Best team for 2011

[Schulzycrow]

DB's team

F: Sloane ~ Tippett ~ Porplyzia
HF: Tambling ~ Walker ~ Knights
C: Mackay ~ S.Thompson ~ Douglas
HB: Otten ~ Davis ~ Doughty
B: Stevens ~ Rutten ~ Johncock
R: Jacobs ~ Vince ~ Dangerfield
Int: Mckernan ~ van Berlo ~ Martin
Sub: Henderson
Emg: Maric ~ Reilly ~ Young

I generally like the make up of your team. The spine of Tipp, Tex, Tommo, Davis and Rutten is what most have got.

The HB line is where attacks begin and for mind the above line is a tad slow. Otto was playing Steven's role as third tall in 09 so much so that Stevo was playing in the forward line. Drop Otto back and bring Bling down from HFF to play HB. Martin comes to the other HB and Dogga goes to the bench. Stevo is struggling to make my best team half way through the year.

HB: Martin ~ Davis ~ Tambling
B: Otten~ Rutten ~ Johncock

Lot to be said for playing Danger off the HB line early in the year to get him some ball and get him running the lines....anyway got no love for that suggestion.

Wings I have no problem with...D-Mac needs to burn it up in PS to get back to some form and Douggie...well club champ, nuff said.

Forwards. I like Sloane up there, he moves to the right spots and has a good leap and great hands when the ball spills. Only change I would make would be to get my man MJensch into the HFF, he has the skills around the packs, super field kick and with a full PS under his belt has the most chance of anyone to secure the small forward role. I hope Porps can recapture his 09 dead eye kick. Walker has got the 60m boot on him great field kick on both legs and will be a star at CHF in the next few years. Tippo just needs to kick straight.....

F: Sloane ~ Tippett ~ Porplyzia
HF: Jaensch ~ Walker ~ Knights

Rucks....ruck, ruck, rucker. Bench, sub and emergencies...

R: Jacobs/Moran ~ Vince ~ Dangerfield
Int: Mckernan ~ van Berlo ~ Reilly
Sub: Henderson
Emg: Maric ~ Doughty ~ Young


This is where the battle is at in the PS. Maric is fighting to stay in the team at all
If Moran can get himself firing again...4 goals in one game I saw Bob, Bob Moran was what the crowd was singing. I only realized after that this was a nearly 200cm player running around. Big if is durability, but there are plenty waiting if he can make it.
Jacobs has said he wants to be 1st ruck, well one final against a ruck on one leg doesn't prove anything, lots to achieve PS. Will stay with Sauce or Moran for 1st ruck.

As long as the real Bernie shows up this PS he has the 1st follower possie for the year swapping with Thommo/Douggie/Slone. If Danger plays as an outside player instead of diving head first for the ball I have no problem seeing him afterburn away from the centre and slot them all day long. Just feel he is not the best option in there, maybe to a wing and Douglas instead....

It is really tough to split, but I think Radar Rielly brings more to the table than a Doughty so he is on the bench. I like Smack on the bench, but he is going to absolutely burn the PS and dominate in the NAB muppet games to get in front of Sellar or even a fit Moran. He will be a super player for us down the track, just hope he gets some game time in 11. Leave him there and hope that everything above happens .

Future captain VB starting on the bench in a lot of sides-don't know what that says about what people think of him as a player and a leader-meh I think Thommo..but that's been hashed to death as well.

Hendo as a sub is a waste, but anyone who has to don the fluro bib is a waste. I hate the stupid rule and hope its shafted in 2012 or sooner.

A tough job picking the best, no injuries and it'll be a nightmare.

 

[conVINCEd]

Agree with a lot of your thoughts, Schulzy.

My shot:

FF: Porps - Tippett - Jaensch
HF: Henderson - Walker - Knights
C: Mackay - Vince - Dangerfield
HB: VB - Davis - Tambling
FB: Otten - Rutten - Johncock

R: Jacobs - Thompson - Reilly

Inter: McKernan - Douglas - Sloane
Sub: Martin

I love the look of the forward six in my lineup above - talent and goalkicking nous to
burn.

It would be fantastic to see our younger boys push Stevens and Doughty to the SANFL, similar to how Lockyer, O' Bree and Medhurst were squeezed out at the Pies this year by emerging talent.

 

[KUNG FU]

I'm staggered at the number of people that rate our 24 yo B&F as an interchange player.

 

[Allefgib]

I'm staggered at the number of people that rate our 24 yo B&F as an interchange player.

I'm suprised but not staggered.

Look at it this way. He won our B&F. Our team stunk. So hopefully our 'best team' in 2011 is far better than this years team. For that to be the case you'd expect he would drop down the B&F listing and be replaced by the likes of Vince, Knights, Thompson etc. Does his lack of size and ability to play back, combined with 'required' improvement in our midfield group to be the 'best team' and the burgeoning forward line put him in a position where he is 'best' use to the team coming off the bench.

Maybe it does - but also assumes a hell of an improvement in others to push him aside BUT thats what we want right? The BEST TEAM for 2011 is everyone in our squad playing to the expectations. I think dougie's year this year is about his peak.

 

[KUNG FU]

I'm suprised but not staggered.

Look at it this way. He won our B&F. Our team stunk. So hopefully our 'best team' in 2011 is far better than this years team. For that to be the case you'd expect he would drop down the B&F listing and be replaced by the likes of Vince, Knights, Thompson etc. Does his lack of size and ability to play back, combined with 'required' improvement in our midfield group to be the 'best team' and the burgeoning forward line put him in a position where he is 'best' use to the team coming off the bench.

Maybe it does - but also assumes a hell of an improvement in others to push him aside BUT thats what we want right? The BEST TEAM for 2011 is everyone in our squad playing to the expectations. I think dougie's year this year is about his peak.

So are we assuming that Dougie will go backwards? He finally hits the peak age, does his first full pre-season and wins the B&F. Sure his development was slow, but he went bang right when it counted. I don't see him going backwards. If he can stay on the track he still has a lot of room to improve in terms of consistency. Whilst I'm not expecting him to go bang again, he'll probably plateau quite nicely. He has considerable range for improvement imo. If he can reduce his number of sub-20 disposal games down from 9 games to 2-3 then he'll undoubtedly be in our best 3-5 midfielders after Thompson & Vince. Maybe a couple more 30+ games as well.

And if everyone is expecting Mackay, Dangerfield, van Berlo, Tambling and Jaensch/Sloane/whoever to all overtake Douglas, then some people are setting themselves up for disappointment. And this is coming from someone who expects us to win at least one final next year.

 

[Vessel]

So are we assuming that Dougie will go backwards? He finally hits the peak age, does his first full pre-season and wins the B&F. Sure his development was slow, but he went bang right when it counted. I don't see him going backwards. If he can stay on the track he still has a lot of room to improve in terms of consistency. Whilst I'm not expecting him to go bang again, he'll probably plateau quite nicely. He has considerable range for improvement imo. If he can reduce his number of sub-20 disposal games down from 9 games to 2-3 then he'll undoubtedly be in our best 3-5 midfielders after Thompson & Vince. Maybe a couple more 30+ games as well.

And if everyone is expecting Mackay, Dangerfield, van Berlo, Tambling and Jaensch/Sloane/whoever to all overtake Douglas, then some people are setting themselves up for disappointment. And this is coming from someone who expects us to win at least one final next year.

I agree, I see Dougy as our third best midfielder behind Thommo and Vince next year without him improving. Considering he has only had one year in his preferred position and before that he was clearly played out of position as a small forward. Definitely improvement to come in Dougy even if it is only in consistency.

Holding on to the veterans for so long has definitely stunted his growth, lets hope it has not done any permanent damage.

 

[Schulzycrow]

Everyone is getting hung up on being on the bench. A bench player these days plays just as much as anyone else with high rotations. Don't read too much into Douggy being on a bench (I would have him on the field) but think these are the best we can put on the park and Pizza Boy is right up there.

 

[Allefgib]

So are we assuming that Dougie will go backwards? He finally hits the peak age, does his first full pre-season and wins the B&F. Sure his development was slow, but he went bang right when it counted. I don't see him going backwards. If he can stay on the track he still has a lot of room to improve in terms of consistency. Whilst I'm not expecting him to go bang again, he'll probably plateau quite nicely. He has considerable range for improvement imo. If he can reduce his number of sub-20 disposal games down from 9 games to 2-3 then he'll undoubtedly be in our best 3-5 midfielders after Thompson & Vince. Maybe a couple more 30+ games as well.

And if everyone is expecting Mackay, Dangerfield, van Berlo, Tambling and Jaensch/Sloane/whoever to all overtake Douglas, then some people are setting themselves up for disappointment. And this is coming from someone who expects us to win at least one final next year.

No I expect Dougie to plateau nicely as well.

What others are probably expecting when it comes to 'Our Best Team for 2011' is relative to your last paragraph.

18-20 touches a game from Mackay is going to be a 'better team' than 25+ from Dougie IMO. Will we get it? Don't know. But that's part of my thinking, and reflection on others thinking, for what our 'best team' wil lbe for 2011.

 

[Mismatched]

Everyone is getting hung up on being on the bench. A bench player these days plays just as much as anyone else with high rotations. Don't read too much into Douggy being on a bench (I would have him on the field) but think these are the best we can put on the park and Pizza Boy is right up there.

Agree, whilst I'd have him on the field, being named on the bench means jack squat these days.

 

[KUNG FU]

No I expect Dougie to plateau nicely as well.

What others are probably expecting when it comes to 'Our Best Team for 2011' is relative to your last paragraph.

18-20 touches a game from Mackay is going to be a 'better team' than 25+ from Dougie IMO. Will we get it? Don't know. But that's part of my thinking, and reflection on others thinking, for what our 'best team' wil lbe for 2011.

Oh dear, this is not going to be a reasonable board next year, again.

Mackay averaged 18.9 touches last year, only 3 disposals behind Dougie, but was nowhere near the gold jacket despite leading at round 5 IIRC. Whilst I rate Mackay as a genuine AA quality midfielder, a 20 disposal game from Dougie is streets ahead of a 25 disposal game from Mackay because he adds so much more in terms of goals & tackles. Mackay's disposal is undoubtedly more damaging because of his run, penetration and accuracy, but Douglas has a very well-rounded game, albeit inconsistent and dependent on his vulnerable head-space and fitness.

 

[WALL-e]

I see further improvement from Dougie, but all the areas which will improve rely on him.

His confidence should finally be high fromt he onset.

He needs a left side of the body, this will make him less predictable and more balanced. He can lose his footing ease ducking onto his right.

If he can sort out those things, there's no reason to expect anything less than improvement.

 

[BACCS]

I see further improvement from Dougie, but all the areas which will improve rely on him.

His confidence should finally be high fromt he onset.

He needs a left side of the body, this will make him less predictable and more balanced. He can lose his footing ease ducking onto his right.

If he can sort out those things, there's no reason to expect anything less than improvement.

I don't think I've ever seen Dougie use his left side. Unfortunatley, not all players have an opposite foot. That would be pretty hard to develop now IMO.

 

[Allefgib]

Oh dear, this is not going to be a reasonable board next year, again.

Mackay averaged 18.9 touches last year, only 3 disposals behind Dougie, but was nowhere near the gold jacket despite leading at round 5 IIRC. Whilst I rate Mackay as a genuine AA quality midfielder, a 20 disposal game from Dougie is streets ahead of a 25 disposal game from Mackay because he adds so much more in terms of goals & tackles. Mackay's disposal is undoubtedly more damaging because of his run, penetration and accuracy, but Douglas has a very well-rounded game, albeit inconsistent and dependent on his vulnerable head-space and fitness.

Just offering thoughts on why some are benching him. Those are some of the perceptions around I would suggest.

My personal team had him as 1st rover (dougie that is)

http://bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?p=19484935#post19484935

 

[KUNG FU]

Just offering thoughts on why some are benching him. Those are some of the perceptions around I would suggest.

My personal team had him as 1st rover (dougie that is)

http://bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?p=19484935#post19484935

Yeah no worries mate. I was pretty sure you were playing devil's advocate, went and checked your team haha

 

[Mismatched]

I don't think I've ever seen Dougie use his left side. Unfortunatley, not all players have an opposite foot. That would be pretty hard to develop now IMO.

Actually its easier than you'd think. Your brain already knows how to kick, its not as if its learning a new skill, it just needs to learn how to translate it across to the opposite side of the body and thats just a matter of practice. The best way to do this is actually use it at training when caught on your opposite foot, rather than run round onto your preferred and then to actually use it during games. Its as much about a change in mindset regarding your left foot, as it is anything, don't fear using it, especially at training. He may never have a Taylor Walker like left boot, but he'll get it up to a more than acceptable standard to get himself out of trouble.