Settle the backline now

[witsend]

Fully agree with the rotation policy, blooding kids and resting seniors, but the time is now to settle our defence.
Our first 10 games or so we were pretty settled down back and I'd like to see some very quick decisions made on who our defenders are.
You can mess around with the midfield somewhat, as there are so many i/c during a game anyway, and the forward line will take more work and can be dependant on supply. If our flag chances come down to who the last 2 forwards selected are, we have no chance, but if our defense is at it's best and we can limit whomever we play to 70-80 points in a final, anything is possible!

I think we need 7 defenders named in our team, plus mids like Kelly and Bartel who tend to push back hard as well.
Scarlo, Taylor and Lonners are the obvious 3 talls.
Mackie in current form and Enright are locks.
I say the Hunts are in. Josh for his proven ability over a long time to lock down small forwards plus he has played some outstanding finals and is an elite long kick. He will turn it over on occasion, but the good outweighs the bad. Taylor Hunt gives genuine run and can play the Wojo role with a little more of a defensive mindset.
Milburn misses, sadly, unless there is an injury or poor form.
Wojo only plays if he finds an amazing burst of form now, or he plays on the wing.

I can't stress this enough. We must go into finals with a back group that are completely in sync with each other, or we are no chance.
Get that right and we should be feared by all!

 

[alfy!]

Re: Settle the Backline...NOW!

Milburn in for mine, he is invaluable for big games and finals.

 

[Poetic Justice]

Re: Settle the Backline...NOW!

Milburn in for mine, he is invaluable for big games and finals.

Quoted for sheer agreement

 

[you pick one]

Re: Settle the Backline...NOW!

J Hunt Scarlett Lonners

Mackie H Taylor Enright

Milburn (sub)

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Re: Settle the Backline...NOW!

The problem is that with the 27 to go into 22 thing, the omissions are more likely come from the defensive group rather than anywhere else, because the Hunts and Milburn are defenders, as is Wojo. Therefore they need to keep rotating the defence to give all those guys games, as well as those pushing their way in (as Bundy has done) in order to decide who to drop.

To be honest I am more concerned about playing a slow backline in finals than I am about playing one that hasn't been settled for 6 weeks, all the guys are professionals and train together multiple times a week, they know their roles and will play well with whomever they are partnered with come the first final.

 

[catempire]

Re: Settle the Backline...NOW!

Milburn in for mine, he is invaluable for big games and finals.

Quoted for sheer agreement

Quoted both for additional agreement.

And I've got no doubt he'll be there if his body holds up.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Re: Settle the Backline...NOW!

Back on topic of OP, for me it is:
Scarlett Enright Taylor Lonergan Mackie Taylor Hunt
Other options: Kelly, Corey, Duncan, Menzel,

Controversial but that's it.

Wojo has done nothing wrong but he's been on the fringes of selection these past couple of years and unless he finds the form of the first 6 weeks of the year soon, he will be squeezed out for Bundy and Duncan.

Josh Hunt also, apart from some poor form at times, I would still be happy to have in the side but we've got such depth he's the one I had to squeeze out for 27 into 22.

Milburn I feel very bad dropping and purely on form I'd have him over Poodle (which is why I feel bad) but that defence is too slow, and so Poodle's pace gets him over the line for me. That and the combination of Dasher having missed several weeks during our heaviest training phase, convinced me to go that way. Having said that, I expect them to play Dasher in the finals.

I really want to put a 7th defender in the 22 to give us coverage for injuries but there's just no spot available. The others I listed are what we'd have to go with if someone got injured in game.

P.S. against Carlton I'd drop Lonners for any of Dasher Wojo or Josh.

 

[you pick one]

Re: Settle the Backline...NOW!

Back on topic of OP, for me it is:
Scarlett Enright Taylor Lonergan Mackie Taylor Hunt
Other options: Kelly, Corey, Duncan, Menzel,

Controversial but that's it.



Thats the exact reason why I went J over T. Hunt, (and the experience).

Form in the last couple of weeks will probably settle that one.

 

[rocker_oz33]

Re: Settle the Backline...NOW!

Quoted both for additional agreement.

And I've got no doubt he'll be there if his body holds up.

agree with all 3 quotes.

 

[allrighty]

Re: Settle the Backline...NOW!

agree with all 3 quotes.

Yep a must starter. Wise old head = young bull vs old bull.

 

[JUBJUB]

Re: Settle the Backline...NOW!

I say the Hunts are in. Josh for his proven ability over a long time to lock down small forwards

thanks for that laugh

 

[witsend]

Re: Settle the Backline...NOW!

thanks for that laugh

Well the MC seem to think it's true. Don't let the odd bad game or turnover disguise the fact that he has a good track record on those types of players.

 

[Zane Taylor]

Re: Settle the Backline...NOW!

I want J Hunt out.
Can't agree with the OPs call in regards Josh.

Proven ability over a long time to lock down small forwards?

Sorry, not the same bloke I watch (against anyone of quality he blows it- names like Nick Davis, Stephen Milne ring a bell?)

Some outstanding finals?

Name them, really name them. What games? (see Davis/Milne comment).

Elite long kick?

Dunno about that. One, he rarely does it any more, and the bigger worry is his short passing/decision making (remember a crucial moment kicking in to Harry Taylor in the '08 GF?).

He will turn it over on occasion?

Only when it really matters, and at the most crucial of game breaking times.

And the good (short list) does not outweigh the bad.

He wasn't there on GF day '09 (or the whole season for that matter), and we were all the better for it. Don't wish to be Nostradamus, but if we go down in this finals series, I guarantee there will be a Josh Hunt howler (or 2) that will be talked about.

 

[PatrickBateman]

Re: Settle the Backline...NOW!

Back on topic of OP, for me it is:
Scarlett Enright Taylor Lonergan Mackie Taylor Hunt
Other options: Kelly, Corey, Duncan, Menzel,

Controversial but that's it.

Wojo has done nothing wrong but he's been on the fringes of selection these past couple of years and unless he finds the form of the first 6 weeks of the year soon, he will be squeezed out for Bundy and Duncan.

Josh Hunt also, apart from some poor form at times, I would still be happy to have in the side but we've got such depth he's the one I had to squeeze out for 27 into 22.

Milburn I feel very bad dropping and purely on form I'd have him over Poodle (which is why I feel bad) but that defence is too slow, and so Poodle's pace gets him over the line for me. That and the combination of Dasher having missed several weeks during our heaviest training phase, convinced me to go that way. Having said that, I expect them to play Dasher in the finals.

I really want to put a 7th defender in the 22 to give us coverage for injuries but there's just no spot available. The others I listed are what we'd have to go with if someone got injured in game.

P.S. against Carlton I'd drop Lonners for any of Dasher Wojo or Josh.

Taylor Hunt has shown that he's pretty one dimensional and has a little trouble sometimes, seems lost at times. His one-on-one ability isn't up to scratch either, not against the best forward smalls come finals.

 

[you pick one]

Re: Settle the Backline...NOW!

Easy to agree with the last two posters but sure we will play one of them.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Re: Settle the Backline...NOW!

Back on topic of OP, for me it is:
Scarlett Enright Taylor Lonergan Mackie Taylor Hunt
Other options: Kelly, Corey, Duncan, Menzel,

Controversial but that's it.



Thats the exact reason why I went J over T. Hunt, (and the experience).

Form in the last couple of weeks will probably settle that one.

Don't agree that Josh's form is good enough right now to have settled it, although that could happen between now and finals because of durable body vs young kid's body that might tire.

On your bolded point I've done the math many times and unless Menzel isn't fit (we all know if fit what he offers to the side, and he'll play on that form) there's no 7th defender, there's just no one to drop to fit that 7th defender in, so we'll have to run with whatever back 6 we have, so it's good Scott has been trying other options down there so we know what we have if one of the 6 gets injured in a final.

 

[Claude Balls]

Re: Settle the Backline...NOW!

Zane Taylor summed it up pretty well about Josh. I just don`t understand where others are coming from when they say he has a proven track record on small forwards. For a guy weighing 100kg, he gets outmanouvred with embarrasing ease. And his supposed value to the team in terms of long kicking is totally overblown as well.

 

[catempire]

Re: Settle the Backline...NOW!

On your bolded point I've done the math many times and unless Menzel isn't fit (we all know if fit what he offers to the side, and he'll play on that form) there's no 7th defender, there's just no one to drop to fit that 7th defender in, so we'll have to run with whatever back 6 we have, so it's good Scott has been trying other options down there so we know what we have if one of the 6 gets injured in a final.

It's worth noting though, that your "math" has us playing two ruckmen. There's a very good chance they won't do this and there's your 7th defender spot right there.

 

[witsend]

Re: Settle the Backline...NOW!

I want J Hunt out.
Can't agree with the OPs call in regards Josh.

Proven ability over a long time to lock down small forwards?

Sorry, not the same bloke I watch (against anyone of quality he blows it- names like Nick Davis, Stephen Milne ring a bell?)

Some outstanding finals?

Name them, really name them. What games? (see Davis/Milne comment).

Elite long kick?

Dunno about that. One, he rarely does it any more, and the bigger worry is his short passing/decision making (remember a crucial moment kicking in to Harry Taylor in the '08 GF?).

He will turn it over on occasion?

Only when it really matters, and at the most crucial of game breaking times.

And the good (short list) does not outweigh the bad.

He wasn't there on GF day '09 (or the whole season for that matter), and we were all the better for it. Don't wish to be Nostradamus, but if we go down in this finals series, I guarantee there will be a Josh Hunt howler (or 2) that will be talked about.

Off the top of my head 2007 GF and QF come to mind.
Why do you think he keeps getting named in the side by both Thompson and Scott?
It's because he consistently takes the dangerous small forward and does the job well.
The nature of players like Milne, Davis et al is that they tend to be cameo players who pop up with bursts of brilliance and tend to embarrass their opponents. There are many here who like to use Josh as a whipping boy, but he is a fine player who would be starting in any team that chose him.
I agree I would like to see him utilise his long kicking more, but with the presses employed now the game has changed and surgically precise kicking is often the only viable option.
The problem for Josh is that if he does his job well he doesn't get noticed, if he has a lapse he looks terrible, true of all defenders.
I still think he's the last picked in our back 6 and Id be happy if T. Hunt was in for him, but I don't think Taylor Hunt has the defensive capabilities of Josh at this stage in his career.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Re: Settle the Backline...NOW!

It's worth noting though, that your "math" has us playing two ruckmen. There's a very good chance they won't do this and there's your 7th defender spot right there.

Fair point, and that may well be the answer.

I still think it's the wrong answer though, having Ottens ruck with no support in finals at 31.

Having said that, they are actually playing the four talls this week, so one wonders if they are re-considering. A month ago I would definitely have said they're only taking 3 into finals.

 

[catempire]

Agree, this is their last test of the 4 tall system. West could actually be quite a wildcard if he can produce a few more weeks of high quality form as 2nd ruck. Vardy, of course, is not out of it yet either.

 

[CatTricks]

Anyone got any news on Vardy's hammy?

 

[Sttew]

Re: Settle the Backline...NOW!

Is Josh Hunt the new Mackie, Blake and Hawkins? Having said that, if he would only start using his long penetrating kick, I'd rest easy.