The 'Not So Shakey' Backline

[thegeneral15]

For a very long time now ive been looking at this site reading about how shakey our defence is and it is causing us to lose games. Today i sat back and watched what i think is the start of something BIG. The combination of Stratton and Gilham is getting better and better by the week. They are learning how to work as a defensive team similar to the way gilly had it worked out with croady in 08. With the support act of an ever improving Thomas Murphy we are strating to look extremely solid. If anyone shuts me down on Murphy im going to get very angry, im sick of hearing bad things about him. This bloke is going to be a player. It may of taken him time to get his confidence up, but his endeavour and leadership is brilliant. Over the past 3 weeks he has done the job on the dangerous forwards of carlton, Ryan O'Keefe and Daniel Motlop. A group of dangerous players, not tall but not small. He is finally doing the jobs he is meant to be doing and not playing out of position every week anymore.

Bring back Campbell Brown and Josh Gibson and give some more game to Ryan Schoenmakers and all of a sudden this is a backline to be feared

 

[Brant]

Certainly can't / won't argue that the backline as a unit is in good form - in fact they have probably won us the last 2 games - far more than the forwardline or mids have.

I am yet to see them tested against a big forwardline such as a Brown / Fev or even a Roo / Kosi but they are cetrainly holding their own (& more) at the moment.

 

[CaptainHodgey]

I'm not sure "feared" is the right word but they were ok today. Looked under pressure on the rebound but that seems more a structural problem than an actual defense personnel issue. One on one defence scored a pass mark definitely.

 

[Hawka_de_Haven]

I'm not sure "feared" is the right word but they were ok today. Looked under pressure on the rebound but that seems more a structural problem than an actual defense personnel issue. One on one defence scored a pass mark definitely.

Another pat on the back for young Stratto!

 

[Goody1971]

I have to say Murphy did some good things again today and seems to be playing a with more confident and attacking style than early in the season. Gilham too seems to have a bit more fire in the belly and Guerra and Stratton have been pretty consistently solid. Will be great to get Gibbo and Brown back in (hopefully) a month or so..

 

[killerspud]

I'm not sure "feared" is the right word but they were ok today. Looked under pressure on the rebound but that seems more a structural problem than an actual defense personnel issue. One on one defence scored a pass mark definitely.

Aren't you the guy who said it would be a good thing if we lost to Richmond????

Good to see you back on the bangwagon

 

[cma6]

Murphy has been doing a good job for us most of the year when given a job on a small or medium forward. He is woeful against the big forwards but that shouldn't be his job.

 

[mess]

I can't wait to see how they go with Gibson back. Schoey could have a very tough time breaking his way back in this year...

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Murphy is good when he sticks to his limitations. Today he did that, and more importantly he showed great courage a few times to head back with the flight of the ball and help out a team mate.
We all know he can struggle, but today, and particularly in his first quarter, he really set the standard.

I'm eager to get Gibson back in amongst Stratton and Gilham. It can only strengthen us up.

 

[TheFourPillars]

Agrre with all that has been said and murphy playing on the playrs he should. I still feel we need schoey in for next week we need him to play on tippet. He is the only one who has any height and from all reports at box hill played well in the first half playing in the back line

 

[Hodges]

How will we line up with Gibbo back? Im thinking:

B: Guerra, Gilham, Gibson
HB: Birchall, Stratton, Murphy

What happens when Browny is back? Do we move Birch to the wing? I think Murphy has earnt his spot in the team, is playing well at the moment.

 

[Flamin Joe]

I am yet to see them tested against a big forwardline such as a Brown / Fev or even a Roo / Kosi but they are cetrainly holding their own (& more) at the moment.

This. And lets remember, PA were without Tredrea who is always a handfull when he plays against us. Sydney traded Hall last year and Bradshaw was out injured, Richmond don't really have a stand out power forward at the moment, and Carlton are Fev less this year after trading him also.

Not meaning to put a damper on the great performances they've done, but lets not get ahead of ourselves. They've had a good run but the real test is still yet to come. Not looking forward to playing Brisbane with the Brown/Fev combo.

Good signs however.

 

[lethalselbow]

A couple of mistakes by the backline, but a pretty good day out for the lot of them.

Murphy did well

 

[Leather Poisoning]

Shows what a bit of continuity can do for a defensive unit.

Can't tell you how much better we would have been today with CB in the team!

Stratton is an amazing find. Gilham was super impressive today, realy cool head and was more creative with the footy than I've seen him.

Starting to remind me a little of 2008 - just getting the job done through team work and structure.

Was the right decision to drop Schoey when it happened but the guy will be an extremely good AFL player in due time, front half or back?

 

[Brishawk]

Murphy is good when he sticks to his limitations. Today he did that, and more importantly he showed great courage a few times to head back with the flight of the ball and help out a team mate.
We all know he can struggle, but today, and particularly in his first quarter, he really set the standard.

I'm eager to get Gibson back in amongst Stratton and Gilham. It can only strengthen us up.

I have been critical of him in the past for not doing this and it was great to see him do it today. A couple of times I thought he could have gone and didn't or gone harder but this was definitely a step in the right direction.

Stratton is going to be a hero of our club. For a guy who has played a handful of games he sure is sure about what he is doing on the footy field. Great recruiting!!!

 

[burner1]

Stratton has really locked up the 2nd tall spot - its going to be hard for shoe to get a look in with gibson coming back - but may be for the best long-term with him playing a season at box hill and dominating

I see our three 'talls' medium term being stratts, gibson and shoe/gilham with brown, WX, guerra, birchall, murphy, hodge, ladson, ossie, suckling, savage, muston, etc filling out the remaining spots. Thats potentially a very good defensive unit.
Stratts and gibson give us great flexibility as can play both tall and small. Shoe is medium term the defender on the brown/hall types.

 

[Easy Slips Catch]

Gilham has found some form which makes a huge difference. Them not having any genuine KPFs did not hurt. For an undersized back line today was good. We desperately need one more tall.