Strategy A BIG.. BIG.. ISSUE.

[winged1]

The dogs key defenders have developed and they have a very nice forward structure. Bonts and Macrae could be anything. They are going OK.

As for us, I think Quigley nailed it earlier, the back half is OK, Rance would be a great inclusion, but not a necessity. We need to get an A-grade key forward, we have tried to pluck a second stringer and hope they developed it hasnt worked.

 

[lukiuslion]

The dogs key defenders have developed and they have a very nice forward structure. Bonts and Macrae could be anything. They are going OK.

As for us, I think Quigley nailed it earlier, the back half is OK, Rance would be a great inclusion, but not a necessity. We need to get an A-grade key forward, we have tried to pluck a second stringer and hope they developed it hasnt worked.

Yep totally agreed, questions remains if we can't get that big fish - do we then do nothing? as much as I agree the second stringers are not and haven't been the answer - Paine and Lisle came with limited wraps and where lowly draft picks and were never said to be 'The Answer', just hit in hope development projects, and McGuane was notoriously injury prone. See... Friggen Ace was supposed to be a poor mans Jack Rewaldt (at worst) by now, our loss of players and our inability to develop them is the reason we are in this pickle.

I would also prefer to avoid B-C graders, but for example i'd take Butcher in a heart beat.

 

[jackess]

Yep totally agreed, questions remains if we can't get that big fish - do we then do nothing? as much as I agree the second stringers are not and haven't been the answer - Paine and Lisle came with limited wraps and where lowly draft picks and were never said to be 'The Answer', just hit in hope development projects, and McGuane was notoriously injury prone. See... Friggen Ace was supposed to be a poor mans Jack Rewaldt (at worst) by now, our loss of players and our inability to develop them is the reason we are in this pickle.

I would also prefer to avoid B-C graders, but for example i'd take Butcher in a heart beat.

I think we'll just stick to the current plan which is to get 60 games of experience into McStay and Andrews as quickly as possible and hope in 2017-18 we'll start to play some decent footy.

 

[winged1]

Yep totally agreed, questions remains if we can't get that big fish - do we then do nothing? as much as I agree the second stringers are not and haven't been the answer - Paine and Lisle came with limited wraps and where lowly draft picks and were never said to be 'The Answer', just hit in hope development projects, and McGuane was notoriously injury prone. See... Friggen Ace was supposed to be a poor mans Jack Rewaldt (at worst) by now, our loss of players and our inability to develop them is the reason we are in this pickle.

I would also prefer to avoid B-C graders, but for example i'd take Butcher in a heart beat.

If we cant get the A grader, I would consider a Walker from Geelong as long as he didnt cost too much, we need someone to compete. Other than that it is freeman, close, hammer, hipwood, get the games into them. Looks like Paine will end up back if he is going to stay on the list.

I wouldnt take butcher and the reason is the games he is bad, he is BAD and not in a Michael Jackson way which depending on your bent could be good, I mean disinterested and doesnt get near it, too much Lisle in him. He also isnt the biggest body. I think we need a big body who can compete and get the ball to ground, which is why I would consider Walker. Somebody mentioned Reid from Sydney before, he would also be a no, good third tall, but cant carry No1 status, we need a gorilla (who can kick straight).

Im not sold on Hawkins either, I know he is rated highly but he will cost a fortune and I dont think he fits our age demographic. Carlisle is hit and miss also, I dont see him as a number 1 KPF more supporting cast. It is difficult. I dont think the answer is currently on the list though.

 

[Davemonkey]

I do feel like Rance gives us security post Rog and getting him would be a great outcome, but the need for a KPF is paramount, at least as a foil to allow Close, Andrews and Freeman to develop. Still see McStay as a swingman.

The question really is what are we prepared to sacrifice to get that KPF and is he a short termer (e.g. Hawkins) to build our young fellas or a long termer like Carlisle.

 

[Balony_pony16]

I do feel like Rance gives us security post Rog and getting him would be a great outcome, but the need for a KPF is paramount, at least as a foil to allow Close, Andrews and Freeman to develop. Still see McStay as a swingman.

The question really is what are we prepared to sacrifice to get that KPF and is he a short termer (e.g. Hawkins) to build our young fellas or a long termer like Carlisle.

Getting rance has nothing to do with us getting a tall forward... we need both, and Rance is a free agent Freebee if he comes north

 

[captainrich]

The dogs took 3 highly speculative picks with high draft positions - Bonts, Mcrae & Stringer - and all 3 are working out, so far.

if we are talking speculative picks we should have gone with Tyler Roos

 

[Fatcat08]

if we are talking speculative picks we should have gone with Tyler Roos

Not even remotely in the same ballpark

 

[captainrich]

Not even remotely in the same ballpark

that was just a gee up from last year

 

[Davemonkey]

Getting rance has nothing to do with us getting a tall forward... we need both, and Rance is a free agent Freebee if he comes north

I agree but there is a lot of "We don't need Rance, we need to throw it all at KPFs" talk which I find perplexing.

 

[Viceregal]

What are the chances we will have any more idea by the end of this year whether any of our current crop are likely to make it?

 

[lukiuslion]

What are the chances we will have any more idea by the end of this year whether any of our current crop are likely to make it?

Watching the pies game from last year, if I were to answer this question whilst watching this id just say "let's just stay the course, these guys are going to be unreal"... Now.. Who knows, funny how form can determine the way you feel about the future so strongly, it's the height of reactionary, impulsive, non sense.. no month of footy is the same as the next, yet we are left to predict the next 10 years based on how the guys have gone in the last 3/4 games .. I think all considered 2 of close, freeman, Mcstay, Paine will make it to 150 games, none IMO will be all Australian, but who knows what I'm basing that on. Either way none if then are going to be ready to hold down a forward post for at least 3 season... Minimum.. We need to bring a couple of established forwards in.

 

[Viceregal]

Watching the pies game from last year, if I were to answer this question whilst watching this id just say "let's just stay the course, these guys are going to be unreal"... Now.. Who knows, funny how form can determine the way you feel about the future so strongly, it's the height of reactionary, impulsive, non sense.. no month of footy is the same as the next, yet we are left to predict the next 10 years based on how the guys have gone in the last 3/4 games .. I think all considered 2 of close, freeman, Mcstay, Paine will make it to 150 games, none IMO will be all Australian, but who knows what I'm basing that on. Either way none if then are going to be ready to hold down a forward post for at least 3 season... Minimum.. We need to bring a couple of established forwards in.

If we brought in one established forward who would rate the oppositions top defender ... how differently would it work for Close/Freeman/McStay to be further down the defender's pecking order ... would they suffer from having less ball kicked to them or thrive in being more able to get loose due to a more equitable contest for each of them?

 

[Scubaveg]

The dogs took 3 highly speculative picks with high draft positions - Bonts, Mcrae & Stringer - and all 3 are working out, so far.

Yeah they did, I think I mentioned at the time my concern with our drafting is we seem to pick solid but one dimensional players with our top picks but rarely seem to pick players with really high end potential. Result being we have a rather solid but pedestrian midfield lacking flair and real spark. This, a KPF and an inside mid are the priorities I think:

 

[Gibbo_88]

Someone like Jay Schulz would solve our forward structure for this season at least. If only.

 

[lukiuslion]

If we brought in one established forward who would rate the oppositions top defender ... how differently would it work for Close/Freeman/McStay to be further down the defender's pecking order ... would they suffer from having less ball kicked to them or thrive in being more able to get loose due to a more equitable contest for each of them?

I think it's less about their development and more about about giving our mids the confidence their work is worthwhile. In the next 2 seasons I just think more ball will come down if there is a focal point, I'd love to say that man could be Freeman but I'm just not convinced. It's been utterly glaring how confused our structures are without a main target up forward, it is resonating through our entire group IMO.

 

[winged1]

Yeah they did, I think I mentioned at the time my concern with our drafting is we seem to pick solid but one dimensional players with our top picks but rarely seem to pick players with really high end potential. Result being we have a rather solid but pedestrian midfield lacking flair and real spark. This, a KPF and an inside mid are the priorities I think:

The inside mid will be nrobbo just give him some time. He is one of the few having a real crack atm.

 

[Kevvo]

The inside mid will be nrobbo just give him some time. He is one of the few having a real crack atm.

I think we have some decent clearance winning mids (Rocky, Beams, Rich, agree that NRobbo is showing promise).

For me, the problem isn't that we need a specialist, it's that we need to improve the clearance abilities of our other guys. I'd say the gap is too big between our players who win their own ball and our other HBFs/HFFs.