Opinion Depth Chart

[_RT_]

In the lead up to the draft I thought I'd give a breakdown of the list as it stands to give posters a bit more of an insight into what sort of players we might be looking at come the drafts.

Inside Mid
Vlastuin (19/18) Conca(21/52) Cotchin (23/108) Jackson(27/146)Foley(28/136) Arnot (Age 19/Games 4) Helbig(21/16) Gordon(23/2) Williams(19/0)

Outside Mid
Ellis(20/42) Martin(22/86) Grigg(25/109) Deledio(26/195)

Key Forward
Vickery(23/75) Riewoldt (24/134) McBean(19/0) Griffiths(22/19)

Medium Forward
Knights(27/101)Lennon(18/0) O'Hanlon(20/8) A.Edwards(29/91)

Small Forward
S.Edwards(24/129) King(29/105) McDonough(19/1) Lloyd(23/0) Simon*(18/0)

Key Back
Rance(24/89) Chaplin(27/162) Grimes(22/26) Astbury(22/39) Elton(20/1)

Medium Back
Petterd(25/66) Batchelor(21/39) Dea(22/24) McIntosh(19/0) Darrou*(19/0)

Small Back
Morris(24/43) Houli(25/91) Newman(31/233)

Ruck
Hampson(25/63) Maric(27/119) Stephenson*(31/14)

Key
Best 22 Lock
Next In Line
Development Needed

Looking at that it makes it a bit easier to identify where we're lacking. Interestingly, despite the constant cry from posters here and supporters outside the site, we're not that hard up for inside mid depth. Where we do seem to be lacking though is outside mid, medium forward, small forward and small back.

So it's something to consider as you go reading through the various phantom drafts and look for players that you would like us to go after.

 

[tigs2010]

Good stuff RT. Though I dare say it, Williams is an inside mid and I'd say Conca probably is more inside than outside so that adds even more to the inside mid depth. But shows a bit of a weakness on the outside, which is why I think we are targeting guys like Salem and Lennon. Even Freeman who can play on the outside if required.

 

[TheProwler]

That's not a chart was expecting to see a graph

 

[Tigerbob]

Good stuff RT. Though I dare say it, Williams is an inside mid and I'd say Conca probably is more inside than outside so that adds even more to the inside mid depth. But shows a bit of a weakness on the outside, which is why I think we are targeting guys like Salem and Lennon. Even Freeman who can play on the outside if required.

My thoughts to.

Great stuff though RT. Shows a lot. Outside class needed as tigs says.

Small forward would be great.

 

[Dragonss]

Acres and Salem can play that outside role, Salem can also play inside. Not sure on Acres' inside ability, but both have excellent disposal and decision making. That's all i want. If you can run fast from a pack with the ball but just waste a disposal what's the point of getting it? Good decision makers just make things seem easy.

 

[DustinsGuns]

I would put it as follows (from best to worst):

Inside Mid: Cotchin Jackson Conca Foley Outside best 22: Arnott, Helbig, Williams

Quality (out of 10): 7
Depth: 3

Outside Mid: Martin Deledio Ellis Grigg Outside 22: McDonugh

Quality: 8
Depth: 2

Ruck: Maric Hampson Outside 22: Stephenson

Quality: 7
Depth: 3

Tall Back: Rance Chaplin Grimes Outside 22: Astbury Griffiths Darrou (r) McIntosh

Quality: 8
Depth: 5

Medium/Small Back: Morris Houli Newman Vlastuin Outside 22: Petterd Batchelor Dea Verrier (r)

Quality: 7
Depth: 7

Tall Forward: Riewoldt Vickery Outside 22: A Edwards (plays tall) McBean Elton

Quality: 8
Depth: 6

Medium/Small Forward: S Edwards King Outside Best 22: Knights O'Hanlon

Quality: 5
Depth: 3


For mine our midfield depth looks very thin. We also need a small creative forward who has the ability to kick 30 goals a year which we haven't had since N Brown/M Rogers

Our big men look okay for quality but the depth isn't there. The losses of our McGuane and White have a significant impact on our depth.

 

[Top_4_Tiger]

Good stuff. The mature depth really helps IMO. Cyril Rioli would be nice as a free agent!

Limitations of this type of method are that some players can't be categorised as inside/outside (eg Conca, Cotchin) and the assumption we need all of the types, like 'outside mid' or 'medium forward'. Another option is to recruit more of what we already have and push our guns into these positions of need.

We can do either. Bring in 2-3 quality midfielders who can win their own ball and we've got Cotchin, Deledio and Martin setting everything up and pushing forward more often, maybe even play Martin permanently next to Riewoldt. I think it's better than drafting an outside midfielder and a medium forward and playing our guns under the packs, but it depends who is available I guess.

But that's the good thing about our mids - we have the option of drafting either type. Our current list is flexible and half of them can't really be labelled into these categories.

The only area that we can pretty kuch ignore for the time being is our back half IMO.

Focus on dual mids and forwards. But every mid must be capable of winning the inside ball, I don't want a single Stephen Hill type personally!

 

[Stylo]

Good stuff RT. Though I dare say it, Williams is an inside mid and I'd say Conca probably is more inside than outside so that adds even more to the inside mid depth. But shows a bit of a weakness on the outside, which is why I think we are targeting guys like Salem and Lennon. Even Freeman who can play on the outside if required.

Yep exactly my thoughts. Just on Williams, he intrigues me, reckon he could be a Tom Bell type for us in time, if he gets his body right. Showed some real ability in the NAB cup this year.

Great post though RT, good to read it from that perspective. Outside class is the missing piece

 

[Stylo]

Is anyone else disappointed there's not going to be a preseason cup next year? I always thought it was a great opportunity to get a look at the youngsters

 

[tigs2010]

Yep exactly my thoughts. Just on Williams, he intrigues me, reckon he could be a Tom Bell type for us in time, if he gets his body right. Showed some real ability in the NAB cup this year.

Great post though RT, good to read it from that perspective. Outside class is the missing piece

Take that back. I expect Cadeyn to be an AFL quality player in time.

 

[_RT_]

Good stuff RT. Though I dare say it, Williams is an inside mid and I'd say Conca probably is more inside than outside so that adds even more to the inside mid depth. But shows a bit of a weakness on the outside, which is why I think we are targeting guys like Salem and Lennon. Even Freeman who can play on the outside if required.

Conca and Williams I classed as outside as that is where they seem to have spent most of their time so far. No doubt Conca could make the transition to an inside mid in time and to be honest haven't seen enough of Williams to make a call on his ability to become an inside mid. I think for now he will probably stay on the outside with occasional spells in the middle as part of his development.

 

[_RT_]

Good stuff. The mature depth really helps IMO. Cyril Rioli would be nice as a free agent!

Limitations of this type of method are that some players can't be categorised as inside/outside (eg Conca, Cotchin) and the assumption we need all of the types, like 'outside mid' or 'medium forward'. Another option is to recruit more of what we already have and push our guns into these positions of need.

We can do either. Bring in 2-3 quality midfielders who can win their own ball and we've got Cotchin, Deledio and Martin setting everything up and pushing forward more often, maybe even play Martin permanently next to Riewoldt. I think it's better than drafting an outside midfielder and a medium forward and playing our guns under the packs, but it depends who is available I guess.

But that's the good thing about our mids - we have the option of drafting either type. Our current list is flexible and half of them can't really be labelled into these categories.

The only area that we can pretty kuch ignore for the time being is our back half IMO.

Focus on dual mids and forwards. But every mid must be capable of winning the inside ball, I don't want a single Stephen Hill type personally!

I get what you're saying about our mids being flexible in the positions that they can play, the idea behind this was to put players in positions where they seem to spend most of their time. When you look at the list we've got the likes of Knights and S.Edwards who while named as forwards are quite capable of going into the middle for periods to give others a spell.

I do agree that getting in kids in the draft this year that have the ability to play multiple positions with the cap of rotations coming in having the ability to move players around the ground to give them a spell is going to be very important.

 

[tugga]

Good work RT. On the ball as always.

 

[tigs2010]

Conca and Williams I classed as outside as that is where they seem to have spent most of their time so far. No doubt Conca could make the transition to an inside mid in time and to be honest haven't seen enough of Williams to make a call on his ability to become an inside mid. I think for now he will probably stay on the outside with occasional spells in the middle as part of his development.

I would argue Conca has made that transition. He predominantly sets up in the centre square and burrows into packs. Whereas you have Vlastuin as an inside mid who has really only played off half back in an outside role with an occasional run in the guts. What he does well though is he is very capable on the outside as well. It's what will hold us in good stead in the future, the majority of our mids can do both to a high level. Cotchin, Conca, Vlastuin, Halbig can all play an outside role. Deledio, Martin, McDonough can all go and play on the inside. Ellis will probably be able to as well.

Williams on the other hand has played predominantly inside mid from what I've seen. He's a big bodied, tough, inside midfielder.

 

[TheAnt]

Kristian Pisano usually does a really in-depth preview of these once pre-season gets up and rolling. Quality review RT. As for the Conca talk I think he's become a goal-kicking midfielder, just what we need.

 

[webbie]

They are

Conca and Williams I classed as outside as that is where they seem to have spent most of their time so far. No doubt Conca could make the transition to an inside mid in time and to be honest haven't seen enough of Williams to make a call on his ability to become an inside mid. I think for now he will probably stay on the outside with occasional spells in the middle as part of his development.

They both play as Inside mids pal with conca being able to spread from the contest well.

 

[theflea]

Conca imo is our second best inside mid now. The fact that he can run and spread on the outside seems to cloud this idea. He's the hybrid the modern game needs. In fact the more you have the better the team will be able to mix and match on game day. Imo his loss on EF day was devastating for us. I'm sure I saw him pull up a little ginger and stretched out his leg 2mins before he twanged his hammy.

 

[_RT_]

OK I miscast Conca and Williams, sorry everyone.

 

[Tiger71]

Great post RT. For me, we need to make Martin a Inside Mid. He is a natural for it and then get him resting forward.

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

Yep exactly my thoughts. Just on Williams, he intrigues me, reckon he could be a Tom Bell type for us in time, if he gets his body right. Showed some real ability in the NAB cup this year.

Great post though RT, good to read it from that perspective. Outside class is the missing piece

I reckon Williams may very well be the surprise packet next year.

 

[SumTingWong]

I reckon Williams may very well be the surprise packet next year.

The few games he played I was particularly impressed with his work at the stoppages. Had great hands and great ability to find space in traffic.

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

The few games he played I was particularly impressed with his work at the stoppages. Had great hands and great ability to find space in traffic.

Great to hear.
Who needs Adams.

 

[tigs2010]

OK I miscast Conca and Williams, sorry everyone.

All good. I can see why you put Conca outside. He's pretty good at both. So are a lot of our mids. It's a great analysis either way. Thought we were pretty light on for KPD's and your analysis shows a glaring hole there. We need to get one soon.

 

[theflea]

OK I miscast Conca and Williams, sorry everyone.

Don't worry about it mate as its a p.o.v! I still wouldn't swap heppell for him that some of us would want.

 

[Dr Tigris]

Nice looking list of established players. But a fair few areas with little depth I'd trust. However i suspect that is true of most/all clubs. There are some potentially good players coming through that would transform our depth. But if things don't go right (injuries and stalling of development) we could have a few problems. Still the depth is looking quite encouraging now.