Creative changes for next year

[Smarty_]

I agree Hawk needs to be settled into the forward line.
Just wish he had a bit of Moons' agro in him...just a bit, not all of it lol

Yeah, definitely agree there. He needs to crash packs and throw his weight around more and just become more agro in general. Lets hope Scott can unleash his inner beast!

 

[Glassjaw]

I completely agree..... Cam would be very helpful around the ground, and I would suspect he would make his opponent feel very uneasy playing next to him as he drifts forward. And hes actually a pretty good kick when its not at goal, lol.

Then settle Hawkins in the FF, with Pods at CHF.

Been saying the same thing for a while now. Perfect idea. Solves all our issues with the talls.

As for other players, some ideas:

Ling defensive forward
Wojcinski on the wing
Kelly perhaps to take Ling's run with role
Lonergan to fullback, in some other team
Blake to sook in the stands with his Dad
Scarlett to actually take key forwards who he actually runs off of better than the third tall options
JHunt to try out a wing/HF spot, if not boot him
Milburn in the two's unfortunately

 

[Smarty_]

I completely agree..... Cam would be very helpful around the ground, and I would suspect he would make his opponent feel very uneasy playing next to him as he drifts forward. And hes actually a pretty good kick when its not at goal, lol.

Then settle Hawkins in the FF, with Pods at CHF.

Those suggestions aren't that creative though - but I don't mind the suggestions of J.Hunt to the forward line, maybe as a defensive forward, but we'd obviously miss him down back with his booming kicks, so would depend on his replacement.

Yeah he's definitely a very good field kick, on both sides of the body. I reckon he could be really dangerous in this role. He has way more talent than Leigh Brown, and we've all seen how effective Leroy is in that role.

 

[Smarty_]

Been saying the same thing for a while now. Perfect idea. Solves all our issues with the talls.

As for other players, some ideas:

Ling defensive forward
Wojcinski on the wing
Kelly perhaps to take Ling's run with role
Lonergan to fullback, in some other team
Blake to sook in the stands with his Dad
Scarlett to actually take key forwards who he actually runs off of better than the third tall options
JHunt to try out a wing/HF spot, if not boot him
Milburn in the two's unfortunately

Some good observations there. Definitely agree with Blake in the stands and yeah I really don't think Lonergan is up to it unfortunately. Most people disagree with me there, but I just think Lonners gets out bodied to easily, makes poor decisions and gives away to many free kicks due to being out positioned. He panic's quite a lot when isolated one on one with his opponent

I hope he improves though as we've just signed him to a 3 year deal. Not sure why

 

[CatTricks]

Loners hasnt been too bad this last season.
He has had to do some big jobs on decent opponents when Harry hasnt been able to.
The guy deserves some credit..

 

[Glassjaw]

Loners hasnt been too bad this last season.
He has had to do some big jobs on decent opponents when Harry hasnt been able to.
The guy deserves some credit..

I actually like Lonners and like to see him play well. But he just makes too many mistakes with the ball; is just way too nervous. He does get exposed one on one too. I think, most importantly, that he makes our backline unbalanced. I'd rather Scarlett and Taylor taking the key posts with someone like Gillies third man, as opposed to Taylor and Lonergan taking the key posts with Scarlett going third man. Scarlett's best football is played on key forwards, no question.

I think Lonergan is a decent defender and has done some great jobs, but I'd like to see him as depth for Taylor and Scarlett not alongside them.

 

[Smarty_]

Loners hasnt been too bad this last season.
He has had to do some big jobs on decent opponents when Harry hasnt been able to.
The guy deserves some credit..

Yeah he does deserve some credit, no doubt. He tries his heart out and I admire that, but I just feel he is limited it what he can do. I thought it was fairly noticeable that opposition teams had Lonergan worked out late last year. They knew by getting the ball in their forward 50 quickly, that Lonergan could be exposed one on one. Collingwood even said as much.

I hope the guy shoves it up me, I really do, but I just think he's not up to a key back role. But hey, that's just what I think anyway

 

[Smarty_]

I actually like Lonners and like to see him play well. But he just makes too many mistakes with the ball; is just way too nervous. He does get exposed one on one too. I think, most importantly, that he makes our backline unbalanced. I'd rather Scarlett and Taylor taking the key posts with someone like Gillies third man, as opposed to Taylor and Lonergan taking the key posts with Scarlett going third man. Scarlett's best football is played on key forwards, no question.

I think Lonergan is a decent defender and has done some great jobs, but I'd like to see him as depth for Taylor and Scarlett not alongside them.

Couldn't agree more. I feel exactly the same way.

 

[witsend]

Can we put to bed the ridiculous idea of Taylor to CHF and Hawkins to CHB?
Harry is AA CHB ffs! Why move an absolute winner out of his best position into a spot we don't for certain know he can hold down, and swap him with a kid who has yet to have a full pre-season/season and would be playing in a position he has no experience in?
It's debatable what to do with Hawkins but leave Harry where he is.

 

[witsend]

I completely agree..... Cam would be very helpful around the ground, and I would suspect he would make his opponent feel very uneasy playing next to him as he drifts forward. And hes actually a pretty good kick when its not at goal, lol.

Then settle Hawkins in the FF, with Pods at CHF.

Those suggestions aren't that creative though - but I don't mind the suggestions of J.Hunt to the forward line, maybe as a defensive forward, but we'd obviously miss him down back with his booming kicks, so would depend on his replacement.

...except Mooney's a shit ruckman with ageing legs and no leap.

 

[maxy87]

Yeah he does deserve some credit, no doubt. He tries his heart out and I admire that, but I just feel he is limited it what he can do. I thought it was fairly noticeable that opposition teams had Lonergan worked out late last year. They knew by getting the ball in their forward 50 quickly, that Lonergan could be exposed one on one. Collingwood even said as much.

I hope the guy shoves it up me, I really do, but I just think he's not up to a key back role. But hey, that's just what I think anyway

Agree. Lonergan is the weakest link in side by a country mile. I have seen him take a contested mark or effectively stop an opponent. I saw two games this year, one at AAMI against the crows and one at Skilled against Brisbane. He wad absolutely OWNED by Walker and Tippet and then by J.Brown. Every time the ball goes down back and Lonergan is in the vicinity i get a the heeby jeebies. I hope he can prove me wrong cos I love watching Cats players do well but he'd want to lift his game

 

[Turkey Tom]

Can we put to bed the ridiculous idea of Taylor to CHF and Hawkins to CHB?
Harry is AA CHB ffs! Why move an absolute winner out of his best position into a spot we don't for certain know he can hold down, and swap him with a kid who has yet to have a full pre-season/season and would be playing in a position he has no experience in?
It's debatable what to do with Hawkins but leave Harry where he is.

Yeah true, but worth an experiment in the NAB Cup, it would be nice to have a tall forward who can take a mark AND kick straight.

 

[year of the cat]

Can we put to bed the ridiculous idea of Taylor to CHF and Hawkins to CHB?
Harry is AA CHB ffs! Why move an absolute winner out of his best position into a spot we don't for certain know he can hold down, and swap him with a kid who has yet to have a full pre-season/season and would be playing in a position he has no experience in?
It's debatable what to do with Hawkins but leave Harry where he is.

Absolutely agree. Hawkins would blow up after 10 minutes at CHB. There's being creative and then there's being stupid..

 

[i_need_a_pencil]

...except Mooney's a shit ruckman with ageing legs and no leap.

Lol, thats probably true. But in the end, when Hawkins was playing in the ruck, he'd barely jump at the ball either - not that that point helps the cause any.

I still think he'd go OK against the other 2nd ruck options, would prefer him playing that role than Hawkins at this stage.

In fact, I'd have Stokes play in the ruck just to settle Hawkins in the forward line .

 

[rocker_oz33]

Lol, thats probably true. But in the end, when Hawkins was playing in the ruck, he'd barely jump at the ball either - not that that point helps the cause any.

I still think he'd go OK against the other 2nd ruck options, would prefer him playing that role than Hawkins at this stage.

In fact, I'd have Stokes play in the ruck just to settle Hawkins in the forward line .

is that cause hawkins and stokes have the same forward pressure or hawkins as more?

 

[Smarty_]

Agree. Lonergan is the weakest link in side by a country mile. I have seen him take a contested mark or effectively stop an opponent. I saw two games this year, one at AAMI against the crows and one at Skilled against Brisbane. He wad absolutely OWNED by Walker and Tippet and then by J.Brown. Every time the ball goes down back and Lonergan is in the vicinity i get a the heeby jeebies. I hope he can prove me wrong cos I love watching Cats players do well but he'd want to lift his game

Yeah agree, Maxy. With Scarlett going in a year or 2, we may have some issues back there in defence. I can't see Lonergan being our 2nd tall behind Taylor. I really can't. Like you, I get nervous when the ball is kicked in the opposition forward line and Lonners is isolated one out with his opponent.

I hope he can improve, because when Scarlo and Dasher go, things are going to get a whole lot harder for him. Lets hope Drum can step up and be a good tall back there for us

 

[hamG]

I would like to creatively restructure our forward line.

Menzel Pods SJ
Varcoe Brown Chapman

 

[vinum coupe]

The chance for 'creative' changes was missed over the past month with the failure to retire players.

In the mean time we lost DJ, Ablett, Laidler, Gamble.

Our list has gone backwards.

With regards to Hawkins or Mooney going to CHB.

All I can say is you must have one hell of a bong.

 

[vinum coupe]

Ok I'll get creative rather than being a stick in the mud.

Mooney - too old for playing second ruck. Getting in the way in the forward line. Used as a back up player in the AFL and a Tim McGrath role in the VFL.
Milburn - Used as a back up player in the AFL and a Tim McGrath role in the VFL.
Ottens - Used as a back up player in the AFL and a Tim McGrath role in the VFL.
J Hunt - Used as a back up player in the AFL and a Tim McGrath role in the VFL.
Stokes - Used as a back up player in the AFL and a Tim McGrath role in the VFL.

5 is enough I'd say.
With the loss of Gaz that is 6 changes.

And we could still win the flag with that. In fact I'd be more confident.

I don't mind the idea of Varcoe off half back for his run. But he doesn't know how to get the ball when he has to cover a player. Could be a good learning curve though.

 

[you pick one]

I'll give ya a creative change for next year stop hand balling on the back line so much,we just keep digging a bigger and bigger hole until someone gets caught with the shovel.
usually someone like Lonners who's not quite as quick and agile. and we all crack the shits,not his job to run the ball out,look back to the blokes in the chain who could have taken the game on, but took the easy out option,or the guy up forward sitting on the splice not offering an option.The personal at the club are not the problem.
Attitude and work rate will determine our fate next year.
There will be plenty to like about the Cats next year if we address those issues.

 

[darren forssman]

Mooney - too old for playing second ruck. Getting in the way in the forward line. Used as a back up player in the AFL and a Tim McGrath role in the VFL.
Milburn - Used as a back up player in the AFL and a Tim McGrath role in the VFL.
Ottens - Used as a back up player in the AFL and a Tim McGrath role in the VFL.
J Hunt - Used as a back up player in the AFL and a Tim McGrath role in the VFL.
Stokes - Used as a back up player in the AFL and a Tim McGrath role in the VFL.

who are taking these roles?

 

[vinum coupe]

Cheers.

From the bottom up.

Stokes - Duncan
J Hunt - Taylor Hunt
Ottens - Blake
Milburn - Drum / Menzel
Mooney - No need for the position - West plays 2nd fiddle to Blake in a roaming position.
Ablett - can't be replaced. Hogan as assistant tagger.

 

[bulletproof]

Call me crazy but I think I'm onto something - Hawkins to full-forward.

This is the key one.

 

[worthogs]

Call me crazy but I think I'm onto something - Hawkins to full-forward.

Thats Crazy Talk Gerry !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[year of the cat]

Cheers.

From the bottom up.

Stokes - Duncan
J Hunt - Taylor Hunt
Ottens - Blake
Milburn - Drum / Menzel
Mooney - No need for the position - West plays 2nd fiddle to Blake in a roaming position.
Ablett - can't be replaced. Hogan as assistant tagger.

They're not creative - they're bloody obvious