Defensive reshuffle.

[barry]

Our defense has been stretched this year. Just look at who is missing from our regular players of last few years.

OUT: Dempster, LRT, Kennelly, Bevan
IN: Crouch, Richards, Malceski.

Quite a personal change in a short period of time. We could be exposed by a switched on forward line, just due to game plan changes.

[stellation]

I think the change has been quite public

[reigning premier]

And for those that doubted LRT's impact on the game, please note the above.

We do miss him and the sooner he's back, the better.

[swantastic]

Our defense has been stretched this year. Just look at who is missing from our regular players of last few years.

OUT: Dempster, LRT, Kennelly, Bevan
IN: Crouch, Richards, Malceski.

Quite a personal change in a short period of time. We could be exposed by a switched on forward line, just due to game plan changes.

Pretty good in's Crouch,better than Bevan,Richards better than Dempster and Melceski is just as good as Kennelly.So i dont think there is a problem and on LRT i dont dont think we miss him that much,maybe drop Doyle down there.

[573v30]

Apart from missing LRT and Kennelly, our defense isn't too bad. Crouch should be back in form any time soon, Malceski is on fire at the moment and Richards has shown a lot more than his days at Essendon.

[dimelb]

At the moment we are the second stingiest defence in the league; only WC are meaner. And we have some good talent coming back.

[hammo]

At the moment we are the second stingiest defence in the league; only WC are meaner. And we have some good talent coming back.

Our stingy qualities will be put to the test against Reiwoldt, the G-Train and Koschinski.

[reigning premier]

Our stingy qualities will be put to the test against Reiwoldt, the G-Train and Koschinski.

I think Kossie is out injured with a broken collar bone... Note that I enjoy seeing another player get hurt, I prefer theirs to go down instead of ours!!!

[reigning premier]

Apart from missing LRT and Kennelly, our defense isn't too bad. Crouch should be back in form any time soon, Malceski is on fire at the moment and Richards has shown a lot more than his days at Essendon.

Concur 100%....

Eski is slaying them and Teddy is going OK.

Crouch should find some quality form soon. He was pretty good on Saturday and as he was playing a negating role, it's a bit hard to be critical. He sure had the saddle on Yze who was getting plenty pissed!!

Still, I'd like to see LRT back and Bevan too. With those two back and firing, we might be able to cover for Kennelly.

[NMWBloods]

I think Kossie is out injured with a broken collar bone... Note that I enjoy seeing another player get hurt, I prefer theirs to go down instead of ours!!!

I think that's Hayes.

I don't believe it's necessarily just our backline, but our backline in combination with our midfield and half forwards that stops our opponents scoring.

[ScottH]

Our backline have been the standout players in the first 5 games.
CBolton, Kennnelly, Richards, Kennelly, and to a lesser extent Leo have all had a major (and consistent) impact on all most games between them.

The loss of Kennelly is significant as he is such an attacking defender, and the opposition would worry more about who they put on him as opposed to who we put him on.

When he returned to the team last year after his injury, he made an immediate difference to the team balance. While Malceski is going great guns, He is still not up to Tadhg's standard, yet.

[liz]

Our backline have been the standout players in the first 5 games.
CBolton, Kennnelly, Richards, Kennelly, and to a lesser extent Leo have all had a major (and consistent) impact on all most games between them.

The loss of Kennelly is significant as he is such an attacking defender, and the opposition would worry more about who they put on him as opposed to who we put him on.

When he returned to the team last year after his injury, he made an immediate difference to the team balance. While Malceski is going great guns, He is still not up to Tadhg's standard, yet.

Bit too easy to be good when there are two of you

On form Malceski is up to Kennelly's standard but clearly he doesn't have the same runs on the board. He doesn't quite have Kennelly's pace but his disposal is more consistent and more penetrating (not that Kennelly's is bad).

The problem is that we need them both. It is not as if he can come into the side and cover for Kennelly because he's already there, working well in tandem with him. And with Kennelly out, it will be easier for opposition coaches to focus on shutting down Malceski's influence on games.

[goswannie14]

Our stingy qualities will be put to the test against Reiwoldt, the G-Train and Koschinski.

By the time we play St Kilda, with their injury record thay'll all be out injured.

[daniel]

bring in matthew laidlaw.....perfect oppotunity.

[ScottH]

Bit too easy to be good when there are two of you

On form Malceski is up to Kennelly's standard but clearly he doesn't have the same runs on the board. He doesn't quite have Kennelly's pace but his disposal is more consistent and more penetrating (not that Kennelly's is bad).

The problem is that we need them both. It is not as if he can come into the side and cover for Kennelly because he's already there, working well in tandem with him. And with Kennelly out, it will be easier for opposition coaches to focus on shutting down Malceski's influence on games.

True.

The thing I find interesting is Malceski is more of a quiet achiever, than "Kennelly Kennelly". You notice Kennelly a lot more. I'm always surprised how many disposals Malceski has after some games.

When Kennelly gets the ball and runs, the game seems to change. But then when Malceski aims a low bullet down the ground to cover the same distance it is pretty awesome.

I guess thats why I notice Tadhg more often, he holds onto it for longer.