Depth better than ever

[DanA]

Milburn Scarlett Hunt
Mackie Taylor Enright
Ling Ablett Corey
Chapman Podsially Rooke
S.Johnson Mooney Byrnes
Ottens Bartel Selwood
Blake Kelly Varcoe, ??

Depth: Hawkins, Wojak, Stokes, Hogan, Duncan, Gillies, Lonergan, Laidler, Taylor-Hunt, Djerkurra, Christenson, Menzel, T.West, Simpson.

That's 12 capable players fighting for the 22nd spot plus 2 ruckmen who have been solid when given a chance. All have a pretty good chance of playing AFL this season.

I think our team's depth is better than ever.

 

[catempire]

I agree that in number, we have more depth players than ever.

However, I don't know that our midfield depth is that great. Midfielders make up at least a quarter of the named 22 yet of the 12 non-ruckman depth players you name, only Hogan could reasonably be expected to step up and play a role as an AFL midfielder at this stage. Taylor Hunt and Christensen may be able to in future but are, as yet, unproved.

This is a function of losing our depth midfielders in recent years - Prismall, Moles, Davenport - who are all running around with other clubs now.

I don't think this is disastrous, but I think it's one reason why we will see a focus on midfield talent in drafting in the next little while.

I'm loving our key position depth - Pods, Lonergan, Gillies, Laidler.

I think Dawson Simpson showed in the Freo game that he can make it.

And to have players of the quality of Wojcinski and Stokes not cemented in your 22 shows just how strong this list is.

 

[Sttew]

Cast your mind back to the Brisbane game at the Gabba last year. We had a heap of talent out of the side and were unceremoniously flogged. Sure, we have Pods and Mitch in 2010, but...

 

[catempire]

Cast your mind back to the Brisbane game at the Gabba last year. We had a heap of talent out of the side and were unceremoniously flogged. Sure, we have Pods and Mitch in 2010, but...

It's not often you have that many players out at the one time though. Depth is more about being able to cover the absence of 1, 2, 3 or 4 absences at once.

 

[Turbocat]

Id say I look at it slightly differently.

Our "Pool" of talent is broad enough that we can have 1,2 players dropout and we can replace them.Why? I think its because we have so many good-great-champion players close to their peak.

I feel the depth of any club is determined by the amount of these players. Take them out or wait till their powers fade and .. surprise,surprise.. the team looks ordinary and its depth is questioned. As Sttew remarked about that game last year against Brisbane , critics for the first time in years loaded up at us after this game comments like "Depth not as good as people thought" etc.

I think back to the Hawks in the 80's. I feel the secret to the long era is the ability to replace champions with players that became champions.
They went from the Matthews , Scott era then on to Platten,Brereton,Dunstall era.

No matter what Bomber and the rest say if we don't want a significant dip we must replace of elite player with elite players. Just like we lost AA Egan and have replaced him Taylor. If Menzal, Duncan Christensen etc can become tomorrows Bartel, Corey , Kelly we will continue to be a very good team.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Our depth in experience is not as good as it was, which is a function of the salary cap sending players to other clubs around the 22-23 age group in search of better opportunities.

But, I would argue that our depth in talent is as great as it's ever been (and maybe even greater), and thus, so long as we get a decent injury run and we don't have to play too many inexperienced kids as once, then I see us being fine. And let's be realistic, out of the 22 from the Port game there's still Scarlett Rooke and Varcoe to come back, and then Hogan Stokes and co scouting around, so we have a bit of depth before we have to get to the kids anyway.

The only issue I have with our depth is I am unsure whether we have adequate replacements for Ottens Mooney and Scarlett, although that's a medium-long term issue. Our depth for the moment is great, and given the salary cap pressures the club, and the players, have done well to keep it that way.

And when you look at this year's draft (Duncan and Christensen look great already) I think we're in a good spot for the future.

 

[nowhereneargeelong]

yep, we're a lock for the next 3 flags, minimum. which, in my opinion, is pretty exciting.

 

[DanA]

However, I don't know that our midfield depth is that great. Midfielders make up at least a quarter of the named 22 yet of the 12 non-ruckman depth players you name, only Hogan could reasonably be expected to step up and play a role as an AFL midfielder at this stage.

I think our midfield depth is our great strength. At it stands we end up with one of Ablett, Bartel or Corey on a wing most of the time, Kelly in the backline and Chapman up forward. We may not have a ready made clearance midfielder waiting in the wings but it would only take a small shuffle.

Cast your mind back to the Brisbane game at the Gabba last year. We had a heap of talent out of the side and were unceremoniously flogged. Sure, we have Pods and Mitch in 2010, but...

It's a fair point, we had Jnr, Scarlett, Ottens, Ling, Mackie, Kelly, Milburn and Varcoe out

The team now would be:
FB: Hunt Taylor Enright
HB: Wojak Lonergan Drum
C: Corey Bartel Byrnes
HF: Duncan Mooney Pods
FF: Johnson Hawkins Stokes
R: Blake Selwood Chapman
Int: Simpson Hogan Gillies Laidler

I remember the youngster doing quite well but Brown was a major problem, absolutely destroyed us (Black gave Selwood a clinic too) and Tenace butched the ball costing us a couple single handedly if memory serves me correct. I think Selwood would do much better but I don't have confidence in Lonergan on Brown. I think we'd be alright against a team without such a dominante player though.

I'd back us against more than 50% of sides in the AFL though.

The only issue I have with our depth is I am unsure whether we have adequate replacements for Ottens Mooney and Scarlett, although that's a medium-long term issue. Our depth for the moment is great, and given the salary cap pressures the club, and the players, have done well to keep it that way.

And when you look at this year's draft (Duncan and Christensen look great already) I think we're in a good spot for the future.

I agree although we seemed to have done without Ottens last season most of the time. It was only Sandilands we had major problems with and it happened again this season. Pods and Hawkins IMO would be fine in Mooney's absence, I don't think it's an issue any longer but we are absolutely screwed without Scarlett. He's irreplacable