Positional changes next year?!

[Stripes]

Defence
Last year, around this time, we were all concerned about the quality and depth of backline. All of a sudden we are seeing some potential and competition rearing it's head. Players who were barely on the radar last year have put their hand up for the future including Rance and Grimes. Two new inclusion to the squad have also forced their way into the back six  - Houli and Batchelor.
Astbury, Post, Dea and Farmer have shown glimpses playing down back also and could stand up in the next couple of years like Rance to cement their place in the defence.

Then we have the 'older' defenders including Moore, Thursfield and McGuane too. Newman can't be forgotten either and Deledio has been arguably our best defender this year. Conca has also had large stints across HB and Helbig too.

So all in all we have too many defenders now, even for depth purposes. As a club we need to start to make decisions on who is in our best 6, who we want in reserve and then who should be repositioned.

For mine our back six and reserves should be - Rance, Grimes, Batchelor, Newman, Thursfield, Houli, Moore, Post, Dea and Farmer.

I think Astbury is behind Grimes currently and even possibly Post and Thursfield. He has too much potential not be used so perhaps he should be repositioned in the forwardline. With Houli down back doing a tremendous job perhaps Deledio should be moved to the wing but is Newman better than Deledio in defence? Perhaps Lids should stay and Newman move to the wing?

Conca and Helbig are midfielders, so a no brainer there. McGuire's only option may be depth or trade bait...

What's your thoughts?

[tiga]

Post has definitely shown plenty in recent times. With More Game time I am certain he will only get better and with Rance and Grimes our defense future is starting to look good. I do think that McGuane and Thursfield will need to lift substantially if they are to have a future at the Tiges.

[WilliamPowell]

I am not enitrely convinced that Moore will make it back. Actually to brutally honest I don't think he should even be trying to get back. Not sure the risk is worth it quality of life wise when you look 20-30 years down the track

Just like I am not sold on Post (very disappointing on Sunday) being a long term option for us

Astbury is the interesting one for mine. In the few games he played this year he seemed to be really struggling as a defender. But with Jack, Vickery & Griffiths up forward (throw in Miller instead of Griffith and you have the same result) is there a place for Astbury as a forward? I don't think you can play all 4 together.

personally I'd be willing to give Astbury more time down back simply because of the massive question marks over Moore

[Francois Jackson]

I have also heard that WP. Maybe Jack can investigate but i heard he(Moore) is on the brink of retirement.

Mcgaune and Farmer i dont  want anywhere near our backline again. Thursfield is our depth or if one of the others doesnt come up.

Astbury will make it needs game time.

[tigs2011]

I am not enitrely convinced that Moore will make it back. Actually to brutally honest I don't think he should even be trying to get back. Not sure the risk is worth it quality of life wise when you look 20-30 years down the track

Just like I am not sold on Post (very disappointing on Sunday) being a long term option for us

Astbury is the interesting one for mine. In the few games he played this year he seemed to be really struggling as a defender. But with Jack, Vickery & Griffiths up forward (throw in Miller instead of Griffith and you have the same result) is there a place for Astbury as a forward? I don't think you can play all 4 together.

personally I'd be willing to give Astbury more time down back simply because of the massive question marks over Moore

We have to remember he was pretty good last year. Put on ALOT of weight in the off-season and looked a tad slow. If he comes back and he's used to it I think he will be a better option that Posty. Most of our talls come good in their 3rd/4th year. Griff and Astbury will be 3rd year next year. Would expect them to come on in 4th as they have both missed alot of footy.

[Stripes]

There really is starting to become some healthy competition for defensive spots in the side and, in may ways, even the squad. On current form Rance appears to have our FB positon shored up for the next 10 years so it is our CHB and third defender roll that we need to fill.

Grimes is a great spoiler and agile so may be a good CHB in the future. Does he have the desposal skills though to run the ball out in that position?

Astbury I feel could gain some significant size such as Rance has done which may enable him to be a better foil for resting ruckmen but does he have better defensive skills than Post? Post appears to have a better contested mark so could float off his opponent to take the grab. Astbury also seems a little lost at times and loses touch on his opponent. He is also a good mark on the lead so he may be a better forward.

I very hopeful of Griffiths coming on but do we have a backup? If we are certain Astbury will become the better 3rd backman/CHB then perhaps Post should start to become that depth forward. He may even surpass Griffiths short term.

Thursfield is a better option than Astbury, Post and Grimes in the short terms but the other three have far bigger upsides to their future than Thursfield. McGuane and Moore seem the likely poor, tall, cousins of the backline coming into 2012.

[WilliamPowell]

I have also heard that WP. Maybe Jack can investigate but i heard he(Moore) is on the brink of retirement.

I heard somewhere (may have been a pre-match function) that Moore had just had another operation on his hip = supposedly the final one.

Now I think he wants to try and come back but I don't think it is in his long term best interest to come back. I would think a possible hip replacement at 35yo wouldn't be that appealing

It may come down to the Club being a tough & saying to a comeback isn't a good idea Kel

[Stripes]

I have also heard that WP. Maybe Jack can investigate but i heard he(Moore) is on the brink of retirement.

I heard somewhere (may have been a pre-match function) that Moore had just had another operation on his hip = supposedly the final one.

Now I think he wants to try and come back but I don't think it is in his long term best interest to come back. I would think a possible hip replacement at 35yo wouldn't be that appealing

It may come down to the Club being a tough & saying to a comeback isn't a good idea Kel

Especially considering his preinjury form wasn't earth shattering, solid at times, but others are moving ahead of him already.


Edited to correct a WP typo in the quote 

[Stripes]

With Deledio, Newman, Houli, Batchelor, Conca, Dea and even Helbig and Grigg all having stints across the half back who needs to be be moved? Really only two mid/small good ball users, possibly three depending on matchups, are needed so who should be 'repositioned', used for depth or moved on?

[WilliamPowell]

I'd still prefer to see Lids play in the mid-field. With Houli sweeping of the HBF the need for lids in that role has diminished IMHO

[big tone]

Post has definitely shown plenty in recent times. With More Game time I am certain he will only get better and with Rance and Grimes our defense future is starting to look good. I do think that McGuane and Thursfield will need to lift substantially if they are to have a future at the Tiges.

Watching Post play down back is excruciating! That kid does not have a defenders bone in this body! Watching him over the last few weeks have been like watching a baby horse trying to take his first steps.
If this kid is to make it he has to play forward! He like most forwards is lazy, gets caught ball watching, is not dower in anyway, shape or form, isn't a great spoiler, slow and is so not desperate it's not even funny. He has a good pair of hands and that's about it. And that's only if he is allowed to run and jump at the footy, take that away he he isn't much at all. One on one, he doesn't seem to know when to get body contact and is still very weak through his core to be able to bussel.
Backmen are born backmen, the good ones don't even care about the footy, they just make sure you cannot get it. They are happy enough to walk off the ground after a game not having touched the footy. That's a skill in itself. To be that selfless is what playing back is all about, and forwards are mostly about themselves. I should know i played forward for all my footballing days. The thought of being happy not touching the footy to me is just ridicules! But that's what it takes. 
Just my opinion but maybe that's why the best coaches are mostly backmen!
Said it before and hate it when people on this forum repeat themselves (Jack  ) but cannot for the life of me see this kid making it!...... Even as a forward

[mightytiges]

We still need to find a bigger body defender IMO. We are still undersized. Rance then gets the 2nd opposition key forward and Grimes/Post/Astbury get the 3rd/4th defenders. Newy, Houli and Batch then rotate and play rebounding roles which frees up Lids go to into the midfield or even at times as a midsized half-forward inside 50 to create a mismatch. I also still don't think we have anyone who can shutdown a Milne or Carlton's small forward mosquitos. We struggle big time against opposition midsize and small forwards with quick footy smarts. 

The likes of McGuane, Moore and Thursty are now yesterday's men. On form you may keep Thursty as back-up but the problem is McGuane is the one contracted for another year so unless we can trade him or pay him out Lukey is going to be a list clogger stuck at Coburg next year.

[tdy]

I'd still prefer to see Lids play in the mid-field. With Houli sweeping of the HBF the need for lids in that role has diminished IMHO

Talent in the back line, think Scarlet or Goddard.  I reckon we have done the right thing in putting Deledio back there along with Batchelor.  With the current way footy is played distributing the ball well out of the back line is crucial, its one of the few kicks you can get that often aren't physically pressured.