The Backline, it needs to settle

[Shaneprice97]

Its all over the place, players have been bopping in out out all year and if that continues we wont grow as a team. We need to combine our best defenders together for 2015 and hope all of them can play 22 games that season to know eachothers strengths and weaknesses. And with Maxwell almost sure to retire at the end of the season, are we getting much out of playing him currently? Hes great for leadership but is this benefitting us going forward?

I think we are going to lack a 3rd tall once Maxwell does retire, he was one of the better ones out there, whos going to replace that? Max could play on 200cm ruckman(Daniel Currie and Ben Griffiths) resting forward and could keep them under wraps, but he could also hold his own against a 3rd key forward(J-Pod) if he had the support around him. He was exposed this week for sure, but that was the selectors fault and not his, Keeffe destroyed Carlisle on Anzac Day and they were dumb enough to drop him for this game? Hope they taught themselves a lesson.

Who comes in as that third tall? Does Reid go down back and play a Lachie Hansen(From North) type of role with Jack Frost and Nathan Brown taking the 2 best forwards? or does he stay in the forward?

Does Jon Marsh come into the seniors next season? Hes really come on as a backman and he likes to drift off of his man to intercept mark at VFL level, and his disposal has really improved judging from reports(Can regular VFL watchers confirm this), i think we have something to work with there but you wouldnt think he is ready for next year despite being an emergency 2-3 times this season.

Do we recruit a player capable of playing as a 3rd tall for us? Perhaps a Angus Litherland(192cm) from the Hawks? Ariel Stienberg(191cm) from the Dons? Tom Clurey(193cm) or Cam O'Shea(193cm) from Port? Another option could be recruiting a young KPD in Sam Frost to join his brother, GWS have plenty of defensive options and look to have settle with Phil Davis, Tim Mohr as the posts, the 3rd tall spot looks up for grabs there.
Id say Matt Scharenberg could be an option, but he looks more likely to be a back flanker midfielder instead of a 3rd tall.

Another option could be Keeffe, Brown and Frost down back together, but i am unsure how that combo could work, i would give it a go but theres a chance it could be too tall. Do we sign James Frawley instead to add a bit less height and more experience down back?

As far as small and medium defenders go, i think we need to settle with Scharenberg, Langdon, Williams and Seedsman, play thoses guys together and they can gain experience and get used to eachothers company similar to the Geelong Dynasty Backline, those blokes would have played 100's of games together. Are Toovey, Young and Lumumba apart of us going forward? or should we trade them off?

Just a discussion, i think we have stagnated down back and our current crop we are using wont go anywhere.

 

[Babylove]

I think our whole team needs to settle and get some stability too it. With high list turnovers the last few years we have a lot of footballers who have not played a lot football together. I think that does have an effect on performance.

If you look at most of the top sides, one thing they have in common is the core of their lists have played a lot of football together.

 

[TradeDraft]

Maxy is Injured so there be more Changes

 

[mattys123]

Does Jon Marsh come into the seniors next season? Hes really come on as a backman and he likes to drift off of his man to intercept mark at VFL level, and his disposal has really improved judging from reports(Can regular VFL watchers confirm this), i think we have something to work with there but you wouldnt think he is ready for next year despite being an emergency 2-3 times this season.

First, nice topic, I see our backline as an actual plus going forward if we just add one more key tall to it. Maybe Reid does go back next year if we can get a better forward set up, but that's still wishful thinking.

On Marsh, it's almost hard to describe just how much he's improved this season in such a short time. When he first came to us, and we first saw him in the VFL practice matches (I think he played in 1 or 2) and early part of the VFL season he played forward and looked all over the place, he looked lost.

Since going down back in the VFL, almost out of necessity due to having no VFL defenders, his growth has been remarkable. He intercepts marks at a great rate, not unlike a Ben Reid type talent, and his pace when he lights it up is as quick as Mooney, in fact sometimes you think it's him.

I can see he and Scharenberg forming a super strong half back partnership going forward, it's one of the areas we should improve in from next season once we get them both into the seniors.

I want Marsh to get one senior game this year, just one, he is starting to earn the right to be given that game too.

 

[Chilli Con Incarnate]

Its all over the place, players have been bopping in out out all year and if that continues we wont grow as a team. We need to combine our best defenders together for 2015 and hope all of them can play 22 games that season to know eachothers strengths and weaknesses. And with Maxwell almost sure to retire at the end of the season, are we getting much out of playing him currently? Hes great for leadership but is this benefitting us going forward?

I think we are going to lack a 3rd tall once Maxwell does retire, he was one of the better ones out there, whos going to replace that? Max could play on 200cm ruckman(Daniel Currie and Ben Griffiths) resting forward and could keep them under wraps, but he could also hold his own against a 3rd key forward(J-Pod) if he had the support around him. He was exposed this week for sure, but that was the selectors fault and not his, Keeffe destroyed Carlisle on Anzac Day and they were dumb enough to drop him for this game? Hope they taught themselves a lesson.

Who comes in as that third tall? Does Reid go down back and play a Lachie Hansen(From North) type of role with Jack Frost and Nathan Brown taking the 2 best forwards? or does he stay in the forward?

Does Jon Marsh come into the seniors next season? Hes really come on as a backman and he likes to drift off of his man to intercept mark at VFL level, and his disposal has really improved judging from reports(Can regular VFL watchers confirm this), i think we have something to work with there but you wouldnt think he is ready for next year despite being an emergency 2-3 times this season.

Do we recruit a player capable of playing as a 3rd tall for us? Perhaps a Angus Litherland(192cm) from the Hawks? Ariel Stienberg(191cm) from the Dons? Tom Clurey(193cm) or Cam O'Shea(193cm) from Port? Another option could be recruiting a young KPD in Sam Frost to join his brother, GWS have plenty of defensive options and look to have settle with Phil Davis, Tim Mohr as the posts, the 3rd tall spot looks up for grabs there.
Id say Matt Scharenberg could be an option, but he looks more likely to be a back flanker midfielder instead of a 3rd tall.

Another option could be Keeffe, Brown and Frost down back together, but i am unsure how that combo could work, i would give it a go but theres a chance it could be too tall. Do we sign James Frawley instead to add a bit less height and more experience down back?

As far as small and medium defenders go, i think we need to settle with Scharenberg, Langdon, Williams and Seedsman, play thoses guys together and they can gain experience and get used to eachothers company similar to the Geelong Dynasty Backline, those blokes would have played 100's of games together. Are Toovey, Young and Lumumba apart of us going forward? or should we trade them off?

Just a discussion, i think we have stagnated down back and our current crop we are using wont go anywhere.

I think the Keeffe Brown and Frost combo could work well if given a chance. Keeffe could play a bit looser and intercept mark a bit more. Frost is quick enough to play on smaller guys and most teams have a third tall or a medium forward nowadays anyway. Brown takes the key forward, Keeffe and Frost the second and third, depending on match ups. Then you have Marley Langdon for the smalls and someone like Seedsman for rebounding. If we develop this combo I can see it working fairly well. It would take time though.

 

[Shaneprice97]

First, nice topic, I see our backline as an actual plus going forward if we just add one more key tall to it. Maybe Reid does go back next year if we can get a better forward set up, but that's still wishful thinking.

On Marsh, it's almost hard to describe just how much he's improved this season in such a short time. When he first came to us, and we first saw him in the VFL practice matches (I think he played in 1 or 2) and early part of the VFL season he played forward and looked all over the place, he looked lost.

Since going down back in the VFL, almost out of necessity due to having no VFL defenders, his growth has been remarkable. He intercepts marks at a great rate, not unlike a Ben Reid type talent, and his pace when he lights it up is as quick as Mooney, in fact sometimes you think it's him.

I can see he and Scharenberg forming a super strong half back partnership going forward, it's one of the areas we should improve in from next season once we get them both into the seniors.

I want Marsh to get one senior game this year, just one, he is starting to earn the right to be given that game too.

Centre half backline: Tom Langdon, Jon Marsh, Matt Scharenberg?

 

[didaksrightfoot]

Good thread.

It is a problem not having a set back 6/7, and not knowing what our best backline looks like - but a lot of that comes down to injuries and having such a young backline who will struggle for form and need rests.

I would play out Maxy this season (if healthy) and think he could still have a role next year. (again - if fit)... he is particularly important given how young our backline is, and it is no suprise that our poor run has been with him injured, and yesterday was his first game back and not playing his natural role.

I still feel that Reid should be in our defence when he's healthy - but Frost is making me more comfortable in the thought that Reid could come in as a forward.
If healthy, I would rather have Brown than Keefe - but I don't know if others (or the coaches) agree with that.
I think Seeds/Williams/Langdon will all be in our best 22 for a while, but I think Toovey would be part of our best backline - so when Scharenberg is healthy, one or two of the 4 younger guys may be tried more as a wing or mid.

Young needs to get some confidence back - he should be a lot better than what we have seen the last 6 quarters... I don't know whether that means he needs the break, or whether he should play 1-2weeks in the VFL, but I think when he's in form he is in our best 22.
I also think that Herretier is in our best 22 as well, but as a wing
-I wouldn't be against either of these guys being traded at the end of the year though.

 

[TyronePie]

The back-flank has been a massive Achilles-Heel for us recently, look at the best sides in the game - beautiful users of the ball when rebounding from defence.

......we have Alan Toovey, Marley Williams, and Heritier Lumumba

 

[Brucebucklee]

Brown Maxwell Toovey Sinclair Seedsman Williams all injured, coming back from injury or stood down

Premiership sides invariably have the good run with injuries, that's not us this year

 

[half_back_flank]

When Reid is in the side, I think we can get away with Toovey playing as a third tall week in week out.

 

[Pendles!]

Good thread and It does need to settle, but injuries just haven't allowed that. We've just been smashed down there all year. Brown, Maxwell, Sinclair, Williams, Fasolo, could add scharenberg just haven't been able to get the consistent run at it to allow stability..

 

[Paul.]

Great thread.

With a full compliment we’ll be strong. The challenge is getting them all on the park.

Tall Defenders:

Nathan Brown
Ben Reid
Jack Frost
Lachie Keefe
Nick Maxwell
Matt Scharenberg
Jonathon Marsh

Small Defenders:

Alan Toovey
Marley Williams
Tom Langdon
Paul Seedsman
Ben Sinclair
Heritier Lumumba
Clinton Young
Alex Fasalo
Sam Dwyer
Tyson Goldsack
Adam Oxley

Most of these guys are, or have been injured over the past 2 years. For me there are 3 tall defenders, and 3 small defenders there. In addition there are names there that can play up the ground. I salivate at the thought of our club being injury free.

 

[Pera]

Get Frawley.

 

[Travis bloke]

Its worth keeping maxy for 1 more year on a cheap contract it would be worth it purely as a depth player next year.Learn the lesson pies we can see a lot of injuries happenWe should have kept Tarrant for one more year idiots.

 

[Travis bloke]

Next year get a new sports science coach.THROW THAT BLOKE FROM port Adelaide an extra dollar and pry him out of port.Also get another forward coach get rid of that weed from carlton.

 

[Travis bloke]

Get Frawley.

Nah will not pay frawley 800k a year not worth it. Next yaer we will sharenberg and Nathan brown should be back we have keefe and reid and frost plus keep maxy for another year

 

[Travis bloke]

Guys what we need is another big forward to help cloke and a x factor crumber for depth plus another gun midfielder to replace swanny after next year.Thats why the pies were eyeing Fyfe and liberatore