Our Key Position Options

[SellarStardom]

Over the next couple of months we will no doubt hear some discussion on the following players as people discuss their future at Adelaide. I wanted to outline some thoughts, particularly based on our current game plan.

Davis - Phil has started to show that he is certainly a capable defender and will be at our club for a long time. He has the smarts, and I think in time will show that he is capable of going forward. But form the short term he will command a CHB position.
BUT - some questions remain on how he would perform on mobile big men (ala) Franklin, Reiwoldt due to a perceived lack of pace. Also at this stage Davis does not seem to be the rebounding defender type and we will likely miss this in Bock's absence.

McKernan - We have only seen a glimpse of the big man but his mobility and performances at Souths have brought him close. If we manage to keep him he seems ideally suited to a CHF role or even rebounding defender with stints in ruck.
BUT - can we afford to have 3 bigs in our defense into the future and would Craig allow that or even three talls in our forward zone?? THe other big IF is will Shaun want to stay. The potential is certainly there

Sellar - has a break out 2009 and we hoped he would continue to build in 2010. Injury has killed that and his return last week was alright at best. Has been showing some good forward line performances at the Bays and has the skills, desire and hunger to succeed.
BUT - will Craig play him as a KP player at either defense or forward similar to McKernan. Will be Jim fnd enough of the ball.

Talia - Daniel is the first of the players a long way off. Showed some good signs in defense in the SANFL. I wonder what the intent though for him in the short term. It seems the defense and forward lines are well stocked, so what for Daniel in the next couple of seasons??

Craig - The young ruck is short by AFL standards but has the second best leap behind Nic Nat. Could potentially provide us with the type of ruck the game will be looking fr in the future. At this stage haven't seen enough of him to know if he will make it.

With all these 194-196 sized players the question in my mind is how the club is preparing to utilise their talents. No doubt some are a year or 2 off but could we have these more mobile guys playing as wings or half backs?

 

[NTRabbit]

"mobile for a big guy" is not the same as being genuinely quick and agile.

Wing is a midfield rotation spot, and the only one of our 'talls' with enough genuine agility to make up for other shortcomings and rebound from the half back flank would probably be Henderson.

These guys will be make or break as KPP's, ruckman and utilities where applicable only, not as midfielders or half back flankers.

Davis probably has the greatest mortgage on a spot now with Bock gone, though he has Young to contend with.

Sellar, depends how he is seen, and what happens with Griffin, Moran, Maric and trade week.

McKernan will have to show some improvement and consistency at AFL level if he wants to earn a start, or even stay on the list.

Don't expect to see Craig next year at all, Talia at most around the fringes as injury or form cover for the likes of Stevens, Henderson, Young, Walker, et al

 

[Pariah]

"mobile for a big guy" is not the same as being genuinely quick and agile.

Wing is a midfield rotation spot, and the only one of our 'talls' with enough genuine agility to make up for other shortcomings and rebound from the half back flank would probably be Henderson.

These guys will be make or break as KPP's, ruckman and utilities where applicable only, not as midfielders or half back flankers.

Davis probably has the greatest mortgage on a spot now with Bock gone, though he has Young to contend with.

Sellar, depends how he is seen, and what happens with Griffin, Moran, Maric and trade week.

McKernan will have to show some improvement and consistency at AFL level if he wants to earn a start, or even stay on the list.

Don't expect to see Craig next year at all, Talia at most around the fringes as injury or form cover for the likes of Stevens, Henderson, Young, Walker, et al

How the hell is McKernan supposed to show improvement and consistency at AFL level when he's not getting any chances from the selection committee to prove himself.

 

[Mad Fan of AFL]

Pariah...great point. He needs opportunity. He is not getting it despite ok performances

 

[-CG-]

If the rumours are correct about Griffin and Moran not being on our list next year then Sellar and McKernan would surely be certainties to be retained.

Smack should then get a good look in next year.

 

[NTRabbit]

How the hell is McKernan supposed to show improvement and consistency at AFL level when he's not getting any chances from the selection committee to prove himself.

Early morning brain fade, I meant SANFL level

 

[TheLeftFist8]

If the rumours are correct about Griffin and Moran not being on our list next year then Sellar and McKernan would surely be certainties to be retained.

Smack should then get a good look in next year.

If we lose Griffin AND Moran we will surely need ready made insurance via draft/trade for 1R given Maric plays servicable games for only half a season and is barely a 1R himself.

I love the idea of Sellar or McKernan as 2R but I'd struggle to see them as 1R.

Sydney's trade for Mumford is looking like the steal of the decade...I'm jealous.

I really hope Moran pulls up ok but if not, who can we try to get?

 

[Yoda_]

What is wrong with Moran?

Injury troubles?

 

[Chief Crow]

What is wrong with Moran?

Injury troubles?

I have heard his knee is shot

 

[Cap]

yep injuries, knee specifically

 

[-CG-]

What is wrong with Moran?

Injury troubles?

Yeah I've heard he doesn't think his knee is up to it.

If we lose Griffin AND Moran we will surely need ready made insurance via draft/trade for 1R given Maric plays servicable games for only half a season and is barely a 1R himself.

I love the idea of Sellar or McKernan as 2R but I'd struggle to see them as 1R.

Sydney's trade for Mumford is looking like the steal of the decade...I'm jealous.

I really hope Moran pulls up ok but if not, who can we try to get?

Our ruck stocks may be looking pretty thin come the end of October...

We've still got James Craig but I doubt he will be ready to play AFL football next year.

 

[WALL-e]

Our ruck stocks become interesting if Moran's knee is indeed caput.

Maric - Lacks either height or athletecism. He'll have big days and he'll go missing. Really needs to have another string to his bow if he's not able to really go with the top tier rucks, and with his attributes, it's hard. None the less he battles and gives you a presence. On the plus, I've seen many more marks around the ground from him this year and it's something to build on.

Griffin - While he shows some positive signs here and there, his impact around the ground is close to minimal. With rumours of him wanting out it may be irrelivant anyway.

Sellar - Unfortunately it's a hard year to evaluate Jim. Showed some real signs early and in his return game, but we're yet to see him be solid consistantly. His ability to get around ground more than the above two give him a big edge, as do his ability to pinch hit forward and back. Needs to take strides in the ruck to become an influence, so his around the ground work is complimentary, not the main drawing point.

McKernan - Is he a ruck? Don't know. If he is, he's automatically our most versatile. His ability to play anyway on an oval make it Ideal for him to be a 2nd option in the ruck. Really needs to make strides and grab the bull.

Craig - The wildcard. Flat out bullied kids at U18. VEry good ruck.....but 5cm too short to play main ruck traditionally. Currently can't go back or forward so he's less versatile than Maric. But he's got a massive leap and time on his side. Another PS will do the world of good finding out where he is.

So there's no real clear option. Anyone can grab it, but I doubt we trade for an 'OK' ruck.

 

[iamjason]

Yeah I've heard he doesn't think his knee is up to it.

Where did you hear that? This is news to me. I thought he just screwed up his initial recovery and it was just a setback. His interview with Mcleod on Down the Guts seemed to indicate as much, anyway.

But if it does turn out to be the case, it would seem that, in hindsight, recruiting a bevy of talls last year certainly was a good choice. They're undersized ruckmen for sure, I'm not too bothered with undersized ruckmen - I think, within a few cms, it's acceptable to be undersized so long as there's an increased element of agility, which seems to be the case with Craig, McKernan and Sellar.

 

[TheLeftFist8]

I know Moran was no Sandi but he showed in his brief stint an ability to match and/or nullify some of the leagues best, despite his inexperience. Was learning quickly and was taking great strides to improve his level of aggression at contests which was initially poor (except for perhaps the actual ruck contest, and was certainly never in the Griffin standard of dropping anything when a player even looks at him in a nasty way).

If he is gone, Rendell, a former ruckman with an eye for the diamond in the rough, needs to harness all his recruiting mojo and find us the next Shane Mumford, or even dare i say it, the next Ben Hudson...not necessarily the next Sandilands but at least a guy we can confidently match up against the opposition in the hope we will at least provide a decent contest against the top rucks and not get beat up on.

 

[James23]

I bet our development department regrets not developing Kurt as a ruckman now.

Tippett and Maric rucking.

Walker to full forward.

Davis to centre half forward.

 

[NTRabbit]

I bet our development department regrets not developing Kurt as a ruckman now.

Tippett and Maric rucking.

Walker to full forward.

Davis to centre half forward.

Don't forget Johncock to midfield

 

[twentydollarnote]

Not that i really ever rated him, but if Moran's knee is shot its pretty ordinary work by the surgeon and the club to agree to experimental surgery to try and get him right for the finals that year when realistically he was no chance to make it, its ended up costing him a year and possibly his career.

 

[hugecannon]

Not that i really ever rated him, but if Moran's knee is shot its pretty ordinary work by the surgeon and the club to agree to experimental surgery to try and get him right for the finals that year when realistically he was no chance to make it, its ended up costing him a year and possibly his career.

All the surgeon did was present to Moran and the club all the options available to him along with all of the risks and potential complications that go along with each option. From there Moran and the club decide what option they go ahead with. The surgeon did not make the decision for Moran to have this type of surgery.

 

[Marine Boy]

Think Moran is playing a half for Westies reserves on the weekend. If this is true then I think his knee might not be so stuffed like people are saying.

 

[TheLeftFist8]

Think Moran is playing a half for Westies reserves on the weekend. If this is true then I think his knee might not be so stuffed like people are saying.

Conversely, if there was no doubt about the strength of his knee then why would you risk injury to play a few meaningless SANFL games...surely if the recovery was beyond doubt to now he would wait till next year.

Could be a mini Hentschel-type audition in the next couple weeks for Moran.

Re the op hugecannon is right...from memory Moran intimated he chose the 'more aggressive' option as he wanted to get back for finals, then tried to rush ahead of schedule in his rehab (again a good motivation but in the end bloody stupid) and ended up buggering the knee up totally and hence the whole of 2010, and possibly his career, wasted.

Fingers crossed he can get through because he certainly isn't secure for next year going by this decision.

 

[Mismatched]

If we lose Griffin AND Moran we will surely need ready made insurance via draft/trade for 1R given Maric plays servicable games for only half a season and is barely a 1R himself.

I love the idea of Sellar or McKernan as 2R but I'd struggle to see them as 1R.

Sydney's trade for Mumford is looking like the steal of the decade...I'm jealous.

I really hope Moran pulls up ok but if not, who can we try to get?

Unless we could pick up a genuine ready made, A-grade ruckman, I'd be seriously looking at either Giles(Sturt) or Cockshell(South). Both have been dominant in the ruck all year for their respective sides and are the two who would be most likely to be able to translate their form across to AFL.

Our ruck stocks become interesting if Moran's knee is indeed caput.

Maric - Lacks either height or athletecism. He'll have big days and he'll go missing. Really needs to have another string to his bow if he's not able to really go with the top tier rucks, and with his attributes, it's hard. None the less he battles and gives you a presence. On the plus, I've seen many more marks around the ground from him this year and it's something to build on.

Griffin - While he shows some positive signs here and there, his impact around the ground is close to minimal. With rumours of him wanting out it may be irrelivant anyway.

Sellar - Unfortunately it's a hard year to evaluate Jim. Showed some real signs early and in his return game, but we're yet to see him be solid consistantly. His ability to get around ground more than the above two give him a big edge, as do his ability to pinch hit forward and back. Needs to take strides in the ruck to become an influence, so his around the ground work is complimentary, not the main drawing point.

McKernan - Is he a ruck? Don't know. If he is, he's automatically our most versatile. His ability to play anyway on an oval make it Ideal for him to be a 2nd option in the ruck. Really needs to make strides and grab the bull.

Craig - The wildcard. Flat out bullied kids at U18. VEry good ruck.....but 5cm too short to play main ruck traditionally. Currently can't go back or forward so he's less versatile than Maric. But he's got a massive leap and time on his side. Another PS will do the world of good finding out where he is.

So there's no real clear option. Anyone can grab it, but I doubt we trade for an 'OK' ruck.

I think Maric's biggest issue is that he likes a bit of responsibility, his form drop seemed to coincide with Griffin's return to the side, however since Sellar replaced Griffin, he seems to have improved again.

With Griffin and Maric in the side there was no clear number 1 ruckman in the side with both playing 50-50 gametime, which IMO was detrimental to both, especially Maric.

Maric IMO is a more than adequate #1 ruck and within the next year or so, I expect him to develop into a good #1 ruckman, he'll probably never be a superstar, but IMO he could very easily do a Jamar and suddenly have everything just click.

I bet our development department regrets not developing Kurt as a ruckman now.

Tippett and Maric rucking.

Walker to full forward.

Davis to centre half forward.

Nah I really don't think they'd regret it too much, if you had a choice between gun ruckman or gun forward, I'm pretty sure you'd go gun forward every time.

 

[crow_fish]

The big thing for me will be how the Ruck position will look going forward.. clearly in 2010 it has changed. The interchange rule will have an big impact on how clubs look at this.

Say went to 3/1 interchange, you couldn't really afford to have a player on the bench playing 50-60% game time. But would be different to having 80 limit, could have back up ruck on the bench.

Pace of the game and rotations have gone through the roof this year and think caught AFC by bit of suprise early on. Clearly clubs this year have differing opinions Collingwood,Freo,Melb,Port seem to go with 1 main ruck and just pinch hit vs Syd,Nth,WC on average take two rucks in. With few other clubs not really settled on their formula.

For mine we have to look at multi-skilling are back up ruck stucks with exception of course of Maric (the way interchange I think will be going the subs way). If take Maric in as main ruck next year then need one of other guys to pinch hit but hold down another position. Does that mean stevens need learn to Ruck more or Mckernan/Sellar look to cement other positions on the ground. I not putting tippett into the equation other than rucking in forward 50, as I think we need him to cement down full forward role.

 

[SellarStardom]

I do agree with comments that the future is likely to be that teams have one ruckman and a few pinch hitters. For this reason I would like to see the club playing Sellar at CHB and McKernan at CHF early next year (preseason).

Firstly, I actually think Sellar has the potential to be one of our better large rebounding defenders. Rutten is played too deep, Davis is a little more static and the others (Young, Talia) are either too far off or lacking a bit of height and bulk in comparison.

McKernan is most likely our best CHF option so needs to be played

 

[twentydollarnote]

All the surgeon did was present to Moran and the club all the options available to him along with all of the risks and potential complications that go along with each option. From there Moran and the club decide what option they go ahead with. The surgeon did not make the decision for Moran to have this type of surgery.

yeah the surgeon doesnt make the decision but they play a large role in giving confidence to the patient about whats the best option and some surgeons are willing to do procedures that others wouldnt.

At the time i remember it was an odd choice and moran's comments made it pretty clear that it was an easy choice for him, because if the artificial support he had put in failed it wouldnt matter because it would dissolve and his recover time wouldnt be any different, he made a point about saying it.

But who knows maybe it was something else thats gone wrong. Its possible he reinjured it in rehab.

 

[NTRabbit]

Rumour has it Moran ignored medical advice and started running in his rehab far too early, blowing the ligament up again.

It's also a bit rich blaming the Doctor for a decision Moran made regarding choice of surgery, let alone if the above rumour is true.