The Backline

[loki04]

It's a balancing act loki I understand and appreciate your scenario, I just come down on the side of the two young rucks - who by the way are now starting to clunk marks and hit the scoreboard.

Yes they are improving each week, I agree and it would make us quite tall fwd of the ball but that set up won last years flag so it isn't as if it can't be done.

The stupid sub rule really limits the 2 rucks plus 3 tall set up but teams have used it successfully as long as your talls have reasonable agility and running traits.

Roughead - 193cm 100kg
Gunston - 193cm 84kg
Franklin - 196cm 100kg
Hale - 201cm 102kg
Bailey - 206cm 101kg

Roughead looks taller on field than this height more like 195cm range when you see him lined up next to other KPD who are reportedly that height.

Now our 5.

Reid - 195cm 102kg
Cloke - 196cm 108kg
White - 196cm 102kg
Grundy - 203cm 101kg
Witts - 209cm 113kg


The issue is the smalls around them, Hawks wingers push forward very hard and very fast to act as small forwards and their crumbing types really are smart players who read the drops very well.

We also have Goldsack 193cm 92kg which would make us way too tall but he is essential to our pressure up there.

So based off that yeah 1 ruck will have to prob give way or maybe become the sub, which could suit 2 and a half quarters for Brodie to run their ruck ragged and then a fresh giant in Witts comes in to give us 1st use.

 

[jonbe54]

Yes they are improving each week, I agree and it would make us quite tall fwd of the ball but that set up won last years flag so it isn't as if it can't be done.

The stupid sub rule really limits the 2 rucks plus 3 tall set up but teams have used it successfully as long as your talls have reasonable agility and running traits.

Roughead - 193cm 100kg
Gunston - 193cm 84kg
Franklin - 196cm 100kg
Hale - 201cm 102kg
Bailey - 206cm 101kg

Roughead looks taller on field than this height more like 195cm range when you see him lined up next to other KPD who are reportedly that height.

Now our 5.

Reid - 195cm 102kg
Cloke - 196cm 108kg
White - 196cm 102kg
Grundy - 203cm 101kg
Witts - 209cm 113kg


The issue is the smalls around them, Hawks wingers push forward very hard and very fast to act as small forwards and their crumbing types really are smart players who read the drops very well.

We also have Goldsack 193cm 92kg which would make us way too tall but he is essential to our pressure up there.

So based off that yeah 1 ruck will have to prob give way or maybe become the sub, which could suit 2 and a half quarters for Brodie to run their ruck ragged and then a fresh giant in Witts comes in to give us 1st use.

No arguments with all that except the ruck sub, it leaves us wide open to the wrong type of injury.

Grundy desperately needs a chop out and on exposed form Witts is the man, I just don't see Bucks having a 209cm sub.

 

[loki04]

No arguments with all that except the ruck sub, it leaves us wide open to the wrong type of injury.

Grundy desperately needs a chop out and on exposed form Witts is the man, I just don't see Bucks having a 209cm sub.

Just have to shuffle the decks if you get an early injury or an unexpected one.

Plenty of players in our current 22 have enough versatility to cover.

Key Defender goes down Reid goes back Witts forward.

Mid goes down Elliott, Dwyer, Fasolo, Adams and even Tyrion Blair all capable of playing as a rotating mid/wing to give a chop out. etc etc.

 

[jonbe54]

Just have to shuffle the decks if you get an early injury or an unexpected one.

Plenty of players in our current 22 have enough versatility to cover.

Key Defender goes down Reid goes back Witts forward.

Mid goes down Elliott, Dwyer, Fasolo, Adams and even Tyrion Blair all capable of playing as a rotating mid/wing to give a chop out. etc etc.

I see the possibilities it then depends wether Bucks and the brains trust like the idea of tampering with a side just settling down for the sake of an injury in game.

Any scenario from here on now is a huge plus for the club because we have more than enough depth to cover our needs, its just a matter of Bucks settling on his preferred lineup which most likley won't take proper shape until the back quarter of the season.

 

[loki04]

I see the possibilities it then depends wether Bucks and the brains trust like the idea of tampering with a side just settling down for the sake of an injury in game.

Any scenario from here on now is a huge plus for the club because we have more than enough depth to cover our needs, its just a matter of Bucks settling on his preferred lineup which most likley won't take proper shape until the back quarter of the season.

Yeah I'm just thinking of ways to keep them both in the team without hamstringing ourselves.

The sub 90% of the time we don't activate it till the last quarter anyway really is a wasted/under utilised spot.

Both players need help of the other to keep fresh and both need the game time I guess then the issue becomes fitness related after a while.

So probably can't be a long term option.

I just wish the AFL would bring in 4 interchange and add a sub on top for injury only.

 

[4#Didak#4]

Reid is still causing a lot of debate. Obviously where he plays has a lot of flow on effects. Bucks has clearly indicated he is playing forward.

Currently the Cloke/White/Witts combo has done OK and I understand the idea of sending Reid back and not changing. However, I think the Keefe/Frost/Maxwell etc combo has done far better and would be less inclined to change this by putting Reid in the mix. Our forwardline structure has been OK but not outstanding whereas our backline has been outstanding. I still do not like the load Cloke has to take, the opposition still know they can/have to sag off Witts and White to smother Cloke. Reid will make those defenders much more in two minds.

Witts main advantage is his ability to ruck and help out Grundy. However, we are yet to see how White goes in this role, essentially what he was recruited for. I think Reid up forward is going to make Cloke much harder to stop. White may lose a little on Witts in the ruck but having Reid permanently forward and White roaming the ground (his mobility is delightful) is a far more tantalising prospect - especially late in games. White as #2 banana has been great but still not the overhead or one on one threat that Reid will present. I like the idea of letting White off the leash Buddy Franklin style roaming up and down the ground on long leads and simply out running defenders. His athleticism is better up the ground.

Cloke/Reid/White has to be our first option - hopefully to be unveiled after the bye for the first time. We know if injuries strike (back or forward) we have the ability to call back the Witts combo or if the first option for whatever reason doesn't click.

 

[4#Didak#4]

As an aside, did anyone see Footy Classified last night? They were banging on about all our defenders being rookie picks plus Langdon. Garry Lyon pipes up in a somewhat surprised tone "someone down there must have a good eye for talent". How long has it taken for you to realise that Mr footy expert? Garry the name is Hine, Derek Hine.

 

[Hva sher a]

The issue is the smalls around them, Hawks wingers push forward very hard and very fast to act as small forwards and their crumbing types really are smart players who read the drops very well.

We also have Goldsack 193cm 92kg which would make us way too tall but he is essential to our pressure up there.

So based off that yeah 1 ruck will have to prob give way or maybe become the sub, which could suit 2 and a half quarters for Brodie to run their ruck ragged and then a fresh giant in Witts comes in to give us 1st use.

I really like Goldy in the fwd line. He's pacy enough to provide ground-level pressure but tall enough to require someone with height to watch him. Unless its an emergency I think he's not clever enough to be a backman.

On a slightly separate topic, I'd like to try Toovs in the fwd line as a defensive forward. Similar to Goldy he presents a height match up and has great pace. Not at the same time as Goldsack but could be trialled at some point

 

[loki04]

I really like Goldy in the fwd line. He's pacy enough to provide ground-level pressure but tall enough to require someone with height to watch him. Unless its an emergency I think he's not clever enough to be a backman.

On a slightly separate topic, I'd like to try Toovs in the fwd line as a defensive forward. Similar to Goldy he presents a height match up and has great pace. Not at the same time as Goldsack but could be trialled at some point

Not sure we need another purely defensive type imo we need to go the other way and get a classy small xfactor cumber who can also provide fwd pressure.

 

[Hva sher a]

Not sure we need another purely defensive type imo we need to go the other way and get a classy small xfactor cumber who can also provide fwd pressure.

true but I did say not at the same time as Goldy. The Toovs suggestion was just another way of mixing things up.
But agree that what we really need is a Andrew Krakouer type - with pace.