FB and CHB for 2011

[Auntie.Gerald]

I think it will be interesting for us to see where everyone stands with these two positions for 2011

FB / CHB - LRT and Grundy......for me at this stage

In the interview with Nixon when the Everitt trade was pretty much done he said........

"I think it's important in a trade that you give someone like Andrejs a real opportunity to settle in and get some games into him and really see if he can do what they expect him to do.

"They've been pretty good about that and I think they see him playing at centre half-back, off the half-back line.

"[Craig] Bolton is 30 years old, they've got a couple of other defenders who are in that age bracket as well so it's probably a good pick."

[707]

LRT and Grundy are first choices for mine. Need to wait and see where C Bolts is at but reckon he will be the third tall flanking defender if fit. Ted to do the relieving duties. Only C Bolts is nearing the end which is why I reckon Reid will be developed as a key forward.

As for Everitt, not sure what role they see for him, maybe a tall difficult to match up on winger but as with all of our mature recruits, we would have had a clear plan for him before we got him.

[caj23]

Yep - Grundy FB, LRT CHB, with Teddy as relief. May need to rotate these 3 depending on match up and form.

There may also be spots for Everitt and Reid back there if needed, although both are unproven at senior level in this role.

If injuries really hit hard, big Pyke could also be an option back there.

We're going to get the odd match we're a key forward takes us apart, but generally I'm pretty comfortable with what we've got back there. Obvioulsy I would prefer to have a fit Bolton, but if he doesn't come up it's not a disaster

[msb]

Yep - Grundy FB, LRT CHB, with Teddy as relief. May need to rotate these 3 depending on match up and form.

There may also be spots for Everitt and Reid back there if needed, although both are unproven at senior level in this role.

If injuries really hit hard, big Pyke could also be an option back there.

We're going to get the odd match we're a key forward takes us apart, but generally I'm pretty comfortable with what we've got back there. Obvioulsy I would prefer to have a fit Bolton, but if he doesn't come up it's not a disaster

Agree, I really dont think that it would be the end of the world if he never played, as great of a player he has been he would not be that player again IMO. We showed last year after he went down, then LRT for that matter, that the backline depth is quite good. I would be hesitant to put pyke back there though, maybe in a few more years when his skills have developed even further.

[RogueSwan]

...As for Everitt, not sure what role they see for him, maybe a tall difficult to match up on winger but as with all of our mature recruits, we would have had a clear plan for him before we got him.

Sounds like a Saddington type to me. Okay for depth, will play the odd great game, but will not amount to much.

I am quite happy to be proven wrong though.

[swansrob]

Agree, I really dont think that it would be the end of the world if he never played, as great of a player he has been he would not be that player again IMO. We showed last year after he went down, then LRT for that matter, that the backline depth is quite good. I would be hesitant to put pyke back there though, maybe in a few more years when his skills have developed even further.

Agree with all of this.
Pyke in the backline would obviously be a last resort, but not necessarily the end of the world. Correct me if I'm wrong, but hasn't he been training and learning the defensive side and doing defensive drills for a good year or so already?

[dimelb]

Agree with all of this.
Pyke in the backline would obviously be a last resort, but not necessarily the end of the world. Correct me if I'm wrong, but hasn't he been training and learning the defensive side and doing defensive drills for a good year or so already?

I don't know, but given his speed on the uptake, he'll be useful in defence at some point in the season.

[Auntie.Gerald]

hhhhhmmmmmm maybe..........the speed that the ball has to come out of the backline and finding the right option may make it difficult with only 180 degrees to use when deep in the backline for Pyke.........it would be exciting though if it came off !

[gloveski]

Maybe with the new interchange rules LRT will be used as a back up ruckman

[wolftone57]

In the constantly changing modern game it is not who plays where but on whom that counts. No good matching up against Melb with a team of ultra talls & forgetting speed. In the case of the Cats, woods, Hawks etc you need an extra tall. Last year we got it wrong in the match ups toward the end of the season because we didn't match pace for pace & dropped a few players who should have played against the faster teams ie Gary Rohan. Match ups are so very important in the modern game whereas in the past position was more important in maintaining the advantage.

[satchmopugdog]

Reid CHB love child
Rohan HBF love child

My heart has run away with my commonsense....

[Hartijon]

In the constantly changing modern game it is not who plays where but on whom that counts. No good matching up against Melb with a team of ultra talls & forgetting speed. In the case of the Cats, woods, Hawks etc you need an extra tall. Last year we got it wrong in the match ups toward the end of the season because we didn't match pace for pace & dropped a few players who should have played against the faster teams ie Gary Rohan. Match ups are so very important in the modern game whereas in the past position was more important in maintaining the advantage.

While I agree with what you are saying it is not just a one way street. Other teams have to match up on us if we have a successful combination.You can have as much speed as you like but if a dominant defensive tall is marking everything that goes down there your speed is of no use and you have to put a tall on him to at least spoil the ball.The best way to develop a winning side is to go with your strengths first and cover your weaknesses second.In other words put your best 22 on the field then do the match ups.Make the opposition worry about you and worry about their match ups on your tall and speedy players who can be confident that if they play well they will not be dropped next week because they don't match up on next week,s team.