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Opinion Cameron Guthrie

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THunt and Smedts were both down there in the first game. THunt seemed to take on more of a shut-down role (the old Guthrie role) while Smedts had more license to counterattack (the old Bartel role).

Not a lot of other options I can see other than Thurlow (interrupted preseason) and Bews.

Bartel moves forward (maybe) and Guthrie moves to the middle.
Mackie moves up to fill Bartel's role as the intercept/turnover coordinator.
Thurlow takes Mackie's spot as the tall/short defender.
Hunt/Smedts/Sheringham vie for or rotate or share Guthrie's role as a lockdown defender, and Mackie's role as the "run down the ground and blaze away" attacking defender.
 
Bartel moves forward (maybe) and Guthrie moves to the middle.
Mackie moves up to fill Bartel's role as the intercept/turnover coordinator.
Thurlow takes Mackie's spot as the tall/short defender.
Hunt/Smedts/Sheringham vie for or rotate or share Guthrie's role as a lockdown defender, and Mackie's role as the "run down the ground and blaze away" attacking defender.
Gee mate. Huge call on replacing mackie like that.
 
Gee mate. Huge call on replacing mackie like that.

Agree. I think we need Mackie staying home and letting players like Hunt, Thurlow and Guthrie all rotate through the rebounding defender role. Two reasons IMO, one, it makes us less predictable and two, it gives these young guys experience and lets us see what we're like under pressure. I'd say with talk of Smedts being moved down back that it would be a good role for him to rotate through as well.
 

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Gee mate. Huge call on replacing mackie like that.

I don't think there is anyone else with the footy experience, skills and nous to do Bartel's job, saving Enright.
It has to be one of him or Mackie.
If, of course, Bartel does go forward. Which the coach hasn't said he's going to, yet.
And if, of course, our game plan continues to rely on turnovers as our main scoring source, as they were last season. Which we don't know, yet.
 
Agreed Meto, and the great thing is he doesn't have to spend the whole match running through the midfield. He can move forward or back as need dictates in the game. Giving him and other blokes a rest. I just love it. Does anyone know our odds for the Premiership? I'm not a gambler but am interested to know how we are rated out there.
 
Where's Jed Bews at? Haven't heard boo about him in recent weeks, thought he would be pushing for a backline preview this pre-season...
 
I don't think there is anyone else with the footy experience, skills and nous to do Bartel's job, saving Enright.
It has to be one of him or Mackie.
If, of course, Bartel does go forward. Which the coach hasn't said he's going to, yet.
And if, of course, our game plan continues to rely on turnovers as our main scoring source, as they were last season. Which we don't know, yet.
And remember players aren't stuck in one position, if it isn't working we have enough flexibility in our best 22 to switch players around mid game.
 
Finally got around to seeing the game, Guthrie was exceptional. He will add to the midfield mix, especially with his clean disposal and defensive diligence. Caddy was just as good. Don't think Horlin-Smith was nearly as bad as was made out by some, still think he is one of our best at the fall of the ball. We were ruthlessly exposed in this facet of the game in the finals and it only gets worse with Corey gone. We don't have a genuine shark at the bottom of the packs, like a Mundy or Mitchell.

Horlin-Smith must be persisted with, I know he can only realistically play one position, but Guthrie is flexible, so maybe he must stay back for now to free up a spot for Horlin-Smith.

Caddy, Guthrie and Horlin-Smith are the crucial 3 this year, especially with Christensen absent for so long.
 
Bartel moves forward (maybe) and Guthrie moves to the middle.
Mackie moves up to fill Bartel's role as the intercept/turnover coordinator.
Thurlow takes Mackie's spot as the tall/short defender.
Hunt/Smedts/Sheringham vie for or rotate or share Guthrie's role as a lockdown defender, and Mackie's role as the "run down the ground and blaze away" attacking defender.

Sorry Fred, I've got to ask, has he ever played that role, even in the seconds? I'd be very, very surprised if that came to fruition.
 
Where's Jed Bews at? Haven't heard boo about him in recent weeks, thought he would be pushing for a backline preview this pre-season...

I'm sure he'll debut at some point, but he's got some serious competition ahead of him. He's got Enright and Guthrie way above him as certain senior players, then Thurlow will be highly favoured, Taylor Hunt is in the team, and he's now got Smedts earmarked for defence as well. I can't see him being selected ahead of any of them, unless his form is amazing.

Might happen, but it's going to be a tough job for him.
 

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Horlin-Smith must be persisted with, I know he can only realistically play one position, but Guthrie is flexible, so maybe he must stay back for now to free up a spot for Horlin-Smith.

I don't think Gurthie should be punished/moved around to make up for the inadequacy of another player in this case Hyphen. Hyphen is good enough to play in the midfield or he isn't. His playing shouldn't be contingent on Gurthrie going back, which looks more and more like a waste every game I see Guthrie play.
 
Boobs. Would you rather have Smedts down back or GHS in the guts?
 
I don't think Gurthie should be punished/moved around to make up for the inadequacy of another player in this case Hyphen. Hyphen is good enough to play in the midfield or he isn't. His playing shouldn't be contingent on Gurthrie going back, which looks more and more like a waste every game I see Guthrie play.

There are two questions here. Which aren't necessarily related:

1. Is Horlin-Smith good enough to get a game for Round 1?
2. Should Guthrie play in defence or midfield?

Based on what we've seen Wednesday night, the answer to question 1 is yes. The only thing keeping Horlin-Smith out consistently last year was Joel Corey. With that spot opening up, and him being the exact same type of player he's the sane and logical replacement.

For question 2, the answer is we don't know. Guthrie looks like he can easily step up to become a good midfielder. That's a huge plus. However, Smedts is not going to effortlessly slip into his role and become brilliant at it. It'll take time. So the question will be do we go with a strong midfield which includes Guthrie, Horlin-Smith, Caddy et al and hope the defence can hold out? Or do they put Guthrie back there and trust Horlin-Smith, Caddy and the rest of the midfield to do the job. From what I can see all three should and will be playing.
 

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That last dash through the middle by Guthrie resulting in the winning goal sealed it for me, anyone who doubted his offensive ability should look again.
Teaming with Caddy he strengthens the mid no end.

It's not that anyone has doubts about Guthrie in the midfield. It's that until very, very recently small forwards have given us problems, and him playing up the ground leaves only Enright and an unproven Smedts. That's the crux of the issue.
 
Sorry Fred, I've got to ask, has he ever played that role, even in the seconds? I'd be very, very surprised if that came to fruition.

Yes, Sheringham's played there (HBF) quite a bit in the televised games, and very successfully.
Though the "commentators" generally haven't picked up on it.
And he has sometimes had to shift during the game into the middle to solve our inside mids problem there.
 
Who took Monfries in the Port game at Kardinia?
I know he only had one goal kicked on him in three finals matches but I reakon he had a direct hand in at least half a dozen scoring shots for us and stopped a handful for the pies due to his midfield work the other night. His runs out of the midfield are becoming unparalleled.
 
It's not that anyone has doubts about Guthrie in the midfield. It's that until very, very recently small forwards have given us problems, and him playing up the ground leaves only Enright and an unproven Smedts. That's the crux of the issue.

Thurlow and Taylor Hunt also good options.
 

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