Opinion Cameron Guthrie

[year of the cat]

Not compared to T.Hunt, Varcoe and Murdoch he doesn't. That is who he is fighting with for the last defensive spot as Mackie, Lonergan, Rivers, Taylor and Enright are all locks.

You could include J.Hunt in that lot as well when he is back fit.

I don't reckon Murdoch has, at this stage anyway, a defensive enough mindset to be played at half back. I reckon he would be better value further up the ground on a wing or forward flank. T.Hunt really should assigned to run with the most damaging opposition mid as he really is now our only recognised tagger (perhaps with Guthrie the other option ironically). Varcoe will be used back a lot this year it appears and their is real merit in this. I think much of our selection really comes down to the team we are actually playing - if it's someone like Carlton who if recent history is anything to go by, then we will need a smaller, more mobile defensive unit to counter the likes of Betts, Garlett and Walker. If we line up against perhaps a Nth Melb team with Petrie, Hansen and Tarrant all up front then maybe a taller line up might be employed.

Not withstanding the above, we are going to lose both Enright and J.Hunt in the next couple of years. We need to be grooming replacements now. Guthrie needs game time this year; Thurlow will need to be next year you would think.

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

Not compared to T.Hunt, Varcoe and Murdoch he doesn't. That is who he is fighting with for the last defensive spot as Mackie, Lonergan, Rivers, Taylor and Enright are all locks.

Seeds - I think Murdoch will be a wing/HFF as his defensive skills need work and his skill set suits these roles , T Hunt will predominantly be a tagger and Varcoe could be off a HBF but can also play on ball and as a forward or wing if need be.
Small forwards are our achilles heel so we need to restrict the goals conceded to these types and Guthrie has all the attributes to do that , irrespective of where he sits in the Stawell Gift Handicappers note book !!

EDIT - sorry YOTC , didn't see your post - you said it better than me !!

 

[year of the cat]

Seeds - I think Murdoch will be a wing/HFF as his defensive skills need work and his skill set suits these roles , T Hunt will predominantly be a tagger and Varcoe could be off a HBF but can also play on ball and as a forward or wing if need be.
Small forwards are our achilles heel so we need to restrict the goals conceded to these types and Guthrie has all the attributes to do that , irrespective of where he sits in the Stawell Gift Handicappers note book !!

EDIT - sorry YOTC , didn't see your post - you said it better than me !!

Was going to say "Couldn't have said it better myself"!!!

 

[Partridge]

Not compared to T.Hunt, Varcoe and Murdoch he doesn't. That is who he is fighting with for the last defensive spot as Mackie, Lonergan, Rivers, Taylor and Enright are all locks.

- Taylor Hunt won't be playing in the backline. He'll be tagging Mitchell, as he should.
- Murdoch I'm hoping will be 100 metres away. He's played the entire pre-season as a forward/midfielder. Good thing too as he looked like a deer in headlights as a defender. You really think it's worth suddenly putting him on Rioli or Breust in Round 1, and expect him to keep them quiet?
- Varcoe will be spending plenty of time drifting between the lines, no doubt. But here's the difference - if he plays instead of Guthrie, he has to not only generate the run, he has to keep an opponent quiet. Like say Breust. He can't be caught ball-watching or be 50 metres away when Breust casually kicks his 3rd goal in a quarter.

 

[Partridge]

Games changed man. You need pace in defence as one way to break through the presses.

You also need the ball. And defenders who have a clue at minding quick and dangerous opponents.

 

[year of the cat]

Good to see the C.Guthrie fan club all together at 3pm on a Monday!

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

Games changed man. You need pace in defence as one way to break through the presses.

Agree Seeds - pace is one way but there are several others :

> Ability to create the overlap by drawing an opponent
> Choosing the right option - and putting it to advantage
> Precise kicking and handball - nobody can out run a well delivered footy
> Switching the footy effectively
> Winning the contest

 

[footscore]

would love to see Guthrie given the job on Rioli, if he gets embarrassed before the long break then switch Boris back onto him.

Guthrie would do a fine job imo

 

[Seeds]

Agree Seeds - pace is one way but there are several others :

> Ability to create the overlap by drawing an opponent
> Choosing the right option - and putting it to advantage
> Precise kicking and handball - nobody can out run a well delivered footy
> Switching the footy effectively
> Winning the contest

Agree. But you need all the ways to best beat it.

 

[Partridge]

would love to see Guthrie given the job on Rioli, if he gets embarrassed before the long break then switch Boris back onto him.

Guthrie would do a fine job imo

No doubt Scott has the confidence in him to do it, but given Enright's record you'd be crazy not to start with him. At least until proven otherwise.

 

[David the Cat]

I think they rotate a lot these days anyway...Guthrie will get his chance.

 

[meto]

- Taylor Hunt won't be playing in the backline. He'll be tagging Mitchell, as he should.
- Murdoch I'm hoping will be 100 metres away. He's played the entire pre-season as a forward/midfielder. Good thing too as he looked like a deer in headlights as a defender. You really think it's worth suddenly putting him on Rioli or Breust in Round 1, and expect him to keep them quiet?
- Varcoe will be spending plenty of time drifting between the lines, no doubt. But here's the difference - if he plays instead of Guthrie, he has to not only generate the run, he has to keep an opponent quiet. Like say Breust. He can't be caught ball-watching or be 50 metres away when Breust casually kicks his 3rd goal in a quarter.

Pretty much spot on, Varcoe has played well in the pre but I'm a little with you in that Varcoe could over do the attacking bit and get caught on the rebound, whereas Guthrie would play a closer checking game IMO.

Personally I prefer Varcoe rotating through the middle and having the flexibility to anticipate ball movement rather than watch a man.
Whilst he can break lines, which is great!.... I don't think he has a defenders mindset and could be exploited in deep defense.
I'd go Guthrie for that job.

 

[David the Cat]

For once meto, on the subject of Varcoe, I think we agree!

I have noticed a significant lift in his aggression at ball and player though this year so far. And he certainly hasnt lost any pace...a winger on the defensive side of the square running through the centre to create looks his go to me.

 

[FredLeDeux]

- Taylor Hunt won't be playing in the backline. He'll be tagging Mitchell, as he should.
- Murdoch I'm hoping will be 100 metres away. He's played the entire pre-season as a forward/midfielder. Good thing too as he looked like a deer in headlights as a defender. You really think it's worth suddenly putting him on Rioli or Breust in Round 1, and expect him to keep them quiet?
- Varcoe will be spending plenty of time drifting between the lines, no doubt. But here's the difference - if he plays instead of Guthrie, he has to not only generate the run, he has to keep an opponent quiet. Like say Breust. He can't be caught ball-watching or be 50 metres away when Breust casually kicks his 3rd goal in a quarter.

If Guthrie's Practice Match form has been a problem (and I don't know that it has), then with his experience at HBF in the Practice Matches and in last year's VFL Finals, plus his likely elevation this week, and his boost on the Club website, Sheringham may well be in the picture.

 

[meto]

For once meto, on the subject of Varcoe, I think we agree!

I have noticed a significant lift in his aggression at ball and player though this year so far. And he certainly hasnt lost any pace...a winger on the defensive side of the square running through the centre to create looks his go to me.

Looking at his physique now, he seems so much more mature in the body and that deep V'ed back proves he's been pushing big weights IMO.
He looks like the high performance version of the old, I'm impressed!.....so far his form would indicate alot of self confidence which is IMO due to new found body strength.

 

[Partridge]

If Guthrie's Practice Match form has been a problem (and I don't know that it has), then with his experience at HBF in the Practice Matches and in last year's VFL Finals, plus his likely elevation this week, and his boost on the Club website, Sheringham may well be in the picture.

I didn't see the Collingwood game on Friday, but I did read someone say that Guthrie didn't play. If that's true, I'd say it's pretty compelling evidence that he's already in the Round 1 team. Scott wouldn't rest someone who needed another game to stake their claim.

 

[FredLeDeux]

I didn't see the Collingwood game on Friday, but I did read someone say that Guthrie didn't play. If that's true, I'd say it's pretty compelling evidence that he's already in the Round 1 team. Scott wouldn't rest someone who needed another game to stake their claim.

Yes, on Live Chat they said Guthrie was a "last minute" omission, replaced by Eardley. Maybe a niggle of some sort. I don't really think Sheringham will supplant Guthrie, I was just tossing it up as still a possibility.

 

[you pick one]

I think they rotate a lot these days anyway...Guthrie will get his chance.

All they need to do is play a 7 man back backline with Varcoe off a HBF and it's the Hawks that will need to find a tagger or he will cut them up.

 

[meto]

reckon it's more to do with being injury free, had he not had foot issues last year he would have been doing what he's currently doing in the praccie games.

Really has not done anything entirely different from the games I watched him in when he last played 2011.

Perhaps you have finally seen the light and realized what a talent he's always been and how much his loss has impacted us?

No, in years gone by he's gone missing big time and shown considerable disinterest in winning the harder ball, often he's had around the 12 possessions with no great impact...........Yes, I'm certain he does look more physically imposing this year, that's the improvement I immediately see!

 

[David the Cat]

He seems a lot more physical in his approach this year IMO...tackles are much heavier and he is showing real aggression at the footy.

 

[David the Cat]

What's different is his physical approach and aggression...it is much more marked this year imo

 

[David the Cat]

All they need to do is play a 7 man back backline with Varcoe off a HBF and it's the Hawks that will need to find a tagger or he will cut them up.

You're not just a pretty face ypo!

 

[Stucky]

Who thinks Guthrie is a lock for round 1? Considering he played quiet a few games last year and J.Hunt is out, l think he will play.

 

[Partridge]

Who thinks Guthrie is a lock for round 1? Considering he played quiet a few games last year and J.Hunt is out, l think he will play.

I think he's a lock for the team fullstop. And not just round 1.

 

[Stucky]

Yes co

I think he's a lock for the team fullstop. And not just round 1.

Yes considering he was next in line after Christensen, Duncan and Menzel, you would think he will play most of the year.

I also like J.Hunt really think he has become a good solid player later in his career, even though he can be a little suspect one on one.