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I get what you're saying and part of me agrees. Another part sees that our defence is kind of built around Lloyd's strengths and weaknesses. We often ask ourselves "how do we take the next step?". I fear that Lloyd might be a block on that because of his one-on-one shortcomings.Agree with all of these KC except Lloyd. He is one of only 11 players who I think are certainties to play all 23 games this year if fit. It's a group that I don't even have Rampe in. Have seen some chat often grouping Rampe & Lloyd as "the veterans" who may need replacing, but to me they're very different cases.
Rampe's a 33 year old defender who has made his name over the last decade by playing on blokes twice his size who now has to adjust his game and contribute in other ways (either as a smaller lockdown type, or more of a rebounding option) or his importance in the team plummets. His body's also gotta hold up and he's at an age now where injuries will be more and more likely.
Lloyd on the other hand is a just-turned-30 year old flanker, very little comparative wear and tear on the body from a decade spent in a largely uncontested capacity, and probably the most durable player we've had of the last decade. There's no reason Lloyd can't keep keeping on for another few years at least. Horse & co absolutely love him and I think he's the key cog in the set-up that allows the likes of Blakey & Florent to get their defensive rebounds going, which you touched on yourself.
Either way the thought of one day having neither of them in our defence has me feeling like
Personally, I'd have Cunningham in the 18 in lieu of Rampe, if Mills was to be played in defense. I don't see the need for Mills to go back there unless the coaching panel deem we already have enough talent in the midfield meaning Mills can be more value in the back half. Cunningham is the only one that I would want looking after the opposition's small forwards.
I don't mind if Mills goes back, assuming the mids are going well. You're right in wanting Cunningham (or an eventual legitimate small, quick replacement) on the oppo small fwds though. Mills beats them in the air, but doesn't have the speed to chase down or nullify on the lead. Mills would be the Fox replacement on the medium types or as an interceptor.
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I think Mills in defence would be more about durability. But I don't see any reason Mills couldn't look after the small forwards as well. He's got a deceptive first step of pace.
100%. Mills more the Rampe replacement if that's the way we go. Mills is actually slightly taller and IMO better in the air. Personally I hope he stays in the midfield but at the moment I can't see a Rampe replacement on the near horizon.
Francis is a sleeper for it, imo
Not without merit. Be interesting to see how he is used in the forthcoming season. I wonder if his reactions are quick enough? Might need to fine down a little bit, not heaps.
Gotta remember where he came form, imo. If he was a mid-season draft pick we'd be really impressed with him as opposed to coming from a AFL club. But it was Essendon
Hasn’t demonstrated the slightest aptitude for climbing posts yet.
I think Rampe is in his own unique category when it comes to jumping over and climbing onto things
at least half of every premiership side is made up of 'good ordinary footballers'
I'd look at what we did in our grand final run in 2022 and try and do more of that.
Only part of the story. Since then no Buddy, Mills out of the middle, Heeney playing hurt (or whatever), a losing ruck and defensive mid set up. So we're trying to do more of that with those recruitments, as I pointed out.
Not sure what was wrong with my response KC. It was a genuine comment. You asked what next and I said we need to do more of what we did in our grand final run of 2022. I felt like in that period we made so many astute tactical decisions that it was no surprise we were the clear second-best, if not best, side in the competition. I think we need to again make astute tactical decisions with the personnel we have. If we don't then we'll be just another great list underperforming, like you see with a handful of teams every year.
