The Full Back Debate

[spindoctor]

As much as we are saying we need a big full-back, I believe the answer may already lie in our current team.

Ken McGregor.

Look, full-backs don't have to be man-mountains to be very good (though they have to be bigger than Bassett). Look at Scarlett, probably the best FB in the comp.

McGregor is strong. But many comment on here that he is also not enough of a rebound defender to play CHB. That he is a stopper.

Well, a stopper is exactly what we bloody well need at full-back. He isn't slow, he is strong and he marks well. I have seen him play short periods on Lynch and he has been effective.

With say a Hentschel, a Parker (or even M Stevens, if Watts comes along) rebounding from CHB, that backline spine suddenly looks a lot better.

Hentschel and Parker both have more natural flair and rebound than McGregor, and hence are more suited to CHB - as long as they don't play a Chad Cornes style role of zoning off your CHF, which opens you up to being chopped up on the fast break.

Anyone else agree?

McGregor for full-back.

 

[Stiffy_18]

I think that could be on the cards in the next couple of years. We are just waiting for Hentschel to put on a bit more muscle and get more experience.

Hentschel could make AA CHB and Kenny's discipline and courage could make him a very good FB.

Spinny, in the long run I think you are right in thinking that Kenny will be our FB and Hentschel will develop into a bloody good CHB. Hopefully they develop a Michael/Lepptisch or Scarlett/Harley type combo

 

[jc67]

I think Ken will captian our club in about 4 years, and from CHB

 

[spindoctor]

jc67, I think he is the best man for full-back, and should go there.

I want to see Parker, and I have a faint hope that Smart will retire midseason and give him a chance to be upgraded so we can have a look at him this season.

Hentschel I'm not yet sold on, he seems to lack the ability to put on muscle and may only be able to play as a flanker/third-tall scenario if he can't get any bigger.

 

[spindoctor]

BTW, how did Parker go for Glenelg and where did he play?

I see he made their best players...

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by spindoctor
BTW, how did Parker go for Glenelg and where did he play?

I see he made their best players...

All I have is stats from Sunday Mail

9 kicks, 3 marks, 2 handballs and 2 tackles.

 

[Crow-mosone]

Originally posted by jc67
I think Ken will captian our club in about 4 years, and from CHB

agree

 

[macca23]

Originally posted by Crow-mosone
agree

Ditto

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by Crow-mosone
agree

You don't think he would make a good FB??????

 

[macca23]

Originally posted by Stiffy_18
You don't think he would make a good FB??????

He'd make a very good FB IMO.

But the 2 most important KPP's are the CHF and CHB. Win those 2 spots and the opposition is in all sorts of strife.

Kenny just happens to be one of the best CHB's in the comp.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by macca23
He'd make a very good FB IMO.

But the 2 most important KPP's are the CHF and CHB. Win those 2 spots and the opposition is in all sorts of strife.

Kenny just happens to be one of the best CHB's in the comp.

Do you think Hentschel will develop into a better CHB than Kenny is??????

I just think Hentschel can be just as good at negating his player as Kenny but he would be more attacking. Thats why I think Kenny at FB, Hentschel at CHB and Watts at CHF is what we can expect to see in 2-3 years time.

 

[macca23]

Originally posted by Stiffy_18
Do you think Hentschel will develop into a better CHB than Kenny is??????

I just think Hentschel can be just as good at negating his player as Kenny but he would be more attacking. Thats why I think Kenny at FB, Hentschel at CHB and Watts at CHF is what we can expect to see in 2-3 years time.

I still think we need a FB Stiffy. Hentschel is the new Smart, who will take on the problem match-ups in defence, as Nigel did in his hey-day.

Lock Kenny in at CHB, get a good FB - perhaps Harris from the WB, use Hentschel as needed on medium to tall, Begley on the quick smalls, Torney on a HB flank and Hart in a BP.

We've got 5 of them. Let's get that good FB to top it off.

 

[Crow-mosone]

Originally posted by Stiffy_18
You don't think he would make a good FB??????

I think he might make fair fist of CHF as well, but I think he will stay at CHB and will be our next captain.

why the desperation for a FB when the era of the FF is coming to a close.

 

[spindoctor]

As I said, Hentschel won't be as good at negating as McGrug if he can't build himself up more - and in four years on the list, he hasn't shown much muscular development. May just be his body type. Christ, I'm bigger than Hentschel and I only do weights intermittently.

If he is going to play CHB he needs to be strong in the body-on-body contests, as McGregor contests. If he is always getting flung off then he will be useless.

I think Parker has more 'upside' in that regard. Seems bigger than Hentschel from what I've seen of him, and is still developing.

If Hentschel can't get any bigger, his value will be as a third tall defender, or as the defender who takes the weakest tall. He has a good footy brain, good pace and evasion, it is just the bulk that is lacking.

If you could combine Hentschel and Rutten you'd have an awesome player.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Spinny, the reason Hentschel hasn't put on weight in th epast is because we had a stupid weight program that we changed at the end of last year and the results are starting to show.

During the pre-season Hentschel has put on 6 Kg and it is noticable. He is now 90 kg and the goal is to get up to 95-97 kg. I reckon another good pre-season in the weight room will achieve this.

The new weights program is building up players but it might take 1-2 years before we see real results. McGregor certainly looks a bit bigger than last year. As I said Hentschel has put on 6 kg, Bock has also put on 5 kg as has Watts since he first came here.

Hentschel has no trouble putting on muscle. Scott Stevens is the one that can't get bigger.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by macca23
I still think we need a FB Stiffy. Hentschel is the new Smart, who will take on the problem match-ups in defence, as Nigel did in his hey-day.

Lock Kenny in at CHB, get a good FB - perhaps Harris from the WB, use Hentschel as needed on medium to tall, Begley on the quick smalls, Torney on a HB flank and Hart in a BP.

We've got 5 of them. Let's get that good FB to top it off.

Yeah well thats the best case scenario and I don't think WB would be giving up Harris easily. He might cost us more than he is worth so we might have to do with what we've got.

Your scenario is ideal but it would be hard to pull off. Drafting FB is a risky task. Too much of a risk.

 

[spindoctor]

That's just 6 kilos on the waist Stiffy, look at the fat bastard! Who ate all the pies?

But the guy I never realised was so big until he returned to the side this year was one Ben Hart...has he bulked up bigtime, or have I been missing something?

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by spindoctor
But the guy I never realised was so big until he returned to the side this year was one Ben Hart...has he bulked up bigtime, or have I been missing something?

No you're right he has bulked up even tho he didn't want to. He wanted to get fitter and bring his skinfolds down. He didn't want to bulk up but he did and in the process got his skinfolds down.

Another proof that new weights program is bulking up players.

 

[spindoctor]

With his physique and height (190cm) he could conceivably take over a key position back role. Assumably he is a lot stronger from the bulking up, he is only 1 cm shorter than Bassett and definitely bulkier than him.

Just a thought.

 

[conVINCEd]

Originally posted by Crow-mosone
I think he might make fair fist of CHF as well, but I think he will stay at CHB and will be our next captain.

why the desperation for a FB when the era of the FF is coming to a close.

Firstly, I don't think McGregor will be our next captain; to me he lacks natural leadership qualities and isn't aggressive or vocal enough.

As for your second point, surely you jest? If anything, the FF is back in vogue - look at Lloyd, Gherig, Richardson, Fevola, Lynch, Neitz and guys like Hall and Tredrea who play the FF/CHF position. We desperately need to develop a gun FB who can take the bigger forwards - we have lost several games over the last three years simply because Bassett's opponent carved him up.

McGregor is definitely an option for FB, IMO we simply have to continue to develop Hentschel and Parker and make the appropriate adjustments in relation to their progress.

 

[tribey]

Originally posted by McLeod23
As for your second point, surely you jest? If anything, the FF is back in vogue - look at Lloyd, Gherig, Richardson, Fevola, Lynch, Neitz and guys like Hall and Tredrea who play the FF/CHF position. We desperately need to develop a gun FB who can take the bigger forwards - we have lost several games over the last three years simply because Bassett's opponent carved him up.

One word:

Tarrant.

 

[tribey]

An as yet unknown VFL/AFL legend circulated this press release in support of Adelaide fans who believe we need a new fullback:

 

[RaDaR ReiLLy]

Originally posted by dyertribe
An as yet unknown VFL/AFL legend circulated this press release in support of Adelaide fans who believe we need a new fullback:

That is a first class piece of mighty fine work, Dyertribe.

That deserves on A+++!! Good form

 

[Crow-mosone]

Originally posted by McLeod23
Firstly, I don't think McGregor will be our next captain; to me he lacks natural leadership qualities and isn't aggressive or vocal enough.

as for the vocal powerhouse that is ricciuto - he leads by example.

As for your second point, surely you jest? If anything, the FF is back in vogue - look at Lloyd, Gherig, Richardson, Fevola, Lynch, Neitz and guys like Hall and Tredrea who play the FF/CHF position. We desperately need to develop a gun FB who can take the bigger forwards - we have lost several games over the last three years simply because Bassett's opponent carved him up.

umm I disagree, you are confused between a play playing the FF spot, and a player who is a traditional FF. the difference lies in the type of player to stand them. The position is not wiped off the park, but it's way it's played.
Lloyd is the only classical FF in the game today, with fevola an almost.

Most of the players you list are forwards, some of them very good players, but are not typical full forwards. They could all be stood by a quality defender as opposed to a traditional FB. the disciplines are different.

traditionally if a FB proved to be a quality player, he was often moved further UP the ground, not the other way round.

 

[conVINCEd]

Originally posted by dyertribe
One word:

Tarrant.

I knew I forgot someone.