Smallest team in the league

[Ajn]

Luke Ablett 182cm
Paul Bevan 183cm
Jude Bolton 181cm
Amon Buchanan 180cm
Jared Crouch 174cm
Nick Davis 184cm
Brett Kirk 184cm
Ben Mathews 182cm
Stuart Maxfield 178cm
Matthew Nicks 185cm
David Spriggs 175cm
Paul Williams 176cm

Last week we played 12 small midfield types and have Schneider(175cm), Fosdike(179cm) and McVeigh(182 cm) waiting in the wings.

This would have to make us one of the smallest teams in the league, with a genuine lack of 190cm agile players pushing up the ranks.

This is a going to be a problem unless the likes of Powell (190), LRT (196), Sundqvist (188), Saddington (194), James (191), M.Davis (191) and the rest of our rookie talls stand up. At the moment Barry is doing the job at 184cm, but he is a freak and carrying the load for the lack of progress of some of our talls

P.S. Good to see Dempster given the chance, hopefully they perserve.

[Charlie]

Having Ball, Jolly, LRT, Goodes and Hall all 193cm or undermines that theory somewhat. Especially with Doyle to come in.

Quite rare to have five/six players of that height in the team at the same time.

[Wil]

Re: Smallest team in the league

Originally posted by Ajn

This would have to make us one of the smallest teams in the league, with a genuine lack of 190cm agile players pushing up the ranks.

This is a going to be a problem...

Its been a problem for years. Probably cost us at least one shot in the Grand Final the past 2 years alone.

It would help though to actually compare it to other teams. But this is why we play best in a fast, rebound, style with lots of interchanges so we can run the taller players of other teams ragged.

[Go Swannies]

Conversely, it's probably why we have the reputation of being (in 2003 at least - and last weekend!) the hardest finishing team in the comp. With all else being equal, it may be why Roos is keen on "tempo" football. And could be an advantage.

Cost us a GF? In that Brisbane PF we went against the trend and finished poorly (perhaps because we ran ourselves ragged vs Port).

Interesting to note how we measure up against the Roos - they seem to be perfecting playing ugly footy with a burst at the end this year. I wonder if/when the media will notice? Or is it just the Shinboner spirit shining through unlike those awful flooding Swans?

[Wil]

Originally posted by Go Swannies
Conversely, it's probably why we have the reputation of being (in 2003 at least - and last weekend!) the hardest finishing team in the comp. With all else being equal, it may be why Roos is keen on "tempo" football. And could be an advantage.

One thing about Roos is he plays to our strenghts. In other words by crafting a fit, running team with a big interchange policy. But...

Cost us a GF? In that Brisbane PF we went against the trend and finished poorly (perhaps because we ran ourselves ragged vs Port).

I think Roos's biggest mistake is not getting more talls and bringing in too many midfielders. I believe having more talls would give a stablising effect when we are getting tired and beaten and would be what we need to get over the edge.

[NMWBloods]

As Frank Layden said, smalls may tire and slow down, but talls never get any shorter...

[Go Swannies]

Originally posted by Wil

I think Roos's biggest mistake is not getting more talls and bringing in too many midfielders. I believe having more talls would give a stablising effect when we are getting tired and beaten and would be what we need to get over the edge. [/B]

Tired talls and big men don't have a good record at getting teams over the line at the end. There was a moment in the Lions final quarter when there wasn't a single Lion prepared to run to a lead. They were stuffed.

[Ajn]

Originally posted by Charlie
Having Ball, Jolly, LRT, Goodes and Hall all 193cm or undermines that theory somewhat. Especially with Doyle to come in.

Quite rare to have five/six players of that height in the team at the same time.

Undermines what exactly?
One yet to deliver, 2 ruckmen, a CHF and a Utility. How does that constitute a problem solved???

[Wil]

Originally posted by Go Swannies
Tired talls and big men don't have a good record at getting teams over the line at the end. There was a moment in the Lions final quarter when there wasn't a single Lion prepared to run to a lead. They were stuffed.

I don't necessarily mean to win the game at the end. But to provide some goals through long kicks and contested marks to allow the smalls some breathing space and free up the game a bit. Hopefully meaning that they will have more legs by the end of the game instead of relying on running and/or short kicks for the whole game.

[Ajn]

ADELAIDE team list for this week:
(not noted for their height - yet make us look like dwarfs)

Rutten 191cm,
Bassett 191cm
McGregor194cm,
Begley187cm,
Mattner 187cm
Perrie191cm,
Welsh188cm,
Biglands 198cm
Hudson199cm,
S.Stevens 192cm,
Hentschel 193cm,
Bock 193cm

Injured players
Stevens 192cm
Clarke 200cm
Hart 188cm

Developing players
Watts 196cm,
Rutten 191cm

Let's hope some of our rookies keep progressing well!

[Ajn]

opps swap second entry for Rutten and put in Jericho

[NMWBloods]

We have:

C Bolton 188
Dempster 189
Goodes 193
Hall 194
James 191
Jolley 200
Kennelly 190
O'Keefe 187
O'Loughlin 188
Roberts-Thompson 196

Injured
Doyle 203
Saddington 194
Schauble 193

That puts us a few behind on height.

[ugg]

Hope it rains on Sunday!

[NMWBloods]

Hope it doesn't - their foot and hand skills are far superior to ours.

[cruiser]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
Hope it doesn't - their foot and hand skills are far superior to ours.

Far superior? You wanna justify that statement?