- Joined
- Aug 12, 2004
- Posts
- 14,638
- Reaction score
- 142
- Location
- Inside 50
- AFL Club
- Adelaide
- Other Teams
- The van Berlos
This is a little long winded but it seems to be the major topic for debate lately.
It’s been interesting to read everyone’s views on the ruck situation leading into the finals - ie experience vs development etc.
This year has been an extraordinary year whereby we have had a large number of injuries but we’re still in a position to challenge for the flag. It will be interesting to see what happens from here in terms of selection and how the club manages the return of some more senior players – ie does the club return the “names” to the side – or stick with the personnel that has got us here?
From my perspective – all things being equal you would want to enter a final series with your best 22 on the park – (no surprise there) – so who are they and how do we evolve to that situation. The following players are clearly “First 22” players and should be removed from the discussion so we can focus at the margin.
Roo, Goody, Burton, McLeod, Stiffy, Edwards, Truck, Mattner, Bassett, Hentschel, Biglands, Doughty, Kenny, Shirley, Reilly.
That’s 15 players which leaves 7 places up for grabs discounting injuries of course.
This is where it gets tough to make objective decisions. You would think that the remaining 7 positions would be taken by
Ben Hart
Scott Thompson
Ian Perrie
Nathan Bock
Jason Torney
One of Hudson or Clarke
Possibly Scott Welsh.
That leaves the following who would be extremely unlucky to miss as they have played some very good football during the year.
Massie
Bode
Van Berlo
Stevens
Porplyzia
Knights
Maric
One of Huddo and Clarke
….and maybe toss in Skippy and Vince.
The harsh reality is that these 17 players at the margin will all be fighting for 7ish spots and the priority for the club for the next 7 rounds is to come to a landing on our best 22. Unfortunately during this process there will be casualties in terms of non-selection – but the match committee would be derelict in its duty if it did not head toward this optimum team situation.
This week we have seen Maric and Porps the victim of this squeeze and I suspect there will be a few more unlucky players over the coming weeks.
There are some very tough decisions to make – ultimately injury and form will help make the answers a little clearer.
So – for those wanting to develop youngsters over the next 7 weeks – I think that is very important – but surely the first order of business for the club is to solve the conundrums I’ve outlined – and set the club to win this year’s flag if possible rather than looking to next year’s development right now. If both can be achieved at once – great – but putting our best side on the park over the next 2 months is more important IMO
Thoughts? – ridicule ? – name calling?
It’s been interesting to read everyone’s views on the ruck situation leading into the finals - ie experience vs development etc.
This year has been an extraordinary year whereby we have had a large number of injuries but we’re still in a position to challenge for the flag. It will be interesting to see what happens from here in terms of selection and how the club manages the return of some more senior players – ie does the club return the “names” to the side – or stick with the personnel that has got us here?
From my perspective – all things being equal you would want to enter a final series with your best 22 on the park – (no surprise there) – so who are they and how do we evolve to that situation. The following players are clearly “First 22” players and should be removed from the discussion so we can focus at the margin.
Roo, Goody, Burton, McLeod, Stiffy, Edwards, Truck, Mattner, Bassett, Hentschel, Biglands, Doughty, Kenny, Shirley, Reilly.
That’s 15 players which leaves 7 places up for grabs discounting injuries of course.
This is where it gets tough to make objective decisions. You would think that the remaining 7 positions would be taken by
Ben Hart
Scott Thompson
Ian Perrie
Nathan Bock
Jason Torney
One of Hudson or Clarke
Possibly Scott Welsh.
That leaves the following who would be extremely unlucky to miss as they have played some very good football during the year.
Massie
Bode
Van Berlo
Stevens
Porplyzia
Knights
Maric
One of Huddo and Clarke
….and maybe toss in Skippy and Vince.
The harsh reality is that these 17 players at the margin will all be fighting for 7ish spots and the priority for the club for the next 7 rounds is to come to a landing on our best 22. Unfortunately during this process there will be casualties in terms of non-selection – but the match committee would be derelict in its duty if it did not head toward this optimum team situation.
This week we have seen Maric and Porps the victim of this squeeze and I suspect there will be a few more unlucky players over the coming weeks.
- Will Perrie and Welsh regain their positions in a pretty efficient forward line.?
- Will Hart be able to pick up where he left off?
- Will Thommo’s form become more consistent and worthy of keeping other small forwards/rotating midfielders out of the side?
- Can Bodey tip out someone like Welsh or Thommo?
- After Stevo’s reinvention as a CHB, is there a spot for him in the side?
- Is there only 1 spot for either of Torney, Massie, and Van Berlo?
- What then of Knights and Porps – 2 guys who are very much stars of tomorrow?
- How will Huddo return and is 12 months off enough to give Clarke the edge at selection for finals – and where does this leave Maric and Meeson?
There are some very tough decisions to make – ultimately injury and form will help make the answers a little clearer.
So – for those wanting to develop youngsters over the next 7 weeks – I think that is very important – but surely the first order of business for the club is to solve the conundrums I’ve outlined – and set the club to win this year’s flag if possible rather than looking to next year’s development right now. If both can be achieved at once – great – but putting our best side on the park over the next 2 months is more important IMO
Thoughts? – ridicule ? – name calling?
