Key defender not a priority imo

[ant22]

Everyone is going on about the need for a key defender and I cannot understand why. Do people think if we draft a young key defender he will come straight in and hold up our backline next season, surely not?

Yes our backline was light on last year. I do not believe this is due to lack of talent. Anyone who knows anything about the game should realise that the backline needs to be the most cohesive unit on the ground. It generally requires a number of players with a bit of experience playing together for a little bit of time. Inexperience backlines no matter how talented will have days when they get smashed. The only problem with our backline this year is that it was not experienced enough.

Lets have a look at who we have. We have the 1 big strong key defender that every good backline needs- Nathan Brown. Was good early and started to struggle late in the year-of course he did it was his first season of senior footy. There is no better key defender 20 or under in the game. We then have harry o who is starting to develop into one of the most versitile defenders in the game and should get even better next year. He can play on dangerous smalls and on players up to the size of scott lucas. The only types he cant play on is the likes of Fev and Brown etc and there and not many of those around. Goldsack and an indifferent season but is such a good competitor, if he adds more muscle its not out of the question he could hold down a key post. Maxwell like obrien can play on different types. I think maxwell improved out of sight in the last 7 or 8 games this year and became alot tighter and did not leak anywhere near as many goals. Will never be a superstar but solid player. We also have the likes of Reid, Anthony and Dawes who may all potentially make good key defenders(they will not all fit in the forward line with cloke, in fact only 1 will probably fit especially if rus plays) With Shaw and clarke we are blessed with good runners off the half back and have a couple of other options who could also play that role well.

We have more than enough options that will be ready and far more equiped over the next 2 or 3 years to have an impact down back than any kid we draft this year.

I would be very dissapointed if we used our first pick on a key defender. The last few sides who have won the flag have gun midfields. We don't and we need to improve that area quickly. Unlike defenders quality mids can improve midfields even in their first season. This must be our priority

 

[OniAu]

i agree to the point we shouldnt take one with our first pick. Theres no reason we cant take a kid with one of our later picks, that could potentially hold down a key back position down the track.

mids should be on the top of the list though.

i may be biast obviously, but i rate our backline as good as any in the afl, maybe geelong aside. even still geelongs backline struggles when a massive forward is on fire against them.

the problem is the pressure from the midfield, when its as bad as ours at times then of course the backlines going to leak.

i think overall people are looking at , what happens when presti leaves the club and browny goes down with a season ending injury. who takes the big forwards that obrien cant handle as you mentioned

 

[Godfrey Jones]

great post i agree 100%. have always said our backline is solid and will be amongst the best

our forward line is amongst the most dangerous in the league however we are in trouble if dawes reid and rusling dont develop as expected... but at least one should make it

its the midfield that is the biggest worry

 

[Brahma Bull]

Well said, yeah I agree that it would be best to take a mid with the 1st rounder, but 2nd round onwards get a couple of talls. Presti is nearing the end and we are still one tall short, so we can't really say that the defense is not a priority. Ben Reid is an option to go back as well Anthony but they might be more suited up forward. O'Brien is a fantastic player but he can't play that 2nd tall option. It is unlikely Maxwell or Goldsack will take that FB or CHB position.

As I said earlier if we look at the current options, Presti has a year or two left and that should be enough time for Brown to get settled and be the new general, and for Reid/Anthony to develop with have a couple of big preseasons.

Personally I think that Anthony should stay up forward unless needed for defense, and for Reid to develop into a CHB. I've always likened Reid to Cornes due to their versatility, and Reid does have some Buddy-esque 'freakishness' potential (aka athletic ability).

My view is to get a quality mid with pick 11 and a decent KPP (eg.Post) with pick 29. But in the end, I should be satisfied with what Hine does on draft day.

 

[TRAVCLOKE#32]

As long as Presti can stay fit we should be alright for season 09, but long term we should try for a KPP.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

If Reid doesn't work out at CHB, after delisting Thoolen and Casey-Leigh, we're going to be very short on options. We definitely need another key defensive option for the future. The argument about whether they'd make a difference next year is flawed, because a midfielder taken in this draft isn't likely to play more than a handful of games in 2009 either, and probably wouldn't be much more than a role-player. Joel Selwood and Rhys Palmer are exceptional in their draft years.

 

[well left]

I think we have options in defense but we have lost 2 KP's in Wakelin and Thoolen so we need to replace them with at least one more. I'm not keen on taking one at 11 unless Hine rates Trengove well ahead of the mids available at that time.

On the other hand, if a highly rated mid like Hartlett, Ziebell or Sidebottom slipped to us at 11 then I would maybe look at going for Post at 29 then two mids in the third round, both with inside capabilities.

The extra pick we have with Thoolen's delistment makes it a really interesting draft now for mine.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

I can't begin to tell you how rapt I'd be if Hartlett slid to us at #11. I can't see it happening, but gosh the kid can play and is exactly the quick inside mid we need. Then I'd still get Hannebery at #29 if he was there, and worry about KP prospects with the small change, going bottom-aged as per usual. If Colin Garland was there in the 30's and 40's in 2006, we should be able to find someone of merit especially in this draft.

 

[well left]

I can't begin to tell you how rapt I'd be if Hartlett slid to us at #11. I can't see it happening, but gosh the kid can play and is exactly the quick inside mid we need. Then I'd still get Hannebery at #29 if he was there, and worry about KP prospects with the small change, going bottom-aged as per usual. If Colin Garland was there in the 30's and 40's in 2006, we should be able to find someone of merit especially in this draft.

Even as I was typing Post at 29 the thought ran through my head that you would be straight on to it and responding with a Hannebery at 29.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

Sorry mate, it's just IMHO of course. I'm not trying to ram it down anyone's throat.

 

[loki04]

We have Reid, Reed, JA, Brown and even T.Cloke who are capable as Backs some of the best games I have seen cloke play was at CHB.

Our midfiled is our achillies heal and has been for 15 years now, should be looking for mids with our top 3 picks and then look at a KPD with our 4th pick.

Imagine a team consisting of:

B: Goldsack, Brown, Anthony
HB: Clarke, Reid, H.Shaw
C: Thomas, Swan, Mcarthy
R: Fraser, Swift, Pendlebury
HF: Didak, T.Cloke, Medhurst
F: Davis, Rusling, Dawes
I: Wood, A.Smith, Dick/Stanley, Maxwell/Reed

Emg: Hannebery, Cook, Post.

 

[Dave The Man]

I still think we need to draft a Key Defender for Depth because past Brown and Presti I can't name another Tall Defender.

Where we get this Defender would be Interesting.

Roud 1 Would be Trengove or Take a Lisle

Round 2 and Onwards would be Post or Jake Walsh or Klause.


Just Depends on how the Draft Falls

 

[loki04]

I still think we need to draft a Key Defender for Depth because past Brown and Presti I can't name another Tall Defender.
Where we get this Defender would be Interesting.

Roud 1 Would be Trengove or Take a Lisle

Round 2 and Onwards would be Post or Jake Walsh or Klause.


Just Depends on how the Draft Falls

JA was drafted as one , Reed rookie list also drafted as a CHB, T.Cloke depending n how Rusling, Dawes and Reid turn out was also very good at CHB, Reid last game at VFL dominated off CHB.

Also a dominate midfield takes the pressure off the backline, eg :when Geelong were getting spanked in the center a few years ago peole were saying Scarlett had lost it when there mids started dominating he was back to his gun self.
Midfield dominance is the key to winning a flag its something we haven't focussed on for over a decade instead prefering hardworkers with less class to get the job done.

 

[Dave The Man]

JA was drafted as one , Reed rookie list also drafted as a CHB, T.Cloke depending n how Rusling, Dawes and Reid turn out was also very good at CHB, Reid last game at VFL dominated off CHB.

.

Reid is the Only on there, Cloke I doubt would go Back and JA and Reed at 192-193cm are Medium/Tall Defenders

 

[GeneralDisarray]

Another key defender would be good but we are desperate for a gun midfielder and haven't had a decent ruckman since Monkhurst retired.

 

[Brahma Bull]

Reid is the Only on there, Cloke I doubt would go Back and JA and Reed at 192-193cm are Medium/Tall Defenders

In fact, Anthony is 192cm while Reid is 195cm.

 

[Dave The Man]

In fact, Anthony is 192cm while Reid is 195cm.

I said we Reid is the Only one who is 195cm+ Accept for Brown that could play as a Defender

 

[Brahma Bull]

I said we Reid is the Only one who is 195cm+ Accept for Brown that could play as a Defender

sorry got the wrong Reid/Reed

 

[Dave The Man]

sorry got the wrong Reid/Reed

Where does it say Reed is 195cm, Says on the Club site he is 192cm

 

[Brahma Bull]

Where does it say Reed is 195cm, Says on the Club site he is 192cm

no I meant that I forgot about Scott Reed when I read your post and assumed it was Ben Reid.

 

[well left]

Sorry mate, it's just IMHO of course. I'm not trying to ram it down anyone's throat.

It's all good. You have a very valid point in Hannebery. He looks a very likely type

 

[DoubleO7]

Reed will not play KP. Tall running defender/Midfielder.

 

[mattys123]

I agree with the initial post here, well to the point that we shouldnt take a KPP and especially a key back with pick 11.

Its been 3 years since Thomas and Pendlebury were picked up, and apart from McCarthy and maybe Barham we have no real chances at top class young midfielders.

Simple solution, take the best available midfielder at 11, inside or outside, doesnt matter really.

The if we do use our 5th pick, or even with our 4th, go for a KPP player who is versatile and can play either forward or back, like Jack.

Jack Anthony, I believe, will play more senior football in the backline then the forward line anyway, so maybe one more young defender and we will be right to replace our losses of Clement, Wakes and soon Presti.

 

[loki04]

Where does it say Reed is 195cm, Says on the Club site he is 192cm

Reed hasn't finished growing he could well end up at 195cm.

 

[DoubleO7]

KPD heights to give you guys some idea.

Rutten: 191
Bock: 193
Jamison: 192
McPharlin: 193
Grover: 188
Scarlett: 192
Taylor: 193
Pears: 191
Croad: 190
Glass: 192
L.Barry: 184
Hudgton: 191
Firrito: 190
Carlile: 192

Most established KPD are between 192-193 cm in height.
Some players i listed are seen as future KPD for there club.