Strategy Positional changes for 2015

[Stan The Caddy]

I thought I'd start a thread to do with what people would like to see change in 2015. Personally I think that we missed Kelly's grunt in the midfield last year and would like to see him return there in 2015. Would people like to see Blitz played at CHB next year? What kind of role would we like our new recruits to play? Stanley, Clark, Blease etc. Should Stokes return to his crumbing forward role or stay further up the ground? Should Guthrie return to playing in defense? Is using Taylor as a swing man to our advantage or should he be kept in defense full time? There are many more questions to be answered and I'd enjoy reading people's ideas as to what they believe would make us better in 2015.

 

[DV2000]

Stanley could be turned into a handy tall defender for us. With Lonergan, Rivers and Taylor all aging (mainly domsy and Rivers), we could do with a boost in our tall defender stocks.

I don't feel that Taylor needs to be used up forward. We now have plenty of tall forwards available - Hawkins, Mitch Clark, Vardy (fingers crossed), walker, kersten etc.

Guthrie looked good in the midfield this year, but he could also be used playing in the half back line.

 

[Cattery]

Like Kelly back in the midfield, his best position and also allows Bews to get a game down back.

Blicavs at CHB, only if you mean in the VFL, no need for him there at present [and I've seen no evidence to suggest he could play there anyway] but with a season or two learning the position in the VFL who knows.
If he's to play at the top level second ruck is the only spot I can see him holding down at present, despite what many think he's not a CHB [at present] a rebounding HBF or a winger IMO.

Stanley second ruck, Clark CHF, Blease we'll have to wait and see if he's good enough to crack it for a game, if he is then probably on a wing, bloke can run like the clappers.

Stokes is playing his best footy at present, wouldn't like to see him moved but if we can't come up with someone to fill that small FP role he may be an option, same thing with Guthrie, only goes back into defence if really needed.

Play Taylor at CHB and leave him there.

 

[Vdubs]

Let's see who is standing up after preseason.

 

[FredLeDeux]

Let's see who is standing up after preseason.

Surely you don't mean, wait til we know when and if Clark, McIntosh, Simpson, Rivers, Kersten, Thurlow, McCarthy, Vardy, Menzel, Cowan, Cockatoo and Delaney and any others recovering from injuries and/or on modified training programs are fit enough to play 1sts?

 

[dazbroncos]

Surely you don't mean, wait til we know when and if Clark, McIntosh, Simpson, Rivers, Kersten, Thurlow, McCarthy, Vardy, Menzel, Cowan, Cockatoo and Delaney and any others recovering from injuries and/or on modified training programs are fit enough to play 1sts?

thats a decent 12…

would probably win some games with a team based on those 12…

GO Catters

 

[FredLeDeux]

thats a decent 12…

would probably win some games with a team based on those 12…

GO Catters

Of course, they're just the ones we know about as recovering from injuries and/or on "modified training programs", there may be others.

PS, except for Cockatoo, I just threw him in there because he's obviously going to be nowhere fit enough to play 1sts early (or even at all) this season.

 

[abet]

Let's see who is standing up after preseason.

I think the coaching staff have positions in mind for existing players and new recruits and i'm sure the OP threw up this question on the basis that all players are fit to play. A simple answer of if fit I’d like to see Clark play at CHF is better than “Let's see who is standing up after preseason.” You make it sound like we won’t be able to field a team cause of injuries when our list is looking rather healthy for a change.

 

[catempire]

1. Kelly back to the midfield. Bews a near permanent fixture back pocket, form providing.
2. Taylor never to be called a 'swingman' again.
3. Three tall forwards - Hawkins, Clark and the most fit and in form of Walker, Vardy and Stanley. Hawk and Clark deep with the 3rd a lead up the ground CHF.
4. Contrary to many, keep experimenting with Blicavs positionally as long as he is on an upward curve.
5. Johnson to start to spend some time forward but still be a 85-90% midfielder.

 

[dazbroncos]

I think the coaching staff have positions in mind for existing players and new recruits and i'm sure the OP threw up this question on the basis that all players are fit to play. A simple answer of if fit I’d like to see Clark play at CHF is better than “Let's see who is standing up after preseason.” You make it sound like we won’t be able to field a team cause of injuries when our list is looking rather healthy for a change.

Caddy broke his foot. Bundy's back went out again. Kersten hurt his knee. Vardy did and ACL. Menzel git knee soreness and slowed his preseason.

And that is what I remember off the top of my head. Think Billie Smedts got hurt too. And then Burbury had his jaw smashed and Stokes rolled an ankle.

The point is we have not been overly blessed with injury luck at this time of year.

Go Catters

 

[Partridge]

Surely you don't mean, wait til we know when and if Clark, McIntosh, Simpson, Rivers, Kersten, Thurlow, McCarthy, Vardy, Menzel, Cowan, Cockatoo and Delaney and any others recovering from injuries and/or on modified training programs are fit enough to play 1sts?

You can probably put a line through McCarthy already. When the timeframe is 'indefinite' that's at least 3 months.

 

[Partridge]

thats a decent 12…

would probably win some games with a team based on those 12…

GO Catters

I'm not so sure......

Clark, McIntosh, Simpson, Rivers, Kersten, Thurlow, McCarthy, Vardy, Menzel, Cowan, Cockatoo and Delaney

I'll give you Clark, McIntosh and Rivers. The rest are either unproven or broken.

 

[you pick one]

Caddy broke his foot. Bundy's back went out again. Kersten hurt his knee. Vardy did and ACL. Menzel git knee soreness and slowed his preseason.

And that is what I remember off the top of my head. Think Billie Smedts got hurt too. And then Burbury had his jaw smashed and Stokes rolled an ankle.

The point is we have not been overly blessed with injury luck at this time of year.

Go Catters

And they will probably book someone in for surgery in February if their true to form.

 

[Partridge]

And they will probably book someone in for surgery in February if their true to form.

Plus we'll be told the injury actually occurred in December.

 

[OzeSparky]

Plus we'll be told the injury actually occurred in December.

Im expecting Collingwoods injury woes to be limited to "2 weeks".

At least that should be not heard again

 

[Partridge]

Im expecting Collingwoods injury woes to be limited to "2 weeks".

At least that should be not heard again

Yep fair comment. Hocking may be pretty blunt and honest, which would be great. Plus of course he might actually know what goes on at the club, unlike his predecessor. I lost track of how many times Balme would answer a question about an injury with 'I don't know, I haven't talked to the player / doctor / faith healer'. You'd think that would be part of his job to know.

 

[you pick one]

I'm not so sure......

Clark, McIntosh, Simpson, Rivers, Kersten, Thurlow, McCarthy, Vardy, Menzel, Cowan, Cockatoo and Delaney

I'll give you Clark, McIntosh and Rivers. The rest are either unproven or broken.

Clark is the really interesting one to me Partridge I expect he might take a little while to get up to full fitness and match hardened but from there on will he take the game by the scruff of the neck and lead the way he is capable or will he be content just to sit back and play in a side that will give him a few wins while he collects his pay and sees out his time.Hope it's the former.

 

[OzeSparky]

Yep fair comment. Hocking may be pretty blunt and honest, which would be great. Plus of course he might actually know what goes on at the club, unlike his predecessor. I lost track of how many times Balme would answer a question about an injury with 'I don't know, I haven't talked to the player / doctor / faith healer'. You'd think that would be part of his job to know.

Exactly, I'm actually looking forward to how hocking goes this year.

 

[FredLeDeux]

Im expecting Collingwoods injury woes to be limited to "2 weeks".

At least that should be not heard again

He's going to have credibility problems spinning 2 weeks for Reid.

 

[Partridge]

He's going to have credibility problems spinning 2 weeks for Reid.

Easily fixed.

2-3 weeks.

Or he'll just drop off the injury list (it's called the 'Cowan technique').

 

[dazbroncos]

Yep fair comment. Hocking may be pretty blunt and honest, which would be great. Plus of course he might actually know what goes on at the club, unlike his predecessor. I lost track of how many times Balme would answer a question about an injury with 'I don't know, I haven't talked to the player / doctor / faith healer'. You'd think that would be part of his job to know.

Id say Balme knew exactly what was going on. He just didn't tell you. Because of course you can prove Balme had no idea what was going on at the club.

GO Catters

 

[Partridge]

Id say Balme knew exactly what was going on. He just didn't tell you. Because of course you can prove Balme had no idea what was going on at the club.

GO Catters

Or you could explain what benefit there would be in not informing supporters on injury updates.

 

[you pick one]

Am I on the Colliingwood board?Varcoe stickers, Balme, Reid, what does that have to do with Geelong today and positional changes in 2015 FFS.

 

[FredLeDeux]

Am I on the Colliingwood board?Varcoe stickers, Balme, Reid, what does that have to do with Geelong today and positional changes in 2015 FFS.

The only 2 positional changes I'm sure about for this season are Varcoe and Balme.

 

[TheJimmyCartel]

1. Kelly back to the midfield. Bews a near permanent fixture back pocket, form providing.
2. Taylor never to be called a 'swingman' again.
3. Three tall forwards - Hawkins, Clark and the most fit and in form of Walker, Vardy and Stanley. Hawk and Clark deep with the 3rd a lead up the ground CHF.
4. Contrary to many, keep experimenting with Blicavs positionally as long as he is on an upward curve.
5. Johnson to start to spend some time forward but still be a 85-90% midfielder.

This Plus, I'd like to see Murdoch breaking lines though the middle a bit more, obviously depending on whether he can take the next step up. Important year for him I reckon, could be very handy for us too if he does make that jump.

Although, would be happy to see Blitz planted at CHB in the VFL for the first 6 weeks and see where he is at. I don't see how he can really become dominant in any position if we keep throwing him around. Needs to settle somewhere and seems suited to play a Scarlet type role, whom just so happens to be around to teach him. Use that run offensively when the time is right.