Defence

[Jordie_tackles]

It is widely accepted that our defence is our strongest asset,

Yet i still think we need a second Tall back, Frawley esk size, will be hard to find the same qaulity obviously. bigger than Garland who we all know is a great defender but i think he would be better served as the player who dominates on an oppositions third tall and knows when to leave his man and help a mate or run and carry.

Do we think Mcdonald or Davis can be this player?? quite possibly, or do we need them in the 22-24 age bracket more likely?? then again by the time our tilt comes Frawley and Garland will be 25ish and the two i just mention 21 or so which is ideal

Also the defence will be under alot less pressure when our midfield picks up and doesnt let them get bombarded 60+ times a game by the top teams

What is everyone's thoughts one this?

 

[Gazza_11]

Lucas Cook is a smokey although we probably need him forward. IMO we really need a young small forward. Hopefully Maric has another super preseason.

 

[Captain Jack]

I agree, I would love to see McDonald come along well enough to take Garland's role as second tall defender. While I love Garland's work, ideally he wouldn't be playing on the big CHFs as he's a little undersized. If McDonald could fill this role it would free Col up to play more like Rivers - rebounding, playing 3rd man up, that sort of thing.

 

[Klyntonius]

I like the way our backline lines up actualy. Realistically, there aren't many forwardlines that drastically outsize us at them moment and the main pressure our defence ends up under is due to a general lack of midfield pressure. The talls to be taken by Garland and Frawley, the rebound from Bennel and Tapscott and the 'generalling' by Rivers and Grimes and we're looking pretty good I think. As the midfield matures and improves so there isn't such a free flow of ball to the backline, I think we have the currently cattle to deal with any forwardline going into the future.

 

[stretcharmstrong]

I am with Mentor here, I think we are a good and genuine tall defender short. When I say good, I do mean reasonable skills (at least Rivers' level), but good decision making, body on body, and reading of the play moreso. When I say genuine, I mean actually big and tall. Chip is big but could be bigger, except I wouldn't want him to lose his agility which is (imo) outstanding for a guy his size. So by genuine I mean someone Chip size or bigger that is capable of playing on the best big men in the league (your Clokes and Petries).

In that regard, I am excited about Tom McDonald, although will admit I have never seen him play. The things I heard about him after the draft and from Casey reports this year tell me he could possibly be that guy.

 

[Gazza_11]

Tim Harrington told me that Troy Davis and Tom McDonald are the two most exciting youngsters on the list that don't get a lot of publicity.

 

[THE STING2]

It is widely accepted that our defence is our strongest asset,

Yet i still think we need a second Tall back, Frawley esk size, will be hard to find the same qaulity obviously. bigger than Garland who we all know is a great defender but i think he would be better served as the player who dominates on an oppositions third tall and knows when to leave his man and help a mate or run and carry.

Do we think Mcdonald or Davis can be this player?? quite possibly, or do we need them in the 22-24 age bracket more likely?? then again by the time our tilt comes Frawley and Garland will be 25ish and the two i just mention 21 or so which is ideal

Also the defence will be under alot less pressure when our midfield picks up and doesnt let them get bombarded 60+ times a game by the top teams

What is everyone's thoughts one this?

Are you saying piss off Rivers?

 

[Demon 16]

Cook or McDonald could make the swingman we need, but I reckon we need pace and disposal out of our backline more than anything.

 

[lose]

Cook or McDonald could make the swingman we need, but I reckon we need pace and disposal out of our backline more than anything.

Agree nd that's why blease was so exciting on the w/e, he's exactly wat we need..

 

[Logger]

Are you saying piss off Rivers?

I think he's talking about 3-4 years in the future, when Rivers has pissed off into retirement.

 

[Jordie_tackles]

I think he's talking about 3-4 years in the future, when Rivers has pissed off into retirement.

This^^, but i would like a taller defender to play the second tall role

I think we can all say that after 2011 our true window will be lucky to open by 2014 which would make rivers close to 30 y.o

And even then i like rivers playing in the "Maxwell" type role, he can take a mark, and generals defence a bit being a VC

Was not writing him off, but he isnt a genuine tall defender imo, we saw how Cloke and Dawes killed him, he is 10Kgs to light for this

Then you get your injuries, we have been lucky that none of Frawley or Garland have been out for significant periods, Garland being out for 3 or so?

We are one injury short of real trouble really, and its good to know that Mcdonald and Davis are thought of so highly

 

[Gazza_11]

I'd actually say our midfield is our strongest asset. Or it will be anyway.

 

[Captain Jack]

I'd actually say our midfield is our strongest asset. Or it will be anyway.

Yeah, not yet it's not... our defence is far stronger, or at least it was until Brian 'Bridesmaid' Royal got involved.

 

[Gazza_11]

Mhmm I feel much prouder of our defence at the moment but hopefully the mids will love up to their potential and the defenders can do more attacking than defending!

 

[Rudeurrection]

Our backline is severely overrated to be perfectly honest. We are one Chip injury away from crisis.

Agree that we are one decent tall defender short, hoping Davis and or McDonald can fill the role, time will tell.

 

[master bate]

I see the point, but Garland has played most of the year as 3rd tall (after Frawley came back). He's played on Rioli and Dustin Martin and others of the like. I don't think Rivers gets enough credit for his ability to play as a genuine tall defender. He's only been beaten by Cloke and he copped a lot that day.

I think we need another Garland, so that we have 2 key defenders in Rivers and Frawley and then 2 medium sized defenders. I'd be looking for a 188-192 size player with speed, skills (I'd love a left footer) and sound defensive work. Ie. a better version of Joel Macdonald. I think having Frawley, Rivers, McDonald/Davis and Garland would be too much height, so I'd rather the 2 best big defenders and then Garland and another medium type.

Collingwood seem to have Leon Davis and then a whole bunch of defenders with good size - Toovey, O'Brien, Goldsack for example. I'm not sure you can fit Blease, Bennell and Tapscott in the same backline. Grimes and Strauss aren't much bigger.

 

[Devo_]

I think the defence is the least of the club's worries. It does an admirable job under a lot of pressure, although quality of disposal and kicking in from behinds are worries. The development of the midfield group over time will also help to stem the flow of opposition ball into our backline.

In the short term, more attention needs to be paid to the forward line. It is a collection of flankers and the resting ruckman a lot of the time. Lucas Cook is being built up as the second coming, lets hope he can provide a real target.

 

[Demon 16]

Our backline is severely overrated to be perfectly honest. We are one Chip injury away from crisis.

Agree that we are one decent tall defender short, hoping Davis and or McDonald can fill the role, time will tell.

Frawley is our best defender, but Garland/Grimes/Tapscott/Blease isnt too bad a base to move forward with.

Between Cook, Rivers and McDonald Im pretty confident we will be able to cover another tall when required.

 

[Jordie_tackles]

Frawley is our best defender, but Garland/Grimes/Tapscott/Blease isnt too bad a base to move forward with.

Between Cook, Rivers and McDonald Im pretty confident we will be able to cover another tall when required.

Key position?

 

[Theseventhhamster]

I see the point, but Garland has played most of the year as 3rd tall (after Frawley came back). He's played on Rioli and Dustin Martin and others of the like. I don't think Rivers gets enough credit for his ability to play as a genuine tall defender. He's only been beaten by Cloke and he copped a lot that day.

I think we need another Garland, so that we have 2 key defenders in Rivers and Frawley and then 2 medium sized defenders. I'd be looking for a 188-192 size player with speed, skills (I'd love a left footer) and sound defensive work. Ie. a better version of Joel Macdonald. I think having Frawley, Rivers, McDonald/Davis and Garland would be too much height, so I'd rather the 2 best big defenders and then Garland and another medium type.

Collingwood seem to have Leon Davis and then a whole bunch of defenders with good size - Toovey, O'Brien, Goldsack for example. I'm not sure you can fit Blease, Bennell and Tapscott in the same backline. Grimes and Strauss aren't much bigger.

Great post.

 

[Jordie_tackles]

I see the point, but Garland has played most of the year as 3rd tall (after Frawley came back). He's played on Rioli and Dustin Martin and others of the like. I don't think Rivers gets enough credit for his ability to play as a genuine tall defender. He's only been beaten by Cloke and he copped a lot that day.

I think we need another Garland, so that we have 2 key defenders in Rivers and Frawley and then 2 medium sized defenders. I'd be looking for a 188-192 size player with speed, skills (I'd love a left footer) and sound defensive work. Ie. a better version of Joel Macdonald. I think having Frawley, Rivers, McDonald/Davis and Garland would be too much height, so I'd rather the 2 best big defenders and then Garland and another medium type.

Collingwood seem to have Leon Davis and then a whole bunch of defenders with good size - Toovey, O'Brien, Goldsack for example. I'm not sure you can fit Blease, Bennell and Tapscott in the same backline. Grimes and Strauss aren't much bigger.

I dont see Rivers in anyway a Key defender, and Yes Garland can play on the smalls but he plays on more Big bodies than Rivers does imo

Garlands versatility is why i would love to see another Frawley type Defender, leaving Rivers and Garland to play on the mediums and Garland to take the fast smalls when required, or talls if Frawley or anyone else is having an off day

NOt saying we have a bad Defence or anything, it would just be so unbelievably solid if rivers and Garland were the 3rd and 4th defenders

 

[Theseventhhamster]

I swear if he had big biceps the Rivers derangement syndrome wouldn't exist here.