Our defence - 1st Qualifying Final?

[snakebite01]

OK, we have enough wins now to start talking finals witout feeling guilt over jinxing us.

And being 3 games plus 55% ahead of the 5th placed team, you'd reckon we might be able to hold on for a spot in the 4.

So, with the major round looming upon us, and key players returning from injury in the not too distant future, how are we going to incorporate 10 AFL standard defenders into our back 6?

The candidates: Rutten, Bassett, McLeod, Johncock, Torney, Massie, Stevens, Bock, Hart, Mattner.

Torney's form yesterday showed that he is a must in our back 6, particularly as he has only played 3 games for the whole year. Will only get better.

Mattner's form has been patchy until he moved to a back flank where he has been tearing it up.

Ben Hart is a certainty to return.

Massie is having a career-best year.

McLeod and Johncock are leading the race for the AA small backmen spots.

Bock is without a doubt our best option at CHB, and will most likely replace Stevens when fit.

Rutten and Bassett are obviously certainties to stay in our back 6, they are the rocks that we build the defence around.

But honestly, there is not 1 player (OK, maybe Stevens), who I don't want in the defence.

So how will we line-up come the first week of finals, assuming everyone is fit and firing?

Nice problem to have. Can't see many teams kicking a winning score against us.

 

[snakebite01]

FWIW, I'd line-up like this:

Bassett - Rutten - Hart
Johncock - Bock - McLeod

The others are very stiff.

 

[Eggzoi]

Take out Massie and Stevens, throw Mattner back onto a wing and then I run out of ideas.
Maybe rotate Stiffy and Macca up front? Rotate the whole defence through the bench? Bassett as a new midfielder?(yes, kidding about Bassett)
No idea, tough one.

 

[rayven]

This thread is in the too hard Basket

Some SANFL coaches are going to be licking there lips if they are all fit at some point.

Only really see Bock replacing Stevens and Hart has to go somewhere but where

Mattner is Dominating in Harts role.

Mcleod in the middle maybe,ala 97?

 

[afc9798]

FWIW, I'd line-up like this:

Bassett - Rutten - Hart
Johncock - Bock - McLeod

The others are very stiff.

It would be very unfair to drop Stevens, unless Bock starts getting brilliant results in the SANFL over the next couple of weeks. Massie also does not deserve to be dropped, but he could maybe go onto the interchange and you bring Hart in to the starting 18. Problem with bringing back the injured players is that they will have to adapt to the game style of a team that is very settled and has gelled together beautifully.

Hart's finals experience will be invaluable later in the year, but I'm not yet convinced that bringing Bock back is merited unless he puts the issue beyond doubt with his SANFL games. I don't imagine that Craigy is welcoming the prospect of all the injured players returning, but I'm sure he will be hoping Hudson's mongrel is still there and can be utilised come finals time. Will be interesting to see how he goes at North in the coming weeks.

 

[Bernie L]

Jason Torney has to be in there somewhere as well.

 

[snakebite01]

Jason Torney has to be in there somewhere as well.

That's what I feel, his form yesterday was excellent.

But who do you drop?

Maybe McLeod and Johncock could rotate up forward and down back, as having one of them in the forward line in the finals would add an extra dimension to our attack.

But still, where does that leave Massie, Stevens and Mattner who have been excellent down back this year?

 

[CrowMagnum]

Lot of variables yet - injuries, form, matchups, midfield and forward holes to fill etc, but you feel there will be one unlucky one. Hope he doesn't do a Troy Bond or Derek Kickett dummy spit on us.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

FWIW, I'd line-up like this:

Bassett - Rutten - Hart
Johncock - Bock - McLeod

The others are very stiff.

That would be the 1st choice line-up if everyone is fit & firing. The odds are someone(s) will be injured & given our depth, we will have no problems covering ... but if everyone is available, the selectors have some very tough choices ahead.

 

[maccas_no1]

Was only pondering this last night, geez the joys of being a selector with the AFC

 

[noddy]

Much to hard to even think about let alone come up with a solution.

I'll just leave it to yuse guys

 

[conVINCEd]

OK, we have enough wins now to start talking finals witout feeling guilt over jinxing us.

And being 3 games plus 55% ahead of the 5th placed team, you'd reckon we might be able to hold on for a spot in the 4.

So, with the major round looming upon us, and key players returning from injury in the not too distant future, how are we going to incorporate 10 AFL standard defenders into our back 6?

The candidates: Rutten, Bassett, McLeod, Johncock, Torney, Massie, Stevens, Bock, Hart, Mattner.

IMHO;

If Bock can prove his form and fitness in the SANFL, then he will replace Stevens. That leaves us with 9.

It is quite possible that one or all of Mattner, McLeod, Massie or Torney may spend some time in the midfield at some stage. If we say one of them would be in the centre at one time that leaves 8.

Put two on the bench, and we're in business?

Tricky considering the need for a back-up ruckman and obviously midfield rotations, but its possible.

Just have to say, Bassett has been absolutely brilliant this year. We could end up with four defenders in the AA team. It probably won't happen, but at this stage it would be fair IMO.

 

[Sheeds]

It would be very unfair to drop Stevens, unless Bock starts getting brilliant results in the SANFL over the next couple of weeks

I was thinking along similiar lines, although Stevens would be welcome back to the Port Magpies going into the finals.

As mentioned Ben Hart has a lot of finals experience which will be vital. How did Bock go in the finals series last year? If he is fit and playing well at SANFL level and it comes down to a choice between Bock and Stevens, Bock may get the nod for finals experience last year, provided he did well.

 

[maccas_no1]

Thats the problem the AFC have sheeds, does Stevens deserve to be dropped???? IMO No, Will Bock be match fit by the time Finals start???? Yes


Unfortunately for Stevens I would say if Bock can come back and play well, Bock will take his spot come finals time, and if Welsh and Perrie come back successfully as well he hasnt got a role in the forward line either.

 

[Southerntakeover]

As mentioned Ben Hart has a lot of finals experience which will be vital. How did Bock go in the finals series last year? If he is fit and playing well at SANFL level and it comes down to a choice between Bock and Stevens, Bock may get the nod for finals experience last year, provided he did well.

Bock missed most the finals because of injury.

 

[-CG-]

Isn't it a little too early to be talking about our line-up in defence for a qualifying final?....lets at least find out who we're playing.

 

[AdelUniCrowFan]

Definites: Bassett, Rutten, Johncock, McLeod
Choice: Bock or Stevens
Others: Massie, Torney, Hart, Mattner

My 6 would be Bassett, Rutten, Johncock, McLeod, Bock, Hart.
Torney, Mattner, Massie hopefully would still have a role, either in the midfield, playing a running role, or off the pine.

Stevens can't fault him, and if Bock doesn't improve, on current form I don't mind Stevens in the side at the moment.

 

[snakebite01]

Isn't it a little too early to be talking about our line-up in defence for a qualifying final?....lets at least find out who we're playing.

It's more a question of how we are going to fit all these guys in when the real stuff starts, rather than who is actually going to be playing in the first final.

 

[macca23]

So, with the major round looming upon us, and key players returning from injury in the not too distant future, how are we going to incorporate 10 AFL standard defenders into our back 6?

The candidates: Rutten, Bassett, McLeod, Johncock, Torney, Massie, Stevens, Bock, Hart, Mattner.

There's actually another. van Berlo was spending a fair bit of time on a HB flank as well!!

Rutten, Bassett, McLeod and Stiffy are a given IMO.

That leaves 2 spots vacant and probably one on the pines which is what they've been doing since Torney has returned. Let's say that's 3 to fill.

It's either Stevens or Bock for CHB and currently Stevens has it. It's up to Bock to try and displace him. 2 to go.

I'm pretty sure that Massie has played wing and not HB in the past few weeks, so that takes care of him. Still 2 to go.

Hart and Torney get the last two spots, with Mattner moving back to the wing. VB misses out.

 

[birdmanptr]

This is why coaches get big bucks big descions

 

[The Crows Truth]

Definites: Bassett, Rutten, Johncock, McLeod
Choice: Bock or Stevens
Others: Massie, Torney, Hart, Mattner

My 6 would be Bassett, Rutten, Johncock, McLeod, Bock, Hart.
Torney, Mattner, Massie hopefully would still have a role, either in the midfield, playing a running role, or off the pine.

Stevens can't fault him, and if Bock doesn't improve, on current form I don't mind Stevens in the side at the moment.

well put

 

[raikkonen]

I'd just put a best 22 together, and let a lineup sort itself out.

My best 22:

Bassett, Edwards, Bode, Doughty, Shirley, Hudson, Torney, McGregor, Welsh, Johncock, Perrie, McLeod, Burton, Rutten, Ricciuto, Reilly, Hart. Biglands, Goodwin, Hentschel, Mattner, Bock

And lined up:

Johncock Rutten Hart
Bassett Bock McLeod
Mattner Shirley Reilly
McGregor Perrie Hentschel
Welsh Ricciuto Burton
Hudson Goodwin Edwards

Biglands, Torney, Doughty, Bode

Honorable mentions go to Thompson, Massie, Clarke, Van Berlo, Stevens, Knights, Skipworth. Others worthy include Vince, Maric.

Some of those players not in the squad are extremely stiff, and would be extremely unlucky to be dumped for players returning from injuries (Thompson, Massie, Stevens). I cansee these guys retaining their place though, and the other guys having to work their way back in, given the form of the guys at the moment.

 

[snakebite01]

I'm pretty sure that Massie has played wing and not HB in the past few weeks, so that takes care of him. Still 2 to go.

Hart and Torney get the last two spots, with Mattner moving back to the wing. VB misses out.

But then if Massie and Mattner are occupying the wings, where does that leave Doughty, who has been absolutely brilliant on a wing this year?

 

[maccas_no1]

I'd just put a best 22 together, and let a lineup sort itself out.

My best 22:

Bassett, Edwards, Bode, Doughty, Shirley, Hudson, Torney, McGregor, Welsh, Johncock, Perrie, McLeod, Burton, Rutten, Ricciuto, Reilly, Hart. Biglands, Goodwin, Hentschel, Mattner, Bock

And lined up:

Johncock Rutten Hart
Bassett Bock McLeod
Mattner Shirley Reilly
McGregor Perrie Hentschel
Welsh Ricciuto Burton
Hudson Goodwin Edwards

Biglands, Torney, Doughty, Bode

Honorable mentions go to Thompson, Massie, Clarke, Van Berlo, Stevens, Knights, Skipworth. Others worthy include Vince, Maric.

Some of those players not in the squad are extremely stiff, and would be extremely unlucky to be dumped for players returning from injuries (Thompson, Massie, Stevens). I cansee these guys retaining their place though, and the other guys having to work their way back in, given the form of the guys at the moment.

Thompson or Massie would get a game ahead of Bode.

 

[macca23]

But then if Massie and Mattner are occupying the wings, where does that leave Doughty, who has been absolutely brilliant on a wing this year?

Craig actually uses the wings as part of the roatation process, so Doughty is just one of those that play wing, move into the centre, have a run on the ball and come off for a breather.

Your point is valid so under Craig's plan with the players I suggested on the wings plus Doughty, they'd become part of the rotation process.

Aren't you glad that you're not a selector?? I am!!