We know the game plan isnt good so it needs to be completely overhauled, just look at the top teams where their players run when they have the ball and more importantly when they dont have it, we are clueless, also another important peace of play is minding space west coast are the masters at this and north have taken this on more so this year, on Friday they forced us to kick long time after time that just = dumb football as we gave the ball back countless times as we did when we played WC in Perth...Going to leave the game plan there for now others can elaborate further on this.
On the list itself it isnt hopeless that im sure most of us know but it definitely has holes that need fixing, primarily a ruckman who can play as a midfielder, ie: goldsein, gawn etc also the lack of tall athletic defenders is our biggest worry, take out rance and grimes and the kitchen is bloody bare, well the rest in chaplin, astbury, elton, batchelor not up to it...Broad guess the only one waiting in the wings this is ludicrous how it could come to this...
Just to break it down where i see the holes needed in each category to improve on more, well some players (the younger ones) ive put them in the category where i see them playing in the next year or 2...
Rucks: Maric (end of the line), Hampson (not up to it, can get all the tap outs in the world but if u can't impact around the ground and take contested marks then you're just making up the numbers) and Soldo to early to tell.
Our midfield is good but the depth isn't, so who are our upcoming mids?
Well players whom i see first and foremost as a mid is Corey Ellis and Drummond...Some of our small forwards obviously can/will rotate through there but as pure mids we are bare...
Need strong mids with pace and skill, no more plodders please, ie: townsend etc
Midfield:
Cotchin
Martin
Miles
Vlastuin
Grigg
Conca
C.Ellis
Drummond
Marcon (mature age)
Townsend (not the future)
Our wingers/utility, what can i say unless Brandon Ellis pulls his finger out there's not much else well i rate McIntosh who is a hard runner, wins his own ball, strong at the contest and is a good mark.
Markov and Menadue i also rate they're the future...Andrew Moore definitely not.
Wingers/Utility:
Ellis
Markov
McIntosh
Menadue
Andrew Moore (not the future)
For our Tall fwds, this is one area which we have some depth, the youth look promising in McBean
McKenzie, Callum Moore & Chol with the mature regulars in Jack, Ty and Griff
Tall Forwards:
Riewoldt
Griffiths
Vickery
McBean
McKenzie
Callum Moore
Chol
Geez our classy HFF's only Lids who is in his late 20's and Lennon, need a few more classy half forwards.
Half Forwards:
Deledio/Mid
Lennon
Our young small fwds, somewhat addressed this problem in the last couple of years with rioli, short & butler but i still wouldn't mind another 1 or 2 crafty n sleek forwards to complement the current crop.
Small Forwards:
Edwards/Mid
Rioli/Mid
Short/Mid
Lloyd
Lambert/Mid
Butler/mid
As mentioned at the start of this post apart from Rance and Grimes it's a train wreck, either to slow and/or not mobile enough or not strong enough one on one....(broad the exception as haven't seen enough of him) but shows promise.
Tall Backs:
Rance
Grimes
Astbury
Chaplin
Elton
Batchelor
Broad (mature age)
Our Half backs wow guess really 2 in yarran (if he plays) and houli both 25 or older and hunt not the answer.
Half Backs:
Yarran
Houli
Hunt
Small backs very very bare, enough said.
Small Backs:
Morris
Castagna - In time could well go into the midfield or forward