West Coast's KPP situation

[SYDNEY_EAGLE]

I think the key to West Coast's success this year will be how they manage their KPP.

Assuming Glass plays at FB, we still have three KP to fill, and room for another tall at either end of the ground. I would allow for 2 more talls on the bench.

That's 7 talls (apart from Glass) altogether. What set-up do you think would be most productive?

Lynch - can play at either end, optimum spot still unknown.
Staker - seems to have his sights on CHB.
Hunter - will play on 3rd opposition tall forward.
McDougall - needs to impose himself at FF.
Gardiner - a full season at CHF would make a huge difference to our side.
Seaby - looked good while resting up forward.
Hansen - should rotate with Seaby in a FP.

CHB: Lynch/Staker - the two most likely to plug our biggest hole.
3rd tall defender: Hunter - an obvious choice with Stenglein in support.

CHF: Gardiner/McDougall/Lynch - Gardiner could make a huge impact here.
FF: McDougall/Lynch - McDougall needs to step-up or risk losing his spot.
3rd tall forward: Seaby/Hansen - if they improve we will have real firepower.

Still not sure where Lynch is of most value, but Woosha seems to like the idea of using him as a forward.

Is there room in the one forward-line for Lynch, McDougall, Gardiner, Hansen and Seaby?

Can someone like Graham, Beeck, McConnell or Wilkes force their way into our line-up? If so, at whose expense? Or will they only get a game if one of our KPP gets injured?

 

[Uncle Tony]

Where's Cox?

 

[SYDNEY_EAGLE]

Where's Cox?

He'll play in the ruck.

I can't see him playing any other KP.

I'm talking specifically about our spine. Our on-ball department is a no-brainer.

 

[Jimmy_the_Gent]

He'll play in the ruck.

I can't see him playing any other KP.

I'm talking specifically about our spine. Our on-ball department is a no-brainer.

So you're thinking 9 talls in our 22?

Am i right? A ruck man (Cox), FB (Glass), FF, CHF, CHB, BP, FP and 2 off the bench?

A bit extreme.

 

[daddy_4_eyes]

Potential!

That one word summarises the eagles KPP perfectly. If they live up to it, we're gonna be flying. If they don't, we'll struggle to improve on 2004.

 

[Streaker]

Worsfold has come out and said that Gardiner will be playing in the forward pocket to begin with, which is where Seaby was playing late last year so that is 1 position out of the way. The other pocket is generally a small crumbing type name Matera.

F: Gardiner - ??????? - Matera

Again Worsfold has come out and stated that McDougall is his preffered option at Full Forward which gives us a Forward line set-up of:

F Gardiner - McDougall - Matera = 2 talls

Half forward has been the domain of 1 tall 1 small and 1 medium for quite a while. Sampi has predominantly been the HF small with Adkins occasionly filling the role. Mediums have been a mix of Butler, R.Jones, A Embley and Chick. The tall has generally been a fill in with Hansen, Lynch and Staker having a run once Jakovich retired. Hansen is a natural CHF and lacks versatility, Staker is developing and has been carved up on occasions at CHF and CHB. whereas Lynch is the Scott Lucas of West Coast. Personally I think Hansen is the answer at CHF with Lynch being my second choice and Staker third. Embley @ 190cm (could be called a tall if Hunter is) is harder to match up on due to his height and the fact that he has averaged around 5 marks per game over the last 2 years.My HF line would look like this:

HF Sampi - Hansen - Embley = 1 Tall

The centre line and on-ball division virtually picks itself with the likes of Fletcher, Kerr, Cousins, Judd, Braun and Stenglein taking the positions.

C Stenglein - Kerr - Fletcher

Half Back has many options but at the moment the tall options we have available for CHB would be in order Lynch and Staker with Hunter and B.Jones available as the 3rd tall defenders. Lynch would get 1st go at CHB unless there was a serious mismatch with Hunter the preffered option on a flank with a running medium on the other flank coming from Nicoski/Waters/Chick/Banfield.

HB Banfield - Lynch - Hunter

Glass is the anchor in the backline and is the obvious choice at FB with Lynch possibly playing on the man mountain type forward like Brown from Brisbane. Wirrpunda is the sweeper and I doubt if his role will change due to him owning this position. This leaves the other pocket as the final position wqhich I think should go to Brett Jones. His height means he can be the third man up at marking contest to help Glass.

B B.Jones - Glass - Wirrpunda

Cox has to be considered as your 1st ruck option and with Gardiners injury an unknown you would have to have Seaby as a backup on the bench. You would also need to look at who would takeover if Lynch/Glass was injured. With Hansen being so 1 dimensional, Gardiner possibly not ready for a Key Position just yet and Mcdougall severely lacking defensive skills, you would have to look at using Hunter or B.Jones as your Key defender, unless Staker was on the bench.
FF: Gardiner - McDougall - Matera
HF: Sampi - Hansen - Embley
CC: Stenglein - Kerr - Fletcher
HB: Banfield - Lynch - Hunter
BB: B.Jones - Glass - Wirrpunda

Ruck: Cox - Judd - Cousins
Int: Seaby - Staker - Braun - Chick/Butler/Waters/Nicoski/Selwood/R.Jones/Wooden/Adkins/McConnell/

This would leave you with quite a tall team, having 13 or more players over 189cms or 6 foot 2

If anyone were to squeeze into a tall position it would be McConnell because of his aerobic capacity and his ability to play forward or back, but at the moment he would be behind Hunter and B.Jones.

 

[franky_mojojo]

F Gardiner - McDougall - Matera = 2 talls

The tall has generally been a fill in with Hansen, Lynch and Staker having a run once Jakovich retired. Hansen is a natural CHF and lacks versatility, Staker is developing and has been carved up on occasions at CHF and CHB. whereas Lynch is the Scott Lucas of West Coast.

Personally I think Hansen is the answer at CHF with Lynch being my second choice and Staker third.

HF Sampi - Hansen - Embley = 1 Tall

I think Gaspar (when fit) is a much better player than Hansen. Also Gaspar is more versatile than Hansen and can play down back if Lynch or Glass go down.

FF McDougal
HF Gaspar
C Judd
HB depends on the matchup but Lynch should usually start there.
FB Glass

 

[noodle]

a fit gaspar would definatly be my preference for CHF. unfortunatly it just doesn't look like it's going to happen. trav is now the forgotten man of our squad and needs to get some runs on the board at WAFL level to break into the team.

 

[SYDNEY_EAGLE]

Forget about Gaspar. He's not part of the equation anymore.

 

[Mr Q]

FF: Gardiner - McDougall - Matera
HF: Sampi - Hansen - Embley
CC: Stenglein - Kerr - Fletcher
HB: Banfield - Lynch - Hunter
BB: B.Jones - Glass - Wirrpunda

Ruck: Cox - Judd - Cousins
Int: Seaby - Staker - Braun - Chick/Butler/Waters/Nicoski/Selwood/R.Jones/Wooden/Adkins/McConnell/

Pretty good setup, although I'm not certain about Hansen at CHF as yet. If Gardiner does come up for KPP duties, I'd rather Gardiner at FF and McDougall at CHF (I just prefer Doogs up the ground a bit), with Seaby resting in the pocket

If McConnell is of the standard the rumours are making out, I'd like to see him get a chance in the 22, but that would leave no room for Hansen, although since he's a bit one dimensional that might not be such a bad thing.

The other one would be if Gardiner's up to rucking in the forward line, I'd like to see Cousins spend some time on a flank/pocket given the understanding he has with Gardiner's ruckwork - think Cuz could be a surprise goalkicking option in that case, and that frees up some room in the midfield for all our outstanding midfield options.

Oh, and Gaspariffit? If, by some unknown miracle he shakes the injury blues, I'd almost like to see him played back. He has the talent to be a superb CHB IMO, and we really don't need him forward as much with the other options we have.

 

[larrikin]

Forget about Gaspar. He's not part of the equation anymore.

Thanks. But last time I checked he was still on ourt list, and is as much a chance as Hansen or a couple of others to have a big impact this year

 

[noodle]

Forget about Gaspar. He's not part of the equation anymore.

welcome to the selection panel.

 

[Exeter]

Thanks. But last time I checked he was still on ourt list, and is as much a chance as Hansen or a couple of others to have a big impact this year

I seriously doubt that.

Gaspariffit's track record to date isn't pretty (because of injury, not for want of talent) and I remain to be convinced that he's up to the rigours of AFL.

I'd happily be proven wrong though.

 

[Streaker]

Pretty good setup, although I'm not certain about Hansen at CHF as yet. If Gardiner does come up for KPP duties, I'd rather Gardiner at FF and McDougall at CHF (I just prefer Doogs up the ground a bit), with Seaby resting in the pocket

If McConnell is of the standard the rumours are making out, I'd like to see him get a chance in the 22, but that would leave no room for Hansen, although since he's a bit one dimensional that might not be such a bad thing.

The other one would be if Gardiner's up to rucking in the forward line, I'd like to see Cousins spend some time on a flank/pocket given the understanding he has with Gardiner's ruckwork - think Cuz could be a surprise goalkicking option in that case, and that frees up some room in the midfield for all our outstanding midfield options.

Oh, and Gaspariffit? If, by some unknown miracle he shakes the injury blues, I'd almost like to see him played back. He has the talent to be a superb CHB IMO, and we really don't need him forward as much with the other options we have.

I was talking specifically about Round 1 when Gardi will start off in a Forward pocket as it wouldn't be worth risking him at such an early stage. Hopefully the new ruck rules will allow Gardi to do some ruckwork and as Cuzz is usually on the ball I don't think we would need to plant him in the forward line unless he is on a resting rotation with Sampi. If Gardiner has the option to palm it down to Cousins, Matera or Sampi it certainly will open up the options.

 

[southjoy]

Worsfold has come out and said that Gardiner will be playing in the forward pocket to begin with, which is where Seaby was playing late last year so that is 1 position out of the way. The other pocket is generally a small crumbing type name Matera.

F: Gardiner - ??????? - Matera

Again Worsfold has come out and stated that McDougall is his preffered option at Full Forward which gives us a Forward line set-up of:

F Gardiner - McDougall - Matera = 2 talls

Half forward has been the domain of 1 tall 1 small and 1 medium for quite a while. Sampi has predominantly been the HF small with Adkins occasionly filling the role. Mediums have been a mix of Butler, R.Jones, A Embley and Chick. The tall has generally been a fill in with Hansen, Lynch and Staker having a run once Jakovich retired. Hansen is a natural CHF and lacks versatility, Staker is developing and has been carved up on occasions at CHF and CHB. whereas Lynch is the Scott Lucas of West Coast. Personally I think Hansen is the answer at CHF with Lynch being my second choice and Staker third. Embley @ 190cm (could be called a tall if Hunter is) is harder to match up on due to his height and the fact that he has averaged around 5 marks per game over the last 2 years.My HF line would look like this:

HF Sampi - Hansen - Embley = 1 Tall

The centre line and on-ball division virtually picks itself with the likes of Fletcher, Kerr, Cousins, Judd, Braun and Stenglein taking the positions.

C Stenglein - Kerr - Fletcher

Half Back has many options but at the moment the tall options we have available for CHB would be in order Lynch and Staker with Hunter and B.Jones available as the 3rd tall defenders. Lynch would get 1st go at CHB unless there was a serious mismatch with Hunter the preffered option on a flank with a running medium on the other flank coming from Nicoski/Waters/Chick/Banfield.

HB Banfield - Lynch - Hunter

Glass is the anchor in the backline and is the obvious choice at FB with Lynch possibly playing on the man mountain type forward like Brown from Brisbane. Wirrpunda is the sweeper and I doubt if his role will change due to him owning this position. This leaves the other pocket as the final position wqhich I think should go to Brett Jones. His height means he can be the third man up at marking contest to help Glass.

B B.Jones - Glass - Wirrpunda

Cox has to be considered as your 1st ruck option and with Gardiners injury an unknown you would have to have Seaby as a backup on the bench. You would also need to look at who would takeover if Lynch/Glass was injured. With Hansen being so 1 dimensional, Gardiner possibly not ready for a Key Position just yet and Mcdougall severely lacking defensive skills, you would have to look at using Hunter or B.Jones as your Key defender, unless Staker was on the bench.
FF: Gardiner - McDougall - Matera
HF: Sampi - Hansen - Embley
CC: Stenglein - Kerr - Fletcher
HB: Banfield - Lynch - Hunter
BB: B.Jones - Glass - Wirrpunda

Ruck: Cox - Judd - Cousins
Int: Seaby - Staker - Braun - Chick/Butler/Waters/Nicoski/Selwood/R.Jones/Wooden/Adkins/McConnell/

This would leave you with quite a tall team, having 13 or more players over 189cms or 6 foot 2

If anyone were to squeeze into a tall position it would be McConnell because of his aerobic capacity and his ability to play forward or back, but at the moment he would be behind Hunter and B.Jones.

Streaker:
I've been saying similar things in the Ash hansen discussion about shape to the positions on the field with talls, smalls and players who can play either.
Your arguement is very solid, I agree about your rationalising certain players for said KPP and supporting roles. Some names I could vary with but this is why a club has these optoiopns so that at any one time during theseason your side is a viable one.
So long as the plan of certain talls to smalls and mediums are held then you could play certain players in those position on form from the WAFL, pre season, training, etc.
Good post Streaker!

 

[coasting]

Actually, strange as it is, I find myself agreeing with Sydney Eagle and Streaker. Forget about Gaspar, at least until he can do a proper preseason and stay healthy. Hansen can be a real workhorse for us at CHF. He isn't the most naturally gifted player but he'll get the job done. Lets not forget he has only played half a dozen games. He will always provide a contest and even sometimes come down with the ball and when he does he usually uses it pretty well.