Big year for 'Big unit'

[Bockchoy67]

(from www.afc.com.au)

Rhett Biglands, one of Adelaide's versatile big men, describes this AFL season as 'challenging' for himself and 'exciting' for the Crows as they strive to improve on last year's 12th-placed finish.

Biglands says he has had a 'very frustrating' pre-season because of a 'couple of setbacks', including a groin injury.

Like the Crows generally, the powerful, 27-year-old ruckman-cum-key-position player, is trying to erase the disappointments and frustrations of last season when he served two suspensions totalling six weeks (four and two) and played just 12 of the 22 home-and-away matches to lift his tally to 87 since his debut in 2000.

Biglands is expected to play with Woodville-West Torrens in a SANFL practice match against Norwood at Norwood Oval on Friday night, with a view to pressing for selection in Adelaide's team to play West Coast at AAMI Stadium on Easter Sunday.

"I just want to get out there," he said. "I am really looking forward to it. It's a challenging year, given that my pre-season has been limited, and exciting just because of the unknown quantity of all the young fellows."

Biglands said the Crows were in a similar position to that of the 2002 pre-season when critics did not rate them because they had finished 13th (1999), 11th (2000) and eighth (2001), but they rose to fourth in 2002.

"Basically, they thought we weren't a chance to make the finals but we came out and amazed a few people over the border and even here," he said. "We prefer it when they don't rate us because we can come out and basically get stuck into it with nothing hanging over us."

Biglands said he was 'happy' to be considered as a forward option this season.

"There are options available to rotate ruckmen (Matthew Clarke, Ben Hudson and Biglands) and we've got key-position players who can play in the ruck," he said. "To be able to play up forward is an asset I am really looking forward to using and adding to my repertoire. I started my SANFL career up forward and I have had some limited minutes there in previous seasons. Yeah, I'm really confident of playing up there.

"It's just a different option. The way we have our forward line structured, there are so many players the opposition have difficulty matching up on - with pace from (Scott) Welsh and pure courage and determination from (Mark) Stevens and (Ian) Perrie, and (Trent) Hentschel is just impossible to match-up on.

"So it will be good if I can be a strong, competitive target up in the air and aid our ground players and hopefully take a few grabs. There is that option and always the ruck for me that I enjoy, too."

Asked about Hudson's good pre-season form, Biglands said: "Yeah, I think since Ben has been at the club there have not been too many games where he has not performed above par.

"I think it's more prevalent that people are noticing him now. He was disappointing in the SANFL finals, perhaps, but last year he was sensational (for Adelaide). I think more people take notice of him now because he's out on the park. I think he's doing really well and it's a credit to him."

 

[jo172]

In plain English this translates too - Bugger i'm not really good enough to play for the team anywhere on the ground now so i'll push for the clubs biggest weakness to see how desparate they are.

I know this is only going to ******** Stiffy off but the man was playing as a FP a hell of a lot last year but showed zilch. Might as well hold on to him as 2nd ruck until Meesen/Maric/Andrews/Griffin develops.

 

[Stiffy_18]

In plain English this translates too - Bugger i'm not really good enough to play for the team anywhere on the ground now so i'll push for the clubs biggest weakness to see how desparate they are.

I know this is only going to ******** Stiffy off but the man was playing as a FP a hell of a lot last year but showed zilch. Might as well hold on to him as 2nd ruck until Meesen/Maric/Andrews/Griffin develops.

Its not his choice to play as a forward so I don't know how your first paragraph is relevant . Rhett has said million of times he prefers playing ruck to KP. Craig is the one that wants him deep in the forward line and I agree with him. At worst he will bring the ball to the ground and give you a contest. At best he will kick you 25+ goals for a year and I think that would be a pretty good return from him.

 

[Mad Dog]

Its not his choice to play as a forward so I don't know how your first paragraph is relevant . Rhett has said million of times he prefers playing ruck to KP. Craig is the one that wants him deep in the forward line and I agree with him. At worst he will bring the ball to the ground and give you a contest. At best he will kick you 25+ goals for a year and I think that would be a pretty good return from him.

agree here Stiffmeister - as the thread says - Biggles is a big unit - and at the very worst he can be a stay at home deep tall forward......one on one - he is going to win as many as he loses and if positioned properly will get his 25+ goals

 

[johnnypanther]

i still think Biglands is our best ruckman (until Meesen & hopefully Maric etc develop)

 

[Alex99]

i still think Biglands is our best ruckman (until Meesen & hopefully Maric etc develop)

Becoming a key forward will give life to Rhett Biglands AFL career especially if Meesen is going to be given an opportunity in round one. Hudson may have over taken Biglands so with a new young gun on the way up he will have to find a new sustainable competitive advantage to his arsenal


With the big unit in the Goal Square and Welsh and Stevens leading we really do need a small forward to stand up and be that goal sneak the side craves for, opportunity for J Schuback or C Ladhams to cement a place in the side.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

I'm still not convinced that Biglands is a suitable KPP & reckon he is better suited to being a ruckman ... though there is more competition now with Huddo putting his hand up.

 

[johnnypanther]

With the big unit in the Goal Square and Welsh and Stevens leading we really do need a small forward to stand up and be that goal sneak the side craves for, opportunity for J Schuback or C Ladhams to cement a place in the side.

agreed - however i no longer think that Schuback will make a crumber, Ladhams maybe if he gets his head right but even then i'm not sure he's a pure crumber if you know what i mean (more a hff or wing)
and i dont think that we have anyone on the list that can do this job properly

 

[pext]

The Unit is a capable ruckman. No superstar, but he can hold his own. He's probably still ahead of Huddo IMO, despite Huddos great form so far this year.

The Unit has to be a team player here though. As far as a big, tall, deep forward target goes we have Mark Stevens and that is it. Perrie plays his best footy up at half forward and Watts, Gibbo, Bocky and Hentch aren't quite big enough in the body for that role yet (give them time).

This leaves Craigy with little option but to groom the unit as his back up FF/FP if Stevo goes down. I personally reckon he will do alright if he gets a crack at it.

 

[Stiffy_18]

agreed - however i no longer think that Schuback will make a crumber, Ladhams maybe if he gets his head right but even then i'm not sure he's a pure crumber if you know what i mean (more a hff or wing)
and i dont think that we have anyone on the list that can do this job properly

I never thought much of Schuback as a crumber but I do think he could be a good little player who can kick goals. He is not a genuine crumber and in all honesty we haven't got a quality one on our list.

A quick, quality crumber must be pretty high on our player wish list. Hopefully we can come up with a bargain like Melbourne did with Davey.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Biglands? - Meh!!!

 

[Bockchoy67]

I never thought much of Schuback as a crumber but I do think he could be a good little player who can kick goals. He is not a genuine crumber and in all honesty we haven't got a quality one on our list.

A quick, quality crumber must be pretty high on our player wish list. Hopefully we can come up with a bargain like Melbourne did with Davey.

I was hoping we could snare Eddie Betts as a rookie in 2004, but as we all know Carlton took him before we got a chance.

Indeed our forward line requires a quick, evasive crumber who can finish. We haven't had one for a long time and I believe it is getting to the point where it is almost a necessity.

I've heard that his year's draft isn't great in terms of crumbers. Perhaps we should trade for a younger player?

 

[- PC -]

The mentality of players in these days of versatile football should be ''I will play where the coach puts me and do my best'' NOT ''if he wants me to play there I will give it a go but I would rather be playing XXXXX''

We are struggling lets admit it..and this means that NC has to come up with ideas and players need to adapt and adapt quickly..or they and the club wont be looking forward to 2006 optimistically.Rhett Biglands would be a great option at FF/FP. Fast leading Welsh v a big man in Biglands in a forward pocket and a roaming Mark Stevens , with Johncock or Bode sitting at Rhetts feet sounds good to me.The next thing needed is quick option taking by those players further upfield.


For those against it ..what are our options? Hudson in the ruck for the whole year with Clarke is a great development year IMO. It has been proven that most of todays rucks are defensive and not offensive, so our midfield needs to be on the ball and if needed rove to the opposition.

 

[Stiffy_18]

I was hoping we could snare Eddie Betts as a rookie in 2004, but as we all know Carlton took him before we got a chance.

Indeed our forward line requires a quick, evasive crumber who can finish. We haven't had one for a long time and I believe it is getting to the point where it is almost a necessity.

I've heard that his year's draft isn't great in terms of crumbers. Perhaps we should trade for a younger player?

I keep hearing that this Travis Vercoe (sp???) kid from Centrals is a very good crumber.

I am a big rap for Harry Miller who is on Hawthorn's list. Maybe try and pinch him.

 

[Bockchoy67]

I keep hearing that this Travis Vercoe (sp???) kid from Centrals is a very good crumber.

I am a big rap for Harry Miller who is on Hawthorn's list. Maybe try and pinch him.

Varcoe has definitely been impressive for the Dogs. Should go early in this year's draft, and his pace and ability at ground level would be a tremendous asset to our club. Definitely a stand out in terms of crumbers this year.

Miller would be a nice pickup, especially because he comes from SA. Unfortunately it seem the Hawks have realised his ability and are now set for playing him in Round 1, especially given his great pre-season form. By the end of the year though, its definitely worth a shot.

Ricky Dyson from Essendon, while being a midfielder, is terrific around the goals and has good pace. Is in his second year and I doubt that he will play more than 10-14 games this year. He should get a look at IMO, but its doubtful.