To all the Playfair knockers....

[ernie koala]

Dumb selection Brennan should have replaced Goodes.

And smith instead of Mathews.

[Matty10]

The aspect that I like about Playfair is that he nearly always competes, even when he is out of position. Our forward line (in general) really struggles with this concept and has for years. O'Keefe is an exception, but he doesn't play deep enough and is often needed elsewhere.

Hall is terrible at being a target inside 50 and really should only play as a lead-up forward (of which he has been one of the best in the league). If the ball being delivered into the forward arc doesn't come lace-out (which has been increasing) Hall regularly gives up on the contest and either prepares to complain to the umpire or show frustration towards his team. When he is out of position he rarely attempts to spoil or make subtle body contact to bring the ball to ground and keep the scoring option alive - and that is what we need inside our 50.

This need has only increased with the inclusion of Jack and Bird into the side as their foot skills are still quite weak. They are young and hopefully this improves, but they are essentially filling the roles of Fosdike and Crouch when we get the ball from turnovers (as they are then able to turn away from their negating / run-with roles) and goes some way to explaining the lack of overall precision into our 50.

A fit Playfair, if positioned correctly, allows Hall to play the lead-up role (receiving from the likes of Eski, Kennelly, Barry & co. off half-back) and then our structure becomes more dangerous is capable of regularly kicking a winning score. That is why I was glad we when picked up Playfair and frustrated that he will now be out due to injury (now that Hall is back in).