Our Backline

[The Royal Sampler]

Hypothetical question:

Let's say the new F/S rule was actually introduced last year, Carlton bid their first round pick for Tomahawk and Geelong matched it. Subsequently, Joel Selwood fell to us at #8 and we took Ben Reid #10. Brown went to another club.

Would you see our backline as an area needing attention in the 2007 draft, with the likes of the Sack, O'Brien and Maxwell on our list, and Anthony to come (and Scott Reed in '08)?

 

[PieLebo87]

Okay, remind me to punch you on Tuesday TRS! I just had images of Selwood in Pie colours, and it was your fault!

But seriously, I'd assume we'd be focusing on more home-grown/genuine midfielders and ruckmen.

By the way, I hope Collingwood do NOT consider trading Didak for Kosi. You heard it first from me, and I'm the first to HOPE IT DOESNT HAPPEN.

 

[mdc]

Hypothetical question:

Let's say the new F/S rule was actually introduced last year, Carlton bid their first round pick for Tomahawk and Geelong matched it. Subsequently, Joel Selwood fell to us at #8 and we took Ben Reid #10. Brown went to another club.

Would you see our backline as an area needing attention in the 2007 draft, with the likes of the Sack, O'Brien and Maxwell on our list, and Anthony to come (and Scott Reed in '08)?

Not backline, but FB would need attention. Having said that, Presti and Jimmy still have two years left, and we'd be a LOT better off under your scenario.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

Well then, I'm the second. Hadn't heard that one, actually.

So, if we remove Brown from the equation, you still think our backline stocks are good enough?

 

[Frederlick]

Well then, I'm the second. Hadn't heard that one, actually.

So, if we remove Brown from the equation, you still think our backline stocks are good enough?

I will offer MHO and (tentatively) I would say no, in the medium term at least. The problem is that the players who will take over from Clement and Wakelin haven't really played yet. We would honestly be lucky to be in the 8 without Wakelin spending another year in the trenches in 07. Sure players like Harry and Heater will always run hard and do a great job on mobile players but the muscle men who will outplay the Franklins and Tomahawks of the next 5 years have not been tried and tested yet. May see some of these quick young forwards will be heading down back in the next few years, like it or not.

 

[chaddles]

Backline is probably the weakest link in the team. Strong forward line with solid midfield, really need another great backline player like Clement to become a strong force.
Loved Clements goal the other week!

 

[Thommo 42]

Well then, I'm the second. Hadn't heard that one, actually.

So, if we remove Brown from the equation, you still think our backline stocks are good enough?

Yes, and they can be addressed more easily than the problem of a quality inside mid (selwood) and a ruckman.

Hate to put a dampener on our good bunch of kids, but I don't think Brown is developing that well from what I;ve seen of Willy on ABC2.

Hopefully I'm wrong though.

 

[MiguelRodriguez]

I think the tendency is to panic when you don't have a big >6ft5 full back, and Brown is now seen as the heir apparent. It goes back to the days of Craig Kelly, Gary Pert, and now Presti. The reality is that good defensive units can survive without these big blokes.
Look at Geelong, where Harley and Egan are their biggest.
Swans won a flag with Barry and Bolton as their main men (LRT doesn't count).
On the other hand Essendon's backline was tipped to dominate with Mal and Fletcher, and it has been poo all year.

I think we'll be ok without Browny in the wings, so long as Sack, Maxy, H, Cox, H Shaw, R Shaw, and Clem are all there working well togetha.

 

[Palmer Stoat]

Well then, I'm the second. Hadn't heard that one, actually.

So, if we remove Brown from the equation, you still think our backline stocks are good enough?

The worry with our backline IMO, Sampler, is that of the young uns only Brown is in the 194cm+ category. We have a stack of players in the 188-192cm bracket, but only Brown has that extra height and the sort of body that will allow him to match up on gorillas.

There's been a trend in the AFL in recent years for flanker/pocket types O'Brien/Bolton/Campbell Brown to play key positions, but I still think every team needs at least one big-bodied defender with a little extra height. If we hadn't drafted Brown, or if Brown doesn't make it, there'd be a big hole in our list IMO.

 

[jonesy86]

never thought of it that way...damn the AFL for changing F/S rules 1 year too late