Deledio should be playing CHF with our current midfield depth.
He was outstanding there as a junior and is better than any other option we have to play the role. He's behind several in the midfield ATM - before Cotchin and Cousins come back in - and we need to be using him more effectively than getting that outcome week after week.
The few times he's been permanently forward he's been very effective and I really don't buy the argument that because he's 5cm shorter than the average lead up CHF he can't play that role just as well. Height is totally irrelevant when you're 3m out in front on the lead all game and nobody can get near you.
I'd give Shulz a crack at FF, he's our current best option there and players in that position deserve the first opportunity - we've got 10-12 weeks to play around with the forward setup, and when you think about it, any good side in the comp who lost a key forward would bring someone of about Schulz's quality or worse in to replace them.
That'd give us the luxury of playing Reiwoldt on a wing resting in the pocket for a while (much the same role as Richo has played) and letting the kid get his confidence up. Schulz and he usually work well together and arguably Reiwoldt's best talents ATM are his ability to read the play both in receiving and delivering the ball, and slipping under the radar to put himself in dangerous positions.
I'm looking forward to seeing the forward line changes evolve, but I'm much more looking forward to seeing our full midfield unit together at long last.
We've had only a couple of very brief periods during the last few decades where we've assembled enough quality in the guts to be serious contenders against all comers; the lineup we potentially take in this week if Cousins and Cotchin are included would have at least equal if not surpass any of them on paper.
That's what I was excited about pre-season - and Coughlan back playing some very solid footy so far is beyond most of our wildest dreams.
Once they've all had a chance to get their touch back, if enough of them can fire consistently and stay fit, we have a very formidable midfield.
If that occurs, I suspect we may well find out that a very 'average' forwardline replete with several 'average' players like Schulz will suddenly starts looking very dangerous.
Anybody want to give up even a late draft pick these days for Quinten Lynch? How about Ashley Hansen? Both just a tad over 26 now and in their prime playing years? These two superstars kicked almost half of the Eagles' goals in their premiership and were arguably among the best dozen players on the ground. Without a winning midfield supplying ball to their advantage, it's difficult to name even a couple of sides they could get a game with .
Midfield's win games and it doesn't take anything resembling champion key forwards to take decisive advantage of the output from a dominant group of 6-7 quality onballers.
Hopefully over the next month or so we'll get a long awaited reminder of what it's like to have a dominant midfield. If it all clicks we're capable of doing anything over the next 16 games.
He was outstanding there as a junior and is better than any other option we have to play the role. He's behind several in the midfield ATM - before Cotchin and Cousins come back in - and we need to be using him more effectively than getting that outcome week after week.
The few times he's been permanently forward he's been very effective and I really don't buy the argument that because he's 5cm shorter than the average lead up CHF he can't play that role just as well. Height is totally irrelevant when you're 3m out in front on the lead all game and nobody can get near you.
I'd give Shulz a crack at FF, he's our current best option there and players in that position deserve the first opportunity - we've got 10-12 weeks to play around with the forward setup, and when you think about it, any good side in the comp who lost a key forward would bring someone of about Schulz's quality or worse in to replace them.
That'd give us the luxury of playing Reiwoldt on a wing resting in the pocket for a while (much the same role as Richo has played) and letting the kid get his confidence up. Schulz and he usually work well together and arguably Reiwoldt's best talents ATM are his ability to read the play both in receiving and delivering the ball, and slipping under the radar to put himself in dangerous positions.
I'm looking forward to seeing the forward line changes evolve, but I'm much more looking forward to seeing our full midfield unit together at long last.
We've had only a couple of very brief periods during the last few decades where we've assembled enough quality in the guts to be serious contenders against all comers; the lineup we potentially take in this week if Cousins and Cotchin are included would have at least equal if not surpass any of them on paper.
That's what I was excited about pre-season - and Coughlan back playing some very solid footy so far is beyond most of our wildest dreams.
Once they've all had a chance to get their touch back, if enough of them can fire consistently and stay fit, we have a very formidable midfield.
If that occurs, I suspect we may well find out that a very 'average' forwardline replete with several 'average' players like Schulz will suddenly starts looking very dangerous.
Anybody want to give up even a late draft pick these days for Quinten Lynch? How about Ashley Hansen? Both just a tad over 26 now and in their prime playing years? These two superstars kicked almost half of the Eagles' goals in their premiership and were arguably among the best dozen players on the ground. Without a winning midfield supplying ball to their advantage, it's difficult to name even a couple of sides they could get a game with .
Midfield's win games and it doesn't take anything resembling champion key forwards to take decisive advantage of the output from a dominant group of 6-7 quality onballers.
Hopefully over the next month or so we'll get a long awaited reminder of what it's like to have a dominant midfield. If it all clicks we're capable of doing anything over the next 16 games.
