Backline Problems

[swans4eva]

Im just making a thread about our backline, i think we have big problems down there TBH. We dont seem to hav many up and coming backs and im just wondering what we r gonna do wen we play a team like Hawthorn. They hav buddy, roughead, williams, rioli and i dont think we hav enough to counter attack those dangers. Of course Hawthorn hav probably the best forward line in the comp but i can still see problems down back for the swans!

Who can u see being our saviour down back or do u hav any surprise options we might use. Barry Hall or Adam Goodes down back? Jesse White being the saviour? If Craig Bolton gets injured then i think we might have a lot of problems!

 

[BarneyBent]

Even though I think Grundy is better up forward, he can play back in a pinch, and White and Murphy have been playing defence in the ressies. Expect White to get a few games in defence next year, possibly coming into the side for Leo, and Murphy should get a game or two down there as well.

Personally, I think our forwardline is a bigger worry.

 

[swans4eva]

I think Grundy is a bit of a flop TBH.
I believe our forward line is not a bigger problem then our backline. We have options.
Jarrad McVeigh can go forward and easily kick 3 goals, same with goodesy. Ryan O'Keefe is a star up forward and if playfair can chip in with a couple a game then we should be able to get by.

 

[RUNVS]

I am off the opinion that we shouldnt have delisted Luke Brennan as i believe he wasnt a half bad defender.

 

[BarneyBent]

I think Grundy is a bit of a flop TBH.
I believe our forward line is not a bigger problem then our backline. We have options.
Jarrad McVeigh can go forward and easily kick 3 goals, same with goodesy. Ryan O'Keefe is a star up forward and if playfair can chip in with a couple a game then we should be able to get by.

McVeigh is not a forward, he is a goalkicking midfielder. There's a difference. Goodes can potentially move forward and be successful, but one 8 goal haul doesn't mean that he can be consistent contributor. That is unknown. Besides which, I much prefer him in the midfield.

O'Keefe is a star, yes, but he's not a goalkicker. He's a HFF. He kicks the ball to the goalkickers, Magic and Hall. 2009 is almost certainly Magic's last year, and could well be Hall's as well, which leaves a massive hole in terms of key forward stocks.

We have Grundy, who I think showed a fair bit this year (I wasn't a fan to begin with), but he could still go either way. Who else do we have to replace Hall and O'Loughlin? Johnston? He's 3-4 years off being able to lead a forwardline at least, and that's assuming he lives up to his potential.

 

[doona]

I dont think that our backline has major problems. For the past few years we have had one of the best defenses in the competition and i think that we hav the personal to continue.

At the end of the 2009 season we will loose:
Kennelly
Barry

For the start of the 2010 season we will have:
LRT: He gets torn to shreds on big footy but i believe he is a good player. He was centre half back in 2005, 2006 when we had arguably the best defence in the competition. Last year he had a disappointing year but he did play out of position regularly pinch hitting in the ruck.

Bolton: Without a doubt our best defender and one of the best in the competition.

Richards: i cant believe i forgot Richards. i think he is one of the most versatile players in the swans defense.

Malceski and Mattner: two players that will provide run off the half back flank. Kennelly will be a big loss but i think that Roos recruiting Mattner was forward planning.

Jack, crouch and Beven: players that can be used as tagging options through the midfield, or as small defenders.

White, grundy and Murphy: are players that have the ability to hold down a key defensive post. Grundy last season improved dramatically and i think that he will cement his spot in the team next season. Murphy from all reports is coming along really well and will be a gun, however only time will tell weather he will be a defender or a forward. I know he is playing defense in the two's but in the past that has been used to teach players the game (the art of leading and reading the play). White played a few games of first last year and has alot of improvement to come.

From the players listed above i think we are rebuilding nicely and we wont be struggle in defense.

Another thing that doesnt get brought up as much is the most important part of defense is the defensive pressure that is applied in the midfield. A defender has no chance against an onballer with plenty of time and a forward on the lead.

I think that we have the youngsters in the midfield that will be able to apply that pressure when the likes of Kirk, Bolton and crouch are eased out of the midfield. Players like Bird, Veszpremi (i loved the forward pressure he applied in his few games last year, when he gets the tank i think that he will be awesome in the midfield), Jack, Beven (He is slightly older but i think that last season was a breakout year for beven and he will only get better) and Moore will be able to provide pressure to help out the defenders.

 

[SM]

Crouch will be gone by Round 1 2010. Mark my words.

 

[Dylza94]

Our backline could be:

FB: Take your pick, Richards, Malceski
B: Take your pick, C.Bolton, Mattner

Take your pick: Jack, Bevan, Bird, White, Murphy, Grundy and LRT.

Even someone like Kirk could play backline in his later years.

 

[MF]

Crouch will be gone by Round 1 2010. Mark my words.

I thought he was great after coming back from a long stint on the sidelines. He provides pace that we sorely need and I can't see any reason why he won't be around beyond next season.

 

[Dudley]

Psyllium Husks can help

 

[vonn]

kirk can not play defence no way.
an interesting thought,
was reading an article today, and quoted goodsey sayin he could see himself finishing his career as full forward, it would be interesting to move barry hall in defence/midfield and rotate him with goodes.
i can't see hall gettin beaten in to many one-on-ones which leo an lrt are just pathetic at, and leo was full forward that moved to back.

 

[SM]

But Bazza's an established forward, and cut out for that line of play, you can't change his position that drastically in one of his last years of footy and expect him to play competently.

 

[vonn]

i didnt say permanently i said like for a small section of the game while goodes is at full forward like when our forward line is COMPLETELY NOT WORKING

(for example every single collingwood game)
it would change the mix of things, put the focus on goodes in the forward line and have barry play in the back and then have a lose man in defence/halfback.

 

[kira]

Our backline could be:

FB: Take your pick, Richards, Malceski
B: Take your pick, C.Bolton, Mattner

Take your pick: Jack, Bevan, Bird, White, Murphy, Grundy and LRT.

Even someone like Kirk could play backline in his later years.

pretty good back line... i like it

richards and bolton to handle the two talls

mattner and malceski to give run off half-back

and throw in bevan and lrt to do their stuff

 

[SM]

But Bolton will be gone in about three or four years.

 

[kira]

But Bolton will be gone in about three or four years.

which gives us 3 to 4 yeas to draft a player and let them develop

or top up by way of trade

the backline even without kennelly and leo barry is still pretty good, it just lacks a little depth if injury arises..... but we should still have a few years to handle the situation