Doing an overnight shift.
Having a look at the list.
We need something. I dunno. Sick of not being good enough, consistently never good enough...
Mock 22 for 2017
B: Dylan Grimes - SOMEONE (Chaplin) - SOMEONE (Batchelor)
HB: Chris Yarran - Alex Rance - SOMEONE (Houli)
C: Brett Deledio - Nick Vlastuin - Trent Cotchin
HF: Ben Lennon - SOMEONE (Vickery) - SOMEONE (Lloyd... still not entirely sold and want Lennon to be the first choice come 2017)
F: Daniel Rioli - Jack Riewoldt - SOMEONE (......)
R: SOMEONE - Dustin Martin - Reece Conca
Int: Anthony Miles - Shane Edwards - Shaun Grigg - Corey Ellis
Then there's Menadue, Markov, McIntosh, Drummond......and maybe Chol and Callum Moore.
Dunno what to do with B. Ellis, Griffiths, Lambert, Morris nor McBean. I don't believe any of them will take us far, but dunno that we can get much for them as trades.
Anyone else I haven't mentioned, I don't have any faith in whatsoever.
So we have some very good players and some good ones, and where I put SOMEONE and then a name in brackets, I still think those players can do well for us in 2017, but would prefer some upgrades if we can.
A lot of people hate Chaplin, but he is easily our next best after Rance.
Astbury isn't good enough. So until we find a genuine player here, we MUST keep Chaplin or we will fall to bits.
I dunno that we will keep Conca, but I really hope we do, is a gun at his best with other good players around him and WILL tackle.
I have filled the whole midfield above... but it's still lacking.... let's be honest... A lot (even Cotchin) could be upgraded. Most of them aren't real strong two-way runners, none of them are the new-style (is it even new?) tall, rangy midfielder.. and they don't often take control of games as a group.
We see flashes of individual brilliance, but they don't hunt together and overwhelm teams, and really never look like they are dominant and in control of matches.
I think Brendon Lade MUST GO as midfield coach... So should the forward coach. And whoever the coach is that teaches us how to set up in defensive stoppages. And whoever coaches us on NOT letting the ball get out the back for easy goals to blokes with no one on them. F**k.
So what do we need?? (how the f*** are ever gonna fix this?!)
- I may have filled the midfield, but we need some more. At least ONE more absolute gun. And one more that is at least the level of Conca or Vlastuin.
- To cover the 'SOMEONEs', we need:
> A new key position defender
> Medium/Small defender
> Rebounding defender who still defends (that said, we may love the pairing of Yarran and Houli next year IF we see it)
> Key position forward who can ruck
> Tall or medium forward
> Gun midfielder
> Ruckman
They are in no particular order but I reckon we could drastically improve for 2017 by adding a gun Ruck, a gun Mid, and drafting a good kid that is ready.
So, Round 1 2017 might look like this:
B: Grimes - Chaplin - Batchelor/McIntosh
HB: Yarran - Rance - Houli
C: Deledio - Vlastuin - Cotchin
HF: Lennon - Vickery - Lloyd/New kid
F: Rioli - Riewoldt - Edwards
R: NEW RUCK - Martin - Conca
Int: NEW MID - Miles - Grigg - C Ellis
emg: Menadue - Drummond - Markov
Is that side gonna be enough?
Hard to say.....
Is Prestia really the one who would make that midfield group elite?
Could Brad Crouch be the one that has enough of what we need and enough point of difference?
Or is there someone else we can throw big money at?
I actually have a feeling Drummond will be best 22 next year.
If we do get those 2 to 4 guns in the next two off-seasons, and draft REALLY well in that the new kids are good enough to step straight in, then we might be okay, as we do have some absolute superstars and a solid core.
I am just worried that we just won't get it together whilst Deledio, Riewoldt, Rance and Edwards are in the side. What a waste, particularly the first 3. Absolute guns.
And then when they retire, we could be really far back again and rebuilding, and then suddenly Cotchin and Dusty are on their last legs and we're even further back...
F**k... The cycle is endless. Sorry for the post becoming so lengthy guys.
I'm doing my own head in. And it tells me that, no matter who you have at the helm, it is a f*****g tough business to be a part of and you need a heap of luck to win premierships, no matter how well you think you are drafting, players turn out to be spuds, peak early and never really go another step, the group doesn't gel, the age dynamic is off, you get injuries.. it goes on and on.
So I guess, all you can do is stick tough. Keep barracking. Hope that we're the next team that happens to be smart (and lucky) enough to click everything into place at the same (and right) time, and.... try to not care TOO much in the meantime.
But one thing's for sure:
> We need good picks. We HAVE to write this season off.
> Try some things.
> Try Vickery as No.1 Ruck.
> Give Markov games now.
> Friggen play McBean.
> At least give Butler a game or two.
> It's midyear, upgrade Chol or Callum Moore (betcha they upgrade Marcon...)
Anyway. Have a good weekend fellas. Don't dwell on it as much as I am, you'll go bloody crazy.