Back 6

[wehavethepassion]

there has been alot posted on various threads regarding our back six with the
likihood of Tarrant and Drum being traded.

currently geelong is the benchmark with their back six/seven:

Scarlett(Agrader), Harley, Milburn, Mackie, Taylor,Kelly(dropped back there early in year after Hunt did a knee) Enwright.

A defence obviously nulifies the opposition attack but the setting up of attacks is where the geelong backline excel.

That was the difference in GF Saints back six:
Baker, Dawson, Gilbert, raf Clarke, Blake & Gram(only real Agrader here)

I shudder to think our backline is going back to relying on grover,dodd & thornton again in 2010?

roger and broughton are the class performers. maybe johnson could be pushed back there (doesn't like to man up when used in defence)? Elvis plays his best footy in defence BUT has it passed him by??

Is this dumb suggestion?? - murphy told to grab the opportunity to play in defence or just spend 2010 playing for soufs(is contracted for 2010) I think he was recruited as a defender - played on Wayne Carey(V crows) at CHB in preseason game at subi 2003-2004

 

[Angus McFuttock]

I've been thinking the same thing about Murphy if we lose Tarrant and Drum in trades and Spud remains on the list. Give him a run as a defender in pre-season and see if he can turn it around.
Otherwise I'd hope Shepheard can develop quickly and play a few games.

 

[rgauci]

So true. Our back 6 is far from a settled premiership contender.

We took big steps towards building a solid defence this season with the recruitment of Broughton, Suban and Hill. The latter 2 will hopefully hold midfield roles. But Broughton looks like a solid back 6 player for the next 10 years.

Both Hill and Suban are capable of playing small in the backline.

I think Duffield also took big steps forward this season and is a solid rebounding defender.

Personally for next season i like the look of;

Hayden Tarrant Dodd
Broughton Johnson Duffield

The guys bolded will need replacing before we contend for a premiership. Preferably Johnson will replace Dodd as the 3rd tall defender. Leaving us a key defender or 2 short. We always have the option of moving McPharlin back which personally i prefer, but i think Harvey has other ideas.

Murphy could potentially reinvent his career as a backman. He's definately finished as a forward option.

 

[Sman-21]

Murphy is too slow and doesnt put in the effort required to be a decent forward so will be no good down back.

My backline would be
Broughton Mcpharlin Hayden
Dodd Johnson Mundy/Duffman rotating through midfield.

Mcpharlin to take most domint forward.
Johnson to take best tall.

If Johnson still hasnt put on any muscle and is useless as a defender well mundy goes back to chb an johnson tried up forward or out.

 

[The Purple Jesus]

That was the difference in GF Saints back six:
Baker, Dawson, Gilbert, raf Clarke, Blake & Gram(only real Agrader here)


Going back to original post I didnt watch GF as had to work. Where did Sam Fisher play in GF? He is normally the main man in there back six and definetly an A grader and one of best 10 defenders in AFL for sure

 

[wehavethepassion]

That was the difference in GF Saints back six:
Baker, Dawson, Gilbert, raf Clarke, Blake & Gram(only real Agrader here)

Going back to original post I didnt watch GF as had to work. Where did Sam Fisher play in GF? He is normally the main man in there back six and definetly an A grader and one of best 10 defenders in AFL for sure

Ooops i forgot fisher, he and gram are the only A graders there. whearas the cats had 4-5 A graders. and I did overlook duff beer. is our likeman similar to gram of the saints.

As for our backline without tarrant & drum, we should take the hit and develop other players who will be there when/if our window opens.

the likes of dodd, grover & thornton are depth players at best. have had their chance. I will conceed that we could at a stretch play one of them but never 2 or 3 of them in the same team.

Hayden, Elvis, ??
Broughton, Johnson(it think to loose), duffield

However, IF tarrant & drum stay then

hayden, tarrant, drum
broughton, elvis, duffield

Now this backline does take on the appearance of a finals outfit.

Johnson could play as swingman more so up forward instead of Elvis

 

[dont bowl there]

The Saints defense let through the least amount of points in the H&A season, not sure on the exact stats but I think it was the lowest amount for about 50 years.

I dont think the back 6 was the difference in the GF, the Saints easily had enough good looks at goal but couldn't convert.

 

[SupersonicDocker]

The Saints defense let through the least amount of points in the H&A season, not sure on the exact stats but I think it was the lowest amount for about 50 years.

I dont think the back 6 was the difference in the GF, the Saints easily had enough good looks at goal but couldn't convert.

Bingo

It was the lack of quality finishing smalls that lost them the grand final...

 

[wehavethepassion]

Need at least two A graders on each line!!

 

[DockerDukeOR]

If Tarrant and Drum go, i like the look of..

Broughton McPharlin/Grover Hayden
Mundy Johnson/McPharlin Hill

I like the idea of Hill on th HB line. He needs some responsiblity and the were games where he went missing through the season. I think he needs to be on a man where the ball will go and then back himself to win and run off. He done some great shut down jobs in the under 18s. I would love to see him flourish ala Aka. Start in the backline a develope into a game breaker forward of centre.

 

[docker_champ29]

Get David Meyers. He was pick 6 before palmer, is Western Australian and is a 190cm full back.

We could then trade Tarrant and our back 6 could go like this

B: Roger Hayden, Dave Meyers, Greg Broughton
HBaul Duffield, Grover/Johnson/McPharlin, David Mundy

 

[Ysaye]

Get David Meyers. He was pick 6 before palmer, is Western Australian and is a 190cm full back.

We could then trade Tarrant and our back 6 could go like this

B: Roger Hayden, Dave Meyers, Greg Broughton
HBaul Duffield, Grover/Johnson/McPharlin, David Mundy

It's David Myers, and he isn't a full back, more a wing/bhf type.

 

[docker_champ29]

Woah mate, chill out. I just heard that he could play full back

 

[Kickett Punches Read]

Woah mate, chill out. I just heard that he could play full back

definetly not a full back.... would never play there... he is another david mundy....

 

[prattsta]

definetly not a full back.... would never play there... he is another david mundy....

He's more athletic than Mundy, but his disposal isn't quite as good.

Myers would slot into our backline as a third tall/running player no trouble at all. No idea how we would manage to get him off Essendon though.

 

[Freo Big Fella]

In all honesty I only think we can afford to trade Tarrant OR Drum, not both. McPharlin is an excellent running CHB, but can't play on key forwards, Grover tries hard but isn't cut out for fullback week in week out and Johnson isn't physical enough to be anything more than a third tall.

Assuming we trade Drum;

Hayden Tarrant Broughton
Grover McPharlin Duffield

With Johnson, Headland, Mundy, Hill and Suban all rotating through the flanks.

 

[Alfonz]

A lot still hinges on the midfield. Geelong and St Kilda provide immense pressure and tackling on the opposition and it helps their backs immensely. Guys like Corey, Bartel, Selwood, Hayes, Jones etc. are fantastic tacklers. Until we have midfielders who can stick tackles and run defensively for the full game, then our backline will be under the pump.

If we had an elite midfield, a backline of McPharlin/Tarrant/Hayden/Broughton/Duffield/etc would actually look pretty good. As long as there is no Thornton, Dodd, Grover down there. Of course a couple of key components aren't going to be around for much longer, it is paramount to unearth a key defender somehow.

 

[4n20]

A lot still hinges on the midfield. Geelong and St Kilda provide immense pressure and tackling on the opposition and it helps their backs immensely. Guys like Corey, Bartel, Selwood, Hayes, Jones etc. are fantastic tacklers. Until we have midfielders who can stick tackles and run defensively for the full game, then our backline will be under the pump.

If we had an elite midfield, a backline of McPharlin/Tarrant/Hayden/Broughton/Duffield/etc would actually look pretty good. As long as there is no Thornton, Dodd, Grover down there. Of course a couple of key components aren't going to be around for much longer, it is paramount to unearth a key defender somehow.

This.

Its a lot tougher job when the opposition mids are just waltzing into the forward line under no pressure whatsoever. We did get that midfield pressure right on a few occasions though.