Analysis Key Position Defenders (going forward)

[Snake_Baker]

So to replace Daw, he has to be shelved all year

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Which the club probably should have done all things considered.

 

[the flying ham]

Which the club probably should have done all things considered.

Agreed.

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[the flying ham]

Or s strong , athletic intercept mark, little like McGovern.

For 1 round? Or for all year? Who does he squeeze out considering he has never played back?

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[Waussie]

For 1 round? Or for all year? Who does he squeeze out considering he has never played back?

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If we had McGovern , the whole year but we don't . So we need to fill the gap with someone who has those traits. At least till we get back some more experienced players.

 

[Ocha905]

So as of right now Macmillan, Wright, Williams, Tarrant, Durdin and Daw are all in doubt or worse. Thompson suspended.

Assuming the doomsday scenario where all the injured defenders aren't fit to play we are left with these 5 defensive players:

McKay, EVW, McDonald, Pittard and Murphy.

With makeshift defenders in Larkey, Wood, Atley and Polec as options. Maybe Turner and Simpkin. Of those options I'd choose Larkey and Atley to go back (group of 7 defenders total with 1 resting on bench).

Not looking great but with adversity comes opportunity. I imagine EVW stamping himself as captain material after round one. Still, the midfield probably has to dominate against Freo to win.

 

[ansonholt]

NORTH Melbourne is planning to have star defender Robbie Tarrant on the trip west to face Fremantle in next week's opening round.
The 29-year-old will have to pass a fitness test before getting on the plane in 12 days' time, but is on track to play in a welcome boost for the Roos' depleted backline.

Midfield bull Ben Cunnington (corked thigh) is a certain starter after missing North's pre-season finale against Port Adelaide.

Tarrant was racing the clock from the time he underwent right shoulder surgery in mid-February after hurting his AC joint in an intraclub match.

The timing could hardly have been worse, given the state of the Kangas' tall defensive stocks, which were under such duress that Brad Scott told AFL.com.au they were hunting for state league reinforcements.

Majak Daw (pelvis/hips) may miss the entire season, Scott Thompson is ineligible to play until round two because of suspension and Sam Durdin (finger) faces six more weeks out.

A first-up date with the Dockers' new tall forward set-up, including recruits Jesse Hogan and Rory Lobb, plus potentially Matt Taberner and Brennan Cox, exacerbated the issue.

One-gamer Ben McKay and Ed Vickers-Willis, who has managed only 14 appearances because of repeat injuries since being drafted in 2014, will assume extra responsibility in the early going.

Injuries threatened Tarrant's career in his early seasons in the AFL, but he played no fewer than 21 games in each of the past four years and won the 2016 club best and fairest and was third in 2018.

Further complicating matters were setbacks last week for backmen Jamie Macmillan (calf), who didn't play in Saturday's JLT2 loss to Port Adelaide, and Marley Williams (calf) and Sam Wright (quad).

Williams sat out the contest from early in the second term as a precautionary measure, but both he and Macmillan are also likely to be available for round one selection.

Wright's status is less clear and he appears to be in doubt for the season-opener.

The news is not so good for Jed Anderson, whose return date from his latest hamstring injury is unknown at this stage.

Fellow midfielder Ben Jacobs (sinusitis) remains out indefinitely, while second-year pair Will Walker (knee) and Tristan Xerri (osteitis pubis) and fresh draftee Tom McKenzie (back) are also some way off.

Oft-injured forward Taylor Garner (hamstring) is getting closer to his competitive return.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/2019-03-12/boost-for-kangas-as-key-defender-nears-full-fitness

 

[the flying ham]

If we had McGovern , the whole year but we don't . So we need to fill the gap with someone who has those traits. At least till we get back some more experienced players.

Or we just hold off doing something ridiculous and maybe give McKay a few more games? Particularly with Thommo and Taz in there with him.

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[DunderHead]

"Oft-injured forward Taylor Garner (hamstring) is getting closer to his competitive return."

I'm a believer.

 

[WesternRoo]

Chucking Wood back there after literally no exposure in the backline previous or in JLT is one arsehat of an idea.

Apart from being over 190cm (just) I cannot see any other logic to this suggestion.

He should be starting in the VFL regardless of injuries after his deplorable JLT series.

 

[Caracas]

Wood is literally less than an inch taller than EVW. We need a tall KPD which not sure Wood would offer, and as a mid size there are far better options

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Yeah, I was conscious of that. However, they play very differently. When Mason is on song, he plays tall, marks plenty and has the ability to float across packs, I reckon. He, also, has a very good tank. However, he seems to have a tendency to “switch off”. I believe this is less likely to happen in defence because you’re kept awake by your opponent. Just a thought.


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[Waussie]

Or we just hold off doing something ridiculous and maybe give McKay a few more games? Particularly with Thommo and Taz in there with him.

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I agree Mc Kay needs to get some AFL under his belt, always have said these kids needed to be blooded earlier, but with one defender suspended and several others only a maybe, you can't not consider your options.

 

[Snake_Baker]

Tazz is playing career best footy, Thommo is still playing well, B-Mac just received a 2 year extension, Maj a 1 year extension and Sammy Durdin is slowly getting better by the week.

Interesting times ahead for the KPD's.