The Defensive Unit - Is There Something We Are Missing Here ?

[LordLucifer]

Over the course of this rebuild, it appears that the defensive unit has been the initial focus and will be the first area that gets finalised.

When you look at the players in that group, you find :

Macreadie - 196cm
Jones - 198cm
Weitering - 195cm
Rowe - 199cm
Plowman - 191cm
Marchbank - 193cm
White - 190cm
Byrne - 187cm
Docherty - 187cm
Simpson - 186cm

Even allowing for the fact that Jones is intended to the Rowe's successor (whether he makes it is really in the lap of the gods), there is still a lot of height in that group, only three of them are under 190cm.

Regularly we have seen Macreadie, Weitering, Rowe, Plowman, Marchbank, White, Docherty & Simpson played in the team together and on raw numbers, it does present as somewhat overloaded.

The questions being posed now are :

(i) has the recruiting team just loaded up on talented players because they were available at the time ??

OR

(ii) is this all part of the master-plan because Bolton needs a taller than normal defensive unit so he can implement a new, cunning & revolutionary strategy which will be unveiled in the not too distant future ??

 

[Dramoth]

I thought that you loved having tall guys around?

 

[gandaal]

Back six in four years time:
Macreadie - 196cm
Weitering - 195cm
Plowman - 191cm
Marchbank - 193cm
Byrne - 187cm
Docherty - 187cm

Anything we do in the meantime is just to protect these kids and give them time to develop.

 

[LordLucifer]

The point is, if you take Rowe & Jones out of that mix (Rowe retires & Jones doesn't end up cutting it), we don't have any monster sized defenders, just a raft of players who are quite tall but not huge.

It seems like an unusual strategy and I'm wondering if there is something else going on behind this ??

 

[LanceRomance]

I think Harks might be on to something with pickett.

 

[LordLucifer]

I think Harks might be on to something with pickett.

Like what ??

 

[SkyhorseTamer]

Sheehan and Buckley may get their chances in the back 50 soon this season. Hopefully they excel at shutting down smalls for us...

 

[tipstar]

Small forwards have killed us!!

Richmonds smalls
Garlett (3)
Matera (3)
Gray (5)
Hayward and Papley (2 each)
Elliot (3)
Billings (5)
Crozier and Walters (3 each)

Once that is addressed the defence is complete.

 

[passmark]

I think Harks might be on to something with pickett.

Oh, cmon man.

I have one original idea every three years and you attribute it to Harks.

The wedding is OFF!!

 

[Soapy V]

The point is, if you take Rowe & Jones out of that mix (Rowe retires & Jones doesn't end up cutting it), we don't have any monster sized defenders, just a raft of players who are quite tall but not huge.

It seems like an unusual strategy and I'm wondering if there is something else going on behind this ??

How many teams have a monster defender anyway? I think it's becoming obsolete

 

[Arr0w]

Over the course of this rebuild, it appears that the defensive unit has been the initial focus and will be the first area that gets finalised.

When you look at the players in that group, you find :

Macreadie - 196cm
Jones - 198cm
Weitering - 195cm
Rowe - 199cm
Plowman - 191cm
Marchbank - 193cm
White - 190cm
Byrne - 187cm
Docherty - 187cm
Simpson - 186cm

Even allowing for the fact that Jones is intended to the Rowe's successor (whether he makes it is really in the lap of the gods), there is still a lot of height in that group, only three of them are under 190cm.

Regularly we have seen Macreadie, Weitering, Rowe, Plowman, Marchbank, White, Docherty & Simpson played in the team together and on raw numbers, it does present as somewhat overloaded.

The questions being posed now are :

(i) has the recruiting team just loaded up on talented players because they were available at the time ??

OR

(ii) is this all part of the master-plan because Bolton needs a taller than normal defensive unit so he can implement a new, cunning & revolutionary strategy which will be unveiled in the not too distant future ??

I believe it is more about evolution, players in all positions are taller than ever before (With the exception of some)

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

I think this may be SOS stockpiling talls like he did at GWS, knowing that they draw a premium in trades. Keep the best, trade the rest and collect the premium.

 

[Coops93]

How many teams have a monster defender anyway? I think it's becoming obsolete

Yeah this. I don't know of too many teams that have 196cm+ defenders. Rance is only 194cm (according to the Richmond site) and iirc he goes alright now and then.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

How many teams have a monster defender anyway? I think it's becoming obsolete

They don't need to be taller as much as be strong and be able to play tall. Mobility is all important with gun KPDs these days.

 

[passmark]

Ive been hearing for a little while now that Joe D will be the best player in the comp, some saying better than Buddy.

Someone footy talking head this morning said that nobody can play on him.

But nobody remembers our game against the Bombers and the guy we played on him and how he went.

Obviously he there needs to be pressure all over the ground, otherwise you end uo with a Lynch situation in the Gold Coast game.

But big backs will always be needed.

 

[Dramoth]

The point is, if you take Rowe & Jones out of that mix (Rowe retires & Jones doesn't end up cutting it), we don't have any monster sized defenders, just a raft of players who are quite tall but not huge.

It seems like an unusual strategy and I'm wondering if there is something else going on behind this ??

You forgot to add in JGM. I think that he is also up around the 198cm mark.

 

[Dramoth]

They don't need to be taller as much as be strong and be able to play tall. Mobility is all important with gun KPDs these days.

Which is probably why White has done reasonably well over the years playing as either an undersized KPD or as a third tall.

 

[ITCHY EYEBALLS]

Over the course of this rebuild, it appears that the defensive unit has been the initial focus and will be the first area that gets finalised.

When you look at the players in that group, you find :

Macreadie - 196cm
Jones - 198cm
Weitering - 195cm
Rowe - 199cm
Plowman - 191cm
Marchbank - 193cm
White - 190cm
Byrne - 187cm
Docherty - 187cm
Simpson - 186cm

Even allowing for the fact that Jones is intended to the Rowe's successor (whether he makes it is really in the lap of the gods), there is still a lot of height in that group, only three of them are under 190cm.

Regularly we have seen Macreadie, Weitering, Rowe, Plowman, Marchbank, White, Docherty & Simpson played in the team together and on raw numbers, it does present as somewhat overloaded.

The questions being posed now are :

(i) has the recruiting team just loaded up on talented players because they were available at the time ??

OR

(ii) is this all part of the master-plan because Bolton needs a taller than normal defensive unit so he can implement a new, cunning & revolutionary strategy which will be unveiled in the not too distant future ??

Willo?

 

[Dramoth]

Willo?

He missed both Willo and JGM

 

[ITCHY EYEBALLS]

Ive been hearing for a little while now that Joe D will be the best player in the comp, some saying better than Buddy.

I knew passive drug taking was a thing!

 

[HARKER]

Byrne can cover the smaller guys along with Docherty, but they're not enough.

You want someone that can jet out of the back-line and I think Pickett could be that guy.
Played the role well in the NB's last week, laying good tackles along with providing the run.
Seems to have a body that won't get pushed around and he's capable overhead.

Pickett has the tools but would have to be tested on the desire to succeed down back.

NB: Docherty is listed at 187 but I don't think he's that tall. More around the 183/184 mark

 

[HARKER]

Sheehan and Buckley may get their chances in the back 50 soon this season. Hopefully they excel at shutting down smalls for us...

Sheehan does not have the lateral movement to play on smalls.
It always disappoints that a 193cm Plowman get the job of running with the smalls.

It's just too much of an ask of him. Doesn't make sense, other than us not having anyone else to do so.

 

[Azul]

Sheehan does not have the lateral movement to play on smalls.
It always disappoints that a 193cm Plowman get the job of running with the smalls.

It's just too much of an ask of him. Doesn't make sense, other than us not having anyone else to do so.

Unfortunately small/medium back pocket is a VFL graveyard of buried careers.

Last year it was Dick, Smith and Dillon Uruguayo.

This year it's Boek and Bucks.

 

[Soapy V]

Byrne can cover the smaller guys along with Docherty, but they're not enough.

You want someone that can jet out of the back-line and I think Pickett could be that guy.
Played the role well in the NB's last week, laying good tackles along with providing the run.
Seems to have a body that won't get pushed around and he's capable overhead.

I really like Byrne but I'm not sure he is a small defender

Pickett would be interesting. His run would be great but can he defend?

I'd still like Buckley to play there or even SPS. What a great development role it would be for him to play HB for the rest if the year. We know he can defend and being led to the ball would t hurt him.

I believe we really lack run and ball use especially behind the ball. Having Pickett and/or SPS or even Cuningham back there would be exciting, something new and be great for their development and that of the side

 

[Soapy V]

They don't need to be taller as much as be strong and be able to play tall. Mobility is all important with gun KPDs these days.

Yep and with Weitering Marchbank Plowman Williamson & Macreadie we have it covered