Goodes

[Dpw]

Thought he deserved a thread, my thoughts are that since hes gone back not only has he added height and dash, he also sets others up really well and brings the entire back six into the game I said it during the game but is this is new home(chb)?

ps Seems as effective as when he was in the middle as he has the rare abillity to keep his feet while being tackled IMO

[Mike_B]

He seems to have settled in very well, and right now, with the players available, he provides us with most value across HB. When Schauble comes back, that may change, although I would be happy for him to stay on the HB line.

It could also prove useful in his own footballing education if he does move back to HF to learn how some other HF's play and read the ball etc.

The only negative for me through all of this is that his kicking which is sometimes suspect is able to be covered over by the extra handballs that our backline are so reliant on when rebounding and if he moves forward again later in the season, his foot skills will need to be spot on.

[midaro]

One thing I've never previosly noticed about Goodes, is how good he is at handballing.

Sure his kicking is nothing to write home about, but some of his HBs are Williams-esque.

[robbieando]

Originally posted by midaro
One thing I've never previosly noticed about Goodes, is how good he is at handballing.

Sure his kicking is nothing to write home about, but some of his HBs are Williams-esque.

He just knows where to handpass it to. No hit and hope with him.

I'll be the first to admit that I wasn't too keen on Goodes moving into defence, I will say it here I WAS WRONG. The last three weeks he has just added to our run off half back and therefore allows Leo Barry who was so important in this area, to play more accountable roles in defence. Man on man is still a worry for me (after all when he went onto Croad a few weeks back at FullBack he got killed), but if he plays a simular role at CHB from now on, we might just of solved finally our few problems in defence. Just the midfield to work on now.

[Nico]

Can't see him going to HF with his dicky knee. He is suited where he is because he doesn't need to turn as much.

[ScottH]

He is playing better now, than before he got injured, when we all thought he was carrying and injury.

[dendol]

Yeah, he definately gives us more value at CHB than in the forward line. I'll be the second to admit that I was wrong about playing him in the back line. Many also agreed that he would be wasted in a negating role, but so far it has worked a treat.

Our full stregnth backline with Schauble and Goodes at the KPP posts, and then Bolton, Barry, Kennelly, Bevan supporting, looks very solid.

[robbieando]

Don't forget, Heath James, Jared Crouch (tagging the small forward) and Ben Mathews can help thought there. All in all the defence is playing as well as ever and with its most important player missing as well. Good signs

[dendol]

Of course not. The good thing about our backline is that we can interchange a few of them in and out of the midfield as well (Crouch, C Bolton, Mathews) depending on who we play and the state of the game.

So what looks like a stable and cohesive backline, with a midfield starting to fire (anyone got clearance stats?), and a forward line with targets and crumbers galore, we have alot to look forward to again! Those 4 straight losses seems like a long time ago.

[barry]

dont forget that when Schuable comes back (assuming he does this year), he can play forward (CHF), so Goodes does not have to make way for him.

I do however, like our spine of:
FB: Schuable
CHB: Goodes
C: Doyle/Ball to J.Bolton/Williams
CHF: Hall
FF: O'loughlan

With James and Saddington as floating utilities to play tall back or forward depending on the opposition.

Are we becoming too tall ??

[dendol]

Originally posted by barry
dont forget that when Schuable comes back (assuming he does this year), he can play forward (CHF), so Goodes does not have to make way for him.

I do however, like our spine of:
FB: Schuable
CHB: Goodes
C: Doyle/Ball to J.Bolton/Williams
CHF: Hall
FF: O'loughlan

With James and Saddington as floating utilities to play tall back or forward depending on the opposition.

Are we becoming too tall ??

no way. A lack of height has always been our perceived problem, at least in defense. We have got a plethora of hard-running players all over the ground.

[dimelb]

One of the strengths of our backline is that they are a rebounding backline - Goodes reinforces that capacity and strengthens our attack.