04 Team lineup

[Craig]

Ok here is my stab at playing coach for 2004 (forward line mentioned first):

Doyal O'Louchlin O'Keefe

Williams Hall Davis

Maxfield J Bolton Kennelly

Barry C Bolton Saddington

Mathews Schauble Crouch

Ball Kirk Goodes

Fosdike Schneider LRT Fixter

It's pretty exciting because you would think that the trade period could only improve this team. Last year we acquired Bolton and Davis who slotted straight in. If we can somehow pull this off again, and recruit a McVeigh (midfielder) and/or Wheatley (tall backman) then I think we wil have a pretty damn impressive team.

We have Nicks, Stevens and maybe Fosdike to trade so you would think we would get something decent for them. I love Nicksy and Stevens but I think they would perfrom better elsewhere. Fosdike is mentioned on the basis that we would get something good in return, wouldn't dream of trading him if it wasn't worthwhile.

Couldn't find a place for Seymour, James, Nicks and Stevens so I believe that they would all be pretty much expendable.

[midaro]

My go:

Forwards
O'Keefe.....O'Loughlin.....Ball

Half Forwards
Schneider.....Hall.....Davis

Centres
Kennelly.....Williams.....Maxfield

Half Backs
Saddington.....BoltonC.....Barry

Full Backs
Mathews.....Schauble.....Crouch

Rucks
Goodes.....BoltonJ.....Kirk

Interchange
Roberts-Thomson.....Fosdike.....Doyle.....Fixter

Emergencies
Ablett.....Powell.....Sundqvist.....Stevens.....Mc Veigh

[liz]

Re: 04 Team lineup

Originally posted by Craig

Couldn't find a place for Seymour, James, Nicks and Stevens so I believe that they would all be pretty much expendable.

So you don't think we need any back-up in case players get injured?

It's probably the best 25-28 of a squad that matters, not just the best 22.

[Craig]

Re: Re: 04 Team lineup

Originally posted by lizz
So you don't think we need any back-up in case players get injured?

It's probably the best 25-28 of a squad that matters, not just the best 22.

Of course we need back up players. I would hardly call Seymour and James back ups for injured players, as it's usually them that's injured in the first place!

The 22 I mentioned doesn't inlcude players we may pick up via trading. If we fail to trade then obviously Nicks and Stevens will stay.

We have other players quite capable including: Ablett, Powell, Sunny, Hunt and Dempster. I would say that the first 3 would definately be pushing for selection before any injuries anyway and Hunt and Dempster will hopefully get a couple of games in 04.

My best 22 was just on paper. It would be great if we could have that 22 playing together all year, but of course injuries play a big part.

[Charlie]

Re: Re: 04 Team lineup

Originally posted by lizz
So you don't think we need any back-up in case players get injured?

It's probably the best 25-28 of a squad that matters, not just the best 22.

I agree - although it's probably more like 30, as this is the average number of players that a premiership team uses.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by midaro
My go:
{SNIP}

Yep - I like the look of this team. If we could add in a strong CHB/FB and a gun midfielder, I'm not sure who we would cut. Possibly Fosdike and Doyle. Still, looks pretty capable as long as injuries aren't a problem.

[barry]

Forwards: O'Keefe.....Ball..... Schneider
I see Ball playing more of a FF after all those injuries. O'Keefe providing the leading FF, and Schneider the pocket. This free's O'Loughlin up to half forward flank, his better position.
COVERAGE: Doyle can rotate with Ball, and Micky can go back to FF.
QUALITY: 7/10.

Half Forwards O'Loughlin.....Hall.....Davis
What a half forward line!. Davis can rotate through the centre, but I still think his best is at HF. With such strength, anyone can be rested with a lesser player and still have a strong HF line.
COVERAGE: Goodes or Schauble can go to CHF, with Maxfield or Williams holding the flanks.
QUALITY: 10/10 as good as it gets.

Centres Fixter.....Williams.....Maxfield
Fixter comes into add something to a weak line. But with the high rotational aspect of our team, these three will rarely play in position all the time.
COVERAGE: Any midsized player, although none of real quality.
QUALITY: 5/10

Half Backs Saddington.....BoltonC.....Barry
A very dynamic half back line with heaps of run and 3 players who play tall. Can be exposed by gorillas, but adjustable enough to handle most forward lines.
COVERAGE: LRT and James should hopefully step up, and put pressure on these. Although a little inexperienced, 2004 must be James' last chance. Kennelly can move up against lesser forward lines.
QUALITY: 7/10 - Good, but can be exposed by Carey's of the world.

[B]Full Backs Mathews.....Schauble.....Kennelly
Schuable is the most underated player at the club. Mathews is reliable, and Kennelly is a bit of a floater. Crouch can come in to tag a forward pocket.
COVERAGE: Loose Schuabs and we have no one to take on the big FF's. In trouble. Matthews and Kennelly/Couch can be covered by any of our mid-sized players.
QUALITY: 6/10.

Rucks Goodes.....BoltonJ.....Kirk
Goodes has to be No.1 ruck, but I would be more confortable if he was No.2 behind Doyle. Its quite a burden he has to carry. J Bolton needs to CONTINUE his development, and Kirk needs to keep up with his 2003 form.
COVERAGE: Weak in an in-and-under player.
QUALITY: 6/10 - Appart from Goodes, not going to scare many.

Interchange Roberts-Thomson.....Fosdike.....Doyle.....Crouch
Good quality bench with LRT able to fill in up foward, in the ruck, and hopefully down back. Doyle needs to be No.1/2 ruck, and I have high hopes for him in 2004. Crouch is the 2nd tagger, and Fosdike....well I'm not a huge fan. I'd rather McVeigh there.
COVERAGE: Ok backup for the bench in Powell, Stevens, McVeigh junior, Ablett (who could sneak into the side next year). All young though.
QUALITY: 7/10 - better bench than most teams.

Emergencies Ablett.....Powell.....Sundqvist.....Stevens.....Mc Veigh [/QUOTE]
As above. All young, but some good prospects there. Stevens must be on his last chance, hopefully gets a go down back.

Two things need to happen for 2004 to be a good year:
Doyle steps up as either ruckman or FF, or both.
A quality midfielder is unearthed or brought in.

[Craig]

Excellent post Barry!

Pretty spot on too, though I would love to see Goodes in a ruck rover type role rather than going for the tap.

[stellation]

Originally posted by barry
Full Backs Mathews.....Schauble.....Kennelly
Schuable is the most underated player at the club.

Ain't that the truth!

[Bleed Red Blood]

I don't like what youve said about our centre line as in Willo is a dual best and fairest and Maxfield Captain of the club.

[sprite]

Excellent assessment Barry. Plenty of thought put into the analysis.

I agree with Craig tho', having Goodes running loose as a play creator would be better. This would create a major problem for opposition coaches in trying to get a match up for him.

I would like to see Kennelly swapped for Fixter, Tadgh is a fast linking player.


Willo and Maxfield are not getting any younger, with Maxfield has had some recent injuries, perhaps they should prepare to change their roles.

Willo - running on the HFF, feeding off Hall, would take some heat off O'Loughlin and Davis.

Maxfield - running off the HBF ala Mark Browning..

Anyway with most players and positions in rotation, the positioning of players becomes an exercise for the media.

sprite

[Steve]

I can see O'Loughlin spending the rest of his career as a FF.

Since his early days ('96-'98) as a HFF, he has played his best football close to goal.

Between about 1997 and 2000 I thought he had to be made into a midfielder possibly resting on a HFF - that Rd 1 game against St Kilda at Docklands where he had 30+ touches and kicked 5 goals seemed to justify it.

He's a good lead, very dangerous at ground level, a very good set shot, his fitness has always been questionable, and his knees seem to be getting worse - to me that adds up to him being most useful as close to goal as possible.

Doyle becomes one of our most important players for his (potential) ability to take some of the load off Goodes - we need to be careful not to burn him out too early in each season, and too early in his career overall.

[barry]

One thing that I might add, that really needs working on is our kick in from behinds. It was dreadful at times this year.

Kennelly should improve, but its too much to ask Williams or Maxfield to come back all the time. Other than Mathews I dont see any other candidates.

Maybe we need a total rethink on strategy.

[liz]

I know positions don't mean much nowadays, but swap Kennelly and Fixter around. In 2002 Fixter was excellent on small forwards, probably better than Crouch. That allows Crouch to be a tagger on small midfielders, which he usually does very well (ala Aker).

I'm not convinced by Kennelly as a defender. I'm sure his game has improved by spending time back down there, but I'd love to see him spend more time on the wing where he can use his pace and deliver those beautiful spearing kicks onto the chests of Hall, Magic et al.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Steve
He's a good lead, very dangerous at ground level, a very good set shot, his fitness has always been questionable, and his knees seem to be getting worse - to me that adds up to him being most useful as close to goal as possible.

Yep - this is my view too. He will be too quick against most FBs and too big against back pockets. I also prefer him to get the ball within 40m of goal as he is more confident of kicking it then, and he usually does.