Opinion Defenders

[Suma Magic]

The first few are pretty clear cut, but after that opinion differs a bit about who are our best defenders.

If you take the poll, put down the order of those who missed out in a post (if you can be bothered, who am I to tell you what to do?).

Also, please choose if you selected 6, 7 or 8 defenders.

Personally I've changed around a bit but at the moment mine are:

Glass Mackenzie Brennan
Hurn Brown Waters

Schofield on the bench as part of the seven man rotation.

Some guys can play defence, but mostly don't, so if someone like Sheppard/Embley/Cripps is in your best 22 as a mid/fwd then don't select him in the poll.

 

[Suma Magic]

Those who missed out:
8. Butler
9. Adam Selwood
10. Ash Smith

 

[hudson2006]

Shep can play mid and forward though, so I don't know if he counts in the 8?

 

[sTeeL]

I cant even find 6 that I want. Obviously Glass, Hurn, Waters, Mackenzie and Schofield are locks.

Mitch Brown - Dont currently need a tall def
Smith - too lazy, too slow and bombs it too often
Butler - not quick enough, disposal letting him down in the last few times ive seen him play which is his only STRONG attribute
Brennan - does okay but leaks goals like a sieve
Selwood - well past it
Wilson - inexperienced and likely to play mid-sized rather than small. Not going to get picked ahead of Hurn/Waters/Schofield.

Cant see any of the rest playing permanently back.

 

[Suma Magic]

Shep can play mid and forward though, so I don't know if he counts in the 8?

If you're picking him as a mid/fwd (or as a a mid/fwd for the vast majority of the game), he doesn't count. Every week the MC selects 7 defenders, although obviously you can select 6 or 8.

 

[Shupe]

Glass
Hurn
Waters
Emac
Schofield
Brown
Butler
__________________________
Ash Smith
Adam Selwood
Blayne Wilson (Who knows? Must be given a chance).

 

[Lyyynnnchy]

Butlers pace is poor and recently his disposal has also been very average

 

[Shupe]

I think we have a choice of Butler v Selwood for the final spot. Butler gets it.

 

[flyinghi64]

I went the first 8 for 8 defenders. I think it gives a mix of height, speed and offensiveness. A Selwood is now really a back up player and Butler is better suited up the ground on the ball as with Shep, the rest of the list are midfield forwards.

 

[flamingEMBERS]

I picked the first 7. This is who I think are the best 7 at the moment. That being said Schofield is not playing his best footy this year. Also I'm not sure how long we can keep play the 4 taller players and I think Brennan has to improve his disposal. Another note is I believe Sheppard is best 22 midfielder/forward Id also like to see how McGinnity goes this year, because we are missing his hardness and he is often not played as a defender.

 

[Suma Magic]

Surprised a few people are choosing 8 defenders. I think it pushes out a decent mid or forward when we're at full strength. Be interested in seeing full 22s which have 8 defenders.

 

[The Passenger]

Talls: Glass, Schofield, MacKenzie
Smalls/Meds: Waters, Hurn, Butler
Utility: Selwood

Selwood just scrapes in as a bench player who can play a few bit part roles and not just in defence, but if were being serious and we wanna be a title contendor, someone else has to overtake him. he's never been great to begin with, and he is even past his best now. offers a lot of toughness though which i'll never criticise him for that part of his game.

Ash Smith is one of the dumbest footballers I've ever seen. He should be the guy playing that Selwood role with his pace, his size and his skills are generally not bad (they're not great) but gee he makes some ****ing shithouse decisions.

Brennan is another that could come in and has played all right in bits and pieces but is incredibly inconsistent and a massive ball butcherer.

I accidentaly his 6 defenders, meant to pick 7 defenders.

 

[ioppolo]

Schofield-Glass-Butler
Hurn-MacKenzie-Waters

Brown unluckly, Sheppard and McGinnity can also be used for different roles.

 

[Eastern Rangers]

Butler is faster than Waters.

If you picked six defenders you probably haven't been watching football for the last 8 years. You need at least seven players that can rotate through defense.

I also think we should pick our defensive team depending on who we are playing, as opposed to pretending each player has no weaknesses.

These are the only locks when fit.

Mackenzie
Glass
Waters
Hurn

 

[wcesam]

It's strange how Ash Smith seems so slow. He was such a speedster pre-draft and not just in the testings, in his U18 highlights he would always be taking the game on running through the middle.

 

[ChampRevesby]

It's strange how Ash Smith seems so slow. He was such a speedster pre-draft and not just in the testings, in his U18 highlights he would always be taking the game on running through the middle.

Really disappointed with him. Either he is low on confidence, injured or does not have the heart to play at the Eagles. He won't play this week.

 

[wcesam]

Really disappointed with him. Either he is low on confidence, injured or does not have the heart to play at the Eagles. He won't play this week.

Too heavy perhaps. Has bulked up quite a bit since being drafted

 

[ChampRevesby]

Too heavy perhaps. Has bulked up quite a bit since being drafted

Could be? You don't lose 10 yards of pace over night though? He runs like he's been shot.

 

[eagles_4_life]

Does welling ham count already has played a bit in the back half for us this year

 

[Spooky17]

It's a long shot, but could see Jamie Bennell as a running defender

“The past few weeks he’s been out on the track. He’s got beautiful skills, he moves across the ground really well, and I think hes got an exciting future here at West Coast.

“He’ll play as a small defender, he’s got a great kick and uses the ball well, he’s a good decision maker. So hopefully he can become a defender who can stop his man but give us plenty of drive coming out of the back half.”
- Teague

 

[eaglespremiers]

It's a long shot, but could see Jamie Bennell as a running defender

“The past few weeks he’s been out on the track. He’s got beautiful skills, he moves across the ground really well, and I think hes got an exciting future here at West Coast.

“He’ll play as a small defender, he’s got a great kick and uses the ball well, he’s a good decision maker. So hopefully he can become a defender who can stop his man but give us plenty of drive coming out of the back half.”
- Teague

In terms of what he brings to the table (theoretically) he sounds fantastic.
It remains to be seen whether he is the answer to a small defender woes.

 

[Agent93]

The problem I have with most of our defenders is that they are solely one position players. I think the main reason our midfield looks bad is they don't get time away from the middle of the ground unless they are subbed. Gaff and Shuey get bogged down by taggers because they aren't allowed to play them anywhere else.

It'd be helpful if some of defenders and forwards weren't so permanent. Give LeCras a run in the guts, Hill on the wing, Butler in the middle. Looking at Geelong on Friday and Hawthorn on Saturday, both teams were so flexible. Hell, it might help Gaff break a tag if he were able to play defense, or forward.

 

[Spooky17]

In terms of what he brings to the table (theoretically) he sounds fantastic.
It remains to be seen whether he is the answer to a small defender woes.

Very logical

 

[Marlin01]

Bring back Wirrpanda.

 

[Ishmael_]

It'd be helpful if some of defenders and forwards weren't so permanent. Give LeCras a run in the guts, Hill on the wing, Butler in the middle.

I agree, but all of these moves you suggested have already been tried this year, bar perhaps letting Butler in the middle. Additionally, Shannon Hurn was played on the wing a bit last week, as was Schofield.

So I don't know if they're quite as one-dimensional as you say.