my 02 team

[stefoid]

based on watching 2 matches this year:

F: Garlick, James, Guido
HF: Johno, Grant, Penny
C: Murph, Westy, MacMahon
HB: Hunter, Bandy, Smith
B: Robbo, Crofty, Kretiuk

FOL: Darcey, Dimma, Brown,

INT: Eagleton, Hahn, Alvey, Libba


?? over MacMahon who I havent seen much of, but impressed me from last year

 

[jim440]

Originally posted by stefoid
based on watching 2 matches this year:

F: Garlick, James, Guido
HF: Johno, Grant, Penny
C: Murph, Westy, MacMahon
HB: Hunter, Bandy, Smith
B: Robbo, Crofty, Kretiuk

FOL: Darcey, Dimma, Brown,

INT: Eagleton, Hahn, Alvey, Libba


?? over MacMahon who I havent seen much of, but impressed me from last year

Bloody hard to read up-side down.

No Harrison?


B: Kretiuk Croft Hargrave
HB: Murphy Penny Harrison
C: Johnson West Giansiracusa
HF: Bowden Grant Robbins
F: Garlick Hunter Bandy
R: Darcy Smith Brown
I: Liberatore Eagleton Hahn Alvey
E: Bartlett Gilbee McMahon

Dimattina and James omitted, not forgotten.

The hardest spot to pick is small back pocket. I think Robbo can contribute more in the midfield mix with time up forward (I also think he is too loose in defense). Hargrave was seviceable in the Wizard Cup and deserves a go.

Murphy and probably Brown will not be available R1 & 2 will give Eagleton, Alvey and Liberatore game time.

Penny and Grant may not play R1 and even if they do, it will be without match fitness.

 

[Doggiesrule1020]

my 02 lineup would have to be


Back Robbins Croft Hargrave


Half Back Smith Penny Harrison


Centre Brown West Johnson


Half Forward Giansiracusa Grant Eagleton


Forward Bowden Hunter Gilbee


Ruck Darcy Birss Liberatore

Interchange Hahn ,Mc Mahon Bandy ,Murphy

Emergancy Alvey,Kretiuk,Rusca,Picken,Cross, Wiggins

 

[Chops]

Is it a tough ask for Penny and Croft to play CHB and FB when they haven't played a practice match yet?
There is nothing wrong with Kingsley's form on the backline and I see no reason why he shouldn't be there. At the moment he is more valuable to us on the backline than the forward line.

 

[jim440]

Originally posted by Chops
Is it a tough ask for Penny and Croft to play CHB and FB when they haven't played a practice match yet?
There is nothing wrong with Kingsley's form on the backline and I see no reason why he shouldn't be there. At the moment he is more valuable to us on the backline than the forward line.

Our problem, Chops, as it's been for years, is that except for Grant, we have no (tall) talent in the forward line. While I agree Hunter has been wonderful in the pre-season at CHB, we can more readily cover CHB than we can FF.

Interesting to see Nudey Saunders had a good game at Geelong on Saturday. That would be one way to solve the problem.

No matter what, Grant can't continue to carry our entire forward line like he has done for years.

 

[stefoid]

I think we will get better value out of quality players in the backline rather than in the forward line. Particularly, I would rather see grant at CHB, along with Hunter and Crofty.

I think of it like this: which is more realistic: James or someone like him winning a contested ball at CHB and delivering a nice pass to Grant in the forward line, or vice versa?

 

[jim440]

Originally posted by stefoid
I think we will get better value out of quality players in the backline rather than in the forward line. Particularly, I would rather see grant at CHB, along with Hunter and Crofty.

I think of it like this: which is more realistic: James or someone like him winning a contested ball at CHB and delivering a nice pass to Grant in the forward line, or vice versa?

Wasn't this Franz Beckenbauer's (sp?) theory in soccer?

The idea was, if the pass was good enough, any clown can kick a goal. This might be OK in soccer when 1 or 2 goals a game is enough, but I don't think it would work in footy. With James as our key forward, 1 or 2 goals a game might be a bit optimistic.

 

[OldSchool]

The forward line should be stocked with some of the better players, if possible Smith, Johnson and perhaps Brown should join Grant, Bowden and Bandy.

The half forward line has been static in the four games this season, Smith and Johnson would present themselves as good options for the midfield.

Backs: Murphy Croft Penny
H/B: Kretiuk Hunter Harrison
Cnt: Eagleton West Giansiracusa
H/F: Johnson Grant Smith
F: Bandy Bowden Brown
Rk: Darcy Robbins Dimattina
RES: Gilbee, Garlick, Hahn, Birss

 

[Bulldog1954]

We can't just either stack the bakline or forward line with all our quality players. It would be great having Johnno, Smithy and Browny in the forward line, but there would be a torrent of the ball out of the middle for our opponents and no quality backs to repel.

But I do agree that Grant needs help up forward, he has had to far to much for far to long. But believe it or not I also agree that Hunter should play back, I believe Hunter should have been given a go at full forward last year but at the moment he is playing far to well to be moved. I would play Bandy up forward to help Granty, he's a big lad and can take a grab. I would also give Bowden a crack there, he has impressed me in the Wizard Cup and would add much needed size to our side.
At full forward I would continue rotating Smith, Johnno and Brown, all can kick goals

My side is:

Kretiuk Croft Hunter
Murphy Penny Robbins
Johnson West Harrison
Guido Grant Bowden
Garlick Smith Bandy

Darcy Brown Liberatore

Bench: Hahn Eagleton Dimma Bartlett

 

[Dry Rot]

Most of these posts assume that Grant, Penny and Croft will be available, despite none of them playing so far, and each seems to be no certainty starting for Round 1 against the Crows.

A far more challenging (and sdaly realistic) assignment for keen analysts is to come up with a competitive team for this game without these three.

 

[jim440]

Originally posted by Dry Rot
Most of these posts assume that Grant, Penny and Croft will be available, despite none of them playing so far, and each seems to be no certainty starting for Round 1 against the Crows.

A far more challenging (and sdaly realistic) assignment for keen analysts is to come up with a competitive team for this game without these three.

This mornings paper said Croft and Penny will both play this week.

 

[Dry Rot]

Originally posted by jim440


This mornings paper said Croft and Penny will both play this week.

That's very good news.

 

[dogboy23]

I wont put a team on paper because there is too many variables but i will make a few observations.

If Grant is up and running we will be able to play Penny,Croft and Hunter all back along with a mixture of other players like Kretiuk.This is as strong a backline I have seen from our team for years.The way Hunter is playing down there we couldnt possibly move him.Croft and Penny could take the 2 bigger threats and Hunter playing the 3rd tall and having the freedom to run off.

A big problem with Murf and Browny out is a lack of small running backs.Gilbee might step in or Smith may go back.Giansiracusa should play around the midfield after his brilliant displays there so far this season.Westy and the rest of the normal rotation should make up the on ball and midfield brigade.

I like the idea of a forward line where Grant and Darcy/Bandy play out of the goal square with Bowden playing the floater(I know he played half back in lead up games but he is a natural ball getter ie will get it where ever he plays) with a mixture of the midfield rotation of Robbins,Guido,Johnson,Smith and players like Garlick.You could also bring James or a Saunderss into the forward 50 and push Granty up but that probably wont be neccesary on the shorter colonial.

 

[Chops]

IMO I think we lacking a top class back pocket and a top class forward pocket at the moment.
In terms of a Back pocket, possibly a Brad Wira type to shut out players like Farmer, Burns, etc
Not sure where Aaron Lord played on the weekend but he kicked 5 and always kills us.
Which also surprises me that we didn't try to recruit him.

Ever since Kolynuik hung up his boots we haven't really a premanent specialist FP. I know we have rotated smalls through FF, but we now have a bit more height here. I believe we should look at leaving Garlick here permanently as he often too slow for midfield.

 

[jim440]

Originally posted by Chops
IMO I think we lacking a top class back pocket and a top class forward pocket at the moment.
In terms of a Back pocket, possibly a Brad Wira type to shut out players like Farmer, Burns, etc
Not sure where Aaron Lord played on the weekend but he kicked 5 and always kills us.
Which also surprises me that we didn't try to recruit him.

Ever since Kolynuik hung up his boots we haven't really a premanent specialist FP. I know we have rotated smalls through FF, but we now have a bit more height here. I believe we should look at leaving Garlick here permanently as he often too slow for midfield.

I'm not so concerned about the FP - (Alvey is a natural crumber who kicks goals consistantly and would be my first choice, Garlick leads well and kicks a lot of goals from chest marks, Johnson, Brown, Smith & Robbins will all spend time there).

Back Pocket is more of a problem. Hargrave, Birss & Rusca have all been tried pre-season, but have a grand total of 2 league games between them.

 

[stefoid]

FP: Im going to get hammered, but in my team I listed Libba on the bench. I would rotate him though the middle AND through the forward pocket, as the occasion demanded. He might not kick a lot of goals, but he would defnately create some through crumbing the contested situations. Plus it would add some defensive bite to our forwardline.

BP: Is a problem. Robbo is fast but elusive types like Farmer can get around him. Brown has played down back. ?

 

[Chops]

I like the idea of Libba playing FP. Maybe not permanently but part of time.
I think it will stop a lot of rebounding when the ball spills and his fast hands can provide a handball for a quick snap.
I know his kicking isn't up to it really but there is no reason why he can't reinvent himself again.

Brown is too valuable on the ball to play BF

 

[jim440]

Just thinking out loud

We tend to put all our good players in the midfield at once (except for Grant) - Darcy, West, Brown, Johnson and this year, Smith as well. This has left us bereft of talent at each end.

What if we used Johnno as an (undersized) full forward and Browny in a Guy McKenna-type role across half-back. We still have enough midfield options and given more opportunity, players such as Eagleton, Robbins, Alvey, Murphy and Giansiracusa could develop into top players quickly.

Johnson and Brown would still spend some time on the ball, of course, and Brown would end up in the forward line from time-to-time as well.

So, what about.....

B: Hargrave Croft Penny
HB Brown Hunter Harrison
C: Robbins West Murphy
HF: Bowden Grant Giansiracusa
F: Alvey Johnson Bandy
R: Darcy Smith Eagleton
I: Liberatore Kretiuk Hahn Gilbee

 

[sigscotty]

Ryan Hargrave...how can some of you have Hahn in frontof him?

I am a big fan of Mitch, but Hargrave has played all three wizard cup games, spending bench time only against Port after he got a knock. Hahn has done basically nothing in those corrspodning games. (Plough partly to blame for that).

Hargy has done more than enough to suggest he will slot straight into the role vacated by Todd Curley.