The Back Six for 2013

[A FEW GOOD MEN]

Firstly, I know that teams rotate seven players through their back six (with one on the interchange) but I didn't want to confuse Spackler with the title.

I have assumed we need two key defenders plus at least one player that can also play as a tall.

My back seven would be

Reilly Rutten Otten

Mackay Talia Shaw

Interchange - Kerridge

Back up - Brown, L Thompson

Doughty - retired, Johncock - Forward/LRO, Smith - Midfield, Henderson - Midfield/Forward

I would like to see Sam Shaw as a running defender rather than play the third tall role which would be between Luke Thompson and Andy Otten. What do the other BigFooty experts think?

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

FB: Otten ~ Rutten ~ Reilly
HB: MacKay ~ Talia ~ van Berlo

I feel it's time Naff moved out of the midfield rotation and onto the half back flank where he can offer us that run and attack. This will open up a spot in the midfield for Crouch/Kerridge/Lyons.

Shaw will move to a wing.

 

[ManInTheArena]

FB: J. Tippett* | Rutten | Reilly
HB: Smith | Talia | Otten

Interchange: Lyons

*Could be a trade instead, or rookie from a league.

 

[ManInTheArena]

FB: Otten ~ Rutten ~ Reilly
HB: MacKay ~ Talia ~ van Berlo

I feel it's time Naff moved out of the midfield rotation and onto the half back flank where he can offer us that run and attack. This will open up a spot in the midfield for Crouch/Kerridge/Lyons.

Shaw will move to a wing.

I don't mind VB there except he can't utilize his main weapon - his tank.

 

[pjcrows]

Shaw doesn't have the leg to play on a wing.

 

[A FEW GOOD MEN]

Saturday was a great example of the importance of having runners in your back six who can hit a target. David Mackay has made great progress considering his lack of experience in defence. Brodie Smith was also great but I think he is destined for greater things.

That kick from Bernie in the third quarter was like a stake through the heart.

 

[Lawrst]

Ah Mckay so much promise of run and carry yet is now a defender...

Anyways. I can see Crouch in the backline like smith has been the last couple of years

 

[Geoffa32]

Brown Rutten Reilly

Smith Talia Otten/Hendo/Shaw/LT

 

[Mattrox]

I don't mind seeing run and carry players in the half back line. because they can be valuable rebound defenders who can use their tank and make the 2nd effort and follow up into the half forward line on the rebound.

 

[Mattrox]

Firstly, I know that teams rotate seven players through their back six (with one on the interchange) but I didn't want to confuse Spackler with the title.

I have assumed we need two key defenders plus at least one player that can also play as a tall.

My back seven would be

Reilly Rutten Otten

Mackay Talia Shaw
Interchange - Kerridge

Back up - Brown, L Thompson

Doughty - retired, Johncock - Forward/LRO, Smith - Midfield, Henderson - Midfield/Forward

I would like to see Sam Shaw as a running defender rather than play the third tall role which would be between Luke Thompson and Andy Otten. What do the other BigFooty experts think?

Reilly Rutten Otten

Mackay Talia Shaw
The only difference is I would like to see Thompson on interchange rather than Kerridge. BUT I am sure both players will get ample opportunity next year to develop.

 

[OrdinaryJoel]

Either Crouch, Kerridge or another rookie will take the half back flank like how Smith did for the past two years. Besides that, it seems like a good settled defensive back six!

 

[King Elvis]

Almost feel like DMc is wasted back there.

 

[PykeDream]

Almost feel like DMc is wasted back there.

How so?

He provides drive off half back which is the perfect place for a guy who likes to run carry and kick it long, but isn't prone to getting a tonne of possession. If he can transform into a bona fide consistent 30d+ winger, awesome but that's probably not going to happen at this late stage (though he has played ~20 games fewer than Danger).

 

[lincsPJ]

Otten - Rutten - Shaw
Reilly - Talia - VB

Smith and Mackay on wings

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Firstly, I know that teams rotate seven players through their back six (with one on the interchange) but I didn't want to confuse Spackler with the title.

You've come a long way!

What clinched it? The fruitless hunt for Sydney's 8th and 9th defenders?

 

[King Elvis]

VB isn't attacking enough or a good enough user of the ball to come off the HBF.

Thommo - you're probably right, just wish he'd get regular ~25 touches; because he's pure quality with the footy.

 

[Lawrst]

Almost feel like DMc is wasted back there.

Wasted?

He wouldnt be back their if he made some use of his talent.

 

[BigLefty]

if we have to say a back 7 I'm gonna go with.

Brown or Laird Rutten Otten or Shaw
Reilly Talia Crouch

rotating through - DMac

not that i think DMac is a worse player than Brown, Laird or Crouch. but he's more versatile. so i've put him as the extra.

note: this is not necessarily the strongest back 7 we could play, but i think some guys need to move up the field (Smith) and the next generation have to get a game. i'd be tempted to put Hendo back there as well but think he's a genuine schwinger!

 

[cmdosiak22]

i wouldnt be suprised to see Laird get a go as a small defender next year. He can run, he can kick and he knows how to shut down a player, we havent got too many like that.

 

[Footypie32]

I think you need as much experience in your Back 6 as you can get if you want to be a genuine contender. You can only really rely on one newbie in there. Mine would look like:


FB: Reilly - Rutten - Otten

HB: Mackay - Talia - Henderson

Shaw and Smith to rotate through as well, but Shaw to spend some time on the Wing.

 

[pext]

I think you need as much experience in your Back 6 as you can get if you want to be a genuine contender. You can only really rely on one newbie in there. Mine would look like:


FB: Reilly - Rutten - Otten

HB: Mackay - Talia - Henderson

Shaw and Smith to rotate through as well, but Shaw to spend some time on the Wing.

We need a negating player to replace Doughty and play on the Rioli's of this world. VB would be perfect but he may still be used in a midfield stopper role. Maybe one of the kids or even Tambling could be given the task.

 

[Mattrox]

I think you need as much experience in your Back 6 as you can get if you want to be a genuine contender. You can only really rely on one newbie in there. Mine would look like:


FB: Reilly - Rutten - Otten

HB: Mackay - Talia - Henderson

Shaw and Smith to rotate through as well, but Shaw to spend some time on the Wing.

I have Shaw and Smith swirling around my wine glass next season. No not Chardonnay.....

 

[Allefgib]

What do people think of Shaw playing Dogga's role as a shut down defender and contest killing spoiler? Has the pace, reads the play well and spoils relatively well - with a bit of focus he could build that up to be Dogga level golden fist. Until he can tidy up his use I'd rather he focus on defensive positioning than providing the rebounding 50's...

So considering that I would go something like

FB: Otten - Rutten - Shaw
HB: Mackay - Talia - Reilly

Shaw/Otten can both play 'ok' on smaller guys. Shaw especially could be a real advantage in this role, back his pace in to go with the Cyrils and then if he comes off them to kill a contest - so long as he kills it he shouldn't be expossed at ground level. Gives us a really nice size to a back 6 as well. That was one thing that stood out to me with Hawks on our small forwards last week. Each Hawks defender had inches on Pets/Callinan/Dougie. Tips had a few inches on Shoenmakers and Tex had a few on Gibson - but our smalls were never going to be able to contest in the air.

 

[conVINCEd]

Tambling won't be on our list in 2013.

I see Brown, Laird or possibly Shaw (is quick for a tall) as our Doughty replacement.

I think we need at least two of Mackay, Smith and Henderson giving us pace rebounding out of defence. I'd go for Mackay and Hendo and push Smith into the midfield. I know a lot of people like Hendo up forward but I prefer his speed flying off the back 50.

VB is not a defender and his time in defence under NC was frankly a disaster.

 

[dblue8]

FB: Brown ~ Rutten ~ Shaw
HB: Johncock ~ Talia ~ Henderson
Rotating through backline: Smith, Reilly, Mackay
Backups: L Thompson, Otten

Can't comment too much on some individuals because I don't see much of the Crows in Brisbane. But I do have views on what type of players we need in the backline.

Key defenders: Rutten, Talia, Otten to replace Rutten when retires. I think Otten's put on weight since his knee reco and is not as quick as he was but could take on the big forwards.
Specialist smalls: Brown, Smith, Johncock to mind key small forwards like Rioli. Requires disciplined marking defenders who can also run off.
Midsize defenders: Shaw, Henderson, Reilly, L Thompson. These guys to mark midsize, agile forwards and provide second tier defence (spare man) on big marking targets just like Gibson does for Hawthorn. Reilly has played his best footy this year as the loose defender. Only question I have is when he's loose in defence who is HIS man? Not a body on body player. Hard to assess Thompson on a couple of games especially when missing most of the season and having to slot straight into finals pressure football.

Other option is to rebadge Jenkins or McKernan as key defenders if we get more injuries.

Maybe the front six would be as much a talking point as the back six esp if Tippo goes.