Based on the results in 2004 and the 2005 season to date, you may find this a strange statement, but I really think that things are starting to shape up for a bumper 2006 and beyond. How so, you may wonder with recent results and all the doom and gloom? Well pretty simple really, because DP is no dill although a few posters are still out with the jury on this subject. He is obviously going to use the rest of the season to determine who wants to play for our famous jumper and who can cut it in the heat of battle. Make no mistake, there will be bodies on the battlefield by seasons end, but I’ll leave that to the myriad of threads that have been dedicated to retirement/trade/delist/pay cut etc.

After Saturdays game against the Swans and going back over the past few weeks tapes, I have come to the conclusion that we are only a few parts of the jigsaw away from being very competitive. Some posters would argue plenty of parts. Whilst I have advocated recently to move up to 17 players on at seasons end, which still leaves 27, the remainder plus our pick ups will form a fairly solid nucleus. Now we don’t know who is gunna be there next year, but if we can make some assumptions on current form and look at what we got and what we are missing.

Firstly it goes without saying that Barnaby French is still our number 1 Ruckman. It appears that we have unearthed a diamond from the rough in Chris Bryan, who can be used in a number of roles in tandem with Frenchie. Looks logical to interchange them in defence. Barnaby has been dropping back there to fill a hole anyway and the bear could spend time down there whilst not rucking, particularly with the kick ins.

Secondly if we were to break the rest up into certainties to remain by field area, we would get a better idea of the task at hand.


Defenders

I reckon that if we look at this six pack as the ideal balance of size and ability, we will have fixed this part of the puzzle. Karl Norman could become a vital part of this setup with the others named. There are a few other options that could rotate with those named as well: Carrazzo with Teague in the guts, even Cory McGrath in a similar rotation. However this is the back six (not in position) I would like to see next year.

Bret Thornton
Luke Livingston
Chris Bryan
Adam Hartlett
David Teague
Karl Norman


Forwards

I reckon that if we look at the forward line similarly to the back six in that it is time to be working as a team for each other rather that the personal glory stuff. We gotta have different avenues, rather than the bomb it long to a contested situation all the time. It clearly doesn’t work, because we don’t have enough players who can take contested marks as regularly as necessary. If this six becomes the perfect balance of speed and height, we will have fixed this part of the puzzle too. There are a couple of surprises here in retaining Lance, but we just aren’t gunna get better than a 3rd rounder for him, so if he gets offered a reduced contract, he could be good value as part of this setup. Carlos with his desperation would learn a lot and soon become a hard matchup as part of this setup. There are a few other options that could rotate with those named as well: Matty Lappin with Eddie Betts in the guts, even Justin Davies in a possible rotation. However this is the forward six (not in position) I would like to see next year.

Brendan Fevola
Jarrad Waite
Brad Fisher
Lance Whitnall
Eddie Betts
Setanta O’hAilpin


Midfield

Well now if our Ruckmen are settled and both the back six and forward 6 are too, with 13 spots already taken, this leaves the obvious part of the puzzle: The much maligned engine room. Where do we start? If we assume that Kouta will go on and obviously Nick Stevens is the future skipper leading by example from the centre, who else can fill the remaining 7 spots? I have my favourites, but we really are in trouble here for hard bodies and a genuine rotation of a total of 9 required. Some will drift down back to provide some run whilst others will get forward of the pill to create options ala Lappin and Campo, but this is where we need to improve because the engine room has gone Missing in Action. Hopefully the Trading/Draft periods will fill the gap. I’m assuming we will get up to 3 decent midfielders at seasons end, so tell me who you think we should retain and who can help fix this weakness.

Anthony Koutoufides
Nick Stevens
?????
?????
?????
?????
?????
?????
?????

_________________
2002:> "In their Masters Chambers
They Gathered for their Feast
They Stabbed us with their Steely Knives
But They Just Can't Kill The Beast!" <2016

THE BLUEBAGGER BEAST IS BAACKK!!

Those are some very tall Forward and Backline's there. You need at least one small, quick defender to play on your Davey's, Ablett and Johnson's and you probably need at least one creative player like Lappin or Houlihan with some good foot skills that can read the play.

_________________
"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

This is still our biggest weakness. The lack of midfield options is what is putting undue pressure on the rest of the team.
I know at least one backman is feeling that his position in the team is under threat primarily due to opposition midfields being allowed to surge forward and deliver the ball precisely while under little pressure, giving him little chance to stop his direct opponent.
People call for Fev and Whitnall's head every other week because they don't kick a bag, but it's hard to kick goals when the footy comes into the forward line on a mystery flight, noone knows where it's going to land.

I bet he's often caught in two minds whether to stay on his man or go to any stray midfielders streaming forward without an opponant. Makes him look bad when he gets a bag kicked on him

_________________
"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

Brad,

Skinny would be in my side every week, but the role he should be playing is as mister fix it. As you know he is a good running back who backs his judgement and can drift forward and kick a few. He has been used in these roles since DP arrived. Could be a great winger/midfielder more in the David Glascott mould which would extend his shelf life too. Hoops..hmmm. Might have silky skills, but just won't put his body on the line for the jumper. May find himself in a red jumper next week, kicking the dew off the grass. Doesn't suit the Pagan game plan so expect him to be traded at seasons end whilst there is still some currency.

_________________
2002:> "In their Masters Chambers
They Gathered for their Feast
They Stabbed us with their Steely Knives
But They Just Can't Kill The Beast!" <2016

THE BLUEBAGGER BEAST IS BAACKK!!

I didnt get much out of the Swans match as an indicator of anything...apart from Chris Bryan showing why he should have played earlier in the season and Lance earning his money for a change it was like every other game v the Swans for the past couple of years..Swans got enough of the ball and then it was the Barry Hall show..nothings changed...

I hope thats not true. As I've mentioned in other threads we need his skills right now on a list without much of it. I'm as critical as anyone of the fact he won't lay his body on the line at times, but the fact is that he reads the play well and puts himself in good position many times.

If you don't have that type of player in the backline then the midfielders have to push pack, which they already do, to help clear the ball effectively from the backline.

Another great post by the way

_________________
"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

Agree with jist of your post, in particular the MIA midfield we have at present.

Make no mistake, we have the worst midfield in the comp and looking fragile for the next cuppla yrs with Kouta gone at 2006 season end and well, Campo - I'll just stop there! The midfield is the major reason why we continually start games like snails - lack of skill and hardness when real pressure is applied, look at our 1st qtrs. This is by no means a dig at Kouta and Stevo but they just can't do it on their own wk in wk out. We are in desperate need of 3 midfield guns come draft time - 2 inside mids and another, classy running mid.

One obvious candidate is this Hurn fella from SA, 92kg midfielder. Whether he's ready to go at the start of 2006 (e.g. Deledio) is anyones guess but he's at least got the bulk.

Wishful thinking but we really need an established midfielder from the PSD. "C'mon down Luke Power, no need being homesick, it really isn't any good for your mental wellbeing! Oh, BTW, we have plenty of free salary cap"

Andrew Walker is coming along nicely, I think he is a cert. for your Midfield rotation

So we're up to 5:

1. Kouta
2. Stevo
3. PSD midfielder (Power)
4. Walker
5. Hurn

A bit better I reckon.

Possibilities to fill rotation spots: Chambers, Blackwell, ????, ????

I for one think our tall stocks are looking OK, assuming Chris Bryan is the real deal and the likes of Setanta and Hartlett keep coming along, however I have a feeling that we will go for Mitch Clark if in a position to do so. Best big man in the draft, a natural successor to Lance and will go top 3 by all accounts.

With the Mitch Clark pick an exception, the focus for the 2005 drafts MUST BE midfielders

Jenx,
I don't know anything about Hurn and Clark, but 1AW is a certainty for me as well. We should get an uncontracted player in the PSD, hopefully a ready made midfielder. Son of Wayne is obviously the future when he gets a body as should be Noof, but shit we need em now or next year at least.

_________________
2002:> "In their Masters Chambers
They Gathered for their Feast
They Stabbed us with their Steely Knives
But They Just Can't Kill The Beast!" <2016

THE BLUEBAGGER BEAST IS BAACKK!!

Quite frustratred that he's been made to look like a goose, but damned if you do, damned if you don't.

If we do manage to finish up with a PP next year will be HUGE !

Even without a PP , we already have some pretty good future talent on our list to come through next year.

Russell , Hartlett ( DAMN we haven't even played our top 2 picks yet !!)
Blackwell
Fisher (will play this year - we sorely miss him)

Then you have the borderline/mystery/could be good players in

Setanta , Raso , Becker and Smith.

We have a very good core their for the future.

Add a Hurn, Clarke, Dowler or whoever and a Luke Power or the like and we are set !!

_________________
*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

Don't blame him. Pass on the message that he should stay on his man and play a selfish game rather than try to do the team thing.

This come from his cousin?

_________________
"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

Good memory

What a terrible thing to say about a young kid...

_________________
"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

In position only GWS. I'm sure he ain't a spotty, redhead kid!

A CHF for the future - big, mobile, skillfull. Lance unfortunately, has only 1 1/2 of these traits

He's definately big - but whats the other 1/2 for ??

or is that 1 1/2 times big

_________________
*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

Ohhhhh.....if we could only get the first three picks. Reckon Essendon* & Hawthorn will finish about the same as us. Maybe we could give em 3 or 4 players for their first picks. Would love to pick up the kids mentioned: Hurn, Clark & Dowler. *Mods please insert Dribbles on keyboard Emoticon, thanks*

_________________
2002:> "In their Masters Chambers
They Gathered for their Feast
They Stabbed us with their Steely Knives
But They Just Can't Kill The Beast!" <2016

THE BLUEBAGGER BEAST IS BAACKK!!

agree - that is why i find it hard to understand why alot of people here are so quick to trade just about everyone on our list.

The team i would love to see fielded within two years.

Carazzo - Livingston - Teague
Bryan - Thorton - Harlett
Simpson - Bentick - Russell
S.O'Halphin - Waite - Raso
Betts - Fevola - Fisher

French, Walker, Stevens

interchange Sporn, Becker, A. O'Halphin, Blackwell


a bloody exciting team and every single one of our players mentioned there are currently there.

_________________
Got to love the stare Down by Setanta on Llyod

Prez, thats the tallest half-back line in the history of the game. How many teams have 2 190cm + HFF's?

What would happen when we played Geelong with Ablett, Steve Johnson and Chapman?

_________________
"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010