Strategy New Direction

[TheJimmyCartel]

As I have written not sure Kersten can be a genuine CHF - at 190 cms he may struggle there.

I'm not convinced that he is still 190cm, looks bigger to me, a hell of lot bigger than Dunstall - would like an update of that. Regardless I don't think 2cm will be the difference between him claiming CHF or not. He's either got the game or not, I'm tipping he will be a lock by the end of 2014.

 

[hbk_aus]

I'm not convinced that he is still 190cm, looks bigger to me, a hell of lot bigger than Dunstall - would like an update of that. Regardless I don't think 2cm will be the difference between him claiming CHF or not. He's either got the game or not, I'm tipping he will be a lock by the end of 2014.

We had better look after him with service, unlike late this season where our plan seemed to consist of kicking it as high as possible and hoping somebody catches it.

 

[TheJimmyCartel]

We had better look after him with service, unlike late this season where our plan seemed to consist of kicking it as high as possible and hoping somebody catches it.

Don't sweat it, #29 will be spearing them in lace out

 

[Jon Douglas]

I think you usually need a 194/5/6 cm CHF who is agile or strong or both.

Kersten does not strike me as a big contested mark like Pods or Hawkins - but more of a lead up forward or a one on one player.

So start him on a flank otherwise he is going to lose a fair bit of the time in his first season against the best or second best defender the opposition places on him.

 

[Jon Douglas]

Don't sweat it, #29 will be spearing them in lace out

Do you really think they will play Guthrie in the middle ?

I know it sounds good but I have my doubts.

Enright's last season, THurlow not ready yet, neither is Bews (who I like). They need someone to take Enright's possie when he retires.

Caddy will get more time in the middle and GHS surely will get senior time in the middle.

So hard to see Guthrie getting that much time in the guts so he can deliver those passes to Kersten that you envisage !

 

[cats_09]

Do you really think they will play Guthrie in the middle ?

I know it sounds good but I have my doubts.

Enright's last season, THurlow not ready yet, neither is Bews (who I like). They need someone to take Enright's possie when he retires.

Caddy will get more time in the middle and GHS surely will get senior time in the middle.

So hard to see Guthrie getting that much time in the guts so he can deliver those passes to Kersten that you envisage !

Please don't shoot me for saying this, but maybe this is the reason for why we are apparently interested in Shaw.
The club has seen/acknowledged an area of the field in which we are lacking and believe that Shaw is an option to help with that.
The club this year tried playing Jimmy down back and while he polled well in the b&f, he did seem to struggle with that position at times, and with Chappy's departure they may now look at using Jimmy as the medium size forward in Chappy's place. The club may also be wanting to move Guthrie into the midfield and believe he has value for us there, and because Thurlow & Bews may not be quite ready to play a full 22 games or have the impact we know that Enright has and what we have seen of Guthrie, they feel that Shaw could be the stop gap for that spot next year and if 2014 is Enright's last year he then moves into that role with Thurlow & Bews getting more games as well.

 

[Jon Douglas]

I can see where you are coming from but Shaw for me is the wrong player - just that little too old, too costly and brings a bit too much garbage with him. But point noted.

 

[TheJimmyCartel]

Do you really think they will play Guthrie in the middle ?

I know it sounds good but I have my doubts.

Enright's last season, THurlow not ready yet, neither is Bews (who I like). They need someone to take Enright's possie when he retires.

Caddy will get more time in the middle and GHS surely will get senior time in the middle.

So hard to see Guthrie getting that much time in the guts so he can deliver those passes to Kersten that you envisage !

I think they will definitely be getting games into Thurlow (in particular) and Bews. It's possibly a make or break year for Bews and they'll want to see if he's up to AFL standard, he'll be playing 3-5 games at least. They played Thurlow very early on in his first year and probably would have played more if he didn't smash his face up. With the clear out of seniors that we're doing, we're definitely going through a transition or mini-rebuild of sorts. They want games into Thurlow ASAP, no point in playing him in the VFL for another 12 months because then he hasn't really progressed for 2015 forward. He is going to be good, it's a matter of game time now, they'll want 40+ games into him by the end of 2015.

From my perspective and from what CS has hinted, plus our apparent interest in Shaw, shows they want Guthrie spending more time in the middle. He's probably one of the best users of the ball at the club now, we want it in his hands as much as possible.

I just don't see Shaw as the answer to this though, it's pointless because he'll be on the way out when all these kids are peaking. Unless we get him cheap cheap. I'd rather let Brown/Bews have a good run at it.

 

[thejester]

This will be him and Bruce next year.

If I could make that my avatar I would. Outstanding.

 

[goyoucatters]

I just don't see Shaw as the answer to this though, it's pointless because he'll be on the way out when all these kids are peaking. Unless we get him cheap cheap. I'd rather let Brown/Bews have a good run at it.

Simply will not happen.

Given it's the Pies we'd be dealing with.

Suits me that they will make it difficult, though. I have no desire to ever see Heath in the hoops.

 

[TheJimmyCartel]

Simply will not happen.

Given it's the Pies we'd be dealing with.

Suits me that they will make it difficult, though. I have no desire to ever see Heath in the hoops.

I would usually agree but it appears that Buckley is very keen on moving Shaw on and if he nominates us as his preferred destination at gives us a slight advantage.

I will have serious doubts about our list management if we give up our first rounder though. I can't see Wells letting that happen though.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

He's doing the right thing. Chapman is certainly a questionable decision but there's no arguments with Pods or Josh Hunt, and almost certainly Corey. Even with those delistings, we're still going to have too many older players. But it's far more manageable and it means more young guys will get games. That's the crucial part.

Yep, whether we agree with the decisions (and I certainly disagree with the one on Chapman), I give Scotty credit for having the balls to make them and the diplomacy to have these champs of our club - to a man - leave with a handshake and a 'no hard feelings'. The premiership has (deservedly) given him a bit of breathing room, but the easy thing for a coach in Scott's shoes to do would be the Ross Lyon at St Kilda approach, leaving a train wreck for the next poor bastard. Coaches often talk about leaving the club in a better state than they received it in, but it's harder in practice, in an industry where looking to the future sometimes goes against self-interest (i.e. keeping your job as a senior coach, when your team is mediocre or uncompetitive). Even if CS is gone in the next two years, I give him credit for laying the foundations for 2015-18, whether he's here or not.

So, while I can't see any way in which I'll be happy with the Chapman decision, I'm going to wait and see what happens with the rest of the list and I give credit to Chris Scott for making these decisions. The other half of the job is making the finals in 2014 (which was always going to be the year we'd be most in danger of sliding a bit), which still looks very achievable.

 

[MarkCatsFan]

Absolutely spot on.
All for regenerating the list,and we will lose Pods,J Hunt and most likely Corey.
So surely there is room for a guy who is still clearly best 22 on a 1 year contract.

FFS will people get this into their heads: WE DID OFFER HIM A 1 YEAR DEAL, HE REJECTED IT.

It's sad he's gone but it is not the end of the world. Both parties were headed in different directions, it's sad but that's football. Get a grip

 

[Vdubs]

No one has a no dickheads policy, great "Bloods" myth....

Yep, we have our quota

 

[Pack Specialist]

I'm really excited by the direction we are headed in, though I understand people's frustrations.

The reality is that to progress as a club then we'll need to turn the list over and we need the younger guys to get the opportunity they need before their talent goes to seed.

Guys like Chappy and Smithy will not be forgotten and even Pods made a lasting mark in his 80 odd games.

I think our lineup next season will look something like.

Enright-Lonergan-Rivers
Guthrie-Taylor-Mackie
Duncan-Selwood-Christensen
Johnson-Vardy-Motlop
Stokes-Hawkins-Bartel
Simpson-Kelly-Caddy

Blicavs-Murdoch-Kersten-Smedts

Thurlow-GHS-Walker-Brown-Hunt-Simpson (Emergency)

Exciting times ahead!

 

[LifeSpan-Void]

Our backline still looks really old, I know Thurlow can be good in time but I'm not sold on Brown as a player, and Walker hasn't been given any time down back in the seniors that I recall.

 

[Cursed Cat]

never noticed that signature of yours LSV; hilarious

 

[Cursed Cat]

Yeah but Dunstall was a leading FF not a CHF. If Kersten played that role it would mean Hawkins would need play CHF - or more the PODs or Mooney role.

this is the worry I have with Kersten also, Jon Douglas .. then again Chappy himself was a defacto CHF for a couple of seasons there circa '05/'06 !
Fwiw at this stage, just for comparison (and I absolutely reserve the right to re-do this after the trade period is over !) :

B Enright Lonergan Rivers
HB Mackie Taylor Guthrie
C Duncan Selwood Christensen
HF Caddy Kersten Motlop
F Bartel Hawkins Murdoch
R Simpson Johnson Stokes
I/C Vardy Smedts Thurlow Kelly

This is assuming Varcoe is out of favour/gone.
Rivers under pressure to keep his spot from Brown. I think he's been ok so far, hopefully the body holds up next year, or else Brown may well finally get a decent run.
Vardy gets the nod ahead of Blicavs, but really there's not a lot in it and both will probably get games under their belts next year; they've played 21 and 22 games respectively .. the same could easily be said for a lot of these selections, in reality Scott and the MC will want a strong group of around 26-27 players to choose from, they'll be looking to explore the depth of the list in 2013 judging by actions.

Lonergan played every game this season; he'll grind it out again next year I'm assuming - but I really hope Joel Hamling is eating up, because we need him to come on next year, it would be great if we could get a couple of games into him, give him at least a taste of the action.
I don't think there's room in the team for all of Bartel, Kelly and Horlin-Smith - if GHS is still in the hoops next season (and he's contracted, so he most probably will be, although there has been scuttlebut) then I'd expect him and the veterans to split around 15 games apiece.

A lot has suddenly fallen to Shane Kersten, he's got a big season ahead of him.
Any combination of Hawkins/Vardy/Walker seems a bit lumbering and cumbersome, so Kersten will get plenty of opportunities.
I kinda see him more as a traditional full-forward, but Hawkins has that position seemingly sewn-up, and Kersten will probably have to go looking for kicks a bit further afield. It's be interesting because I don't really see him as a lead-up, hit-the-wings type really, but he may be expected to play that kind of role.

Murdoch really won me over as the season progressed, I had my doubts. He'll still have his up and down games, but I think he's definitely worth persisting with.

 

[Jon Douglas]

I'm really excited by the direction we are headed in, though I understand people's frustrations.

Enright-Lonergan-Rivers
Guthrie-Taylor-Mackie
Duncan-Selwood-Christensen
Johnson-Vardy-Motlop
Stokes-Hawkins-Bartel
Simpson-Kelly-Caddy

Blicavs-Murdoch-Kersten-Smedts

Thurlow-GHS-Walker-Brown-Hunt-Simpson (Emergency)

Exciting times ahead!

Don't mind that team - and the questions asked about it will be -

Is Blicavs going to improve enough to be a second ruckman ?

Will Vardy be good enough next season to hold down CHF ? - though granted he does seem our best at present.

Can we play someone like Kersten of the bench ?

Caddy still more likely to be off the HFF while SJ on the ball. But with Caddy getting more midfield time.

Smedts as interchange or sub. Yes maybe but GHS may take his place or Schroder or Thurlow. Anyone playing really well consistently in the VFL could get this spot IMO. The really big unknown for me.

Looks a fair side on paper to me and if this line up occurs and all are fit should make the top 8 next season. But so much depends on Hawkins being fit. We could really struggle up forward if he has continuing back issues IMO.

Really that side's performance will depend on Vardy and Simpson playing well, Blicavs making decent progress and Hawkins being fit. A little down on mids - and that means Caddy making decent progress as well. If that happens well who knows ?

We are due for some good news I feel and that could be Adams or that could be a break out year for some young player or that could THunt coming good or that could be Menzel or Hmac playing well.

Cannot see our first round pick at the ND being promoted into the side in their first year.

 

[Partridge]

This will be him and Bruce next year.

Nup. Kersten is far too pale for Bruce's tastes.

 

[GeelongFTW]

Nup. Kersten is far too pale for Bruce's tastes.

racist!
judd?

 

[Partridge]

I think our lineup next season will look something like.

Enright-Lonergan-Rivers
Guthrie-Taylor-Mackie
Duncan-Selwood-Christensen
Johnson-Vardy-Motlop
Stokes-Hawkins-Bartel
Simpson-Kelly-Caddy

Blicavs-Murdoch-Kersten-Smedts

Thurlow-GHS-Walker-Brown-Hunt-Simpson (Emergency)

Exciting times ahead!

Not bad, but I suspect a couple of things will be changed. If Corey retires as expected, there's no way Horlin-Smith shouldn't be in the side; he should have played more games last year as is. Not sure if Kersten can play if Vardy is CHF; that means we're playing 3 key forwards instead of two. Otherwise I reckon you're on the money.

 

[Partridge]

racist!
judd?

No such thing as race.

 

[Furious_G]

They have a saying in North America, better to get rid of someone a year too early, rather than a year too late. That's where I see the decisions so far, although we did offer Chappy something, he just wanted full time, which I can respect.

I'm glad to see the club making the tough calls. They won't always be right, but at least they have the strength to consider any and all options.

 

[Gaz_Brownlow]

Club still looking incredibly strong. I think a few of the mid tier players like Cowan and Schroder will still contribute and surprise many.

May take beyond next season to click, but still, very very competitive.

Enright-Lonergan-Rivers
Guthrie-Taylor-Mackie
Duncan-Selwood-Christensen
Johnson-Vardy-Motlop
Stokes-Hawkins-Bartel
Simpson- GHS - Caddy

Cowan - Murdoch-Kersten-Smedts

Thurlow-Kelly-Walker-Brown-Hunt-Macintosh - Blicavs- Schroeder (emergency)

Maybe even Menzel towards end of year.


Expect we may see further rotation through the backline as well with the possibility of both Brown and Thurlow coming in for Rivers and Lonergan

I love Josh Walker as well and think the coaches may play around with putting him in a Key defensive post. But pending Hawkins fitness, maybe an option forward still.