Our backline

[master bate]

Definitely needs Cam Bruce and might even need Jack Grimes back to sure it up.

It looked weak tonight and I think we should continue trying to build a team from the back first. Let's get a decent backline so we don't have to flood numbers back - then we can get some midfield pressure, and actually have a forward line.

I thought Rivers and MacDonald were serviceable. Frawley had a bit of an off one but should play a good season. Warnock needs to find a higher gear before round 1, but I'm worried Cheney/Bennell/Strauss etc will get exploited. I definitely am not encouraging going to Bartram or Bell, but would like to see what Bail can offer, and where the hell is Tom McNamara.

At this stage Cheney will compete but looks limited. Bennell seemed to suffer from second year blues (he was nothing like that player he was last time he played at Subi v the Eagles last year). Struass will play well when given a soft opponent in a winning side, he was involved in our best transfer from the backline all night, but all 3 might be better served by some VFL time.

 

[Dez!]

Cheney goes hard at the ball but definitely needs to relax and not panic when disposing of the ball, watching him as he looked to dispose of the ball he seemed to take the first option available whether it was a good decision or not.

I thought that Warnock pushed too far up the ground to often tonight, he needs to stay in or not far from the defensive 50 whether his man is there or not just to add that bit of security to the defensive half.

 

[Demon 86]

Definitely needs Cam Bruce and might even need Jack Grimes back to sure it up.

It looked weak tonight and I think we should continue trying to build a team from the back first. Let's get a decent backline so we don't have to flood numbers back - then we can get some midfield pressure, and actually have a forward line.

I thought Rivers and MacDonald were serviceable. Frawley had a bit of an off one but should play a good season. Warnock needs to find a higher gear before round 1, but I'm worried Cheney/Bennell/Strauss etc will get exploited. I definitely am not encouraging going to Bartram or Bell, but would like to see what Bail can offer, and where the hell is Tom McNamara.

At this stage Cheney will compete but looks limited. Bennell seemed to suffer from second year blues (he was nothing like that player he was last time he played at Subi v the Eagles last year). Struass will play well when given a soft opponent in a winning side, he was involved in our best transfer from the backline all night, but all 3 might be better served by some VFL time.

Some midfield pressure would improve our backline tenfold. There are no major problems in the back 6, its the fact that teams are always allowed easy disposals in there making it very difficult for Frawley and co to defend. Midfield pressure allows backs time to defend and launch counter attacks. Overall there are some things that could be improved (like Bennel's accountability), but nothing of too much concern.

Saying that Strauss will play well when 'given a soft opponent in a winning side' is laughable. He's just played his first AFL game and you already have him pidgeonholed as a downhill skiier? That's ludicrous! At least give him 10 AFL games (which is still not enough but better than one!) before you assume he can't be accountable for a reasonable player.

 

[RandB]

Some midfield pressure would improve our backline tenfold. There are no major problems in the back 6, its the fact that teams are always allowed easy disposals in there making it very difficult for Frawley and co to defend. Midfield pressure allows backs time to defend and launch counter attacks.

I think this is a fair sum up.

Our kick outs and the conveyance of the footy out of defence needs work and they will work on that and improve over time. The quickness of ball movement (or lack there of) can make the defenders job harder than it needs to be, some of the lads are a little slow to get their kicks off but they also need options so again it is a team issue.

 

[00Stinger]

Our midfield got smashed and our backline never really had a chance.

However Bennell struggled and why do we let Frawley kick out at all???

 

[Andy_Mac]

Already been said but it was a complete lack of midfield pressure that shagged the backline.

SOS and scarlet would have struggled with the ease and speed the ball was coming into the Freo forward 50.

Let’s not forget Garland is still to come back into that back 6 and if required Cam Bruce can provide a cool head. Also it’s FAR too early to be calling for Strauss' head.

Lets all take the game for what it was. A practice match!!

 

[WattsGoodForYou]

Already been said but it was a complete lack of midfield pressure that shagged the backline.

SOS and scarlet would have struggled with the ease and speed the ball was coming into the Freo forward 50.

Let’s not forget Garland is still to come back into that back 6 and if required Cam Bruce can provide a cool head. Also it’s FAR too early to be calling for Strauss' head.

Lets all take the game for what it was. A practice match!!

+1.

People need to realise that the team on the whole lacks experience. While the talent will be there , we need more leadership to guide the younger players. I saw alot of rookie errors in the match, simple things like Trengove handpassed to Spencer in traffic, kicking to the boundary instead of looking laterally. Fix a few of these and then the score looks abit better perhaps, though we need a key forward to stand up, LJ cannot do it on his own.

 

[dees 4 life]

When is Garland expected to be back?

Round 1? Mid season? Practice Match?

 

[The Professor]

Already been said but it was a complete lack of midfield pressure that shagged the backline.

SOS and scarlet would have struggled with the ease and speed the ball was coming into the Freo forward 50.

True but Frawley and Warnock did not have good matches. Rivers was good. Overall, our back 6 will be a strength but if i was in that defensive unit, i would be so dirty on the midfield. They are supplying the opposition grenades to throw at our defense.

 

[Demon 16]

Am I the only one that thought Frawley was good?

Pavlich did some good things - but Pavlich would do some good things if he was playing on Wayne Carey. Frawley provided a bit of run and carry and his disposal around the ground was actually pretty good by foot.

 

[saj_21]

Am I the only one that thought Frawley was good?

Pavlich did some good things - but Pavlich would do some good things if he was playing on Wayne Carey. Frawley provided a bit of run and carry and his disposal around the ground was actually pretty good by foot.

I only watched the first half, i thought Frawley was good also. Considering he was playing on the opposition best player and one of the best in the league all whilst were being soundly beaten. His run of Pav in the first half was great.

Bennell and Cheney need to work on gurading their opponent more closely to often in the first half ballatyne and headlend had to much room to move.

 

[Pipefitter]

Who was on Michael Johnson? He seemed to have no direct opponent in the 50.

 

[cannons]

Am I the only one that thought Frawley was good?

Pavlich did some good things - but Pavlich would do some good things if he was playing on Wayne Carey. Frawley provided a bit of run and carry and his disposal around the ground was actually pretty good by foot.

I thought he was good too, although he did drop a couple of easy marks which put us under pressure on occasion.

Aside from that, though, I thought he was good in the contest and offered some run and carry from defence. I was also surprised with his kicking, as it seems to be a lot more accurate than it was when he first arrived at the club.

I no longer get that sinking feeling when he gets the ball

So yes, overall, I was impressed with his game.