Shaw: has half a season taught us anything?

[Ajn]

Clearly he is not quick enough and turns it over way too often. I would love to see us blood someone in the half back role for the future. Heeney towers or jones could all be good rebound defenders IMO.

[barry]

Key player who is holing down a difficult position with no obvoius replacement.
7 out of 10

[Conor_Dillon]

There's no obvious replacement but it couldn't hurt to try a Marsh, Jones or Newman (pending upgrade) just to see how they go. Particularly against a lesser team.

[cherub]

There's no obvious replacement but it couldn't hurt to try a Marsh, Jones or Newman (pending upgrade) just to see how they go. Particularly against a lesser team.

Is there a "lesser" team? Carlton most likely, but there is not much difference between good and bad teams within the bounds of the game day variables ( weather, injury, umpires, slightly off day). Freo were in genuine danger of being beaten by a severely injury depleted Gold Coast. If we try someone, it has to be because we genuinely believe that they can play as well as whoever they are replacing. Marsh is an odd one. Keeps getting in the best by the coaches, but the reserves watchers don't seem to view things the same way.

[aardvark]

Key player who is holing down a difficult position with no obvoius replacement.
7 out of 10

I would have thought Zac Jones would be an obvious replacement.

[RogueSwan]

Clearly he is not quick enough and turns it over way too often..

If he doesn't try and run through the lines no one does. Surprisingly, he is still quite quick over the field. It is just that his disposals are not consistently good.
The Rooster has been tried down back but we can all see his spot is the wing, the same with Jetta (who, BTW, should be taking more shots from around and just outside the 50).

I have not seen enough of Jones but from reports he would be a better kick but we it comes to taking on his man and going for a run ... I defer to the Ressie's Watch:

"Seconds gather, and now my watch begins. It shall not end until the final siren. I shall take no partner, hold no hands, avoid father-and-son discussion. I shall wear no crowns except 2005 Premiership T. I shall live and die at my goal post. I am the smart phone in the darkness. I am the watcher on the suburban fields. I am the shield that guards the realms of Aussie Rules. I pledge my life and honor to the Ressie's Watch, for this seconds game and all the seconds games to come."

You know nuffin' Ugg.

[Conor_Dillon]

^^^^ absolutely brilliant!!

[giant]

Shaw has been a better recruit than we (ok, I) might ever have hoped for. But to me he is certainly nearing the end - the back half turn overs have already cost us one game this year and came close to costing another last night. It's hard not to imagine there is a Plan B and if there isn't it's an indictment on our list management.

Oh and yes that it most excellent RogueSwan!

[chalbilto]

If he doesn't try and run through the lines no one does. Surprisingly, he is still quite quick over the field. It is just that his disposals are not consistently good.
The Rooster has been tried down back but we can all see his spot is the wing, the same with Jetta (who, BTW, should be taking more shots from around and just outside the 50).

I have not seen enough of Jones but from reports he would be a better kick but we it comes to taking on his man and going for a run ... I defer to the Ressie's Watch:

You know nuffin' Ugg.

[Ludwig]

Jones is a very hard-edged defender and is probably quicker than Shaw, who really struggles ono-on-one these days. He's lost his ability to take on the man and win, and now often gets caught out or forced to give away a free.

Although I think it would be best to replace his small defender spot, we can actually play Reid as a permanent defender instead. McVeigh and Jetta seem to take turns in a sweeper role, but McVeigh can also play as a permanent defender. Cunningham has had plenty of tagging assignments, so could be given run with roles with small forwards and would also give plenty of run off halfback. With Heeney and McGlynn on the way back, Cunningham is less likely to play as a half forward.

[tasmania60]

Watched Newman he takes all Reserves kick ins , solid in the backline .Think hes the bloke

[mcs]

Watched Newman he takes all Reserves kick ins , solid in the backline .Think hes the bloke

Newman played well yesterday for the ressies, I like him - gee he reminds me in style of Marty Mattner. I'd expect they want him to get a good run of footy for the ressies before consideration for the firsts, but he must be in there with a shout if they do decide to replace Shaw. Zak Jones the other obvious one for me.

[Ampersand]

I thought that Jones and Newman were recruited to be the ultimate half back successors to Shaw and Malceski respectively. Unfortunately, injury seems to have hampered them both this year in seeing consistent footy so they may be a little way off getting a start.

[mcs]

I thought that Jones and Newman were recruited to be the ultimate half back successors to Shaw and Malceski respectively. Unfortunately, injury seems to have hampered them both this year in seeing consistent footy so they may be a little way off getting a start.

Newman will be banging down the door with a decent run of games - he has a nice penetrating kick, and did some good stuff yesterday in the ressies game. I really liked what I saw yesterday.

[Mug Punter]

I tend to think Horse will stick with Shaw this year as he values stability in our backline structure.

I don't expect him here next year though so there'll be at least two spots up for grabs next year with Goodes and Shaw retiring - you'd think Jones is being groomed for the Shaw role