teams we will find hard to beat have two good small forwards set up. If you go too tall against such a side not having enough leg speed to cover the smalls could be an issue - and has been in recent times. So 'Too tall' for me means we cannot cover two good small forwards'.

I would really like to see Bews make it because he might be a decent container of small opposition forwards. But I think he will have to wait until 2017 to fully break into the team. He will play say 10-12 senior games but because we have so many players that could play back - he will miss out when finals come around (and we have a full list re backmen).

So for me - come finals 2016 -

Kolo Henderson Enright

Mackie Taylor Thurlow

Its is a bit tall and a bit slow BUT the sheer experience of Mackie, Enright, Taylor and Mackie will generally read the play well enough to deal with faster smaller players. Thurlow is quite quick and Kolo not slow. So its a bit in between backline - but it has the height certainly to handle any opposition tall and mid sized forwards IMO.

Just cannot see all 3 of Henderson, Lonergan and Taylor in the one side - except in exceptional circumstances. Rotate them is how I would handle it.

I think Kolo might a be a very, very good player. He just looks so good and comfortable down back in just 9 senior games. I could be wrong but this guy I think will be better than Hamling and become an integral part of our new, rejuvenated backline by 2017.


2017 backline come finals -

Kolo Henderson Bews

Mackie Taylor Thurlow


2108 backline -

Kolo Henderson Bews

Guthrie Taylor Thurlow

I think that would give us the best balance assuming Kolo, Thurlow and Bews keep on improving. A good range of heights, some good marks, some good pace, good decision makers and good kicks.

Personally I think Guthrie has made (as a backman), Thurlow is very close to best 22 and should become that next season), Kolo, if his performances of this year are any indication of his time to come - is a very likely candidate to make it also by next season's end also.

Bews I cannot be so confident about but he has shown reasonable form and a bit of flair in his times in the firsts. I think he may take a bit more time but will most likely make it.

I assume Henderson will make it because GFC seem confident he will. So for now that is enough for me to go with them on this.

Sure Harry is aging, especially by 2018, but that is still a very nicely balanced line up IMO. Could even be in the top 4 defences in the league (with enough midfield assistance). I think we may enjoy watching the transformation of out backline even though the cost will be the loss of 3 great servicemen of our most successful era - Lonergan, Enright and Mackie.

I'm going for your 2018 backline already.
By the end of 2016, if we are still reliant on Boris, Lonergan and Mackie in defence, we have not gone far.
That trio are immortals for our club, but I am not talking about rd 1.
Just how I'd like to see us balance out by finals 2016.
We need a blend of pace, grunt, marking ability, lock down ability, and attacking run off the backline with good disposal. Bews will need to tune up the latter.
Bews Taylor Kolo
Thurlow Henderson Guthrie

 

[BlightysCats]

Personally can't see GH-S or Lang off half back...its Thurlow, Taylor, Guthrie as a starting half back line for my best 22....

Just can't see GH-S keeping up with zippy small forwards.

I'd play GHS in Bartels role if he were to play back there. I wouldn't have him in my starting back 6 but just thought he could be considered an option.

 

[Stan The Caddy]

Looks like we'll have to fight the good fight ourselves Stan The Caddy not many agree with us with Guthrie

Sorry mate but I only stumbled upon this post just now. For some reason when I get tagged I never get an alert.

Anyway, I'm with you 100% on Guthrie going back. #getguthrieback

 

[Partridge]

Personally can't see GH-S or Lang off half back...its Thurlow, Taylor, Guthrie as a starting half back line for my best 22....

Just can't see GH-S keeping up with zippy small forwards.

Agreed, but they have no problem thinking Bartel can and he's no quicker.

 

[Seeds]

You don't give up a first round draft pick for a depth player.

You do if you are stupid.

 

[ChookNorris]

You do if you are stupid.

Let's at least wait until he's played w few games before calling them stupid. More to the point they trade we made should make it obvious Henderson is a big part of the club's plans, and will definitely be selected ahead of kolo at this stage, and potentially Lonergan aswell. Dumb trade or not, it's the path they will take, how good the trade ends up will depend on performance.

 

[catempire]

Mackie badly underestimated here.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

You do if you are stupid.

But we didn't. He'll play regularly.

 

[Cattery]

Mackie badly underestimated here.

Not as much as Lonners though, can't understand the lack of love for the big guy.

Averaged the most marks and disposals of his career, don't recall many opponents taking him to the cleaners, finished sixth in our B&F yet many on here seem to focus on the couple of poorer games toward the end of the year and have drawn a line through his name for some reason.

 

[catempire]

Not as much as Lonners though, can't understand the lack of love for the big guy.

Averaged the most marks and disposals of his career, don't recall many opponents taking him to the cleaners, finished sixth in our B&F yet many on here seem to focus on the couple of poorer games toward the end of the year and have drawn a line through his name for some reason.

I'd say more than Lonners.

 

[Seeds]

But we didn't. He'll play regularly.

He'll play regularly is different to second player picked. I hope he plays regularly because it means he can still play defence, is better then Lonergan and that one good year wasn't a one off. But to say their isn't a lot of risk with this move is naive. It is a very risky move that could make geelong look stupid given what we gave up.

 

[Seeds]

Not as much as Lonners though, can't understand the lack of love for the big guy.

Averaged the most marks and disposals of his career, don't recall many opponents taking him to the cleaners, finished sixth in our B&F yet many on here seem to focus on the couple of poorer games toward the end of the year and have drawn a line through his name for some reason.

Story of loners career. He wasn't great late in the season but was quite good in the first two thirds. Who knows what that means for next year.

 

[Seeds]

Let's at least wait until he's played w few games before calling them stupid. More to the point they trade we made should make it obvious Henderson is a big part of the club's plans, and will definitely be selected ahead of kolo at this stage, and potentially Lonergan aswell. Dumb trade or not, it's the path they will take, how good the trade ends up will depend on performance.

Basically what I posted. He will be picked no matter what at the start but by the end of the season it's his performance that will determine his place and there is by no means any certainty it will be better then any of loners, Taylor or kolo.

 

[ChookNorris]

Basically what I posted. He will be picked no matter what at the start but by the end of the season it's his performance that will determine his place and there is by no means any certainty it will be better then any of loners, Taylor or kolo.

No certainty kolo will end up a hundred game player either though, Henderson has just as much if not more chance of having an impact for us. And I see no evidence to contradict that unless you want to be incredibly presumptive about a guy who's played less than 10 games

 

[Art Vandelay_]

He'll play regularly is different to second player picked. I hope he plays regularly because it means he can still play defence, is better then Lonergan and that one good year wasn't a one off. But to say their isn't a lot of risk with this move is naive. It is a very risky move that could make geelong look stupid given what we gave up.

Merely responding to the "you do if your stupid" which we're not in this instance.

 

[Cattery]

But we didn't. He'll play regularly.

Where do you see him playing, noticed you didn't select him in your back six so I'm assuming you think he'll spend time forward?

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Where do you see him playing, noticed you didn't select him in your back six so I'm assuming you think he'll spend time forward?

2016 I see Lonners and Taylor starting down back and I think they'll continue get games into Kolo.

So Mackie is on the wing and Henderson starts on the bench and I actually agree with Bobby may spend some time forward in 2016 but will also spend some time back. A better swing man than Harry ever was.

2017 after Lonners has presumably retired he's permanent defender.

 

[Partridge]

Where do you see him playing, noticed you didn't select him in your back six so I'm assuming you think he'll spend time forward?

For me, it's a lot simpler. I have no idea which defenders they will go with out of Lonergan, Taylor, Mackie, Henderson, and Kolodjashnij. In the same way I have no idea which combination of rucks and forwards they will select out of Hawkins, Clark, Vardy, Blicavs, Smith, and Stanley.

 

[you pick one]

For me, it's a lot simpler. I have no idea which defenders they will go with out of Lonergan, Taylor, Mackie, Henderson, and Kolodjashnij. In the same way I have no idea which combination of rucks and forwards they will select out of Hawkins, Clark, Vardy, Blicavs, Smith, and Stanley.

Bingo

 

[Jon Douglas]

I'm going for your 2018 backline already.
By the end of 2016, if we are still reliant on Boris, Lonergan and Mackie in defence, we have not gone far.
That trio are immortals for our club, but I am not talking about rd 1.
Just how I'd like to see us balance out by finals 2016.
We need a blend of pace, grunt, marking ability, lock down ability, and attacking run off the backline with good disposal. Bews will need to tune up the latter.
Bews Taylor Kolo
Thurlow Henderson Guthrie

Look I agree Mr. V but I just cannot see GFC doing this in 2016 come finals. Yes we will get senior games into Kolo and Bews regardless of whether they are in the best come finals 2016. But we are pretty conservative and if it comes down to say Enright and Bews for a BP position and they are both playing well - everything basically equaly - the finals experience of Boris will get him over the line. Plus what a great send off for him.

We kept Boris, Mackie, Lonergan and Bartel because they are still playing well and we are as yet 100 % that Bews and Kolo will make it. I think Kolo for sure and Bews is a likely type. But that does mean they will be able to next season play most of the season and then the finals and do ok. So we have options by keeping some of the older players.

If I was to guess Boris, Mackie and Bartel will play finals in 2016 - with only Lonergan the likely one to miss. The Boris and Lonergan to retire at the ned of 2016, and Bartel and Mackie to retire at the end of 2017 - with only Mackie being in the best 22 for the finals in 2017.

Mackie just being given a 2 year contract so I expect him to play these years in the 22.

But I di like the look of that 2018 backline. If Bews comes on it will be a beauty.

 

[Vdubs]

Mackie badly underestimated here.

Not at all- named our dog after him!- but I can see him finish his career more wing/hf; maybe not.
A massive Mackie fan, and he is the least likely to peter out this season tbh.