Best post all year and exactly right. We still have this arrogance from the Jock years where we can throw money to get the best and be the best and that doesn't work in the long run. Look at bloody Adelaide, they just rebuild so quickly without getting draft picks all the time, or even the Pies, Malthouse has built such an even spread of players.
Sure Jamo and Joseph and maybe Bower have been useful experiments, but our backline - whilst performing well above expectations in the last 8 weeks - was really found out yesterday. Guys like Russel, Houla, Scotland and Stevo - whilst giving some run, are just not drilled and efficient enough to shut down free -running sides - look how easily these guys got swept away this year by the ****ing Bombers, Adelaide and Pies. Walker still has a way to go. And wel still get monstered by the big guys, T-Bird struggles everytime in that respect and Bower just aint there yet. We really need to tighten up our defensive game and work on skills down there, I mean we are probably the worst team on defensive kick-ins, its ridiculous how easily the Crowbots scored from our poor tactice of bringing the ball back in.
Once our defence improves or finds that 'x' factor - who knows a fit Waite and Jamo might be the trick, but all points considered we need a good defender if we're really gonna make top4 consistently.
l find it interesting that following this game some fans having a go at some players in the midfield that were not even our primary midfielders, e.g above Stevens was in the midfield but he was easily in our top 2 to 3 players, Houilhan, Russell and Scotland were more flankers and not part of our midfield set up, our primary midfielders, Judd, Murphy and Gibbs should not escape some criticisms as all three were not good on the defensive side and it is not the first time this has occured.
Our defence will be better with Waite & Jamo down back, but l do not see us challenging the best until we gain a more rounded forward structure and l do not see that coming from our current list, we need to trade/draft some players to address this area.
O'Alphin, Fisher, etc are not the answer at all.



