Opinion Our Back Six

[HARKER]

Carlton's best teams have almost always been built on the back of a settled back 6.
Unfortunately for injury and lack of options we haven't been able to settle on our back-line for some time now.

I still can't help but feel that it's time we stop worrying about making our back-men into something else, but just for them to develop a solid understanding of one another by playing blocks of games together.
I have at times liked the idea of pushing Tuohy and Yarran further up the ground, but then we're left with having to develop others.

Is it time just to settle on a unit and give them time to grow and if so, who should they be?

Full Back: Jamison
C.H Back: Henderson / Watson
3rd Tall: Laidler / White / McInnes
Bk. Pkt: Joseph / Yarran / Armfield / Temay
H.B.F'er: Tuohy / Duigan / McCarthy / Davies / O'Keeffe / Bootsma / Scotland

What's the ideal set-up for our back-line when all players are fit and healthy?

 

[Squida25]

As far as I can see so far there's only 2 spots that are locked down, Jamison at FB and Laidler in a back pocket.

Assuming Yarran plays in defence he probably has another spot locked in. Likewise Scotland although maybe he will come off the interchange a bit more?

B: Laidler Jamison ?
HB: Yarran ? ?

Watson & Henderson competing for CHB and after that I honestly can't pick.

 

[HARKER]

As far as I can see so far there's only 2 spots that are locked down, Jamison at FB and Laidler in a back pocket.

That's sort of the point as we just haven't had a good run at things in order to develop a consistent back-line.
I hope that once we have settled on a starting six that we give them every chance to meld.

Duigan is the interesting one to me as I don't think he's quite quick enough nor as clean a disposer of the ball that we may need, yet he is in the leadership group which may give him some credits in nailing down one of the HBF spots.

 

[goreds]

I think you might look at it a bit differently this season...

2 X talls, 1 for the gorilla...

1 X medium tall sweeper/ general...

1 X small/medium lockdown...

1 X run and gun/playmaker...

1 X grunt, small/ medium or runner depending on the opposition...

 

[Blue Ratts]

Duigan and Laidler do work very well in tandem though. Duigs nowhere as skillful as Laids but when they both know what each other are doing they manage to create some space. I can cop that.

 

[HARKER]

2 X talls, 1 for the gorilla...Jamison, Henderson (Watson?)

1 X medium tall sweeper/ general...Laidler

1 X small/medium lockdown...Armfield

1 X run and gun/playmaker...Yarran

1 X grunt, small/ medium or runner depending on the opposition...Tuohy / Duigan / O'Keeffe

I feel the same way so the interesting question is if Watson can be the other tall whether we're looking at Henderson forward.

It was also interesting hearing Walker stating that he may be spending some time down back as a role-specific player.

 

[Claypigeon]

Think it is more important to have consistency with the Talls and Mid Talls in the team. ..

Would love to see Watson doing an apprenticeship along side both Jammo and Hendo to start the season. .. and then let the back six settle into the best combination and perhaps release Hendo, if required. ..

My starting back six:

Laidler Watson Jamison
Yarran Henderson Bootsma/Duigan

Boots and Yazz can push up onto the wing. .. Laidler can start by taking the small forwards and helping out. .. Ease Jammo in and allow him to assist Watto. .. Duigan given a chance early to be a defensive general with Laidler. .. Would also love to see McInnis back in there once we get a run on. ..

Can always inject Armfield, Walker, Joseph or even Ellard when we come up against sides with dangerous small forwards. .. St Kilda (Milne, Saad), Hawthorn (Rioli), etc. ..

 

[JustaBattler]

Pretty easy call against tall sides - I reckon.




Watson Jamison, Henderson, Laidler, Duigan, Yarran.
3 talls 2 mids and a jet. Size matters against the big boys.

Same starting back six as last year - (except Watson replaces Bower)...
Same back six that delivered top4 defensive stats in 2011 - when SO played back and forward depending.
Watson will share kick ins with Yarran.

I was really excited watching the drills at training - long fast kicks to boundary releases our fast spread from there - rather than allowing for other teams to zone off against us and stop us in their forward 50. Got sick of watching that nonsense last year. The up the guts run will be Plan B - not Plan A - saved for late in quarters.

Too much class in Gibbs/Simpson/Murphy/Garlett/Scotland to waste on slow transition play. Too much height in Kreuzer/Warnock/Hampson/Waite/Bell to ignore contested packs. Too much firepower in Tuohey/Gibbs/Murphy/Simpson/Armfield to ignore getting the ball to these kickers who have spread into dangerous space. Too much attacking fire power up forward in Waite/Casboult/Walker/Betts/Menzel to waste turning over the ball in our own defensive 50 arc. Long kicks will feature big time.

Carlton is going old school and will be very hard to match up against as season progresses and skills improve and players know what is going to happen every time. teh speed carlton has invested in will pay dividends at much lower risk - IF the skill and execution level of kicks can match the speed/spread ability of the team.

 

[Red Bull]

That's sort of the point as we just haven't had a good run at things in order to develop a consistent back-line.
I hope that once we have settled on a starting six that we give them every chance to meld.

Duigan is the interesting one to me as I don't think he's quite quick enough nor as clean a disposer of the ball that we may need, yet he is in the leadership group which may give him some credits in nailing down one of the HBF spots.

Agree on Duigan Harker , pretty limited player and cant see him making best 22 .
That said , he's definately a goer and obviously respected at the club , his legacy at Carlton may well be the leadership and example he shows around the club and in the 2nds to our emerging group of youngsters .
Its crucial that injury allowing we settle the backline , great sides always have this .
Im going left field to start with in naming Simpson in the BP .
History shows ageing midfielders can go back and extend thier careers , adding class , poise , disposal and leadership . We need that classy small defender and i think Simpson at this stage could be perfect !!
B:Simpson Watson Jamison
HB:Laidler Henderson Touhy
I like 3 big defenders , for too long weve been undersized in defence , add the footy smarts of Simpson and Laidler to the dash of Touhy and its a very well rounded defence .
Importantly , they all have good dispoal including 3 left footers , very handy when on the rebound .

 

[HARKER]

In fairness to Duigan, he also started the year behind the eight ball for injury and never really got going nor into the form he showed in 2011.

I recall a period back in the late '00's when Jamison, Bower and Thornton were combining well and consistently finding ways to get the ball out of the danger zone.
That just reminded me who important communication was for the back half players and where we may have fallen behind a little in recent times for obvious reasons.

Even for having Gibbs back, he hardly made for a great communicator, so having Duigan and Laidler there may well still be important as Jamison doesn't really conduct himself as a general as much as I thought he would do by now.

That's also why I've been encouraged for the voice that Tuohy and Yarran have brought to their game recently and for Watson to be a lot more confident in his own abilities.

 

[Weiterbot23]

Duigan is the hardest bloke in the back 6. Needs to be there even if he's not the most talented

 

[goreds]

Duigan is the hardest bloke in the back 6. Needs to be there even if he's not the most talented

Interesting call...

I think Laids is our hardest defender and might be our smartest...

Duigan/Tuohy/ROK are playing for the same spot...

Give ROK a go!

 

[toomuchsparetime]

Regading Watson, the question for me is his pace off the mark. Last season, and from what I've seen of him at training, he is like a freight train: at speed he's flying, but getting going is a slow affair... not to mention changing directions needs to be signalled well in advance.

Because of this he's probably better suited to playing on the 'stay at home gorillas'. Players such as Hawkins, Cloke, Koschitske, Roughead, Brown, J.Pod, etc..

Likewise, Watson would be a good matchup for ruckman resting forward.

The more agile or fast leading forwards such as Buddy, J. Reiwoldt, Hurley, Pavlich, Petrie, Darling, Kennedy, etc... will probably expose Watson. Jamo and Hendo would seem to me to matchup better on these types.

Jamo, seems to be quick and agile enough to play as third tall, which would free Laidler up to playing fourth tall (Laids is definitely versatile enough to play on any but the zippiest of forwards).

Think back to the premiership(s) backline of Geelong. They barely had a backman under 190cm and 90kg.

Jamison Watson Yarran
??? Henderson Laidler

 

[zeeCFC]

Laidler, Jamison, Watson
Yarran, Henderson, Tuohy/Scotland

 

[gbatman]

I'm thinking that Watson may be looked at in terms of playing more on key position players as I think Jamison's ability to play a more attacking role and play off an opponant and read the play has never properly been utilised. Henderson is the first choice CHB and if the best player at the club for that role. I think that avoiding playing Jamison on really tall players that he has to reach higher over to spoil and who apply more force in the push and shove one on one stuff might help prevent further shoulder injuries as well.

The smaller defenders will be Laidler and likely Duigan Scotland and Yarran. I think the days of our defenders playing on bigger opponants is over.

 

[Cringle]

FB Laidler Watson Jamison
HB Duigan Henderson Yarran

 

[Pulledheartmuscle]

Watson showed again today that he's got to improve his work below the knees.

I have real concerns about his long term prospects.

 

[BluStreak]

I would love Watson to be groomed as our FB. I believe that he needs time and direction. IMO Jamieson and Laidler are perfect for that. It has been noted by others that Laids and Duigs work well together in marshaling the defense and value of that should not be underestimated. Until others show that ability I would have Duigan in the Half Back Line.

 

[toomuchsparetime]

Qestion to anyone at todays match or watched it on tv.

going by the stats duigan had two pretty quiet matches. Was he influential on the match... 3rd man up, blocking, marshalling the troops, etc...?

 

[raymagoo]

Qestion to anyone at todays match or watched it on tv.

going by the stats duigan had two pretty quiet matches. Was he influential on the match... 3rd man up, blocking, marshalling the troops, etc...?

Watched both & IMO did very little! He may not have even played the second?

 

[BluesBagger]

Not sure I agree with having the three Sons (Jami, Hender and Wat ) in the same defense, I feel it's way too tall.

 

[SBYM]

I am absolutely convinced Hendo has it in him to be an AA CHB. I'm not so sure he could be an AA CHF. The ease with which he slotted in down back and the accomplishment he has displayed since the move...he's a backman.

Jamo, Hendo, Laids (GOOD GOD what a get!) and Yazz off half-back. The other two spots can be shared amongst a lrage group based on a horses-for-courses approach; Scotto, Army, Zach, Duigs, Watto etc.

It could perhaps be pointed out that this subverts Harks' notion of a settled back-six. Again, I'm convinced that with the four I have mentioned as the constants, this won't be a problem.

 

[Silvagnis]

Watson showed again today that he's got to improve his work below the knees.

I have real concerns about his long term prospects.

I have real concerns for the opposition after Watson took a terrific intercept mark and put the ball inside 50 from half back. Attacked the ball hard after reading the play better than opponent.

There was nothing Watson could do to stop Palmer's lace out pass to Patton.

 

[HARKER]

I have real concerns for the opposition after Watson took a terrific intercept mark and put the ball inside 50 from half back. Attacked the ball hard after reading the play better than opponent.

There was nothing Watson could do to stop Palmer's lace out pass to Patton.

I agree. I didn't see much in a ten minute period for me to worry about Watson at all.

Even Laidler and Henderson started off a little rusty if you want to look at it that way.

We can't start judging players on a 10 minute block of play. Looking forward to seeing him next week in the longer game.

 

[gandaal]

B Laidler, Jamison, Tuohy
HB Scotland, Henderson, Yarran

Two KPDs.
One third tall in Laidler. Tuohy can do that job when needed too.
Three HB runners in Tuohy, Yarran and Scotland.