Backmen = Depth

[WA Tiger]

Astbury was the best of our 3 tall backmen yesterday.  Surprised me a bit and was interesting to hear Newman mention in an interview that he (Astbury) has spent a lot of time in the gym getting building up bulk and strength to make him more competitive against the opposition big forwards.

That's all fine and good Smokey but its one game, yes positive but a pre season meaningless game.

I hope he can sustain it and he will need to, if he performs the same next week this will be another step forward, if he doesn't????

We need ready established backmen.

Yep, but if everyone is happy to jump on the Griff bandwagon after yesterday's game then they have to jump on Astbury's because the circumstances are almost identical.  Neither of them did enough to convince me they have fully turned the corner and it will take a shedload more than one practice match to do that but at least there were some good signs from both of them.  Up until yesterday I hadn't seen squat from either of them to suggest they had a future.

Yes but we are lacking more down back than we are forward or in the ruck, if Griff doesn't work out we still have the big O. If Astbury doesn't work out...well.....????

[Smokey]

Yes but we are lacking more down back than we are forward or in the ruck, if Griff doesn't work out we still have the big O. If Astbury doesn't work out...well.....????

And yet our backline was the cornerstone of the team last year.  Grimes didn't play yesterday so he is an automatic cover for Astbury and I don't know if there is a place for the 4 of them anyway - Rance, Chaplin, Grimes and Astbury.  Hampson is going to need a chop out and with Maric now doubtful for the start of the season it puts a lot more pressure and emphasis on Griffiths to come good, otherwise we are left with the Big O who can cover the ruck work in a pinch but not much else.

[WA Tiger]

Yes but we are lacking more down back than we are forward or in the ruck, if Griff doesn't work out we still have the big O. If Astbury doesn't work out...well.....????

And yet our backline was the cornerstone of the team last year.  Grimes didn't play yesterday so he is an automatic cover for Astbury and I don't know if there is a place for the 4 of them anyway - Rance, Chaplin, Grimes and Astbury.  Hampson is going to need a chop out and with Maric now doubtful for the start of the season it puts a lot more pressure and emphasis on Griffiths to come good, otherwise we are left with the Big O who can cover the ruck work in a pinch but not much else.

Was it?? That didn't show in the Final.

With Maric down we have coverage, we have Vicks, Big O, Griff and Hampson we could even lose one more (God forbid).  Lose Rance/Chaplin we are stuffed, lose grimes as well again and we are double stuffed. The press have even said our backline is fragile depth wise.

[YellowandBlackBlood]

The press don't know our secret weapon  -  Darrou.......

[Coach]

Yes but we are lacking more down back than we are forward or in the ruck, if Griff doesn't work out we still have the big O. If Astbury doesn't work out...well.....????

And yet our backline was the cornerstone of the team last year.  Grimes didn't play yesterday so he is an automatic cover for Astbury and I don't know if there is a place for the 4 of them anyway - Rance, Chaplin, Grimes and Astbury.  Hampson is going to need a chop out and with Maric now doubtful for the start of the season it puts a lot more pressure and emphasis on Griffiths to come good, otherwise we are left with the Big O who can cover the ruck work in a pinch but not much else.

Was it?? That didn't show in the Final.

With Maric down we have coverage, we have Vicks, Big O, Griff and Hampson we could even lose one more (God forbid).  Lose Rance/Chaplin we are stuffed, lose grimes as well again and we are double stuffed. The press have even said our backline is fragile depth wise.

Hahaha yeah because Chaplin and Rance were first rate in the final against Carlton. And Chaplin showed his ability as a stopper against a part time forward the other day didn't he

WGAF what the press says. The press

[Coach]

Can't afford to lose the best dressed gardener in the world!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvUkVDHBHD4

[Chuck17]

Yes but we are lacking more down back than we are forward or in the ruck, if Griff doesn't work out we still have the big O. If Astbury doesn't work out...well.....????

And yet our backline was the cornerstone of the team last year.  Grimes didn't play yesterday so he is an automatic cover for Astbury and I don't know if there is a place for the 4 of them anyway - Rance, Chaplin, Grimes and Astbury.  Hampson is going to need a chop out and with Maric now doubtful for the start of the season it puts a lot more pressure and emphasis on Griffiths to come good, otherwise we are left with the Big O who can cover the ruck work in a pinch but not much else.

Was it?? That didn't show in the Final.

With Maric down we have coverage, we have Vicks, Big O, Griff and Hampson we could even lose one more (God forbid).  Lose Rance/Chaplin we are stuffed, lose grimes as well again and we are double stuffed. The press have even said our backline is fragile depth wise.

Hahaha yeah because Chaplin and Rance were first rate in the final against Carlton. And Chaplin showed his ability as a stopper against a part time forward the other day didn't he

WGAF what the press says. The press

Hey you, watch the harsh words on the press, some people don't have to think for themselves because of the press and that is their prerogative

[Coach]

The press

[Smokey]

Was it?? That didn't show in the Final.

No, but it did in every game that got us there.

With Maric down we have coverage, we have Vicks, Big O, Griff and Hampson we could even lose one more (God forbid).  Lose Rance/Chaplin we are stuffed, lose grimes as well again and we are double stuffed. The press have even said our backline is fragile depth wise.

Lol including rucks and forwards into the same group to justify your argument.  We need 2 tall forwards minimum and we need 2 ruckmen minimum and grouping Vickery, Big O, Griffiths and Hampson in that same group is a mask to reality.  We lose 1 of them or (worse) 2 then both our forward and ruck structures are stuffed.  And that will have a much bigger impact than what you are trotting out.  Our backline proved itself capable last year and nothing yet this year has changed my opinion of their ability to do the job but I'm very nervous of the ability of the ruckmen and forwards to cope with any loss of capability.

[WA Tiger]

Be good to look back 10 rounds into the season.

[Yeahright]

I still this is our Achilles heel, 8 goals kicked against us yesterday by two forwards, cant remember last week. It seems we cant really contain the big bodied tall forwards to one or two goals each.

In Dimma's words Astbury more or less beat Cloke but how will that pan out in the season proper?? Old mate kicked 5 so he really wasn't well held.

Must make a play for Frawley and another key back in the off season IMO. This is the only area we are very venerable should Rance, Grimes or Chappy go down.

Imagine yesterday with no Rance or Chappy..

Its all fine and good to say don't let the ball go past the HB line or don't let them get it out of the center..etc...but when the opposition do and they will, we will be caught short down there. Sydney could absolutely blow us out of the water with Buddy and Tippet, so could the Eagles with Cox and Nik Nat.

Did Rance even play on a KPF against collingwood? Everytime it looked like it was Batchelor getting rag dolled apart from that Reid mark on Chaplin.

[WA Tiger]

Yes but we are lacking more down back than we are forward or in the ruck, if Griff doesn't work out we still have the big O. If Astbury doesn't work out...well.....????

And yet our backline was the cornerstone of the team last year.  Grimes didn't play yesterday so he is an automatic cover for Astbury and I don't know if there is a place for the 4 of them anyway - Rance, Chaplin, Grimes and Astbury.  Hampson is going to need a chop out and with Maric now doubtful for the start of the season it puts a lot more pressure and emphasis on Griffiths to come good, otherwise we are left with the Big O who can cover the ruck work in a pinch but not much else.

Was it?? That didn't show in the Final.

With Maric down we have coverage, we have Vicks, Big O, Griff and Hampson we could even lose one more (God forbid).  Lose Rance/Chaplin we are stuffed, lose grimes as well again and we are double stuffed. The press have even said our backline is fragile depth wise.

Hahaha yeah because Chaplin and Rance were first rate in the final against Carlton. And Chaplin showed his ability as a stopper against a part time forward the other day didn't he

WGAF what the press says. The press

Sorry you don't rate (Dermott, Mathews-Press), you were probably better than them eh...

[Coach]

No, those 2 had me covered. Tony Shaw was a better player than me too, doesn't mean he is right whenever he opens his trap. Some of us have opinions of our own.

[the claw]

im with wat on this one.
the press aside  we lack depth in several key areas. we have numbers but imo too many of those numbers currently cant or dont perform to a satisfactory afl standard.

its funny people always say our mids got smashed dont blame the defense. but never ever say our mids won easy our defense should have had it easy. trouble is weather our mids are on top or not we look vulnerable with our talls in defense especially 1v1. imo we dont have an outstanding tall defender who can play 1v1 and be relied upon to win or negate most contests.
with rance every one v one is heart in mouth stuff. chaplain loses far to many of these contests as well often against smaller opponents.

we have these two and then what. who  ever else we have is worse and even more vulnerable.
the sad thing is there is only really astbury and hes struggled almost from day dot.

[WA Tiger]

im with wat on this one.
the press aside  we lack depth in several key areas. we have numbers but imo too many of those numbers currently cant or dont perform to a satisfactory afl standard.

its funny people always say our mids got smashed dont blame the defense. but never ever say our mids won easy our defense should have had it easy. trouble is weather our mids are on top or not we look vulnerable with our talls in defense especially 1v1. imo we dont have an outstanding tall defender who can play 1v1 and be relied upon to win or negate most contests.
with rance every one v one is heart in mouth stuff. chaplain loses far to many of these contests as well often against smaller opponents.

we have these two and then what. who  ever else we have is worse and even more vulnerable.
the sad thing is there is only really astbury and hes struggled almost from day dot.

Yes claw!!