Analysis Our KPD Crisis

[SleepingGiant]

Because it's solid now people think the backline is settled in our rebuild. I think it's going to be the weakest part of our team in the rebuild.

Right now we have 3 players capable of taking big forwards (Young 26, Balta 25, Miller 25). To me the only elite one is Balta when in form. When we next contend we will have them in the twilight of their careers. Miller and Young are not best 22 premiership grade KPD's now while in their peak. Balta will be 29-30 at least and relies heavily on athleticism so I say he will drop off around then.

My view is we need to trade out Miller, Young types for picks to Tassie. We need to draft another monster key back or two in our rebuild. All I see right now is Trainor, Gibcus (could fail next year), Brown, Banks. There is zero size in our backline that will be at their peak when we next contend capable of taking it up to Darcy, or Thilthorpe. They need to be drafted soon as they take a while to come on.

Forwards and mids look good. Despite them not looking good now they will be in time.

 

[manangatang]

I'm not entirely convinced that 'crisis' is the right word here.

 

[Coach_Required]

No

 

[bc27]

Couldnt disagree more on big Benny Miller. Millers improved out of sight this year. Has bulked up and is using the footy decently. He’s only just turned 25 and only got 68 games into him….is now coming into his best footy.

Balta is very hard to sum up but we’re stuck with him.

We have Gibcus who has all the talent in the world and could very easily become our best back.

We will continue to develop Campbell Grey.

Tyler Young is a great backup and is 26.

Trainor and Brown are both high level intercept talents, that will only get better.

Were not in any dire need of key backs but adding another developing talent would not hurt, but there are much more pressing needs then this position.

 

[sanaya]

"elite" form balta (2023) was worse in most defensive categories than 2025 miller. balta had more intercept possessions/marks (less spoils), but balta also had a midfield of cotchin, taranto, bolton, dusty, graham, prestia & baker applying pressure upfield, as well as a better backline


i think people have an idealised version of balta in their minds from years ago when he had all the potential in the world, but have yet to come to grips with the fact that he won't reach those lofty heights

and people have a version of miller in their mind from the era of him having to be mr fixit around the ground

 

[Meteoric Rise]

Because it's solid now people think the backline is settled in our rebuild. I think it's going to be the weakest part of our team in the rebuild.

Right now we have 3 players capable of taking big forwards (Young 26, Balta 25, Miller 25). To me the only elite one is Balta when in form. When we next contend we will have them in the twilight of their careers. Miller and Young are not best 22 premiership grade KPD's now while in their peak. Balta will be 29-30 at least and relies heavily on athleticism so I say he will drop off around then.

My view is we need to trade out Miller, Young types for picks to Tassie. We need to draft another monster key back or two in our rebuild. All I see right now is Trainor, Gibcus (could fail next year), Brown, Banks. There is zero size in our backline that will be at their peak when we next contend capable of taking it up to Darcy, or Thilthorpe. They need to be drafted soon as they take a while to come on.

Forwards and mids look good. Despite them not looking good now they will be in time.

Ubelievable thread.

Even less believable post.

What have you done with the actual SleepingGiant?

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

Can't wait for pre season too end.

 

[tugga]

put it this way. No kid is drafted as a fullback.
They are identified early on in the afl system as being potential fullbacks and then it takes at least four years for them to learn a completely new position and probably the hardest position on the ground to play.
That’s what we had with Rance.
That’s what we had with Astbury.
That’s what we now have with miller. He has had an outstanding season.
I cannot see the point of trading away a player who has spent four to five years learning how to be a very good fullback and has another five or six to go of being a very good fullback.
To me, he is set and forget for the next half a decade at least.
Miller, Balta, young with brown, Trainor and gibcus with running backs in banks (I refuse to put short in) and broad and vlastuin teaching rhem in their twilight years seems like the nucleus of a very decent backline going forward.
It’s speed in the midfield we need. Along with another ruckman.

 

[A Tiger 4 lyf]

Our KPD is extremely deep and isn’t a concern at all

Gibcus and Balta have to be the main guys down back though

 

[bc27]

Our KPD is extremely deep and isn’t a concern at all

Gibcus and Balta have to be the main guys down back though

I genuinely wouldn’t be surprised if the club have Benny Miller ahead of Balta as our main key backs

 

[Grrr]

I genuinely wouldn’t be surprised if the club have Benny Miller ahead of Balta as our main key backs

His one-on-one marking is really improving and possibly as good as Balta's now. He is just as quick, and has the best kick coming out of defence, kicks darts or long and accurate. Young has a beautiful straight long boot as well.

 

[Muddiemoose]

Given how lopsided our list is right now in terms of how little quality of players we have in the age bracket of Miller, Balta and Young it would be a terrible move imo

The last thing we should be doing is getting rid of AFL caliber players who are just entering the prime of their careers

 

[fargothegreat]

If a club in need of a key defender were willing to give us a second round pick for Young, I'd probably take it.

Not because he's done anything wrong. Just because he turns 27 this year and I feel Balta, Gibcus and Gray have more upside.

 

[beema limapep]

Madness.

 

[4tune8]

If a club in need of a key defender were willing to give us a second round pick for Young, I'd probably take it.

Not because he's done anything wrong. Just because he turns 27 this year and I feel Balta, Gibcus and Gray have more upside.

Campbell Gray is the sleeper, high hopes for him

 

[sante]

Midfield is by far our biggest issue moving forward including a Ruckman

 

[Tiger1974]

Because it's solid now people think the backline is settled in our rebuild. I think it's going to be the weakest part of our team in the rebuild.

Right now we have 3 players capable of taking big forwards (Young 26, Balta 25, Miller 25). To me the only elite one is Balta when in form. When we next contend we will have them in the twilight of their careers. Miller and Young are not best 22 premiership grade KPD's now while in their peak. Balta will be 29-30 at least and relies heavily on athleticism so I say he will drop off around then.

My view is we need to trade out Miller, Young types for picks to Tassie. We need to draft another monster key back or two in our rebuild. All I see right now is Trainor, Gibcus (could fail next year), Brown, Banks. There is zero size in our backline that will be at their peak when we next contend capable of taking it up to Darcy, or Thilthorpe. They need to be drafted soon as they take a while to come on.

Forwards and mids look good. Despite them not looking good now they will be in time.

Glad u are not the list manager. Some strange thinking and rationale going on there.

 

[lizard man]

What do we do about this crisis?

 

[tiger_tough]

 

[Bojangles17]

Because it's solid now people think the backline is settled in our rebuild. I think it's going to be the weakest part of our team in the rebuild.

Right now we have 3 players capable of taking big forwards (Young 26, Balta 25, Miller 25). To me the only elite one is Balta when in form. When we next contend we will have them in the twilight of their careers. Miller and Young are not best 22 premiership grade KPD's now while in their peak. Balta will be 29-30 at least and relies heavily on athleticism so I say he will drop off around then.

My view is we need to trade out Miller, Young types for picks to Tassie. We need to draft another monster key back or two in our rebuild. All I see right now is Trainor, Gibcus (could fail next year), Brown, Banks. There is zero size in our backline that will be at their peak when we next contend capable of taking it up to Darcy, or Thilthorpe. They need to be drafted soon as they take a while to come on.

Forwards and mids look good. Despite them not looking good now they will be in time.

Ridiculous proposition, clearly the strongest part of the side and miller and young have demonstrated they’re a level above Balta right now who I wouldn’t be against trading , the good news is we can focus on other areas while we can be confident we have the kpd sorted ,,, crisis lol

 

[_RT_]

Young 27 & 34 games
Miller 26 & 69 games
Balta 26 & 117 games
Blight 24* & 10 games
Gibcus 22 & 20 games
Brown 22 & 42 games
Gray 22 & 3 games
Trainor 19 & 21 games


7 (possibly 8) KPD/3rd tall defenders aged 27 or young heading into next season is a pretty strong starting position for a side early on in its rebuild. Only 2 of them have managed to play 50+ games so they still have some development left in them.

As for them not being premiership caliber who here though the likes of Jack Payne Ryan Lester

35

Ryan Lester

Age

33

Ht

190cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.9

4star

K

7.9

3star

HB

7.0

4star

M

3.9

4star

T

2.7

4star

MG

170.4

3star

D

10.3

3star

K

5.8

2star

HB

4.5

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

1.5

2star

MG

140.7

3star

D

12.6

4star

K

6.8

3star

HB

5.8

4star

M

3.8

4star

T

0.6

3star

Billy Frampton

17

Billy Frampton

Age

29

Ht

201cm

Wt

100kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.1

2star

K

5.1

2star

HB

4.0

3star

M

3.1

3star

T

0.7

3star

MG

99.0

2star

D

8.5

2star

K

4.8

2star

HB

3.8

3star

M

3.5

3star

T

0.5

1star

MG

99.0

2star

D

9.2

3star

K

5.6

3star

HB

3.6

3star

M

2.8

3star

T

1.0

3star

MG

107.0

2star

Harrison Petty

35

Harrison Petty

Age

26

Ht

197cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

D/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.5

2star

K

5.7

2star

HB

3.8

3star

M

4.3

4star

T

2.1

4star

MG

120.7

2star

No current season stats available

D

9.8

3star

K

5.8

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

4.2

4star

T

1.4

4star

MG

127.6

3star

Tom McDonald

25

Tom Mcdonald

Age

33

Ht

195cm

Wt

101kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.4

4star

K

9.7

4star

HB

6.7

4star

M

5.6

5star

T

1.9

4star

MG

261.8

4star

D

8.0

2star

K

5.0

2star

HB

3.0

2star

M

3.4

3star

T

0.6

1star

MG

135.6

2star

D

13.8

4star

K

6.8

3star

HB

7.0

5star

M

4.4

4star

T

1.4

4star

Zaine Cordy

21

Zaine Cordy

Age

29

Ht

195cm

Wt

92kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.6

3star

K

6.6

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

3.5

4star

T

2.1

4star

MG

180.4

3star

D

8.1

2star

K

6.4

3star

HB

1.7

1star

M

2.9

3star

T

1.9

3star

MG

180.4

3star

D

6.8

2star

K

3.8

2star

HB

3.0

3star

M

2.4

3star

T

1.8

4star

& Jordan Roughead

23

Jordan Roughead

Age

35

Ht

200cm

Wt

100kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.0

3star

K

5.7

2star

HB

5.2

4star

M

4.1

4star

T

2.7

4star

MG

132.4

2star

D

7.6

2star

K

4.5

2star

HB

3.1

2star

M

3.5

3star

T

1.1

2star

MG

82.0

1star

D

12.4

4star

K

4.4

2star

HB

8.0

5star

M

4.2

4star

T

2.0

4star

would be premiership players before they ended up becoming one?

A bloke like Kamdyn McIntosh

33

Kamdyn Mcintosh

Age

31

Ht

191cm

Wt

92kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.8

4star

K

9.9

4star

HB

4.9

4star

M

3.7

4star

T

2.6

4star

CL

0.8

3star

D

13.8

3star

K

8.4

3star

HB

5.4

3star

M

2.8

3star

T

2.2

3star

CL

1.0

3star

D

18.6

5star

K

12.6

5star

HB

6.0

4star

M

5.8

5star

T

2.4

4star

CL

1.4

4star

is proof that you don't have to be elite to become a premiership player, you just need to play your role well enough as part of the team structure and given how our back line has been under siege this year and for the most part held up, I'd suggest that when the midfield & forwards are able to perform better than take some heat off of them they could very well work together as a very good unit.

 

[SleepingGiant]

Young 27 & 34 games
Miller 26 & 69 games
Balta 26 & 117 games
Blight 24* & 10 games
Gibcus 22 & 20 games
Brown 22 & 42 games
Gray 22 & 3 games
Trainor 19 & 21 games


7 (possibly 8) KPD/3rd tall defenders aged 27 or young heading into next season is a pretty strong starting position for a side early on in its rebuild. Only 2 of them have managed to play 50+ games so they still have some development left in them.

As for them not being premiership caliber who here though the likes of Jack Payne Ryan Lester Billy Frampton Harrison Petty Tom McDonald Zaine Cordy & Jordan Roughead would be premiership players before they ended up becoming one?

A bloke like Kamdyn McIntosh is proof that you don't have to be elite to become a premiership player, you just need to play your role well enough as part of the team structure and given how our back line has been under siege this year and for the most part held up, I'd suggest that when the midfield & forwards are able to perform better than take some heat off of them they could very well work together as a very good unit.

How old are Miller, Young, and Balta going to be when we next contend?

You are all looking at what is weak now vs what is weak in 5-6 years.

 

[SleepingGiant]

Couldnt disagree more on big Benny Miller. Millers improved out of sight this year. Has bulked up and is using the footy decently. He’s only just turned 25 and only got 68 games into him….is now coming into his best footy.

Balta is very hard to sum up but we’re stuck with him.

We have Gibcus who has all the talent in the world and could very easily become our best back.

We will continue to develop Campbell Grey.

Tyler Young is a great backup and is 26.

Trainor and Brown are both high level intercept talents, that will only get better.

Were not in any dire need of key backs but adding another developing talent would not hurt, but there are much more pressing needs then this position.

Miller - Old when we next contend.
Gibcus - Has not played for two years. Base rate stats are he doesn’t make it as elite.
Balta - Elite but old when we next contend.
Trainer and Brown are great, not big KPD.

You can’t just draft elite mids and forwards then think in 5 years these guys will be a premiership backline when the whole list is peaking bar them. We need a young elite bear KPD in the next two years drafts to peak with our young core.

 

[SleepingGiant]

Ridiculous proposition, clearly the strongest part of the side and miller and young have demonstrated they’re a level above Balta right now who I wouldn’t be against trading , the good news is we can focus on other areas while we can be confident we have the kpd sorted ,,, crisis lol

Short term mindset. They are good now so will be good later when they are 30 or older. We have drafted in the other areas some elite young talent. No elite young big KPDs.

 

[Wooden Robot]

Alleged crisis is as much as crisis as the climate crisis, aka climate catastrophe.
Play on!