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3rd Defender

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Playing at their best, I'd definitely take Andy Otten over Shaw. He's a bit slow, but he lost weight over the pre-season apparently, so that shouldn't be of huge concern. Obviously his injuries are worrying, but Shaw is also injury prone, and IMO doesn't have the foot skills or decision making that Otten has. Luke Thompson needs to bulk up, and I think he'd be a bit too tall to play 3rd tall if he bulked up. Henderson should be used on the wing, and unfortunately, although I like him, Tom Lynch is probably only depth.
 
Apsaalooke said:
Glenelg haven't pigeon holed him there, he had a great year there in defence. Anyway the AFC have got it wrong before. How many wasted years did it take to find Reilly's best position? Rutten was tried as a forward and found wanting after his famous first 4 kicks. If he hadn't been sent to full back I'm sure he would have been delisted.
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What Glenelg does with a player, and what the AFC does with a player are rarely the same thing. Glenelg is one of the clubs that both the AFC and PAFC have had issues with regarding the way they play their AFL listed players.
 
Apsaalooke said:
Glenelg haven't pigeon holed him there, he had a great year there in defence. Anyway the AFC have got it wrong before. How many wasted years did it take to find Reilly's best position? Rutten was tried as a forward and found wanting after his famous first 4 kicks. If he hadn't been sent to full back I'm sure he would have been delisted.
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I'm agree with Glenelg picking Lynch in the backlines.
From the little I've seen of him there he looks quite accomplished down back.He does read the ball well coming into defence and takes a strong mark. Like many AFL players in the SANFL he also runs the ball out of defence well and has a knack of floating across to cut out the forwards space.
I 'm feel he is more suited to defence than attack but it's his disposal that has a tendency to let him down.
I'm sure I read somewhere that as a defender in the VFL his marking ratio was one of the highest in league. (Not 100% certain on that.)

I wouldn't give up on Lynch just yet he is a pretty versatile player. He like many others in the squad needs a chance and multiple games to consolidate a spot, IMO his best chance of making it is in defence.
 
What's Lynch's field kicking like? It was diabolical in that first NAB 20/20 weekend but everyone was pretty rusty.

During the preliminary final I thought Otten looked as much like the 2009 version as we've seen since his injury. Was very optimistic about 2013. Seems like he's regressed a little? Or too early to tell perhaps. I like Otten because he is calm and can handle pressure. But if he is the same slow, lacking in confidence Otten we've had the last 2 years then no thanks.
 

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Everyone is always this rusty at this point in the season, because nobody has 'match fitness', and the majority of training across the December/January break is strength and endurance, rather than skills.

I seem to recall Lynch came to us because St Kilda didn't want him as a defender, and had no room for him in their forward line.
 
Otten is the best option - if he is over his injury problems, which he showed signs of late last season. May be slow, but has poise & rarely gets caught.

Lynch - I would try out as the now back-up option, as has shown can do a great job at SANFL level, but not given a dencent go in this role at AFL level.

Shaw - think more of a medium term option. Needs to get body right & improve his use of the ball at SANFL level... but has huge potential.

L Thompson - I see as more of a KPP backup, but an option if the opposition has a tall forward line.
 
Lynch is a real tough one, he's your true "tweener". Not tall enough or strong enough overhead to be a KPP, too slow to be a midfielder or small fwd/def. I was always worried when we grabbed him that we might have similar trouble to the Saints as to where he goes. He's quite limited as a player, his best spot is probably loose across HB where Glenelg played him, but is he good enough to command that position in our side over someone more versatile.

Otten is similar, but is a hell of a lot stronger overhead than Lynch, only he is similarly very slow. Guys like Shaw, Johnston and Thompson have a fair whack more pace along with being that medium-tall size, which instantly makes them more attractive through increased versatility.
 
3rd defender for me has to be Shaw. With Rutten and Talia not being quick, we need his pace and agility.
Rutten, Talia and Otten will get exposed more times than not playing together.
 
I think Shaw for mine is the number one choice. I don't mind having both Shaw and Otten in the side though if Otten can get back to the form of the finals last year. I'm really hoping he can find his form again and have a good year.
 
My actual preference for the third defender is to try Cameron Ellis - Yolman. I've written about his upside in previous posts.
If Lynch is to make it I just feel it will be as a defender not the attacking role they are experimenting him in now.
 

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SydCrow said:
Curly and LT out for the Geelong game
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Which would suggest neither is seriously been considered for round 1 & Otten has the inside running.
 

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Its a worry that there isn't a standout who ticks all the boxes with other contenders close behind. They either lack pace, strength, fitness, accuracy or smarts. None of them have everything it takes and this could prove to be an Achilles heel this season.

we also seem to leak a lot of goals when the ball gets over the pack. I'm not sure any of these guys can cope with that.
 
Rory Walkerfield said:
This is a no brainer. Sam Shaw will be a 200+ game player for Adelaide. Showed plenty so far and will cement himself once fit this season.
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He will need to dramatically reduce his error rate to become a 200+ game player. I re-watched many of last year's games on Foxtel in the off season & Shaw cost us many turnover goals due to silly mistakes. He has some other great attributes, but he must reduce the "doh" moments to make it at AFL level.
 
Apsaalooke said:
Its a worry that there isn't a standout who ticks all the boxes with other contenders close behind. They either lack pace, strength, fitness, accuracy or smarts. None of them have everything it takes and this could prove to be an Achilles heel this season.

we also seem to leak a lot of goals when the ball gets over the pack. I'm not sure any of these guys can cope with that.
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That's a team structure issue, not a player issue. The person responsible for this is the coach, as he's the one who directs the defenders to play further up the field (usually part of a zone defence), leaving gaping holes if/when the opposition can get the ball past the zone.
 

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