POBT
Brownlow Medallist
A few weeks ago, when Podsiadly was tearing Maguire apart and even Hawkins was kicking goals, key position defenders looked like being our achilles heel, both now and in the medium term (2-3 years). A few solutions were offered - use our 1st draft pick on a tall defender, trade one in, draft several of them this year, look for a mature ager to fill a gap.
Have the last two weeks changed that? Despite Cloke kicking a bag, McKeever won several contests with the bloke recognised as the best contested mark in the comp. He's one for the future and he's got to be some sort of chance to be promoted permanently to the senior list. Maguire has produced 2 very solid performances in the last two weeks, showing a willingness and ability to stymie opposition forwards through his contested marking and hitting the pack hard.
I wouldn't be comfortable with either of them as our 1st/2nd defenders going into 2012 but, with Merrett and Patfull to return to the mix, can we go forward with that foursome as our key position coverage down back? I note good judges have Lester also as a taller option down back although I think we may need some patience there, like we would with any non-mature aged draftee.
It might be a little early to tell. Next week, we'll based faced with probably the tallest forward structure in the comp which will be a challenge for Goose and McKeever.
But, if nothing else, the defensive stocks may not be as dire as expected.
Have the last two weeks changed that? Despite Cloke kicking a bag, McKeever won several contests with the bloke recognised as the best contested mark in the comp. He's one for the future and he's got to be some sort of chance to be promoted permanently to the senior list. Maguire has produced 2 very solid performances in the last two weeks, showing a willingness and ability to stymie opposition forwards through his contested marking and hitting the pack hard.
I wouldn't be comfortable with either of them as our 1st/2nd defenders going into 2012 but, with Merrett and Patfull to return to the mix, can we go forward with that foursome as our key position coverage down back? I note good judges have Lester also as a taller option down back although I think we may need some patience there, like we would with any non-mature aged draftee.
It might be a little early to tell. Next week, we'll based faced with probably the tallest forward structure in the comp which will be a challenge for Goose and McKeever.
But, if nothing else, the defensive stocks may not be as dire as expected.