TOPIC:

Backline I reckon definitely the main area of concern. No idea about AJ but he had his arm in a sling at training last Friday. 

Dazzler wrote:

Thompson has been here for a month. Cody Howard will be a gun. Smooth mover, great kick. Lane looks like he's being tasked to hold down a key defensive role. The team will look unrecognisable from last season. 

Thanks for the info Daz. That's interesting. Cody Howard stated in an interview how he had been 'forced' to play as an undersized CHB in the O&MFNL but relished the chance to be freed up a bit and use his run and carry skills much more.

Lane seemed to be a prolific ball winner, tackler who was frequently in the best players in that league and in the goal kickers.  At 183cm he is only an inch taller than Howard. Not sure how he'll do as a key back, but if anyone knows his game it's German. 
 

Let’s hope we surprise and a few of these recruits turn out to be guns and there are a few surprises from young players from the colts stepping up. Remember Michael Sinclair was once a colt, we need a few more like him to step up and make the grade.

Saw an article re Lennon Marlin, played some games in the Tassie league last year, was averaging 25 + possessions and a couple of goals a game... kind of puts some leagues into perspective....but hey always a few hidden gems somewhere I guess.

I hope Zac Jackson can play some good footy for you boys, it's a pity he wasn't a fan of Monaghan's abrasive coaching style, is German going to be any different?

I can't do a best 22 due to the number of unknown players. But I'll try to look at types of players and where they might play, stating with talls. Ideally, a well balanced team should have 5-6 players over 190cm. We have 10 in our squad: Sinclair, Bird, DBW, AJ, Johnson, Martin, Fairbank, Preston-Coates, HQ and Grocott. 

DBW is the obvious choice for ruck, though he's just an average player. AJ has a long term injury, but was poor last season and seems to lack discipline and intensity. I assume Sinclair will be CHB, though I like him better as a spare in defence. I can't see Lane at 183cm holding down a key position. I don't think Bird or Johnson are good enough to play league. Martin is borderline at best, but could be used in the forward line/changing ruck, though he'd be badly undersized as a ruck. HQ showed a bit, and is likely to be our starting full forward, but hasn't cemented himself yet. The others have yet to play league. 

All up I would say we are seriously deficient in talls. Sinclair, HQ and DBW hold down three positions, but the options for another tall forward, back or second ruck are limited, so we either go in lacking size or experience. 

Moving onto smaller backs, we are in better shape here. Coniglio, Sing and Taylor take the pockets and one flank, with perhaps Lane or Howard on the other. A number of other players could play as a running defender, Chapman Jones, Clark, Davis. 

Turning to forwards, it is hard to find a CHF. We may be forced to go with Cary, despite him being undersized. Stubbs is an obvious choice for a flank. It gets hard from there. McPartland or Browne have been tried in a pocket before, and have done ok at times without being consistent. Stack might be a good choice for a flank. Then there are the unknowns: can Shannon, Barwick, Jackson kick goals? Typically you need around 80 points a game to win more than you lose. We have struggled to achieve that for a long time - the last two seasons averaged about 60p - and it is hard to see that changing with the forward options we have this year. 

I think you’re missing Stubbs. Could hold down FF? Heard good things about Chapman Jones. And Busher is still on the list. He may be going around again? Agree we lack a replacement for Gibblett.

Finally, we need 5 players to play wing/midfield. Byrne, Manzone, Thompson and Clarke is a good starting point. It gets harder from there. I like Gray, but he has to find the footy more rather than just tagging. Hopefully Philip, Paton, Dellamarta or McDonald can step up. Lots of unknowns again, as to whether guys like Shannon and Barwick can play those roles. Stack can play in short bursts. I hope we don't have to deprive our forward line by running Cary and Stubbs though the middle, and I hope our depth is not tested to the extent that guys like More and Peletier are required in the midfield. If not needed in the backline, Jones and Davis may get a run. 

All up, I think our best 4 mids are quality players, but it falls away quickly and we are likely to struggle for depth.

What happened to Zareth Roe I thought early in the pre season he was back on the senior player list and I have vaguely recall seeing him at training looking fit and without strapping around his knee which we have been accustomed to seeing him in. He is an X factor player who can really turn it on as a high marking forward and can pinch hit in the ruck. He could even fill a key back spot.

I think he was in the army reserve a few years ago.

Ted Nugent wrote:

Finally, we need 5 players to play wing/midfield. Byrne, Manzone, Thompson and Clarke is a good starting point. It gets harder from there. I like Gray, but he has to find the footy more rather than just tagging. Hopefully Philip, Paton, Dellamarta or McDonald can step up. Lots of unknowns again, as to whether guys like Shannon and Barwick can play those roles. Stack can play in short bursts. I hope we don't have to deprive our forward line by running Cary and Stubbs though the middle, and I hope our depth is not tested to the extent that guys like More and Peletier are required in the midfield. If not needed in the backline, Jones and Davis may get a run. 

All up, I think our best 4 mids are quality players, but it falls away quickly and we are likely to struggle for depth.

Accidentally hit delete fk it. I think the midfield is an area we are going to be stronger in and young Barwick could be a handy small forward. I think he has kicked 385 goals over about 245 games in his junior and young senior career.