Malceski - Real Rising Star

[liz]

hmph... small beer.... either way you cut it... our top 3 defenders are Bolton, Leaping and Tadhg... Order is almost irrelevant with them...

In terms of predominantly defensive roles, Big Ted probably fits in there alongside Leo and B2, leaving Malceski and Kennelly to focus more on the attacking side. We've pretty much had B2 covering for LRT, and Ted covering for B2's normal roles.

[ScottH]

In terms of predominantly defensive roles, Big Ted probably fits in there alongside Leo and B2, leaving Malceski and Kennelly to focus more on the attacking side. We've pretty much had B2 covering for LRT, and Ted covering for B2's normal roles.

I forgot Big Ted. He's been one of the best contributors down back this year.

[reigning premier]

LOL....

Talk about splitting hairs!!

Ok.... So let's just settle on this....

Our best 3 are Kennelly, Bolton and Leaping...

Our next best 3 are Ted, Eski and Mathews/Crouch.

No matte rwhich way you look at it, the loss of one isn't going to kill us. Which is pretty much what Roos is saying in the other thread.

[liz]

LOL....

Talk about splitting hairs!!

Ok.... So let's just settle on this....

Our best 3 are Kennelly, Bolton and Leaping...

Our next best 3 are Ted, Eski and Mathews/Crouch.

No matte rwhich way you look at it, the loss of one isn't going to kill us. Which is pretty much what Roos is saying in the other thread.

It's hardly splitting hairs.

Kennelly isn't necessarily one of our best defenders. He plays in the back six and has a role in defending the goal but he is really one of our best attackers (in ROK's arse about football world). The likes of Kirk, Mathews, Ablett and Bolton are probably more important defensively than Kennelly is - which isn't to denigrate Kennelly, merely to point out the role he plays in the team.

Given the Swans have a relatively low number of players outside the forward line whose primary focus is on attack, covering Kennelly isn't straightforward. We saw last year how listless the team looked in the first couple of weeks while he was out injured and how his return immediately seemed to rejuventate the team.

I am not arguing he can't be covered. I believe the team has the depth to do so. But it is not a completely trivial matter, especially as it is his sheer foot speed that the team often uses to get itself out of heavy traffic on the edge of the forward 50 and to launch quick attacks to an open forward line.

[hammo]

Kennelly isn't necessarily one of our best defenders. He plays in the back six and has a role in defender the goal but he is really one of our best attackers (in ROK's arse about football world). The likes of Kirk, Mathews, Ablett and Bolton are probably more important defensively than Kennelly is - which isn't to denigrate Kennelly, merely to point out the role he plays in the team.

Spot on. Andrew McLeod isn't one of Adelaide's best defenders but he's arguably their best player and lines up in the backline...

[DeadlyAkkuret]

I'm not sure what you mean by "the jury's still out"!!!!

Do you mean that the Canberra comp IS a great launching pad for the Young Bloods???

If you are, I would have to disagree strongly as I mentioned in my initial thread. It's a waste for our young talent and impacts on the development of the next generation of Young Bloods who are the lifeblood of the Swans.

Isn't that a rap group?

[DeadlyAkkuret]

Young Bloodz

[TheHood]

It's hardly splitting hairs.

Kennelly isn't necessarily one of our best defenders. He plays in the back six and has a role in defending the goal but he is really one of our best attackers (in ROK's arse about football world). The likes of Kirk, Mathews, Ablett and Bolton are probably more important defensively than Kennelly is - which isn't to denigrate Kennelly, merely to point out the role he plays in the team.

Given the Swans have a relatively low number of players outside the forward line whose primary focus is on attack, covering Kennelly isn't straightforward. We saw last year how listless the team looked in the first couple of weeks while he was out injured and how his return immediately seemed to rejuventate the team.

I am not arguing he can't be covered. I believe the team has the depth to do so. But it is not a completely trivial matter, especially as it is his sheer foot speed that the team often uses to get itself out of heavy traffic on the edge of the forward 50 and to launch quick attacks to an open forward line.

Liz is right, we have our 3 best stoppers and our 3 best rebounders. All rolls are vital down back and they are DOWN BACK.