Selwood is a free agent, getting him costs us nothing more than a list spot and cap space. He is 26 next season and still has plenty of footy left in him. If we were to add him to the mix, he plays through the middle as an in and under midfielder who is also accountable, something that Dusty isn't capable of being right now and I'm not sure he is ever going to be capable of being. Corey Ellis has shown some great signs in his 2 games so far, but is still a good 2-3 years away from being at a level that Selwood has been so asking him to step up and play the role now isn't smart. As for Miles he is a quality player, but he isn't in the same mold as Selwood. Miles is 179cm & 80kg and while he doesn't mind the crash and bash it will eventually take its toll if we don't get him some real help.
Selwood is 186cm & 85kg and as mentioned is an inside ball winning accountable midfielder. If we were to add him our midfield group without adding Shiel would be: Deledio(28) Grigg(27) Edwards(27) Selwood(26) Cotchin(25) Martin(24) Miles(23) Conca(23) B.Ellis(22) McIntosh(21) Vlastuin(21) Lennon(20) Menadue(19) & C.Ellis(19). That is a 14 strong group and with a strong group like that we're able to use the likes of Deledio & Martin as forwards more often where they are a much more dangerous proposition for the opposition. Think about it, where would you rather see Dusty getting 20-25 touches, floating across HB as he does now or forward of centre where his within goal scoring range or at worse in position to put the ball deep into the F50. As we saw on Sunday, having the ability to have Deledio isolated deep forward when needed created a mismatch where he gets matches on someone like Frost or Varcoe. 9 times out of 10 I'll back Deledio to win the contest in that situation. Then there is Edwards, we've been crying out for a small forward that can be dangerous as an attacking weapon not just a defensive forward. Imagine Titch being able to rest forward in a pocket at the feet of Jack or Ty or Griffiths, with his ability in traffic and skills he would be a headache for the opposition as well.
This is what I was talking about late last week about us being able to stack our forward line with weapons that make the opposition worried about on who and how they match up. I look at sides like Hawthorn Sydney Port & even Fremantle. They don't play defensive small forwards who only get 6-7 touches and kick 1 goal every 3 weeks or so like Morris does. They play attacking weapons in their forward lines and make the opposition worry about trying to stop them. That is what we should be aiming for as we move forward. So if Shiel, who I believe is our main target was to fall through, then adding another ready to go player like Selwood wouldn't be the worse thing we could do, as long as he is passed fully fit.
Now if we were to add Shiel as well as Selwood that group of 14 becomes a group of 15: Deledio(28) Grigg(27) Edwards(27) Selwood(26) Cotchin(25) Martin(24) Miles(23) Conca(23) B.Ellis(22) Shiel(22) McIntosh(21) Vlastuin(21) Lennon(20) Menadue(19) & C.Ellis(19). All it would cost us to get something like that in place is a first round pick, perhaps even a second as well, 2 list spots & cap space. If the expected retirements/delistings take place we should be able to afford both comfortably.
You make some very good points there. That LOOKS like a midfield to take us to the top tier.
But we thought we were top 4 bound after beating Carlton....
But anyway based on your points above if we get him on the cheap(ish) then yeah, go for it if he's 100% fully fit without any lingering concerns..
Didn't realise he was 186cm, thought he was basically Miles mkII.
I think your best point there was about making the opposition worry more about us when loading up with our attacking weapons, as opposed to the negative Morris tactic..
Imagine we did that ALL the time and then had Shiel, ok Selwood then, Vlastuin, Ellis B and Ellis C (any Ellis A we can pick up in the league somewhere?), Miles, Conca, Grigg and (McDonough??) carrying our midfield, with Cotchin Deledio Edwards and Martin spending more time forward of centre.
Plent of run off the back with Houli and Menadue, and weapons weapons weapons up forward. Actually starts to sound really bloody good.
Since I love a 22, let's just that put that here-
Batchelor - Astbury - Chaplin/Elton/Griffiths
Houli - Rance - Menadue
B Ellis - Cotchin - Shiel
Martin - Vickery - Deledio
Edwards - Riewoldt - Griffiths/McBean
Maric - Selwood - Vlastuin
Miles - C Ellis - Grigg - Conca/McIntosh
emerg/ Grimes - McDonough - Lennon
- I do actually think Vickery might make our no.1 ruck after Maric, has a future there.
- It's criminal that Lennon isn't even in the best 22...possible trade to help get Shiel over the line..?