Prediction Tall timber down back a massive worry.

[THATSGOLD]

Actually he is part of the answer. A fully fit Goldsack would have played every game over the past few years and been amongst our most important players. People underestimate how important he is to our structures. His versatility and ability to play big and small has been sorely missed.

Goldsack is getting old and injuries usually see players like him age even quicker. He's never gotten through a year with injury. He's a liabilly.

 

[Damon_3388]

Goldsack is getting old and injuries usually see players like him age even quicker. He's never gotten through a year with injury. He's a liabilly.

Yeah, he's had injuries, but when fit, he's always been an adequate role player. He's never been a star, but I can't really recall too many outright shit performances that were detrimental to the team over the journey. If he still has the hunger (which I'm assuming he does, otherwise he would have retired like Toovey did), and his body holds up, he'll play every week.

 

[35Daicos]

Goldsack is getting old and injuries usually see players like him age even quicker. He's never gotten through a year with injury. He's a liabilly.

The Western Bulldogs have recently won a Grand Final with Dale Morris and Joel Hamling as their tall defenders. A 33-year-old veteran (albeit one who is still playing decent football) and an unheralded discard who couldn't manage a game in three years at his previous club, respectively. Marcus Adams played well down back earlier in the season before getting injured. They're a pretty uninspiring lot, however, and you may have been scoffed at, if this time last year you'd said they'd be good enough to help the team win a premiership.

You've been telling us for years how poor our backline (along with other parts of the team) is, and how "we'll never win a premiership with ~~ in our side". Now, most of those defenders you didn't rate have gone and we'll have a new look defence. Perhaps it might surprise people, just like the Bulldogs' did.

What's a "liabilly", BTW?

 

[ClaytonM]

What's a "liabilly", BTW?

It is a bloke called William who doesn't tell the truth.

 

[35Daicos]

It is a bloke called William who doesn't tell the truth.

TG may have had this well regarded 60's film in mind when he posted that, I've always suspected that he has a cultured side, and that Australian Football is not his first love!:-

 

[THATSGOLD]

The Western Bulldogs have recently won a Grand Final with Dale Morris and Joel Hamling as their tall defenders. A 33-year-old veteran (albeit one who is still playing decent football) and an unheralded discard who couldn't manage a game in three years at his previous club, respectively. Marcus Adams played well down back earlier in the season before getting injured. They're a pretty uninspiring lot, however, and you may have been scoffed at, if this time last year you'd said they'd be good enough to help the team win a premiership.

You've been telling us for years how poor our backline (along with other parts of the team) is, and how "we'll never win a premiership with ~~ in our side". Now, most of those defenders you didn't rate have gone and we'll have a new look defence. Perhaps it might surprise people, just like the Bulldogs' did.

What's a "liabilly", BTW?

Well Adams was a great pick up so they aren't bad in defence. Marsh is basically our Adams who has walked out.

 

[35Daicos]

Well Adams was a great pick up so they aren't bad in defence. Marsh is basically our Adams who has walked out.

There's no doubt we look to be very light on for tall defenders (and tall forwards!). But going into the 2016 season so did the Bulldogs, with Morris probably the only proven key defender on their books. Fortunately for them Hamling emerged and Adams did a good job as well. A year ago you could hardly have been confident that they were well off enough for tall defenders, yet they obviously got the job done. With Dunn, Keeffe and Reid we have a pretty uninspiring lot as well, yet we possibly look to have more going for us with that trio than how the Bulldogs looked leading into last season. Hopefully our group can surprise, just as theirs did.

Somewhat ironically, Hamling has headed home to WA (Adams was keen to follow him), leaving them short at the back again/still. They do have that Premiership cup to console them, however!

 

[jc37]

I think sometimes under sized key defenders can work to your advantage as they can run off their opponent once the ball is killed. Harvey in 93 the year the bombers won the flag was arguably their best player (Wanganeen won the Brownlow) and was giving up 10cm's at CHB. Wood this year for the bulldogs spent a lot of time at CHB. Stratton for the Hawks.