Question about your Defence

[GrandBlue]

Just curious here but looking at Melbourne's list, it looks like they'll be entering a very tall defence for 2010 and beyond. How do you plan on squeezing in all of Warnock, Rivers, Martin, McDonald, Frawley, Garland and to a huge extent, McNamara? Surely one or two would have to miss out.

 

[00Stinger]

Just curious here but looking at Melbourne's list, it looks like they'll be entering a very tall defence for 2010 and beyond. How do you plan on squeezing in all of Warnock, Rivers, Martin, McDonald, Frawley, Garland and to a huge extent, McNamara? Surely one or two would have to miss out.

McNamara will only get a game if there is an injury IMO.
And Martin will be the utility.....Can play forward, back or ruck

 

[Headless]

Assuming (please!) that Garland is fit, I think that we would play Frawley, Warnock, Rivers, MacDonald and Garland and Cheney and McNamara would miss out. One would think that Martin would get a game, but play elsewhere.

Perhaps Rivers could play as a forward option. You're right, we have a very tall back 6 and for once it's our strongest area.

 

[Dez!]

Garland and Frawley are versatile defenders, both have the speed to play small and the size to play tall.

Of course Garland could be a swingman going forward at times, same with Rivers.

Half Back: MacDonald Rivers Bennell
Back: Frawley Warnock Garland

That'd be my ideal back half for 2010 with Martin playing ruck/forward.

Grimes permanently to the midfield.

Cheney and McNamara as depth.

 

[GrandBlue]

Garland and Frawley are versatile defenders, both have the speed to play small and the size to play tall.

Of course Garland could be a swingman going forward at times, same with Rivers.

Half Back: MacDonald Rivers Bennell
Back: Frawley Warnock Garland

That'd be my ideal back half for 2010 with Martin playing ruck/forward.

Grimes permanently to the midfield.

Cheney and McNamara as depth.

What about James Strauss? I remember posting about him here before and a lot of Melbourne Supporters seemed convinced he'd be a running HBFer. I'm now very inclined to believe this after they recruited Trengove, Gysberts, Tapscott and Scully this year.

 

[picks1and2]

What about James Strauss? I remember posting about him here before and a lot of Melbourne Supporters seemed convinced he'd be a running HBFer. I'm now very inclined to believe this after they recruited Trengove, Gysberts, Tapscott and Scully this year.

i think strauss WILL be the maestro running off half back ala hodge in 08. with his composed kicking will set up play with precision. also heard he conducts himself well off the field also

 

[melbournemartin]

Strauss has to get a game first before we consider him starting 18 material.

J Mac is tallish but won't play as a tall defender. Garland, if fit, can play on smalls too.

B: Cheney Warnock Frawley
HB: MacDonald Rivers Bruce

Cheney just edged out Bennell and Bruce's spot could have gone to a number of players, hopefully Garland if fit.

 

[master bate]

If Garland comes back as a tall defender (who can also play small) then I'm concerned that one of Rivers or Warnock might eventually be left behind. I think we've alread conceded that Martin might be best off as a ruckmen not a fullback.

But it is all a long way off. We've got nothing like a settled best 22 which I think has been a major reason for our average football over the last couple of years.

In 5 years I'd like to see a backline like this dominating the AFL
FB: Bennell Frawley McNamara
HB: Strauss Garland Grimes

The attacking side of a backline like that could be amazing. But for now we have to continue to get the balance right between youth and experience and try to make every player improve as much as possible.

 

[Captain Jack]

Next year:

HB: MacDonald, Rivers, Bruce
FB: Warnock, Frawley, Garland

Eventually:
HB: Rivers, Frawley, Strauss
FB: Garland, Warnock, Bennell

I see Rivers playing 3rd tall over-the-top role a la Fletcher for Essendon... but more importantly, Rivers leads and organises our backline, also a la Fletcher.
Garland can play tall or small and is very agile etc...
Warnock does well on the big FFs, but I think his spot is most in question among our talls... a bit one-dimensional i think, not fantastic skills either.
Frawley is a gun.

 

[The Professor]

Next year:

HB: MacDonald, Rivers, Bruce
FB: Warnock, Frawley, Garland

Eventually:
HB: Rivers, Frawley, Strauss
FB: Garland, Warnock, Bennell

That looks about right.

Frawley, Garland and Warnock are first picks in defence.

Martin has started playing elsewhere and hopefully he goes well cause he was developing well in defence.

Rivers will find a spot cause Garland can play small.

Mcnamara still finding his feet and will develop in the VFL but i'm not quite sure where he'll fit in.

Strauss looks the fit for HB but he needs games under his belt. Bennell is the lock for the other spot.

Is that too tall, i think it's okay. Frawley and Garland are agile and will run offensively. Bennell and Strauss will run. They all are also quick with the exception of Rivers.

 

[WattsGoodForYou]

Don't worry about big Col Garland, just saw him shopping in the city, was moving very easily. Looking very fit.

 

[davey_magik]

Warnock does well on the big FFs, but I think his spot is most in question among our talls... a bit one-dimensional i think, not fantastic skills either.
Frawley is a gun.

Disagree with the Warnock bit, I think he is better than Rivers. He's good one-on-one and although skills aren't great he isn't a guy who is renowned for clangers (i.e Holland). I worry about Rivers at times as I don't think he is strong or fast enough to shut down his man and could be exposed, but I suppose you could argue his smarts make up for that.

 

[Demon Revival]

Don't worry about big Col Garland, just saw him shopping in the city, was moving very easily. Looking very fit.

Wattsy, Are you on the mainland now????

Was his pretty little blonde friend with him ???

 

[RandB]

Wattsy, Are you on the mainland now????

Was his pretty little blonde friend with him ???

Got a feeling that Garland (being recruited from Tassie Mariners) could be back down there for Xmas, not 100% sure though what his situation is.

 

[Demon Revival]

Got a feeling that Garland (being recruited from Tassie Mariners) could be back down there for Xmas, not 100% sure though what his situation is.

I thought the same thing about Garland being in Tassie, but the way Wattsy mentioned "The City", it had to be in Melb, surely.......

 

[RandB]

I thought the same thing about Garland being in Tassie, but the way Wattsy mentioned "The City", it had to be in Melb, surely.......

ah I see, you were baiting WGFY and I came in and screwed it up.

Sorry, my bad.

 

[Demon Revival]

ah I see, you were baiting WGFY and I came in and screwed it up.

Sorry, my bad.

No problem here, I thought Wattsy originally was from Melb & I have already been down the Tassie joke path, which really is boring....

 

[BigSexc]

i love to give whatsgoodforyou **** about being from tassie

 

[Capt_Concussion]

i love to give whatsgoodforyou **** about being from tassie

Why do you feel the need to be such an ass?

 

[Headless]

It's his forté.

 

[WattsGoodForYou]

Wattsy, Are you on the mainland now????

Was his pretty little blonde friend with him ???

No he was in Hobart... And yeah she was, I think i have mutual friends with her and mutual acquaintances with Colin.
I know this from life, not facebook.

Got a feeling that Garland (being recruited from Tassie Mariners) could be back down there for Xmas, not 100% sure though what his situation is.

This is correct. Actually saw him shopping last year as well.

I thought the same thing about Garland being in Tassie, but the way Wattsy mentioned "The City", it had to be in Melb, surely.......

Nice Tassie dig... Its all perspective really .

No problem here, I thought Wattsy originally was from Melb & I have already been down the Tassie joke path, which really is boring....

No not from Melbourne, alot of family there though.

i love to give whatsgoodforyou **** about being from tassie

Go it for it, I don't know what is actually funny about being a Tasmanian.

 

[Demon 16]

Warnock, Rivers, Martin, McDonald, Frawley, Garland and to a huge extent, McNamara

Youre right, will be tough to get all of these into 1 side.

When our best side is fit, Warnock, Rivers and Frawley will likely take taller marking forwards.

MacDonald will be used as a rotating half back flanker.

Garland will play forward.

Martin will swing forward, back and pinch hit in the ruck.

McNamara will play for Casey.

Not all likely to be fit at once but luckily they are a versatile bunch so they will play a number of positions each imo.

 

[Bartram_Class]

I think you can forget about Martin as a defensive option bar in the case of a supreme emergency.

We'll attempt to make a forward cum ruckman out of him, ala a Brad Ottens or David Hale.

 

[The Dr]

I think you can forget about Martin as a defensive option bar in the case of a supreme emergency.

We'll attempt to make a forward cum ruckman out of him, ala a Brad Ottens or David Hale.

Agreed. He's one of our best contested marks and should be groomed to be a big-bodied competitor up forward (kicking slightly suspect, but that hasn't stopped Miller holding down CHF for far too long) who can pinch-hit in the ruck.

 

[SugarHealey]

Just curious here but looking at Melbourne's list, it looks like they'll be entering a very tall defence for 2010 and beyond. How do you plan on squeezing in all of Warnock, Rivers, Martin, McDonald, Frawley, Garland and to a huge extent, McNamara? Surely one or two would have to miss out.

Obviously Dees supporters know that Martin & Garland can play both ends, Martin to be 2nd ruck/Forward.
Garland carrying ongoing foot stress fractures, IMO will go into the season underdone, so on this basis I think Garland would play some games at Casey & some in our senior Forwardline, not too much I presume, in defence this year.

A big year for Frawley, & Rivers trying to consolidate his form on the back of a couple of chronic injury seasons, will be looking to share backline leadership duties with Warnock. The time is now for Frawley to stamp himself as a rising star as 3rd tall with aspirations.
Whelan gone, creates an opportunity for someone to grab that role, Cheney, Bennell, with Junior Mac pinch hitting back there on smalls, anyone else?

McNamara needs to get games & experience under his belt & IMO is not ready for regular senior footy. I think he'll play a key role in defence @ Casey, just the thing he needs to help his career mature.
I have hopes he'll be a good'un.

Strauss, with others like Blease, are virtual 1st year players, & should spend nearly all year @ Casey playing & building their bodies.