My humble observations.
People looking to "fix" our forward structure....it aint broken. Our forward structure works as well as any out there. The games where it didnt was not because of structural problems up forward, it was because our mids got beaten and meant that our forwards were defending more than attacking. When our tackle count is there and the mids are on top our forward line is perfect just as it is, the ball spends more time in our forward 50 and our conversion rate is up there, resulting in big scores.
That said, Waite being injured did hamper us. Imagine for a moment Waite fit for all of last season and there is your perfectly structured forward half complete. Had he played all year does anyone think that we would be questioning our forward structure? And to cover for potential loss of Waite we have recruited Rowe. As per Duigan last year, what would be the point of a mature age recruit sitting in the magoos? If Waite stays fit, I see him as CHF and Rowe as FF (assuming of course that the MC have chosen another gem). I am not convinced yet that Hammer is a forward, but having said that I was not convinced this time last year that Curnow would break in, or that Yazz was a defender, so what would I know. I think Hammer will play games, but replacing an injured or rested ruck. Knockers as my 1st ruck, Kruzer either resting on the pine or in the fwd line and if one is out of the team Hammer takes the spot.
Our back half was our Achilles and that seems to be sorting itself out well. Yes a fit Jamo is crucial, and no I cant see him playing forward at all. If he does, it is because we cant score but are still within reach. If we cant score, most likely it will be because our mids are not dominating.
And as for allowing the development of other backs, when was the last time the Cats played Scarlet forward in order to develop other backs? Do they seem to have a backline deficiency? So on that score, whilst I believe Hendo could make a great CHF I think he will cement CHB and of course Laids and Duigan and Yazz pick themselves and we have a fairly settled back half. Yazz doesnt have the motor yet to go into the midfield. If you want proof of that, take a look at Yazz's ability to kick goals on the run having run all the way out of the backline either carrying or to recieve. He missed nearly every one of them because the first thing that goes when fatigued is accuracy. When his runs out of defence result in him not missing you will know his fitness is tip tip and he is ready to be released.
Cant see AJ and Ellard playing in the same team too often but see them both capable of holding down a spot. I do see Russell playing out of the middle but one of either Curnow or McLean will be our blocking, extracting mid. Russell has polish and has a big body and I see him and Gibbs rotating through the middle off the HFF.
I also see us resting players. I have been slow to embrace this idea, others have suggested it and I have resisted the idea, but the pace of the game and the depth on our list, and the extreme adaptability we have built into the list means we have multiple options on every line.
The other thing I am struggling with is keeping a lid on. I think we can finish minor premiers this year. If we have a fair run of injuries to our guns, top spot. Go Baggers.