Changes in 2005...

[Scottroo]

Just a thread to see what changes we will see in round 1 this year, would be fun to see if anyone can predict any...

Ill have a stab....

Jess Sinclair used more as an onballer
Corey Jones to become a defender/midfielder, seeing not much time up forward....

Leigh Brown CHB
Drew CHF
Thompson perminant forward
Grima starting 18
Shane Harvey in the 22

 

[Ausgard]

Shane Harvey in the 22

I dunno how - everything we have seen from him is the classic example of a talented player not giving his all.

We have enough players who bust a gut out there trying to get into the team without having the need to find a place for a player who doesn't give 100%.

If he earns his spot - good for him.

If not I won't lose any sleep over it

 

[CHF]

Shane Harvey in the 22

Yeah. Even though most people here dislike the guy, I have to agree with you. We desperately need a crumbing forward to feed of Rocca, Petrie & Thommo.

He lacks courage, but I can live with that because of his size. What he cannot be is lazy. He needs to chase and put the defensive pressure on.

I'm hoping its a maturity thing for Shane and he will wise up with a few more years under his belt.

 

[carlos' roos]

My prediction is that hale, mckernan and thompson will not play in the same side at any stage barring an injury. With sav, petrie, brown, colbert and what its would be putting us at risk of being too slow. Maybe the reason porter wasn't perservered with. If this does happen it would mean one would be prodomonately a benchy most of the time. Thoughts??

 

[Tas]

It is hard to say how things will go this year, last year we had a lot of players who were down on form or carried injuries preventing them from getting any real form.

I think we need a more stable forward line, last year it was like a revolving door mainly because few people were playing well or stepping up.

We need 3 tall key forwards. They will not all play well every week but we need to persist with 3 talls.

I would like to see JYD persist with Sav at full forward, bring Thompson to CHF and play Petrie as a third tall. He struggled early in the year when he played the role of key tall and never got out of neutral since then. I think if he relaxes as he said in his interview and has a third string defnder pick him up he will cause damage forcing a better defender on him which will make it easier for either Sav or Thompson.

The reason we need 3 talls is that most sides can handle 1 tall, some can handle 2, very few can really handle 3 good quality talls. We just need to make sure the ball delivery is coming to our advantage, something we did not do a great deal last year.

All you need to do is expose one mismatch in our forward line and we can see someone kick 5+ goals from it.

St Kilda has done that to us with Reiwoldt, Gehrig and Hamel. If we just had to worry about Gehrig we would play someone in front of him, Watt behind him and have someone else floating around. We couldn't afford to do that.

My biggest concern is the backline. Watt is a decent defender but he is not exceptionally gifted. A handful of players have had the better of him, I think Gehrig and Hall in recent years but he is very servicable.

With Archer and Colbert getting on and unable to play on the athletic talls like they used to we have other problems with opposition talls. Porter is not going to be around drifting into defense and most of our other ruckmen are not defensive oriented.

I would like to see Brown perhaps given the role of permanent CHB, he should only play out of that position if his opponent is not suited for him. Let Colbert play on the half back flank and take up a third string forward, it will also allow him to drift around and do his thing. He can't do that while picking up the CHF because they often move well out of the forward 30.

Archer may play on the other flank or in the pocket. It all depends on matchups. He just can't afford to throw his body around at his age anymore, it is not the piece of steel it once was. Same for Colbert. They need to play more with their head, use their experience. Archer may also see some time in the forward line, I wouldn't be surprised to see Archer spend more time on the bench this year ala Stevo last year. This year will most likely be his last and JYD will start to groom replacements.

We have a few defensive sorts that need game time, maybe Perry, maybe Trotter, dunno. They are likely defensive replacements. They will probably be selected at times on the interchange and be tested in defense I believe, especially if one of them sticks their hand up and proves they are ready.

I think makepeace was very good for us last year, did the clearing work very well, he is not super-defensive though. Sinclair is a mystery... he had a year I am sure he would love to foget, god knows I want to forget his 2004. He really needs to step up this year but I do not think defense is his position, he is just not accountable. We need somoene who can pick up the small forwards that always do so much damage to us.

I believe for all of 2005 we will have to carry either Hale or McIntosh as an interchange option. They will need game time and they can come on as the second string ruckman. I think in games where McKernan is injured or out of form Thompson will take the first ruck role and someone brought in to replace the CHF position, perhaps Jones.

I think we have options. We have a bit of depth to put some guys in defense, move some guys forward, have a few ruck types and plenty of onballers. We just have no proven talent to come into defense.

The pre-season competition will be interesting. I think it is an opportunity for those that are not expected to be senior players this year to have a go and see if they have the hunger and desire to play football this year or wait a long time for the opportunity to arise.

 

[Cororoo]

Not to lose twice to the Bulldogs , or play another ****house game like that against the Crows in Adelaide last year.

That will make me happy.

Another huge win in Rd 1.....At the Dome , with Dennis and Wayne in the opposition coaching box ......Bliss.

 

[NeoBlaze]

It is hard to say how things will go this year, last year we had a lot of players who were down on form or carried injuries preventing them from getting any real form.

I think we need a more stable forward line, last year it was like a revolving door mainly because few people were playing well or stepping up.

We need 3 tall key forwards. They will not all play well every week but we need to persist with 3 talls.

I would like to see JYD persist with Sav at full forward, bring Thompson to CHF and play Petrie as a third tall. He struggled early in the year when he played the role of key tall and never got out of neutral since then. I think if he relaxes as he said in his interview and has a third string defnder pick him up he will cause damage forcing a better defender on him which will make it easier for either Sav or Thompson.

The reason we need 3 talls is that most sides can handle 1 tall, some can handle 2, very few can really handle 3 good quality talls. We just need to make sure the ball delivery is coming to our advantage, something we did not do a great deal last year.

All you need to do is expose one mismatch in our forward line and we can see someone kick 5+ goals from it.

St Kilda has done that to us with Reiwoldt, Gehrig and Hamel. If we just had to worry about Gehrig we would play someone in front of him, Watt behind him and have someone else floating around. We couldn't afford to do that.

My biggest concern is the backline. Watt is a decent defender but he is not exceptionally gifted. A handful of players have had the better of him, I think Gehrig and Hall in recent years but he is very servicable.

With Archer and Colbert getting on and unable to play on the athletic talls like they used to we have other problems with opposition talls. Porter is not going to be around drifting into defense and most of our other ruckmen are not defensive oriented.

I would like to see Brown perhaps given the role of permanent CHB, he should only play out of that position if his opponent is not suited for him. Let Colbert play on the half back flank and take up a third string forward, it will also allow him to drift around and do his thing. He can't do that while picking up the CHF because they often move well out of the forward 30.

Archer may play on the other flank or in the pocket. It all depends on matchups. He just can't afford to throw his body around at his age anymore, it is not the piece of steel it once was. Same for Colbert. They need to play more with their head, use their experience. Archer may also see some time in the forward line, I wouldn't be surprised to see Archer spend more time on the bench this year ala Stevo last year. This year will most likely be his last and JYD will start to groom replacements.

We have a few defensive sorts that need game time, maybe Perry, maybe Trotter, dunno. They are likely defensive replacements. They will probably be selected at times on the interchange and be tested in defense I believe, especially if one of them sticks their hand up and proves they are ready.

I think makepeace was very good for us last year, did the clearing work very well, he is not super-defensive though. Sinclair is a mystery... he had a year I am sure he would love to foget, god knows I want to forget his 2004. He really needs to step up this year but I do not think defense is his position, he is just not accountable. We need somoene who can pick up the small forwards that always do so much damage to us.

I believe for all of 2005 we will have to carry either Hale or McIntosh as an interchange option. They will need game time and they can come on as the second string ruckman. I think in games where McKernan is injured or out of form Thompson will take the first ruck role and someone brought in to replace the CHF position, perhaps Jones.

I think we have options. We have a bit of depth to put some guys in defense, move some guys forward, have a few ruck types and plenty of onballers. We just have no proven talent to come into defense.

The pre-season competition will be interesting. I think it is an opportunity for those that are not expected to be senior players this year to have a go and see if they have the hunger and desire to play football this year or wait a long time for the opportunity to arise.

the most intelligent post this year

 

[spurs]

the most intelligent post this year

Apart from Watt being very servicable.

 

[Tas]

Apart from Watt being very servicable.

Watt is as good, if not better, than Mick Martyn was at the same point in his career. Mick couldn't mark very well, couldn't handpass and kicks like my sister yet he turned out to be a good player for us.

Watt did very well against a number of full forwards last year including Lloyd. He has a problem against fast leading forwards when we allow an open backline and an unaccountable midfield.

You could stick the best full backs in the league, hell, of all time and the result would more than likely have been the same. Full backs need the support of not only the other defenders but from the midfield so we are putting pressure on the ball cariers. Too often we were very unaccountable in the midfield and in those games that we were unaccountable Watt had a hard time being competitive.

You can't blame him for what was a poor performance from the entire team which made his job that much harder because his opponent is the focuse of most if not all forward thrusts.

 

[spurs]

Watt is as good, if not better, than Mick Martyn was at the same point in his career. Mick couldn't mark very well, couldn't handpass and kicks like my sister yet he turned out to be a good player for us.

Watt did very well against a number of full forwards last year including Lloyd. He has a problem against fast leading forwards when we allow an open backline and an unaccountable midfield.

You could stick the best full backs in the league, hell, of all time and the result would more than likely have been the same. Full backs need the support of not only the other defenders but from the midfield so we are putting pressure on the ball cariers. Too often we were very unaccountable in the midfield and in those games that we were unaccountable Watt had a hard time being competitive.

You can't blame him for what was a poor performance from the entire team which made his job that much harder because his opponent is the focuse of most if not all forward thrusts.

It is true what you say that it is up to the midfielders to put pressure on the ball carriers. Our midfield wasnt as accountable as they should have been last year, BUT to say that the best full backs and indeed decent full backs couldnt put enough pressure on the full forwards he played against is crazy talk.
He had numerous chances to make a spoil in a one on one contest or kick to a player who was at advantage to his opponent but failed badly. I feel its because he doesnt read the play as well as Mick or most full backs for that matter. He definately has the build and speed to play well out of full back but doesnt have the knowledge or football brain to do well .Laidley is giving him every chance but he should consolidate from previous years and play very well or he could be on the outer like he was for a round or two last year.

Oh and one other thing, Mick Martyn had the angry pills to spoil, smother, punch the back of the head, basically anything to put off his opponent. Unfortunately for us Watt doesnt possess this and imo he better find it this year or Perry will take over.

 

[Darky]

Mick Martyn had won two B&Fs before he was Watt's current age... might not have been the best kick or mark, but did his job and his two B&Fs (admittedly in a lean period for the club) show that it didn't take him a huge amount of time to acclimatise to senior VFL/AFL footy.

Watt seems the opposite. Can kick, has ok skills, is mobile... so why is he still a bit iffy as a long term prospect?

 

[Marstermind]

I'm waiting to see which player will suddenly find himself on the outer, seemingly not even getting considered for a spot despite being a regular in 2004. It happens at most clubs. Last year it was Ben Robbins. To move the young players in an experienced player will be given the cold shoulder and barely play. I wonder who it will be?

As for Shannon Watt we'll get the message on him early. If he starts on Fevola, given his record on him, Laidley is backing him again.

 

[bee dee]

Assistant coaches have to go. Havent they failed badly the past 2 years.

 

[Firrito24]

Assistant coaches have to go. Havent they failed badly the past 2 years.

they have. we have picked up crocker, d-mac and bewick

 

[Woodson]

Oh and one other thing, Mick Martyn had the angry pills to spoil, smother, punch the back of the head, basically anything to put off his opponent. Unfortunately for us Watt doesnt possess this and imo he better find it this year or Perry will take over.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Playing with heart was one of Mick's standout qualities...something that many ppl would question Watt about .... on the flipside...ppl in real estate don't have a ticker

 

[Glory Days]

I'm waiting to see which player will suddenly find himself on the outer, seemingly not even getting considered for a spot despite being a regular in 2004. It happens at most clubs. Last year it was Ben Robbins. To move the young players in an experienced player will be given the cold shoulder and barely play. I wonder who it will be?

There is always changes to the 22 each and every year, especially with JYD -we saw Teague & Digby struggle for a game in 2003, then Shane Clayton, Baird, Harding & Robbins in 2004.

FWIW, this season, I tend to think Micky Stevens will struggle for a regular berth in the 22. I also reckon Arch will also struggle with injuries for much of the season.

 

[Contra Mundum]

Not to lose twice to the Bulldogs , or play another ****house game like that against the Crows in Adelaide last year.

That will make me happy.

Another huge win in Rd 1.....At the Dome , with Dennis and Wayne in the opposition coaching box ......Bliss.

Oh yeah baby!

 

[Angus1]

Watt is as good, if not better, than Mick Martyn was at the same point in his career. Mick couldn't mark very well, couldn't handpass and kicks like my sister yet he turned out to be a good player for us.

You do realise that Watt is comming into his 8th season????
I know Watt is showing some signs of improvement but Mick Martyn was one of the best players at our club at the same stage. Mick may not have had the best skills in the league but he was one of the best fullforward stoppers in the league and as a fullback that should be the main priority.