Daisy down back...thoughts?

[The Royal Sampler]

If it helps Dale in his body positioning, it will be worth him spending some time down back. Obviously Dale goes for the mark from behind a lot when up forward, but he won't be able to do that in defence. I'm against a permanet move down back though, I think Harry and Heater are better defensive options and yet don't have Thomas' nouse in attack.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Not knowing where to play Dale Thomas is a good problem to have. These are the difficult decisions good teams have - too many good players all over the park and sometimes requiring our star players to re-invent themselves to improve team balance.

Just like having Jack Anthony as a potential defender, Nathan Brown as a potential forward, etc etc etc. The more tricks the coaches have up their sleeves, the more dangerous the side becomes on game day.

Whether its a good or bad move, it doesnt really matter in the long run. But its worth trying. For too long we have had too many players incapable of playing more than one position. Last year we had nobody to cover for Heater during his form slump. If Thomas proves his worth as a defender, that frees up Shaw to potentially play midfield and add even more dimension to our line-up.

 

[Bloben]

I actually quite like Thomas on the HBF for a number of reasons. Many have already been mentioned however one of my main reasons is that this could be a very effective to counter the new strategic craze; the roaming zone.

Having a combination of Heater, Harry, Clarke and Thomas behind the ball will provide some serious rebound running that could break this roaming zone. We saw last year that the teams that played well against Hawthorn were teams that would handball and run the ball through the zone instead of trying to kick long.

 

[shawthing09]

I like it as a pinch hit tactic. It will certainly help him with some aspects of the game like body positioning and the understanding of when to run and break the lines. I have mentioned it previously but as then I think it should all be pinch hit for effect and education rather then a permenant move. If we can throw the opposition out a bit and get some run and carry whilst he learns all good and well. I still think he should be groomed for a more midfield but this could be a useful part of that grooming process.

 

[Old Spice]

Don't mind it at all. Daisy can play that sweeping role down back a la Harley and Hodge, but I think a better parallel is McLeod. His hands and kicking are sublime and we have plenty of small forward options for the crumb / rove up forward.

Gives us so much versatility. Clarke with his fabulous kicking boot can move to the wing / mid / half forward position to punish the opposition. Daisy's capacity for a running kick to goal around and outside the forward 50 is not as great as Clarkes, but his short passing is in the top echelon. Some great Daisy delivery to Clarke on the wing is too sexy.

Heater and Daisy on the back flanks looks trully menacing to me.

 

[Dave The Man]

With Heater probably Missing the G/F do we start Daisy down there against the Cats?

 

[DThomas]

Mick Malthouse has said that Thomas won't have a specific position he will play this year:

Hard to judge best Collingwood footballer in town

Dale Thomas will be used as both a half-forward flanker and half-back flanker.

"We can't have players of yesteryear boxed up. If Dale Thomas isn't getting a kick at half-forward, or if we need something special down back, he will go to half-back.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Ah, the old fashioned position - "utility".

Bring it back!!!

 

[Old Spice]

With no Harry and from DTM comment, no Shaw, Daisy has to be a lock. I'd like to see:

Goldsack, Presti, Maxwell
Thomas, N Brown, Cox

EDIT: I'd have Reid as well on the bench