Who will play CHB?

[SYDNEY_EAGLE]

I don't understand why all the talk has been about WC recruiting midfielders and key forwards.

What we need is a full-time CHB to support Glass. Hunter and Lynch have both played there this year, but I don't think either are long-term prospects. Hunter is more of a third tall in defence, while Lynch lacks mobility - I prefer him rotating through the forward line.

There seems to be a lack of available tall defenders at the moment, but I think we should be focusing on those sorts of players rather than Stenglein, Armstrong or Thompson, or, God forbid, Leon Davis.

Stenglein will still be handy as he could play as a mobile tall on a flank, and I quite like the idea of Zantuck bolsterting our defence, provided we could get him cheaply.

Can anyone suggest viable trade targets that might hold down CHB?

Does Woosha have a plan to procure Lance Whitnall and turn him into a key defender?

 

[F-U]

I think next year CHB wil be held down by either Jaymie Graham or Zac Beech. I also agree that we need to target a CHB more then a CHF, but the fact that Worsfold is more worried about a CHF suggests to me that Worsfold already has a solution to our CHB problems which i believe will most likely be Jaymie Graham.

Just an idea i have, is that maybe we should consider placing Andrew Embley down at CHB. He is the same height and player as the likes of Joel Bowden and Chad Cornes and is a very dangerous player when left on his own. If he cud improve his spils he cud be a CHB player. Anyone else think we shud give this a try?

 

[Mead]

Without a doubt CHB (and FB backup for Glass) is our priority. There are a fair few options coming through just none are quite developed or of the right dimensions.

Lynch- wonderful against the bigger, stronger CHBs- generally very good against the type of forward whose entire game is based around physical strength, struggles a lot on the very strong leading ones like Tredrea or Hall. Needs to be played to matchups.
-Not sure there is a huge prospect of improvement- partly he needs to get a bit smarter which should come from experience, partly he needs to trade off around 3-4 kgs of muscle for a few extra cm of pace.

Hunter- Very good, quick and tenacious defender against the Tarrant or Goodes sized forwards, but is fighting outside of his height and weight division against bigger forwards. Ideal third tall.
-pretty much fully developed physically, is as good as he'll get.

Those are the only two really match hardened CHB options we have. The problem is both are ideal on the extreme opposite types of key forwards, but leave a large gap in between.

The other options coming through
-Graham. Good at WAFL level, nice size and pretty mobile, still a season away in terms of physique and totally untried.

-Beeck. Very interesting prospect, and imo possibly a master stroke from the coaching staff. At 197cm he really looks nothing like a ruckman and his, pace, agility and deft touch make me think he could make a go of it.

-Travis 'if fit' Gaspar. Certainly physically strong enough, exceptional mark and pretty athletic. Bit of a question mark over his pace, but one which won't be answered either way until we see him fully fit, if we ever do.

-Brent Staker- imo the long term solution at CHB for the guys Lynch or Hunter can't handle. Originally a defender in his pre-WAFL days, at the moment he lacks the strength to outbody people in marking duels, but when that comes he's ideal- good hands, tall enough, and with pace and agility which should allow him to stay with any forward in existence- 196cm guys as agile and quick as him are pretty hard to come by. The few times he's been tried in defence thus far he hasn't exactly set the world on fire, but that might change once he gets the physical strength,

Other possibilities are Daniel McConnell if he continues to grow. Jonathan Hay would be a really really good addition to our team.

 

[Clayton]

I like Lynchy at CHB but there are obvious problems with match ups, hopefully he can work on his mobility in the preseason.

Staker is another who might impress if given time, Gaspar is another I'd like to see make a go of it if he ever recovers, he's beginning to lose his opportunity to play Forward. Fully fit he could develop into an attacking CHB.

 

[jod23]

Im sold on Lynch, I think he is a very good defender and has taken his fair share of scalps during the year. But he is matchup prone so he only fits the right CHF. But I think he is the man for the job, he is quicker and more agile than Jakovich was the last 4 or 5 seasons....