I picked Spurr as my buddy this year because I could foresee the team playing kids, whilst a few stalwarts remained, and eventually the spotlight would be shone brightly on Mr Spurr. He's not quite our whipping boy yet... but is an obvious target once we start losing - especially if it's from some of his turnovers.
Anyway, simple fact is he's the only defender in our leadership group, which grants him immunity powers at the selection table. With Dawson voted off the island already, it leaves Spurr, MJ, and ibbo as our experienced defenders.
MJ plays tall, and could conceivably be in his last year, with AP the obvious replacement later in the year. If MJ goes down injured, Dawson or Collins would replace him. Maybe MJ plays on next year if he gets thru the year unscathed.
This leaves Spurr and Ibbo as possibly needing replacements if you believe their best footy is (a) behind them, or (b) just not good enough anymore. Spurr is 30 this year and contracted for 2018. Ibbo is 29 and out of contract this year.
Spurr seems to be going about his business as usual. Numbers are consistent (slightly up), courage undoubted, leadership acknowledged. Skills have always been so-so, and he's never been known for his pace. His intercepting is still high quality. We have a very skinny backline, so he's also somewhat of our nugget down there.
Ibbo for me has gone backwards. Numbers are down, particularly his marks. Given he's out of contract, I would imagine he's the next cab off the ranks to make way for an emerging talent. But who is that talent?
I think it's important to settle on a preferred back 6, rather than look at players in isolation. So maybe we get games into kids this year, that we see as future back 6, even if it unsettles the line up for now.
Luke Ryan should slot in nicely if he's ever not injured - intercept/rebounding defender.
Nyhuis seems a like for like replacement for Spurr - if we wanted to go that way. Better skills and slightly faster, but still mostly a lock down defender. Not a great interceptor. Rookie listed. May be a stop gap, but unlikely "an answer".
Tucker - I think we could only have one of Tucker/Weller/Crozier down back. None are natural defenders and will leak goals if isolated one on one.
Hughes - is pretty much an Ibbo clone, learning on the job at the moment. Maybe a slightly better athlete and better/quicker disposer of the ball.
Logue - been played forward and back at the moment. Covers for MJ when in the ruck. Should settle down back in the long run.
So what could our backline look like at the end of the year / next year (assuming no JJ - who I think we're into in a big way). Some options based on current list:
Spurr AP Hughes
Weller Hamling Ryan
Logue AP Hughes
Weller Hamling Ryan *my preferred
Logue Collins Hughes
Weller Hamling Ryan (AP fwd/ruck yuck)
Spurr AP Hamling
Weller MJ Ryan (back in MJ - would need to be in finals mode. Logue swing/mid)
Anyway. Many permutations. I've locked Ryan and Weller in on the flanks. Ryan needs to not be injured so we can see what he brings. Weller will need to improve his spoiling and one on one work. Do spurr and MJ make up the mix? Will Logue and/or AP ultimately settle down back. Is Collins part of future B22. Where does Cox fit into the scene. More questions than answers at this point. But fair to say Dawson and sutcliffe (and probably ibbo and maybe spurr) aren't part of the answer going forward. When do we get access to that Carter kid via the academy? Could be exciting.
Wasn't meant to be a long post haha fail. But what our future back 6 looks like, and how that shapes our B22 is fascinating.
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