Depth Chart

[Matt80]

I had Rampe down as the leading medium defender, but can see why you guys would classify him as a tall defender.

Is Gary Rohan also a tall defender as he is similar athletically and in height to Rampe?

The thing we all agree on is that Rampe has been absolutely superb. Does anyone think he can make the 2015 All Australian Team?

[mcs]

I had Rampe down as the leading medium defender, but can see why you guys would classify him as a tall defender.

Is Gary Rohan also a tall defender as he is similar athletically and in height to Rampe?

The thing we all agree on is that Rampe has been absolutely superb. Does anyone think he can make the 2015 All Australian Team?

Depends how many packs of 'winny blues' he smokes a week during the season

He has to be a chance to be AA if he can take his game to another level this year. We really need him to further develop his ability to rebound from defence, in order to help fill the hole left by Mal going.

I wouldn't argue Gary Rohan is a tall defender - medium defender that can play tall, but he isn't really in the same class as Rampe in terms of being able to 'play tall' - not yet anyway.

[RogueSwan]

... but he isn't really in the same class as Rampe in terms of being able to 'play tall' - not yet anyway.

and in terms of "defending" - not yet anyway. :-)

[Matt80]

There is a definite change to the depth chart rankings for ruckman with Tom D non selection against GWS. These are the current ruckman rankings:

1) Pyke
2) Tippett
3) Naismith
4) Tom D
5) Toby N

It's clear that Naismith is ahead of Tom D. I still think Tom D is ahead of Toby N as Toby has been selected more as a tall forward than ruckman in the trial games.

It's very clear that Naismith will be the first ruckman chosen to fill in for Pyke if he is injured or needs a rest.

[aguy]

There is a definite change to the depth chart rankings for ruckman with Tom D non selection against GWS. These are the current ruckman rankings:

1) Pyke
2) Tippett
3) Naismith
4) Tom D
5) Toby N

It's clear that Naismith is ahead of Tom D. I still think Tom D is ahead of Toby N as Toby has been selected more as a tall forward than ruckman in the trial games.

It's very clear that Naismith will be the first ruckman chosen to fill in for Pyke if he is injured or needs a rest.

Possibly matt80. However remember that Naismith is still on the rookie list so needs upgrading to be first choice replacement for pyke.

[RogueSwan]

B
Inside midfield extractors

Running inside / outside midfielders

Fast outside midfielder

...

SO where does Rampe fit in considering he wants to play in the midfield
Possibly a running inside outside midfielder? Physically he is closest to Kennedy but I think is quicker across the ground. I s'pose it depends on his hands.

[Nico]

I'm a traditionalist. Every year we have the depth argument, and every year after a few rounds and a few injuries the depth is severely questioned by the knowledgeable RWO'ers, by the same people who espoused it (I used to be one of those but wised up). Now a new twist, a depth chart. Is this like a speed chart in horse racing, that is only good for jockeys, not the punter who squanders his hard earned on such specious information. And did someone mention "the roster". I have heard it said on here over the years that we are a sport unlike any else, with our own unique terminology. If we get beaten by the very underdone "cheaters" it may be termed the "Depth Charge". A load of codswollop for mine.

[Matt80]

Possibly matt80. However remember that Naismith is still on the rookie list so needs upgrading to be first choice replacement for pyke.

I think the difference in 2015 compared to 2014 is that Naismith is the only rookie who is likely to play in the seniors in the 1st half of season 2015. In 2014 you had Richards and Biggs who had tasted senior football in 2013, then you had Lloyd, Robinson and Naismith who were challenging strongly for a senior place. Last year they had to be prudent who they upgraded early in the season. That early season upgrade went to Lloyd.

In early 2015, Naismith is only rookie looking likely to be selected for the seniors. McLaren and Melican are at the bottom end of the tall-defender depth chart rankings. Foote is at the bottom end of the midfield rankings and has not played in the NAB cup. Perris is coming back from an ACL and Newman is also returning from injury.

It would be a no-brainier to upgrade Naismith if Pyke was injured or rested.

[Matt80]

SO where does Rampe fit in considering he wants to play in the midfield
Possibly a running inside outside midfielder? Physically he is closest to Kennedy but I think is quicker across the ground. I s'pose it depends on his hands.

I think Rampe would be a running inside / outside midfielder. That would advantage his physical attributes. If you are looking at the running inside / outside midfield depth chart this could be the rankings:

1) K. Jack
2) Hannas
3) McVeigh
4) McGlynn
5) Lloyd
6) Heeney
7) Rampe
8) Jones

I think he would start below Lloyd and Heeney in the rankings due to not having much AFL experience in the midfield. I think he could rise above Heeney and Lloyd in one or two great midfield performances due to his incredible athletic ability. Having said that I can see Heeney rising above McGlynn within 1-2 years and above McVeigh within 2-3 years.

Rampe would be extremely valuable if playing a defensive midfield role against a large midfielder. He could be very handy against a big midfielder such as Jordan Lewis, Marcus Bontempelli, Nat Fyfe, Michael Barlow, Patrick Dangerfield and Jobe Watson. He would need to learn some of the nuances of midfield play but has a unique mixture of strength, endurance and electric pace.

[RogueSwan]

...Rampe would be extremely valuable if playing a defensive midfield role against a large midfielder. He could be very handy against a big midfielder such as Jordan Lewis, Marcus Bontempelli, Nat Fyfe, Michael Barlow, Patrick Dangerfield and Jobe Watson...

A bigger bodied Crouchy?

[wolftone57]

Melican is 194cm compared to Reg's 192cm so surely he has to be classified as a tall defender. Other than that it looks pretty good Matt.

It might look pretty good but robbo is no inside mid. In/out mid maybe but more outside. They were trying to turn him into an inside mid last year and I don't think that was a huge success. But when he was outside or forward he was dangerous.

SS.B is right Melican has to be a tall defender.

There shouldn't be any such thing as a loose defender. Every player must expect to be manned up at some stage. Sam can be a tall defender or a tall forward. Jetts is a medium defender/winger.

Jordan Foote also plays for our footy club and is probably seen as a tough inside mid.

Rose plays both forward and wing. So could fit into outside mid as well.


Other than that a good assessment

[Matt80]

It's funny how one game changes the whole footy world. We certainly went in favourites, the common theme in the media was that we'd had the better season and the Hawks had fallen in in the prelim. Two hours of footy later and the thought process changes to Hawthorn being unbeatable.

If you do a depth chart analysis of both the Swans and the Hawks GF sides on the one depth chart, you will find that the Hawks are at the top of most positions. Lake and Gibson are ranked higher than our tall defenders. Sam Mitchell is ranked higher than Josh Kennedy. Their outside run of Smith, Rioli and Hill are better than our outside run. Their rucks are better than our rucks. Their small forwards and better than ours. While Franklin is the highest rated forward in both sides, Roughead is better than Tippett.

In short, if you do the analysis, the Hawks were the stronger team in most positions.

The 2014 Grand Final result was not a surprise. The 2012 result was the surprise!

[Dosser]

If you do a depth chart analysis of both the Swans and the Hawks GF sides on the one depth chart, you will find that the Hawks are at the top of most positions. Lake and Gibson are ranked higher than our tall defenders. Sam Mitchell is ranked higher than Josh Kennedy. Their outside run of Smith, Rioli and Hill are better than our outside run. Their rucks are better than our rucks. Their small forwards and better than ours. While Franklin is the highest rated forward in both sides, Roughead is better than Tippett.

In short, if you do the analysis, the Hawks were the stronger team in most positions.

The 2014 Grand Final result was not a surprise. The 2012 result was the surprise!

Just refresh my memory. You are the only one who is doing a very subjective ranking on this "depth chart" that you are trying to force on this forum, right?

[0918330512]

Just refresh my memory. You are the only one who is doing a very subjective ranking on this "depth chart" that you are trying to force on this forum, right?

In Matt's defence, until his "depth chart" migrated to this thread, it was confined to it's own appropriately titled & isolated thread & you could choose to read or ignore it as you wanted. No doubt "depth chart" is the new catch cry for 2015 (just like the predecessors of "electric pace", "Bondi billionaires" etc) & will be repeated ad nauseum until the next fad captures (or perhaps escapes from) Matt's imagination.

[Matt80]

Just refresh my memory. You are the only one who is doing a very subjective ranking on this "depth chart" that you are trying to force on this forum, right?

The depth chart rankings are up for debate amongst all members of the Red and White community. Ive started the process, but the process has been enriched by posters such as Rogue Swan, MCS and Wolftone.

I would like you to help Dosser. Help me answer the key questions:

1) Is Tom Mitchell ahead of Craig Bird in the inside midfield extracter rankings?

2) Is X Richards ahead of Aliir in the tall defender rankings?

You can also rank two teams on the one depth chart. If one team has more players at the top of the positional ranking, then that team should win.