Midfield Prospects in the draft

[dominguez]

Its called depth, something we have been severley lacking this year in all departments. Our defenders clearly aren't worth anything at the moment so pumping them up is not worth it at all. Sure we can kick a score but we need to when every team including the crows can kick 100 against us.

We need to have depth across the board though. Tarrant, Pavlich, Murphy, Drum and Campbell can all play full forward while we lack midfield depth. We'll also have a 7 footer in the pocket or on the bech for much of next season.

 

[theGav56]

Definately, but ouside of the first round the odds on getting a quality KPP are low.

You keep talking about Drum as one of the players competing for one of the key forward positions, but he played most of his football before coming here as a backman. If he can play as a FF as you have suggested, can he play as a FB? I always thought the main value with Drum was his coolness under pressure, which is great in a backline.

 

[Lach72]

Campbell shouldn't leave us for anything less then a first round and third round pick.

Oh of course...a guy who has played a bout 5 games is going to get a first round pick...

 

[Captain Pump]

Oh of course...a guy who has played a bout 5 games is going to get a first round pick...

Definately would not trade Campbell. He will be more worth to us than Murphy, and Murphy would get a 1st rounder in a trade this year.

As an aside, Fergus Watts played 5 games before he was traded to St Kilda for a 1st round pick. Probably helps if your dad is in charge though.

 

[Ysaye]

You keep talking about Drum as one of the players competing for one of the key forward positions, but he played most of his football before coming here as a backman. If he can play as a FF as you have suggested, can he play as a FB? I always thought the main value with Drum was his coolness under pressure, which is great in a backline.

And Murphy played most of his junior career in the backline too.

If you watch both (mainly in the WAFL), both are better forwards. Drum's success whilst being on the Freo list has been almost completely as a Forward.

Drum defensive skills were already dropping away during his second lot of U18 championships as noted by Wisbey; IE. He doesn't play close enough to his man to play FB, and tries too often to mark instead of spoil.

For me, what is valuable with Drum is his skills and his speed. He weaknesses (in terms of a position) is his endurance and in-between height.

 

[dominguez]

You keep talking about Drum as one of the players competing for one of the key forward positions, but he played most of his football before coming here as a backman. If he can play as a FF as you have suggested, can he play as a FB? I always thought the main value with Drum was his coolness under pressure, which is great in a backline.

I refer to Drum as a forward because that's where we seem to play him and he kicked 4 the other week. He can certainly play both ends, but from memory he was more of a loose checking centre half back than a lockdown defender when he excelled at under 18 level.

I think we really have to find a position for him and let him develop next season, I'd give him a run down back ahead of Thornton and Mundy if Murphy stays.

 

[theGav56]

I refer to Drum as a forward because that's where we seem to play him and he kicked 4 the other week. He can certainly play both ends, but from memory he was more of a loose checking centre half back than a lockdown defender when he excelled at under 18 level.

I think we really have to find a position for him and let him develop next season, I'd give him a run down back ahead of Thornton and Mundy if Murphy stays.

So that would only leave Murphy and Campbell as our other tall forwards who we have a dilemma with ? Solomon isn't a tall forward, and isn't competing with any of the others on your list.

Our list is unbalanced. We have Pavlich, Tarrant, Campbell, Murphy, Drum and Solomon competing for 3 or 4 spots.

And with Murphy playing reasonable today, showing that we can structure up with three talls, we only have 1 extra tall forward, Campbell. Good insurance.

 

[dominguez]

So that would only leave Murphy and Campbell as our other tall forwards who we have a dilemma with ? Solomon isn't a tall forward, and isn't competing with any of the others on your list.

And with Murphy playing reasonable today, showing that we can structure up with three talls, we only have 1 extra tall forward, Campbell. Good insurance.

Solomon's only 188cm, but he's a big 6'2" if that makes sense. He played fullback last season and he certainly doesn't move like Gilmore, Judd, O'Keefe and Robertson who are the same height. He's like Grover, a key position player trapped inside a smaller mans body.

The 3 talls + Solomon worked well today, but it was a lovely sunny day and we had Gilmore as a ruckman. It would be crazy to go into a game with Warnock + Sandilands + Pavlich + Tarrant + Murphy + Solomon in any conditions, but considering it's a winter sport you don't get that many days like today.

If Drum is going to be a defender I'd only play 2 of Drum, Mundy, Johnson and Thornton. Hayden played reasonably well today, but LeCras kicked 4 and Wallypunda was dangerous as a forward so we need another small down back. Grover, Hayden, Black, Johnson and McPharlin are clearly best 22 leaving room for only one of Drum/Mundy/Thornton and one small defender.

 

[theGav56]

Solomon's only 188cm, but he's a big 6'2" if that makes sense. He played fullback last season and he certainly doesn't move like Gilmore, Judd, O'Keefe and Robertson who are the same height. He's like Grover, a key position player trapped inside a smaller mans body.

The 3 talls + Solomon worked well today, but it was a lovely sunny day and we had Gilmore as a ruckman. It would be crazy to go into a game with Warnock + Sandilands + Pavlich + Tarrant + Murphy + Solomon in any conditions, but considering it's a winter sport you don't get that many days like today.

If Drum is going to be a defender I'd only play 2 of Drum, Mundy, Johnson and Thornton. Hayden played reasonably well today, but LeCras kicked 4 and Wallypunda was dangerous as a forward so we need another small down back. Grover, Hayden, Black, Johnson and McPharlin are clearly best 22 leaving room for only one of Drum/Mundy/Thornton and one small defender.

Still struggling to see the big imbalance on our list. Of course we can't fit all our good players into the team, and of course the makeup of the team will vary with the conditions, plus hopefully a few of the players will have a lot of flexibility. It's been great to see the number of defenders we have kicking goals, and Solomon going into the midfield and occassionally backline is great to see. Dunn or O'Brien will hopefully become the other small defender.