Whats your best backline for 2011

[Auntie.Gerald]

My starting backline before the season started would have been

Mal, Grundy, Kennelly
Smithy, LRT, Ted

but with the focus on keeping the play jammed into the oppositions back line as per the Pies and that style of play requiring fairly mobile tall backs who can nullify and counter

and not to mention AJ's rapid ascent and Teddy killing it ............my backline now for the remainder of the season is primarily :

Mal, Grundy, Kennelly
Shaw, Ted, AJ

I prefer Smithy, LRT and Mattner being chosen for game matchups where needed but the majority of minutes I like the above at this stage.............I prefer Smithy Tagging in the midfield as progress his game........Mattner is great value still but I want AJ to be a 30 game player by mid next year and a 10 yr player for us.......LRT lets see how he responds but he is more then pinch hitting that is for sure.

[aardvark]

My starting backline before the season started would have been

Mal, Grundy, Kennelly
Smithy, LRT, Ted.

Craig Bolton not worth a spot ?

[Auntie.Gerald]

bugger..............forgotten already...............i didnt have when pondering through the off season, until convinced he had recovered............but yeah if un injured he was an obvious !

[aardvark]

bugger..............forgotten already...............i didnt have when pondering through the off season, until convinced he had recovered............but yeah if un injured he was an obvious !

Just for interest sake who would you have left out of your original 6 if Bolts was OK? My thoughts are that it would probably have been Ted.

[DeadlyAkkuret]

It's quite astonishing that we can lose an elite backman like Bolton before the season starts and our defence still looks as strong as it ever has. If there's one thing we do well, it's develop a good backline.

My backline before the season started:

Smith Bolton Mattner
Malceski Grundy LRT

Now:

Mattner Grundy Johnson
Malceski Richards Kennelly


LRT should be back there once he has more game time and Shaw could rotate with Eski if we want him in the middle at some stage. Agent Smith can just play anywhere!

[GongSwan]

Richards, Grundy, Mattner
Malceski, LRT, Kennely

Shaw can play midifield and back when LRT goes into the ruck, or just loose in defence, giving added run and good for rotations. I think we have to balance defensive pressure with run out of back 50. Hard to leave out Smith, and if he were fit enough I'd find a spot for him in the midfield as a tagger

[Chilcott]

B. Shaw/Smith Richards Johnson
HB. Kennelly Grundy Malceski/Mattner

Shaw or Smith to play on the dangerous small forward, depending on the best match-up. If not in the back pocket, either could play in the midfield.

Toss up between Maceski and Mattner. When match fit, I would prefer to use Malceski off the wing.

LRT played well as the 2nd ruckman and in the forward line against Port. I would keep him in this role as he is ideally suited. Can swing him down back at any time if needed.

[Cpt. Kirk]

B. Shaw/Smith Richards Johnson
HB. Kennelly Grundy Malceski/Mattner

Swap malcheski with johnson i think we would have our best backline for 2011.

Swap Johnson for one of the others for 2012+
not shaw or smith though.

[Auntie.Gerald]

Just for interest sake who would you have left out of your original 6 if Bolts was OK? My thoughts are that it would probably have been Ted.

i actually has Smithy upfield or on the bench

reason being was that Mal was top 5 running thru the offseason and just looked like he can take on the small forwards better then ever.............obviously Shaw and Smithy would rotate depending on the forwards

[aardvark]

i actually has Smithy upfield or on the bench

reason being was that Mal was top 5 running thru the offseason and just looked like he can take on the small forwards better then ever.............obviously Shaw and Smithy would rotate depending on the forwards

I think Smithy would be an absolute gun midfielder, he is under utilised IMO.

[BSA5]

B: Smith, LRT, Richards
HB: Shaw, Grundy, Kennelly

Malceski on the wing, Mattner HFF (I think this could be a really good position for him going forward, especially given the amount of backline depth we have right now).