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#1
Over the last few years under Scott Claytons guidance the Dogs have assembled a fairly good young crop of players using a basic formula of picking the best players available with the first few picks and then balancing up the squads requirements with later selections.
It has given us some exciting players like Murphy, Guido, McMahon, Birss and Sam Power.
Last year there was a concerted effort to obtain some taller KP type players that the team has been crying out for when we drafted Walsh, Minson, Bassett, Wight and these selections were of course topped up with the exciting Cam Faulkner and Brad Murphy. This was a fairly good return from our selections.
We are obviously trying to build a team of the future by assembling a balanced squad that is quick, tall and skillful.
One problem that has been evident is our lack of physical size of our younger players which means that we are always waiting a season or two longer for these guys to fill out before they can ply their trade at the senior level. Players like Murphy, Guido, Gilbee and Hargrave are never going to have the bigger type frames but are all quality selections from Claytons first harvest.
We have also players like McMahon, Birss and Power that are never going to be physical type players.
My question is that given that the club appeared to modify it selections last year to suit the clubs long term plans, should they continue down that road of change and consider selecting more physically ready type players to compliment the longer term selections we have been making ?
My view is that we might be at the right stage of the clubs development where we have to bite the bullet and go for some bigger guys.
Any thoughts ?
It has given us some exciting players like Murphy, Guido, McMahon, Birss and Sam Power.
Last year there was a concerted effort to obtain some taller KP type players that the team has been crying out for when we drafted Walsh, Minson, Bassett, Wight and these selections were of course topped up with the exciting Cam Faulkner and Brad Murphy. This was a fairly good return from our selections.
We are obviously trying to build a team of the future by assembling a balanced squad that is quick, tall and skillful.
One problem that has been evident is our lack of physical size of our younger players which means that we are always waiting a season or two longer for these guys to fill out before they can ply their trade at the senior level. Players like Murphy, Guido, Gilbee and Hargrave are never going to have the bigger type frames but are all quality selections from Claytons first harvest.
We have also players like McMahon, Birss and Power that are never going to be physical type players.
My question is that given that the club appeared to modify it selections last year to suit the clubs long term plans, should they continue down that road of change and consider selecting more physically ready type players to compliment the longer term selections we have been making ?
My view is that we might be at the right stage of the clubs development where we have to bite the bullet and go for some bigger guys.
Any thoughts ?

