TOPIC:

29 players gone from last year - That's a big clean-out
I don't think we've lost more than we've gained talent wise as many of those players didn't play shit loads last season.

What does bother me though is the loss of forwards Broady,Anthony and Chambers for the ins of Herring & McDougall with Stevenson and Phillips back
I think last years forwards would give us more goals than the replacements and last year our forwards were average !!!

Chopper wrote: 29 players gone from last year - That's a big clean-out
I don't think we've lost more than we've gained talent wise as many of those players didn't play shit loads last season.

What does bother me though is the loss of forwards Broady,Anthony and Chambers for the ins of Herring & McDougall with Stevenson and Phillips back
I think last years forwards would give us more goals than the replacements and last year our forwards were average !!!

Yeah a lead-up forward. It would be nice. Big problem so far.

Most of the forward stuff has worked pretty well so far though. Madut and Sinclair changing up forward has been a winner. Opposition teams just can't match up on those two blokes. If they try a regular full-back, height is a problem for them. If they try a ruckman it unbalances their entire back half and Madut and Sinclair clean them up on the ground because regular rucks can't match them for mobility. We're gonna confuse the f**k out of a few teams this year with those two in front of the sticks. Good luck to a Cameron Symonds, a Christian Eyres or a Shayne Zanetti getting sent back there to man up on those two......they'll need it.

Wheeler has been in superb form at CHF, so no problem there.

The smalls have done well. DeLuca, Pickett, Halligan have been very dangerous. Daniels, Hampson, Phillips, JKT can all float through there from time to time when not in the midfield. Clarke, Worthington, Garcia waiting in the wings.

But the lead-up forward?

Herring played the first two scratchies and kicked a total of 1 goal. Nick Hay played the third and went ok for a debutant but didn't dominate.

I guess they will persist with Herring because he is the name recruit but I'd try Stevenson. He'll compete and have a crack. Guys that are coming back from a long term injury always seem to play with a lot of passion and enthusiasm.

If that doesn't work after 4 or 5 games I'd try Hampson as the lead-up. At 6ft2 he's just tall enough but plays a bit taller than that and can lead as well and takes marks with hands out in front. Always looks dangerous when he goes forward.

It's that one spot that needs filling. Herring, Stevenson, Hay, Hampson - who's going to take it?

Yep I share our concern Ben - who will fill the void plus we struggled to kick a winning score last season - so we must improve big time. Each forward will have to kick a couple at least or I can't see us troubling the scoreboard too much ???

The rucks have been getting a few through the big sticks and Hampson can kick one when on the ball,Bristow's not a big scorer - We have to improve or we can't climb the ladder.

Good up back,not too bad on the ball(but lack pace)the forwards must fire for us to make the finals !!! Time will tell - Who want's to put their hand up ???

Getting the ball inside the FWD 50 is the key. We've done it 35, 35 and 42 in the three scratchies.

Last year Claremont got inside 50 - 55, N/A, N/A, 49, 54, 48, 54, 66, 55, 51, 34, 49, 57, 66, 54, 51, 52, 62, 47, 63

That's what we need. 35-45 like last year won't win many games.

La Hincha wrote: Getting the ball inside the FWD 50 is the key. We've done it 35, 35 and 42 in the three scratchies.

Last year Claremont got inside 50 - 55, N/A, N/A, 49, 54, 48, 54, 66, 55, 51, 34, 49, 57, 66, 54, 51, 52, 62, 47, 63

That's what we need. 35-45 like last year won't win many games.

Agree to a point Ben but the delivery to forwards has to be better than last year which was very average indeed.

I felt sorry for Sir Doug Anthony, Broady and Chambers as we didn't put it on their chest or even out in front and you could sense their frustration.

New season,New coach,New players,New hope - let's see what it brings ???

Yeah it would certainly help.