KPD. What is the plan? Is there a plan?

[WCE777]

Barnett probably needs a bit of time to learn the defensive craft, but hes got great attributes to be that full back.
203cm, athletic, great contested mark.

Its good we may have some competition for Edwards for that full back spot in 2026.

I mentioned it in another thread, but as of 2027 our KPD stocks are likely to look something like:
Edwards, Bazzo, Barnett, Maric?, Shanahan, one of VanEs/Brock, and maybe a draftee.

Bazzo will be 23 for the 2027 season as the second oldest, unless we sign Brock.

If we assume Shanahan will be good in the role long term, and Barnett goes well this year, drafting Curtin may not be that big of a need.
One of Maric, Bazzo, or VanEs/Brock could be that 3rd KPD we run with. If we want Marics kick off half back then Maric would be the 3rd tall, with Barnett and Shanahan taking the KPFs.

We might actually be ok for KPDs

totally agree with most and 2025 will be the make or break for a few of them.
The biggest part will be where Bazzo and Edwards end up this year, if they can solidify themselves as our next KD stocks and not get injured constantly then we will have decent depth, if they don't they are depth players.
Barnett will be a FB if he grabs the spot with both hands and that is good news but still a couple of years away from that.
Same with Shanahan or Archer if 1 of them are to become KDEF options, still 3 years away from holding a main spot, hopefully sooner but that's normally what it takes for KP players to reach their abilities, 21-22 before they are ready.
Van Es/Brock hopefully 1 of them can show enough to be a nice prospect.
Maric looks most in danger of grabbing the 3rd KDEF spot, probably from Bazzo.
I feal Bazzo and Edwards might be the most vulnerable to dropping outside the team or not getting another contract if we have developed Barnett, Maric, 1 of Shanahan/Archer.
Curtin is a priority if you look at the scenario where Bazzo and Edwards don't make the best 22 or are depth players, better to have elite talent in a position and force others out or onto depth players when they come along, the same philosophy that Shanahan wasn't a list need in his position but he was too good of talent not to draft.

 

[THE A5]

I’ve been very underwhelmed with Barnett but he looks to be ripping condition and hopefully a much better 2025.

 

[We_The_West]

Barnett probably needs a bit of time to learn the defensive craft, but hes got great attributes to be that full back.
203cm, athletic, great contested mark.

Its good we may have some competition for Edwards for that full back spot in 2026.

I mentioned it in another thread, but as of 2027 our KPD stocks are likely to look something like:
Edwards, Bazzo, Barnett, Maric?, Shanahan, one of VanEs/Brock, and maybe a draftee.

Bazzo will be 23 for the 2027 season as the second oldest, unless we sign Brock.

If we assume Shanahan will be good in the role long term, and Barnett goes well this year, drafting Curtin may not be that big of a need.
One of Maric, Bazzo, or VanEs/Brock could be that 3rd KPD we run with. If we want Marics kick off half back then Maric would be the 3rd tall, with Barnett and Shanahan taking the KPFs.

We might actually be ok for KPDs

yes agreed - Maric being 196cm and a decent distributor would be a class choice for 3rd tall.

Once he gets a few more preseasons in the gym and fills out his frame he could be quite a unit.

 

[Dom sheed pocket]

I think a more interesting thread is what does our entire back 7 look like this year?

We need a 2nd KPD, but also run and carry, third tall, distributor, someone taking kick outs etc.

The only players that have really clearly defined roles in the D50 at this point is Gov and Hough, and we know that Ginbey and Baker will play back there as well.

When Ginbey played down back last year he spent a lot of time playing taller, almost as a 3rf tall.

I wonder if we use him more as run and carry.

How much time does Duggan spend down back as opposed to wing/mid (rotating inside with Graham as def mid?) and where does hunt play?

Potentially there could be a lot of change down back in terms of both personnel and role and who plays full back is just one element of a much bigger question/conundrum in terms of what we do down there.

For me, I’d like to give Shanahan first dibs at it, especially given Edwards is injured. I want to see him at AFL level and see what he has got.

I’d move Hunt to a wing and have Duggan play some time in the midfield to give Graham a chopout and also a bit of wing.

That creates a lot of spots.

Hough: Lockdown
Cole: med def
Shanahan fb
Ginbey/baker: hbf with run and carry
Gov: gov role
Maric: third tall/distributor and shares lockouts with gov.

Cole Shanahan Hough
Ginbey Gov Baker
I/C Maric.

The other option instead of Shanahan is to give Barnett a crack down there. In U/18 he would play ruck and float back very similar in style to Gawn. He was considered a great overhead mark in his draft year, and majority of his aerial work was in the D50 supporting defence.



I tried to fit in Allan but I think Cole keeps his spot and keeps Allan out if everyone is fit and available r1. Would like to see him crack in to the team at some stage, but he’s competing with Cole and Ginbey (I wouldn’t consider him for Marics role imo).

It’ll be fun to see how it pans out.

 

[WCE777]

I think a more interesting thread is what does our entire back 7 look like this year?

We need a 2nd KPD, but also run and carry, third tall, distributor, someone taking kick outs etc.

The only players that have really clearly defined roles in the D50 at this point is Gov and Hough, and we know that Ginbey and Baker will play back there as well.

When Ginbey played down back last year he spent a lot of time playing taller, almost as a 3rf tall.

I wonder if we use him more as run and carry.

How much time does Duggan spend down back as opposed to wing/mid (rotating inside with Graham as def mid?) and where does hunt play?

Potentially there could be a lot of change down back in terms of both personnel and role and who plays full back is just one element of a much bigger question/conundrum in terms of what we do down there.

For me, I’d like to give Shanahan first dibs at it, especially given Edwards is injured. I want to see him at AFL level and see what he has got.

I’d move Hunt to a wing and have Duggan play some time in the midfield to give Graham a chopout and also a bit of wing.

That creates a lot of spots.

Hough: Lockdown
Cole: med def
Shanahan fb
Ginbey/baker: hbf with run and carry
Gov: gov role
Maric: third tall/distributor and shares lockouts with gov.

Cole Shanahan Hough
Ginbey Gov Baker
I/C Maric.

The other option instead of Shanahan is to give Barnett a crack down there. In U/18 he would play ruck and float back very similar in style to Gawn. He was considered a great overhead mark in his draft year, and majority of his aerial work was in the D50 supporting defence.



I tried to fit in Allan but I think Cole keeps his spot and keeps Allan out if everyone is fit and available r1. Would like to see him crack in to the team at some stage, but he’s competing with Cole and Ginbey (I wouldn’t consider him for Marics role imo).

It’ll be fun to see how it pans out.

That video shows similar contested marking that he did at WAFL end of last year playing KDEF, from training repots sounds like Barnett has taken a big step and would be 1st up if Edwards is not available.
Maric looks like he is very capable of being that 3rd tall, he is turning into mr versatile, could play wing also.

 

[stallon]

I think a more interesting thread is what does our entire back 7 look like this year?

We need a 2nd KPD, but also run and carry, third tall, distributor, someone taking kick outs etc.

The only players that have really clearly defined roles in the D50 at this point is Gov and Hough, and we know that Ginbey and Baker will play back there as well.

When Ginbey played down back last year he spent a lot of time playing taller, almost as a 3rf tall.

I wonder if we use him more as run and carry.

How much time does Duggan spend down back as opposed to wing/mid (rotating inside with Graham as def mid?) and where does hunt play?

Potentially there could be a lot of change down back in terms of both personnel and role and who plays full back is just one element of a much bigger question/conundrum in terms of what we do down there.

For me, I’d like to give Shanahan first dibs at it, especially given Edwards is injured. I want to see him at AFL level and see what he has got.

I’d move Hunt to a wing and have Duggan play some time in the midfield to give Graham a chopout and also a bit of wing.

That creates a lot of spots.

Hough: Lockdown
Cole: med def
Shanahan fb
Ginbey/baker: hbf with run and carry
Gov: gov role
Maric: third tall/distributor and shares lockouts with gov.

Cole Shanahan Hough
Ginbey Gov Baker
I/C Maric.

The other option instead of Shanahan is to give Barnett a crack down there. In U/18 he would play ruck and float back very similar in style to Gawn. He was considered a great overhead mark in his draft year, and majority of his aerial work was in the D50 supporting defence.



I tried to fit in Allan but I think Cole keeps his spot and keeps Allan out if everyone is fit and available r1. Would like to see him crack in to the team at some stage, but he’s competing with Cole and Ginbey (I wouldn’t consider him for Marics role imo).

It’ll be fun to see how it pans out.

I wouldnt be picking Shanahan round 1 as our full back, thatd be rough for him, he'd be on either King or Walter in round 1, Day round 2, and Amiss/Treacy in round 3.
Imo better off waiting for an opportunity to bring him in as the 3rd tall, or once Maric is settled in.

If Edwards isnt fit id like to see what Barnett's got, surely he gets the nod ahead of Van Es/Brock.

Agree with the structure in general

 

[Dom sheed pocket]

I wouldnt be picking Shanahan round 1 as our full back, thatd be rough for him, he'd be on either King or Walter in round 1, Day round 2, and Amiss/Treacy in round 3.
Imo better off waiting for an opportunity to bring him in as the 3rd tall, or once Maric is settled in.

If Edwards isnt fit id like to see what Barnett's got, surely he gets the nod ahead of Van Es/Brock.

Agree with the structure in general

Yep, coming back to this, the more I think about it the more I like Barnett to get first crack if Harry isn’t fit and firing.

 

[eaglevision]

With Gov injured again and Edwards omitted, here we are in round four with debutant Sandy Brock and beanpole Ryan Maric named as our KPDs against a side featuring Jesse Hogan. Is there anyone else that still can’t see even a medium term plan for our KPDs?

 

[Altum Volantes]

I would expect Big Rube and The Hoff will rotate through CHB with Maric over the next few weeks with Gov out - likely dependant on the height of the opposition forwards.

They’ll be hoping Sandy is more Brock Lesnar than Brock McLean, but his bar of being more effective than Harry Edwards is pretty low.

Pretty sure Harry will just head back to the WAFL and pick up a long term injury now, as is his speciality, so let’s get ready to Brock.

 

[stallon]

Against gws we can probably get away with 1 kpf short.
Ginbey can handle some weaker kpfs too.

We may be planning to use Allen back there too, once Waterman or Gov is back we have a normal amount of talls again assuming we use Allen as a bit of a swingman

 

[beatlesmith]

It wouldn’t surprise me if Ginbey is matched up against Hogan for stretches tomorrow.

Hogan tends to leverage his strength more than his height/leap so Ginbey might be a better matchup than Brock or Maric.

A tough assignment but he’s rarely losing contests at the moment so I’m willing to back him in.

 

[the harry]

With Gov injured again and Edwards omitted, here we are in round four with debutant Sandy Brock and beanpole Ryan Maric named as our KPDs against a side featuring Jesse Hogan. Is there anyone else that still can’t see even a medium term plan for our KPDs?

Win the midfield is our current plan

 

[WCE777]

With Gov injured again and Edwards omitted, here we are in round four with debutant Sandy Brock and beanpole Ryan Maric named as our KPDs against a side featuring Jesse Hogan. Is there anyone else that still can’t see even a medium term plan for our KPDs?

Long post.

Will be an interesting few months at WC and their KDEF options.
Edwards is ok and that's it.

Brock has a big challenge that starts today, hopefully he can prove himself to be a decent CHB.

Barnett doesn't seem to be progressing as a KDEF option anymore than of Edwards quality, footy IQ is probably on par.

A Reid seems to be rapidly progressing as a RUCK/FWD, with our next ruck probably in there somewhere.

Shanahan could be the the KFWD/KDEF swingman or find 1 or the other as his spot in our side.

Livingstone is an unknown but has proven he can match bigger bodies with his playing KFWD/RUCK role at WAFL, with our abundance of his role types in the side, does he take the Barnett role at WAFL and progress to a KDEF/FB position to find his spot in our future plans.

Basically we are no further advanced in our KDEF stocks apart from hoping 2 of Brock/Barnett/Shanahan/Livingstone progress enough in 2025 to fill our needs.

Big year and the only viable option outside of them progressing would be J Blight who is performing very well at Richmond in his short career and would be gettable if list needs warrant it for a FB and young enough to be around for a long time.

Higher risk option might be Z Reid from Essendon, Archers older brother who finally looks to be injury free?

Looking at drafting options and C Curtin, he looks massive already in size and tall, but is that a KDEF option in the making?
He actually looks too big for his size, being a mountain man is he a RUCK with very good KFWD capability at AFL level?

 

[Grahame]

Long post.

Will be an interesting few months at WC and their KDEF options.
Edwards is ok and that's it.

Brock has a big challenge that starts today, hopefully he can prove himself to be a decent CHB.

Barnett doesn't seem to be progressing as a KDEF option anymore than of Edwards quality, footy IQ is probably on par.

A Reid seems to be rapidly progressing as a RUCK/FWD, with our next ruck probably in there somewhere.

Shanahan could be the the KFWD/KDEF swingman or find 1 or the other as his spot in our side.

Livingstone is an unknown but has proven he can match bigger bodies with his playing KFWD/RUCK role at WAFL, with our abundance of his role types in the side, does he take the Barnett role at WAFL and progress to a KDEF/FB position to find his spot in our future plans.

Basically we are no further advanced in our KDEF stocks apart from hoping 2 of Brock/Barnett/Shanahan/Livingstone progress enough in 2025 to fill our needs.

Big year and the only viable option outside of them progressing would be J Blight who is performing very well at Richmond in his short career and would be gettable if list needs warrant it for a FB and young enough to be around for a long time.

Higher risk option might be Z Reid from Essendon, Archers older brother who finally looks to be injury free?

Looking at drafting options and C Curtin, he looks massive already in size and tall, but is that a KDEF option in the making?
He actually looks too big for his size, being a mountain man is he a RUCK with very good KFWD capability at AFL level?

OAllen?

 

[eaglevision]

Genuinely worried about this situation.

Bazzo
Brock

Neither are the answer.

If we get Port’s pick, Schubert would be a good option or keep our 2R and draft Cody Curtin.

In the meantime Blight is top 3 for intercept marks in the VFL and would be a low cost addition.

If the Dogs get Silvagni I’d be asking the question of Buss again despite both him and the Dogs being adamant he won’t be leaving.

Stumpf with pick 1 in the rookie draft would also be a good addition, especially if we get rookie list concessions.

 

[Wooshaaaa]

Genuinely worried about this situation.

Bazzo
Brock

Neither are the answer.

If we get Port’s pick, Schubert would be a good option or keep our 2R and draft Cody Curtin.

In the meantime Blight is top 3 for intercept marks in the VFL and would be a low cost addition.

If the Dogs get Silvagni I’d be asking the question of Buss again despite both him and the Dogs being adamant he won’t be leaving.

Stumpf with pick 1 in the rookie draft would also be a good addition, especially if we get rookie list concessions.

I was in the pocket at marvel today. And bazzo is not AFL level. He was lost at sea. Couldn't read the play, got out of position with almost every dees inside 50 and when man on man got monstered. God help us when we play the dogs with Darcy and Naughton.

 

[ArdentEagle]

Genuinely worried about this situation.

Bazzo
Brock

Neither are the answer.

If we get Port’s pick, Schubert would be a good option or keep our 2R and draft Cody Curtin.

In the meantime Blight is top 3 for intercept marks in the VFL and would be a low cost addition.

If the Dogs get Silvagni I’d be asking the question of Buss again despite both him and the Dogs being adamant he won’t be leaving.

Stumpf with pick 1 in the rookie draft would also be a good addition, especially if we get rookie list concessions.

Neither are a number 1 KPD but Brock is a good paring with Edwards.
Bazzo has me more worried but he's had a lot of time out of the game.

Blight is another.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

People going way too early on Bazzo.

Remember back to eMac and how lost he looked early. Give him a decent run at it.

 

[eaglevision]

I was in the pocket at marvel today. And bazzo is not AFL level. He was lost at sea. Couldn't read the play, got out of position with almost every dees inside 50 and when man on man got monstered. God help us when we play the dogs with Darcy and Naughton.

Have not been critical of him to date due to his injuries and personal circumstances but he is 100% delist. Give his spot to any of the above.

Too small to play true KPD and not skilful enough to rebound/distribute/3rd tall.

 

[WCE777]

Genuinely worried about this situation.

Bazzo
Brock

Neither are the answer.

If we get Port’s pick, Schubert would be a good option or keep our 2R and draft Cody Curtin.

In the meantime Blight is top 3 for intercept marks in the VFL and would be a low cost addition.

If the Dogs get Silvagni I’d be asking the question of Buss again despite both him and the Dogs being adamant he won’t be leaving.

Stumpf with pick 1 in the rookie draft would also be a good addition, especially if we get rookie list concessions.

Bazzo has obviously been given an extended run to see what we have got?
He still looks a 3rd tall depth player.
Brock has enormous upside and his skills are very good.
We need to draft a decent KPD soon and there are not any in this years draft.
Not sure we draft Schubert with that early pick to turn into a KPD?
Probably need to sort out where A Reid's best position is before using a top 10 pick on a KPF into a KPD.

 

[HoneyBadger35]

Edwards and Reid, lock them in for the next five years.

 

[Quinz]

There's no tougher position to play in the AFL than a key defender in our team. Edwards has come on in leaps and bounds this year (when he's allowed to compete).

My ideal big man set up right now is Edwards FB Reid CHB Waterman CHF Shanahan FF. JWilliams as a ruck forward and (????????) as the lead ruckman.

 

[frenchconnection]

People going way too early on Bazzo.

Remember back to eMac and how lost he looked early. Give him a decent run at it.

Even Glass left a lot to be desired in the early part of his career and look how he turned out. The problem has been that Simmo during his regime never put priority into developing the youngsters - and here we now are. In latter days Simmo has even now admitted this lol!

 

[eaglevision]

With the season almost over there are a few options coming to light:

Trade:
Cheap: Zakostelsky, Blight
Midrange: Buss (if SOS to Dogs)

Draft:
Cheap: Ainsworth (late 2R), Hay (late/rookie)
Midrange: Curtin, Murray (early/mid 2R)
Expensive: Schubert (early/mid 1R)

Archer Reid would be a good pairing with Edwards next year and perhaps beyond depending on how his ruck craft develops. With the new ruck rules looking like coming in he’d be a fantastic asset in D50 to take the taps if he can hold down CHB.

 

[Keys]

With the season almost over there are a few options coming to light:

Trade:
Cheap: Zakostelsky, Blight
Midrange: Buss (if SOS to Dogs)

Draft:
Cheap: Ainsworth (late 2R), Hay (late/rookie)
Midrange: Curtin, Murray (early/mid 2R)
Expensive: Schubert (early/mid 1R)

Archer Reid would be a good pairing with Edwards next year and perhaps beyond depending on how his ruck craft develops. With the new ruck rules looking like coming in he’d be a fantastic asset in D50 to take the taps if he can hold down CHB.

No interest in Jacob Blight?

Hasn’t hit the games played trigger at Richmond so is out of contract as it stands and would be relatively cheap