Gillies

[hamG]

It is a good idea, even if a matchup doesn't work Gillies would have Scarlett as a backup

I wonder which Herald Sun writer will steal this idea first.

 

[CatTricks]

I wouldnt be suprised to see this happen.

Scarlo would be the most damaging half back flanker ever.

can see it now..

Mackie Gillies Milburn
Enright Taylor Scarlett

thats one awesome HB line..

 

[noclashjumpers]

It is a good idea, even if a matchup doesn't work Gillies would have Scarlett as a backup

I wonder which Herald Sun writer will steal this idea first.

Hopefully the coaching staff steal it.

 

[Just do something]

I would like to see Gillies go to full back and Scarlo take Harleys spot floating arround the backline giving instructions and doing what Scarlo does best, getting forward occasionally. This would allow Gillies to mature under Scarlo's supervision and may prolong Scarlo's career if he is not always taking the best forward.

I like it alot and then also Scarlo could give him a chop out for 5-10 mins a qtr and Gillies has a rest then Kelly drops back to half back.

 

[JUBJUB]

It is a good idea, even if a matchup doesn't work Gillies would have Scarlett as a backup

I wonder which Herald Sun writer will steal this idea first.

Jay Clark

 

[year of the cat]

I might be out on my own here but Scarlett has just won his 4th or 5 th AA for being the best FB in the country and shows no sign of slowing up just yet. Although your idea has merit maybe we could put it on ice for another 12 months - I want to see another flag before we start replacing him at FB. By moving Scarlett from FB you are doing what every other coach in the AFL has been trying to do to him for 4 years.

Gillies could perhaps play beside him in a pocket.

 

[Partridge]

I wouldnt be suprised to see this happen.

Scarlo would be the most damaging half back flanker ever.

can see it now..

Mackie Gillies Milburn
Enright Taylor Scarlett

thats one awesome HB line..

Yeah, but one step at a time. I'd be very surprised (actually amazed) if they did that this season. Scarlett is still the best FB in the competition, he does the most good for Geelong - and the most damage to opposition sides - right there.

By all means we should look to groom someone, but the process will take a couple of seasons. My guess would be Gillies will be given a chance in Harley's spot at first, then see what happens. Scarlett is going to be around for at least another couple of seasons yet.

 

[year of the cat]

Yeah, but one step at a time. I'd be very surprised (actually amazed) if they did that this season. Scarlett is still the best FB in the competition, he does the most good for Geelong - and the most damage to opposition sides - right there.

By all means we should look to groom someone, but the process will take a couple of seasons. My guess would be Gillies will be given a chance in Harley's spot at first, then see what happens. Scarlett is going to be around for at least another couple of seasons yet.

snap

 

[JUBJUB]

I wouldnt be suprised to see this happen.

Scarlo would be the most damaging half back flanker ever.

can see it now..

Mackie Gillies Milburn
Enright Taylor Scarlett

thats one awesome HB line..

swap positions for Mackie and Scarlo would be better.With Hunt back could that free up Dasher to pinch hit up forward a bit this year,especially with Stokes having a long holiday ?

 

[Ricketts]

It could be like Fletcher with Pears/Hooker/Hurley.

 

[My5t3r10u5]

Yeah, but one step at a time. I'd be very surprised (actually amazed) if they did that this season. Scarlett is still the best FB in the competition, he does the most good for Geelong - and the most damage to opposition sides - right there.

Why does everyone assume it has to me all one way or all the other? If the coaching staff believe Gillies is going to be FB after Scarlett they will start to groom him for the role. Give him 5 minutes a quarter in the role; give him a whole quarter if the team is 10 goals up (or down ) at 3 quarter time; play him there when Scarlo is injured etc.

 

[jim boy]

I expect that they will give Gillies some big assignments and let him 'learn on the job'. They did that with Taylor. Remember the match where Taylor got towelled by Hall? The coaching staff refused to shift him, knowing that the experience was far more valuable than any minor score damage in a single match. Expect more of the same with Gillies.

 

[longtimecat]

My suggestion was never to totally remove Scarlo from fullback, just to take the opportunity, in some games or part there of, to play Gillies as fullback Scarlo in a pocket, giving him instruction and support. If we do this for the next two years, we have our next fullback being trained by the best in the business. It would not be wise to leave Gillies on a forward who was giving him a bath, he's just a kid whereas Taylor was a mature age recruit.

 

[G.F.C]

I would like to see Gillies go to full back and Scarlo take Harleys spot floating arround the backline giving instructions and doing what Scarlo does best, getting forward occasionally. This would allow Gillies to mature under Scarlo's supervision and may prolong Scarlo's career if he is not always taking the best forward.

Yeah, i think they will make a gradual progression to that. We have so many options, with Mackie, Drum, Enright, Kelly, Taylor etc etc.

 

[Turbocat]

I will be interested to see is he has progressed from last year. Watching against Liam Jarrah ( tough assignment) he looked a little lost , and maybe lacking a little mobility/agility yet yet after playing a few games he was running the ball out of the backline in manor of a Geelong attacking Defender.

If he is to be the player to replace Harley I'd like to see him win a couple of one on one duels , perhaps a couple of strong marks. Whether he playing Full Back or HalfBack Flank , if he struggles one on one , Im sure other sides will try to isolate him in the square so its an important skill to master. I always feel pack mark ability is always a significant asset as a defender , it means they are more than just negative defender. It makes the other side hesitant about kick the ball in the defenders zone and it knocks the forwards confidence. I would just hate to play on Scarlett , his choice of when to mark , when to spoil , when to run off , when to go to ground is as good as any. If Scarlett can pass any of this on to Gillies he will only benefit from it.

At 192 he is around the right size for a modern key defender , and I suspect his body shape will only be enhanced by a couple of preseasons. The thing we must not do is throw him in the deep end and burn him. Considering the skill the coaching staff have displayed with Taylor, Mackie , Egan etc Im sure they will know the correct amount of stress to place him under. The thing he has in his favour is the strength of our side , it makes learning backline play far easier than being in the backline for the Tiger for eg.

Theres a spot there for someone , it will be interesting to see who steps up.