KPPs in 2007??

[TheLeftFist8]

IMHO the area of biggest conjecture for next season is the best way to structure our KPPs.

[I also believe our 'good but not good enough' midfield needs improvement from its current state to go to the next level, with Johncock and Douglas being the most likely saviours at this stage, but thats for another thread to discuss]

Rutten:

Was not as good this year, while certainly not disgraceful. IMO he is vulnerable against fast leading forwards, especially when not given assistance from Bassett or Johncock. Still first choice full back but...

Who would play full back if Rutten was injured or moved elsewhere?

I think Rutten could be as good as any at FF, but questioning outside the square given our lack of good options...
could Rutten play CHF better than Perrie/Bock or would he lack the mobility/endurance?

Stevens:

Has improved vastly and, as has been stated many times, he needs to gain at least 5kg. However, in saying that, on the weekend he was primarily beaten on the lead not in body contests, with his opponent getting almost perfect delivery from his midfield. If he manages to bulk up but loses leg speed off the mark in the process, it may actually be his downfall. Needs a clever pre-season program.

Can he hold down CHB in a premiership team?

Also, he seems to have been written off as a forward by most due to his prior performances. Lets remember Bock was a poor forward in the early days. He has now returned as a competent forward after a standout 2005 at CHB. Could Stevens mirror his progress now he has confidence?

Can he perform as a lead-up CHF (remember he only needs to average 12 possessions, 7 marks, 1 goal per game to equal our existing options) or as the third tall in the pocket?

Perrie:

For mine, Perrie is only in our best 22 if he is our best CHF option. We all know his positives and negatives. He is not a champion but we have no great CHF options (see below)

Is Perrie still our best CHF or is it time to explore other options?

Bock:

I hear the calls for Bock to be CHF, however i think his best and most dangerous work up forward has been inside 50, leading from the FF line, rather than roaming further up the ground. Personally, i believe he is our equivalent to Hunter, a good CHB who is also a very good forward close to goal. This doesn't mean he wouldn't be good at CHF but it is far more unproven than most seem to assume. If we believe he would be as good, if not better, than Perrie at CHF and Stevens at CHB...then the huge question for our KPP structure next year is:

Which position is more important for the Crows in 07...CHB or CHF??

The answer to this question affects all other KPP decisions IMHO.

McGregor:

I will give McGregor the benefit of the doubt and believe he had injury problems this year because if the Kenny of 06 comes back in 07 i wouldn't give him another game as he was a lame duck.

The McGregor of 05 is still a consideration.

Do we want a lead-up CHF or a stay-at-home bomb it on the head CHF?

I believe the former option gives us a better structure and KM cannot perform that role. He can perform the second option but his agility once the ball spills (and he only gets 7 marks a game) is still not good enough at HF, even on 05 fitness. IMO his days in the backline are also finished. We criticised Bass/Stevo on the weekend but Kenny would have been exposed even more. His only backline option would be against a lumbering resting ruckman and they usually rest on the bench. His only option (and could be a good one) is as FF/FP.

Is Kenny our best option as the tall marking option on the FF line?

Biglands:

I wish he could be the X-factor due to his size and mobility and improved goalkicking but i fear he wont be. Hudson must lead the rucks and Meesen or Maric should be second in line as Biglands will never be a good enough ruck to match the best, both in the centre and around the ground. This brings out a host of lateral questions:

Does he have the skills and footy smarts to be refashioned as a key defender, freeing up Rutten or Bock?

Does he have the marking ability and footy smarts to at least match the output of Perrie at CHF?

Can he hold down a permanent FP/FF role while taking the ruck up forward at stoppages?

Meesen:

Should he or Maric be the second ruck? (i guess pre-season answers this one)

IF he does not get his preferred position as a ruckman...

Who would you prefer for FF/FP out of Meesen, Biglands or McGregor?

Gibson:

I have never seen him play, so my questions are (assuming he will be fit one day!):

Does he have the work ethic to play CHF/CHB one day?
Does he have a footy brain?
Can he find the ball, or he is 10 possessions per game type?

I would be in raptures if he could become a key forward, but my best realistic hope is FB or CHB...is he good enough to be groomed for these roles? If so, would love to see him get games in 07.

Welsh/Ricciuto:

Still best options for leading FF and other on HFF IMO, obviously if only one can play in those positions, it's gotta be Ricciuto.

Preferred Line-Up of KPPs:

After all that, i still don't know, but here's a possibility given Craig's wish for flexibility

B: Bassett Rutten
HB: Bock
C:
HF: Welsh Perrie
F: Ricciuto Stevens
1R: Hudson
Int: Meesen

Even more important than theoretical line-ups, i am more interested in some of the questions regarding individual players, what do you all think?

 

[KUNG FU]

I really think our priority should be on our forwardline. Clearly it is our biggest weakness in 2007. Bock must play forward because he can kick goals. He can can take strong marks, lead and also crumb and snap goals as well. Stevens really is far better suited for CHB.

 

[TheLeftFist8]

I really think our priority should be on our forwardline. Clearly it is our biggest weakness in 2007. Bock must play forward because he can kick goals. He can can take strong marks, lead and also crumb and snap goals as well. Stevens really is far better suited for CHB.

Probably a fair point. In that case...

CHB: Stevens
CHF: Bock
FP: McGregor/Biglands