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

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The only ones that I can see filling that void are Buckley, Pickett or Smedts, all have their limitations. Pickett would be the pick of those names, but given his forward prowess and potential midfield time, he could be wasted there.

I would like to see Lamb developing in this role in VFL.

Quick, tough and smart.
 
He's never kicked that straight in his life, and he may never again.

Anyway, he's a talented footballer whose of the Higgins mold; you'll only rarely get to see it, but when he goes off, he'll win you a match.
Sure but look how he kicked the goals. 3 uncontested marks and 2 handball-receives where he was given far too much latitude.

I'm okay with the Hawthorn ring-a-rosy ball transference but we need to cover opponents when we don't have the footy - zoning off leads to a gigatonne of uncontested possessions.
 
Sure but look how he kicked the goals. 3 uncontested marks and 2 handball-receives where he was given far too much latitude.

I'm okay with the Hawthorn ring-a-rosy ball transference but we need to cover opponents when we don't have the footy - zoning off leads to a gigatonne of uncontested possessions.
I wrote in the pregame thread about how St Kilda play, at extreme length; they cause turnovers in the back half of the ground, open up space with kicks to advantage that clear a pressed up zone to outnumber their opposition at the other end. Most of Billing's goals came from this transition play, where last time it was Membrey who got on the end of it.

It's fine to set standards for player accountability, but when the reasons behind a player getting out are structural the solution has to match.

It really looks to me like Bolton wants a tall backline, with chains of good possessions limiting the smalls involvement in the game due to lack of turnovers. The talls outmark/outnumber their key opposition, and then don't give the ball back, giving their smalls no opportunity to even get the ball, let alone kick a bag. It doesn't work if your midfield can't get the ball, or if you turn the ball over sufficiently enough in the wrong spots - which we still do - but it's a good plan, if we can pull it off. The downside is that, if the gameplan falls apart for ten minutes, well, we've all seen how quickly Go;d Coast scored against us...
 

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By far and large, I feel we have the basis for our future back-line.
May need some tweaking as we go along but it seems that the following names may become mainstays;

Docherty Marchbank Plowman
Byrne Macreadie .................This is the player that is up for discussion after Simpson goes. Pickett? Sumner? Or someone from outside?

I'm also a little conflicted as to whether we'll need that 'Rowe' type, but I feel we will.
The guy whose job it is to spoil the KPF and just wear him like a glove.........or would we err on not having that gorilla and have players that can read the play and just rebound off their opponents.
 
What about Adam Saad from GCS to solve our small defender issue?

Good poster of TC has said he has heard whispers that Adam wants to return home and play for Carlton.

Turns 23 in July which would fit the age profile we are wanting to fill.
 
I agree with your assessment, although to me he just seems to have a forward's mentality and work-rate

I went to a lot of Carlton games last year and noticed Lamb and Sumner's defensive work in the forward line. They would be sprinting 50-60 metres to shut down a potential outlet pass.

They seriously worked their arses off to do "team" acts.

A "team first" mentality is required to be a good small defender and this guys seem to have the right mindset.

I would like to see them tried in VFL.

I dont think Lamd has the "tricks" to make it as aa AFL small forward - this could be his role.
 
I went to a lot of Carlton games last year and noticed Lamb and Sumner's defensive work in the forward line. They would be sprinting 50-60 metres to shut down a potential outlet pass.

They seriously worked their arses off to do "team" acts.

A "team first" mentality is required to be a good small defender and this guys seem to have the right mindset.

I would like to see them tried in VFL.

I dont think Lamd has the "tricks" to make it as aa AFL small forward - this could be his role.

I agree, all players should have other strings to their bow, versatility is very important. I would embrace them being tried as defenders at VFL level
 
We are missing a midfield.
Don't laugh.

A good midfield makes a defence's job infinitely easier.

Spot on .... and a clean midfield where the clearance you just won, doesn't fly back over the midfields heads via kick and hope clearances.
 

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If we assume that Jones is going to be a permanent feature in defence, then it really turns things on its head.

B : Plowman, Weitering, Marchbank
HB : Macreadie, Jones, Docherty

It's a rather tall group even if I added Simpson into the mix.

Missing a guy there, by name of Byrne.
Have to see how he comes back after injury, but he's the missing back-line link right now.
 
I agree that he is part of it, just left him out of the discussions for now due to his long-term injury.

Byrne is back playing and he along with the CFC would love to have him involved, again.

You can never have a 'perfect' anything, but the back-line even without Weitering will be a tour de force for us, for years to come.
 
Missing a guy there, by name of Byrne.
Have to see how he comes back after injury, but he's the missing back-line link right now.
The run through the middle to kick what could have been great goal says to me he is 3 weeks away from being in the 1sts. Lateral movement looked great. He was looking a bit proppy at the end of the game.
 

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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

I wouldn't be surprised to see Doc transition to a full-time midfielder within 12 months, especially if Byrne secures a position down back as we all expect he will; Pickett may go down back ultimately to replace Simmo when he retires. Either way, after a couple of years now I don't worry about the defence anymore - has come on in leaps and bounds and will only get better and likely become one of the best in the league in a couple of years.
 
I wouldn't be surprised to see Doc transition to a full-time midfielder within 12 months, especially if Byrne secures a position down back as we all expect he will; Pickett may go down back ultimately to replace Simmo when he retires. Either way, after a couple of years now I don't worry about the defence anymore - has come on in leaps and bounds and will only get better and likely become one of the best in the league in a couple of years.

The notion has appeal, but he plays such an important role down back that I can't see it being meddled with too much.
Docherty did start in the middle at the opening bounce against GWS but that may have been more of a ploy than anything else....would make a mid though.
 
If we assume that Jones is going to be a permanent feature in defence, then it really turns things on its head.

B : Plowman, Weitering, Marchbank
HB : Macreadie, Jones, Docherty

It's a rather tall group even if I added Simpson into the mix.

Jones 198cm and Rowe 199cm are that little bit taller and potentially better suited to play on those monster 200cm forwards, Tom Lynch, Jon Patton, Joey D, these days you need a defender close to 200cm.
Wietering Marchbank and Macreadie are all around 195cm, Plowman is closer to 190cm and we've been using him to play on smaller types.
 
Williamson the forgotten man, although can see him moving into the middle on a wing.
I can't find the footage now, but there was a nice little play where he ran through the middle with the ball in one hand looking for options. Love the way he moves.
 
The notion has appeal, but he plays such an important role down back that I can't see it being meddled with too much.
Docherty did start in the middle at the opening bounce against GWS but that may have been more of a ploy than anything else....would make a mid though.

Second game in a row he started on a wing for first 10 minutes and flew through center bounce area once or twice...he is also swapping roaming downfield role a bit more with Simpson - haven't noticed whether this was a rotation tactic for cover or not.
 
Williamson the forgotten man, although can see him moving into the middle on a wing.
I think that'd depend on if we can replace his ball use (Pickett potentially, Bryne I've now forgotten re: disposal).

Doc is great but prone to poor ball use, Plowman and Marchbank are decent but not great users. I can see Williamson making HB his own with his elite disposal (playing a Simpson type role).
 

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

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