Future Defence

[Visro]

For a long time in our clubs history, our defence has been the backbone of the team. We were able to keep the opposition making big scores whilst doing quite well in our defence. By the end of this year however, many of our current defence will be ageing and youngsters will need to start stepping up. Some players that might not last another two seasons due to retirement or dellistings:

Glen Jakovich - 28
Peter Matera - 32
Ashley McIntosh - 29
Michael Prior - 28
Greg Harding - 25

The new brigade:

Darren Glass - 20 - 188cm
Michael Collica - 24 - 186cm
Chad Morrison - 23 - 183cm
Phillip Read - 22 - 177cm
Trent Carroll - 23 - 191cm
David Wirrpunda - 22 - 174cm
Travis Gaspar - 20 - 195cm
Zak Beeck - 19 - 196cm
David Antonowicz - 21 - 194cm

Despite the appearance that there is a lot of youth coming through, our defence is a lot more fragile than it appears.

1. Travis Gaspar and Zak Beeck have not yet played an AFL game.
2. David Antonowicz has shown very little so far and will most likely be delisted at the end of the year.
3. Trent Carroll is another that in the end may not make the grade but he still has shown some potential.
4. Wirrpunda, Read and Morrison, whilst all being good defenders lack the height to take on the bigger forwards in the league.
5. This leaves Glass and Collica who are both good players but are still only medium size defenders and will never be able to take on the big FF's

The club therefore may be lulling itself into a false sense of security. Unless Gaspar or Beeck can step up to the next level the club very well may find itself short on tall defenders in a couple of years when Jakovich and McIntosh have gone. Obviously the club has to recruit either a young talent in the draft who hopefully can step right up or a young player allready playing AFL.

What does everyone else think of the situation in our defence...is anyone else worried about the future, because even though I know we have a good bunch of skilled players coming through, a lot of them I feel lack the height.

Vis

 

[iceman]

i think we need someone in the mould (ie: build) of mcintosh. Both agile and very strong

ive been impressed with collica and co but i cant see them going one on one with a good FF, ie Richardson or Lloyd in the goalsquare

 

[daddy_4_eyes]

The eagles should bring in McDougall and Gaspar for the game against Essendon. We are going to lose anyway, might as well try out some players.

KJ should also go with an all out youth policy. No point in having youngsters if by the time they make their debut they are 21 and by the time they are at AFL standard they are 25. Either play the youngsters or end up like Freo, perennial strugglers.

In 1999 and 2000 collingwood were pathetic. They persisted with the youngsters despite everyone knowing they would struggle to win games. Now in 2001 they are a top 6 team. Same "pathetic" youngster as in 1999, except now they are match winners.

We should give McIntosh a rest for 1 more week, leave Braun out for another week as well to let his hamstring heal properly. Let Kemp have a game in WAFL so he can get his match fitness back without the pressures of AFL footy. And let Carroll play on a key forward against essendon and let him prove himself once and for all. This way we would have a fit and refreshed squad for the Port game at subi as well as having an idea of what Gaspar and McDougall are capable of in case we need them to play a key position.

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"I'm not going to waste my life trying to prolong it"

[This message has been edited by daddy_4_eyes (edited 28 April 2001).]

 

[Visro]

Playing McDougal at AFL will kill him, he isn't heavily built yet. I agree about Gaspar though, its time KJ said to him, "the club needs you to stand up now and make a name of yourself". If he doesn't start playing AFL soon he wont cut it.

Vis

 

[jod23]

I also agree about Gasper he needs to come in now and make a stand much like Kerr and Cox have already done this year.

D4E - i dont like your attitude about this weeks game. Fair enough there the reigning premiers and the best team in the country. But we should go in there with our strongest team possible and give it our best shot. How do you know that we wont have a blinder and the Dons have a bad day and we come off with an upset. This is one of the most even AFL seasons in a long time and i think any team can beat anybody, so there no point going into a game with a losing attitude.

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Use the force Luke ....

 

[daddy_4_eyes]

If you're so sure we have a chance than pick them in the tipping comps to win this week. This is going to be the only time i will not pick the eagles to win this year.

Obviously i want us to win, but what odds do you think we have of winning? McIntosh is fragile and Kemp is short on match fitness, this is the perfect opportunity to get our squad refreshed.

What if we rush McIntosh, Braun and jones in this week and their injury comes back and sidelines them for 6 weeks. If we won it would be worth it, but if we lost than what was the point?

ah_19 has been saying that we should start looking to the future rather than the present, and he is absolutely right. We need to save our older players for games we can win and play our youngster to develop them.

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"I'm not going to waste my life trying to prolong it"

 

[Visro]

You should always play some old players when playing younsters for the first time. I think its about time Gaspar got a run. Does anyone know if he is fit at the moment. I heard he had quite a good game in the WAFL on Saturday.

Vis

 

[jod23]

Well i disagree. Milli will be fine and with Braun and Jones certainties to come back into the side im sure we will give it our best shot. I think Kemp is ok, against the Saints he had 2 possesions or something 7 against the Dockers and now about 10 against Richmond. He's working his way back and i think he could be ready for a good game come sunday.

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Use the force Luke ....

 

[WCE2000]

Jod:

McIntosh, is coming up 29, and will probably only have 2002 left in him.

We need to look forward to 2003, and try and pick up a young FB, in the other thread i mentioned we should look at getting Nicholson from Melbourne.

 

[McKenna for PM]

Ashley's strength and size are things that he has gained in his post-rookie years. It's not fair to compare a player of 20 or so with one in his late 20s. Give these guys a chance.

But I've been worried since Mick left that KJ's tactics aren't particularly concerned with defence, exemplified by his use of Jako and Macca in the forward line last season. And it's also worrying to remember that Malthouse is very well known for his rigorous attention to his backline. Hopefully McKenna will change this...

 

[jod23]

Originally posted by WCE2000:
Jod:

McIntosh, is coming up 29, and will probably only have 2002 left in him.

We need to look forward to 2003, and try and pick up a young FB, in the other thread i mentioned we should look at getting Nicholson from Melbourne.

I meant Milli will be fine for this weeks clash against the Dons, obviously in the long run he doesnt have long left. I still think everyone here is panicking, you all say look to the future but what about now. That is where im looking, and i want to win. So we put in our best team and see how we go. If we start looking to the future like you all want to we will forget about the present and ill let you all in on a secret .. we could very well win the spoon.

So we look to the now and we win some games and let the recruits and the drafting come as it may. Im very proud of never being a wooden spooner and i would like to keep it that way.



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Use the force Luke ....