Good. Let 'em take us lightly.
I can live with that POV. Given the team that played out most of the 2nd half of the season,
Higgins = Wells
McDonald >> Mullett
M Williams > McKenzie (still think Bread wasn't far off making it, but needed one or two of his 'better than serviceable' games to take the step up to 'breakout'. Anyway, Marley's better defensive work should be better for team balance and I'll hold my breath and cross my fingers when he has to kick it).
EVW < Firrito (but different. And by the end of the season could well be > what Spud had declined to)
Durdin = Loogie (not = fit and in form Loogie, but we don't see much of that)
Daw > Petrie (expecting to get some disagreement on this and still has to prove he can do the team things all day like Drew but has more strings to his bow)
Hrovat < Boomer (but looks like filling the role well enough and might actually run both ways)
Dumont = Dal (but needs to step up and get more of the ball, which I'm confident he will)
Goldy > Goldy (please be fit, and at least we can swing Preuss in for a game or two if he needs a rest)
Waite, Wood, Simpkin, Turner, Clarke also likely to fit in as positive contributors.
I see it similarly RobZ, but with this tweaking...
Higgins, Hrovat, Dumont, Clarke = Wells, Boomer, Dal Santo (and Swallow).
Higgins and Hrovat provide the more 'top end' play-making and class in disposal. Higgins has a better defensive side to him. The knock on Hrovat is him not being as good defensively, as he is offensively, but that may also be an age thing. Dumont's disposal numbers will go up imo (already have somewhat?), plus he brings a combination of tackling (covering Swallow), and a better inside/outside game. He can also tag a bit. Clarke covers Dal for mine, in disposals and while not the same class in disposal, it will improve, plus his endurance means he links better with run and is in positions to tackle.
Agree McDonald >> Mullett.
Agree M Williams > McKenzie, but add an extra >. Agree that Marley's better defensive work should be better for team balance, and Jmac and LMac (along with the rest of the backline) to ably clear it. (I think you're Bizarro Kimbo when it comes to Bread.)
EVW < Firrito (but different.) Yeah, it's not a like for like, is it. But what Spud did with a bigger body, EVW might do with smarts and reach. He won't offer the same offensive element as Spud (running through tackles, raking kick or long handball, but he seems smart getting the ball out.
Durdin = Loogie (not = fit and in form Loogie, but we don't see much of that) Durdin currently owns the 'concrete hands' award though. Those clean hands are Loogie's trademark.
Daw = Petrie. Providing Waite and Brown do their bit, I'd be happy enough if Majak is the 'decoy' forward (or third KPF option), applies good defensive pressure and, unlike Drew kicks the gimme goals, though this isn't guaranteed, based on past experience.
Upsides for me:
- The general enthusiasm and 'ambition' of youth.
- 2014 draftees, including Nielson, get their go and are at an age where they can begin to make a mark.
- Similarly, Dumont and Clarke now have the chance to gain serious experience, but aren't debutants either.
- JZ, Jmac, Tarrant, Thomas (and cohort) all at a good age to lead.
- Injury-wise, we're better off than in the second half of 2016, and the gap between the lower end of best 22 and the next rung isn't as great as it was. (For example, Turner/Garner/Anderson/Wagner, Nielson/Hanson/Hibberd).
- Some potential top-liners in Simpkin, Preuss, the new BMac and, in 2018, Ahern.
- "Marley and Me." (Photo from Hrovat's personal collection.)