Reality Check

[scottwade]

Any thoughts on Jesse White to the backline?
Consider the following.
Big.tick
Athletic. Tick
Knows where to go and what to do. Cross.
So, in the backline he could be reactive and wouldn't have to mark, (the amount of times he leads hard and the ball bounces off his chest...Arrgh.)

Just brainstorming.

My concern with White in the backline is the fact that he struggles to read the movement ahead of him and place himself in the best position for the ball carrier.

Down back I fear it would be the same.
A forward double leads and White would be totally reactive and end up lost.
A good defender positions himself not only with regard to the player he is matched up on, but also takes into account how the ball comes into his area.
I just think White is fairly clueless in that regard.

As a backmen I just see his opponent getting a break on White and leading him to the ball, with Jesse trailing in his wake. White is athletic, but IMO that would not be enough to cover his lack of footy nous.

 

[db swannie]

Hilarious!

care for some productive input?



And here's my point exactly. We're not going to get much for him tradewise, he's not good enough to be a forward at AFL level, (but can dominate in the 2s), so what are we supposed to do? Be happy to pay him to run around in the 2s with the occasional frustrating stint in the seniors?

I guess my point is that this notion has been floated many, many times on here. I'm sure if the coaching panel saw a future for White in the backline they would've explored it by now. At the risk of repeating what's already been said, I don't think he has the footy nous to play on a key forward. He's too slow and unwieldy and is quite slow to react. I wish him all the best, and I was a long time supporter and fan of Jesse, but I think I was wrong. I don't think he has what it takes to make it as an AFL player at Sydney.

 

[Gongswan]

Hilarious!

care for some productive input?



And here's my point exactly. We're not going to get much for him tradewise, he's not good enough to be a forward at AFL level, (but can dominate in the 2s), so what are we supposed to do? Be happy to pay him to run around in the 2s with the occasional frustrating stint in the seniors?

Always a possibility that we cld get a draft pick from GC or GWS, if not, time to delist and start again with another young bloke. I have advocated a move to the backline early last year, but I'm over it and him, completely

 

[Eshay187]

Backline talk is madness, can you imagine him haranguing and carowling a forward? Do you think he has the downfield vision to set up a rebound? Please.

If he is going to be used, it has to be as a forward.

 

[MF]

Backline talk is madness, can you imagine him haranguing and carowling a forward? Do you think he has the downfield vision to set up a rebound? Please.

If he is going to be used, it has to be as a forward.

And even if there was some merit to the idea, can anyone see him improving to the point where he'd be in front of any one of Richards, Grundy, LRT or Johnson which he would need to be.

 

[GoTheSwannies]

I don't see white as a capable defender, I don't know why people would want to try him down back. We're just as likely to draft/trade for a capable defender. It seems like people are just determined to find a place for him in the side, its not really necessary imo, if he's not up to it he's not up to it.

I do however see value in keeping him on the list and have him continue to develop in the seconds for a year or two more (if we can't get a suitable trade for him). And have him come in in case of injury. I think its important to continue to develop him in the dual forward/ruck role. he could possibly come good in a couple of years. Teddy made a lot of silly errors in his first few years on our list but he's really developed into a solid player & decision maker.

The reason why I think we should persevere with white is because he's potentially an extremely valuable player. White has the potential to become a paddy rider type of ruck, suited to the second ruck role, with his athleticism and basketball background he could.become the versatile type of player that specialises in the 2nd ruck role.

Atm, our second ruck option is a weakness, seabs has run his race, pyke may never develop the other areas of his game, lrt is a serviceable 2nd ruck and does the job. But teams like essendon & west coast have a pretty big advantage with their 2nd rucks being mobile and able to go forward. Mobile big men who can play ruck/forward are gold in today's game with the sub rule. Given a bit more time and development could see white develop into that type of player.

 

[dread and might]

Backline talk is madness, can you imagine him haranguing and carowling a forward? Do you think he has the downfield vision to set up a rebound? Please.

If he is going to be used, it has to be as a forward.

I certainly can't imagine him carowling anyone, as I have absolutely no idea what that means. Sounds ferocious though, you might be suspended.

If he's going to stay on the list, then there's no reason he couldn't work on positioning, setting up rebounds etc...

I like the idea of him as a second ruck/forward, just that I'm not filled with hope about him ever being a useful forward.

Plenty of forwards have succesfully become backmen. Barry for one, Tarrant, Ben Reid, just to name a few off the top of my head.

LRT is almost 29 Mattner is 29 Ted is 29.