Further boost our defensive stocks...

[Hawka_de_Haven]

With Gilham coming back from a knee reco, & Boumann, Litherland, & even Schoenmakers yet to establish themselves as AFL standard key defenders, I can understand the selection of Jordan Kelly.
At the very least it gives us greater depth in this department. As we are all aware, not all our defenders will make it in the AFL. But that will be decided by whoever makes the most of their opportunities whilst on our list. A bit of healthy competition for spots is a good issue to have!

When you consider the press that most teams employ these days and the fact that teams like geelong and collingwood won grand finals with running fullbacks eg. Scarlett, Obrien respectively, the selection of accountable one on one defenders who can peel off opponents and create and extra option in the middle of the ground is vital. Reasonable selection for mine. As is Alex Woodward. As for Hill, we wont see what this kid can offer for at least 2 years at which time players like Sewell and Mitch might be winding up.

 

[Brishawk]

The term gorilla gets trotted out pretty easily. We do not have a KP defender who can win a one on one - not just break even. Gibbo has the frame but not the height and he was our best defender by a mile. None of our KP defenders are competent one on one.

We had the third best defence in 2011. The club is not happy with that and paid overs to make sure we got Boumann.

When things are going our way in the middle it seems to matter little but unless we capitalise on our periods of midfield dominance or cope better in periods of opposition dominance then we are always going to be vulnerable to good teams making comebacks against us. Selecting the likes of Smith, Gunston and Hill (eventually) helps with the former and Bouman and Kelly helps with the latter (potentially). Can't argue with the recruiting philosophy in that regard.

 

[Thorgils]

Just to get an idea of our backline options:

Boumann
Litherland
Murphy
Kelly
Stratton
Shoenmakers
Gilham

Gibson
Birchall
Suckling
Puopolo
Guerra
Cheney

Backline has received some attention over the last 2 years hopefully providing some flexibility and deversity for next season and beyond.

 

[Hodgepodge]

A few of those backs can play just as well elsewhere. Puopolo, Guerra, Burgoyne, etc can all play forward/mid.

I am sold on Boumann. I think he will be our Harry O'Brien type.

 

[burner1]

It's going to be really interesting to see the battle for backline spots next year.

You'd think other than birchall, stratton and gibbo that every other spot is potentially up for grabs.

The battle between gilham, shoey, litherland, boumann, kelly,murphy for a tall/medium defender spot is going to be intense.

The one I'm interested in is litherland - had last year ruined by injury but looked a very likely type in the nab cup.

It's also going to be a change to see some actual defenders down back for us - players that can do more than breakeven in a contest.

 

[bards]

Not sure how we paid overs for Boumann. The swapping of picks etc would have bugger all influence on who we drafted, we paid what we needed to to get him.

This years drafting is purely an eye to the future. They are all players who will need 2 years. Kelly for Gilly, Gibbo, Woodward for Mitch / Sewell, Hill for Bateman. They may or may not work out, but the way the draft was it was worth a try, especially when we had already traded for Gunston and Boumann. We didnt go to the draft with an immediate need to compete for the premiership. Last year we needed speed, and got it. This year we have the list prior to the draft that can win a flag, just gotta be fit and develope a little.

 

[Brant]

The term gorilla gets trotted out pretty easily. We do not have a KP defender who can win a one on one - not just break even. Gibbo has the frame but not the height and he was our best defender by a mile. None of our KP defenders are competent one on one.

We had the third best defence in 2011. The club is not happy with that and paid overs to make sure we got Boumann.

Pretty much agree FT - although the price paid for Boumann will seem very cheap if he can come in (when ready) & keep quiet a Pods/Tomohawk; Dawes; or Kennedy/Lynch/Darling.

Having the 3rd best defence in the league would be an awesome comment if holding the 2011 Premiership Cup, or for me trying to hold one over an E-girls supporter. Tell a Geelong / Collingwood supporter we had the 3rd best defence in the league & see what they have to say... Also, it is relatively pointless finishing 3rd (defensively) across a season when the 2 teams above us held our forwards better & attacked better than we did & defeated us every time we played them.

I am a big believer in our recruitment & use of tall(ish), rebounding defenders; so long as we can also stop goals. If the recruiting of Boumann doesn't assist with this, I just can't see how we will overtake the 2 teams above us; &, I have concerns about holding out the E-girls when we play them.

 

[Easy Slips Catch]

Boumann is well worth a punt. He is 22 and had a crack at the big time. He has the hips of pre-pubescent lass and is crack user thin. Very few recycled players get picked up, even in this year of a weak draft. I reckon he was a rookie selection at best.

For him to be competitive he needs to play off his opponent because he will and does get ragdolled by big forwards. This is not that dissimilar to Gibbo and Gibbo struggled against the better teams.

If Boumann can bulk up considerably he may make it. Exactly the type of player you chuck on a rookie list.

 

[ACTion Hawks]

Pretty much agree FT - although the price paid for Boumann will seem very cheap if he can come in (when ready) & keep quiet a Pods/Tomohawk; Dawes; or Kennedy/Lynch/Darling.

Having the 3rd best defence in the league would be an awesome comment if holding the 2011 Premiership Cup, or for me trying to hold one over an E-girls supporter. Tell a Geelong / Collingwood supporter we had the 3rd best defence in the league & see what they have to say... Also, it is relatively pointless finishing 3rd (defensively) across a season when the 2 teams above us held our forwards better & attacked better than we did & defeated us every time we played them.

I am a big believer in our recruitment & use of tall(ish), rebounding defenders; so long as we can also stop goals. If the recruiting of Boumann doesn't assist with this, I just can't see how we will overtake the 2 teams above us; &, I have concerns about holding out the E-girls when we play them.

Although I agree with the sentiment bolded, I don't agree with your view of how we may overtake them this season.

Firstly, your honour, I would like to bring forward exhibit A - Shoey! He was beaten a few times against the better teams, but will be another year older, another pre-season in him and have that finals experience! It is no guarantee, but he should improve!

Secondly, I bring forward exhibit B (or maybe exhibit B to K) - our young players. Pup and Isaac had great debut seasons, but imagine them both with another pre-season. I really felt we suffered at the end of the season as players like Savage, Shiels, Suckling and Bailey all got tired. They were young (or for Bailey young in game-time) and we paid for them putting in so hard early. Next year they can hopefully maintain that for longer.

Thirdly, exhibit C - Junior! His running style will be fixed and he will hopefully be out there for longer. Not sure how much it affected him in the finals, but I for one am hoping for an improvement next time round!

Last, I can't see huge upside for either the Pies or Cats. If anything, especially for the Cats, there appears to be more risk of downside than upside (although I thought that at the start of this year so may have to take that with a grain of salt). In terms of against us, Ottens really killed us in the first final!!!

Plenty of upside without any changes - purely because we have such a young team. This draft isn't (and shouldn't be) about 2012. It is about 2014 and beyond.

PS I would love a defender that outmarks his opponents (rather than punching it every time), as that not only kills the situation but means it turns around. Loved Mew for his marking!!!

 

[Great 2008]

With Gold Coast and GWS (supposedly) locking up about 10 straight flags from about 2013/2014 onwards we will need everyone of our defenders to be AA to have any chance.

 

[Number 24]

I do not agree with the assessments that our defence needs to improve for us to overtake the cats and the wobbles.

In the games we lost to these sides in 2011 we started the games like a grass fire in a high north wind. We moved the ball well and scored goals. Then we stopped. We had the ball inside our 50 area for long periods and did not score. We dried up. Our midfield began to lose it's dominance and the forwards could not get their hands on the footy enough.

To add insult to injury in relation to our forwards not scoring, there were several crucial times when we did have a realitavily easy shot on goal only to miss. (Remember Hodge in the last quarter against the wobbles in the prelim...talk about the wobbles)

This issue of the forwards going missing in big games is why we went after Gunston. This kid is different to Buddy and Roughy. Provides a different diamention to the other blokes on the forward line. He happens to be a better kick too than the other two.

We need a midfield that can play out a full game and a forward line that has more tricks and can keep applying score board pressure.

Whilst the backline can improve, it is not our Achillies heel.

 

[BobDay]

Despite new and changing game plans it seems some old truisms still apply.
One truism is that it most premiership teams have a dominant CHF/ Forward. This year The Hawks have done very well in defence....EXCEPT AGAINST BIG MARKING FORWARDS.
I think game day selection is going to be a bigger issue as the competition becomes more professional and tougher.
Against some teams we will not need a "gorilla", but against others we will.
Also there is so much movement within games themselves that we will need to cover short term moves where big bodied followers (like Hale Hawkins Kruser) move into the forward line.

 

[heh]

I do not agree with the assessments that our defence needs to improve for us to overtake the cats and the wobbles.

In the games we lost to these sides in 2011 we started the games like a grass fire in a high north wind. We moved the ball well and scored goals. Then we stopped. We had the ball inside our 50 area for long periods and did not score. We dried up. Our midfield began to lose it's dominance and the forwards could not get their hands on the footy enough.

To add insult to injury in relation to our forwards not scoring, there were several crucial times when we did have a realitavily easy shot on goal only to miss. (Remember Hodge in the last quarter against the wobbles in the prelim...talk about the wobbles)

This issue of the forwards going missing in big games is why we went after Gunston. This kid is different to Buddy and Roughy. Provides a different diamention to the other blokes on the forward line. He happens to be a better kick too than the other two.

We need a midfield that can play out a full game and a forward line that has more tricks and can keep applying score board pressure.

Whilst the backline can improve, it is not our Achillies heel.

This just about perfectly sums up my thoughts.
Thanks!