Future selection problems

[Coach]

When Rancey is fit who will go out for him? Can Astbury, Grimes, Chaplin & Rance all play in the same team? Grimes will probably blow a hammy again but if he stays fit the coaches will have a tough decision to make.

What happens when Maric is back? Can't really play Hampson or Maric in the same forward line as Griff, Jack & Vickery. I think we'll have to pick 1 ruckman with Vickery & Griff providing relief.

Not sure they were counting on Griffiths playing this well. Astbury has been our best defender as well, IMO.

[cub]

Maric is better around the ground, Hampson goes out - Simple imo

[WilliamPowell]

Reckon from the backs - Astbury would be the first one to go. Not saying it's right but based solely on what the apparent "pecking order" is regard our key back Astbury appears to be 4th in the queue

The rucks is harder because maric is going to play when fit and they are going to be loathed to drop Hampson because they bought to the club for the 2nd ruckman/forwards role. History also tells me that players that have been targeted and bought to the club under the Hartley list management program (eg Houli, Grigg, Chaplin) don't get dropped no matter what their form is like.

So based on that Hampson is unlikely to be dropped

So like Astbury no matrter the form being 4th in the pecking order means (IMHO) he'll be the first to go

[tony_montana]

Yeah unfortunately probably Astbury and Griffiths will be dropped even though Astbury has probably been our best KPD so far and Griff is starting to show something.

[Yeahright]

If Chaplin doesn't improve it should be him for Rance (not saying that'll happen but it's the way it should be) and Maric for Hampson after Maric proves his fitness in VFL. Didn't have a good year last year IMO and was riding off his 2012 form so should prove himself fit first.

[TigerMonk]

You could play 2 Ruckman in the same side & rest them at CHF as its rarely used these days with the midfielders running the ball out of the centre & banging it to FF. Link them into the play coming out of the backline 50 as long as you have players like Dusty, Kingy, Ellis, Thomas, Cotchin keeping the pressure on in the forward 50 when resting due to the limited interchanges these days. They can also be used to help keeping the ball inside our 50 from opposition kick outs Our big forwards are still very lazy & do not present themselves like any coach would want. When they play in front they are good but when playing from behind, They are useless & do not give the smaller forwards a chance to read the play. This is common football learnt from day dot to play in front. It's obviously a Tasmanian thing of being backwards. With the backline is a simple solution of rotating the big men weekly so we could adapt to several game plans & match ups & keeping the lads fresher. Like the old story Rance might not match up well on J Waite but has it over Buddy Franklin, So whoever is the better match up plays that week. l have always been a believer that a good side to win a premiership needs 2 rucks in the side. Even on a wet day. Now you all know how much l have bagged Griffiths & even that he dropped some easy marks due to stage fright & hearing steps, l reckon he played a very good support game to Hampson & we aint going to make top 4 with a under done Maric & carry him into the finals this year.  Cause like last year, He like several other key players carried injuries into the final & we all know the outcome.   

[Judge Roughneck]

I would say the following should be almost set in stone:

Morris - Grimes - Astbury
X - Rance - x
Vlastuin - Deledio - conca
Ellis - Griffith's - x
X - Vickery - riewoldt
Maric - cotchin - martin

X x x Thomas (given preseason and current form)
---

Chaplin would dominate at vfl level. It would be good for the development of alexRance/Grimes/ astbury to play together. Not in a dissimilar fashion to allowing the current front KPP three to form some cohesion

[Stripes]

Defence
I would imagine Grimes will be moved on for Rance but it will depend on opposition matchups. Astbury has proven to be our best defender against the bigger/monster forwards while Grimes plays like Rance in that they both match up well on the quickly athletic forwards. Rance has a better all round game than any of the other tall defenders but also makes the most clangers/turn-overs. Chaplain is the best leader, is the most composed and reads the ball the best.

In the end Rance and Chaplin are locks at present so it would all come down to matchups with which of Grimes or Astbury is moved aside.

Ruck
A really difficult decision. Neither Hampson or Maric are natural forwards and anything they give us in the forwardline while resting would be a complete bonus. Griffiths on the other hand is far more natural forward. He is a better contested mark than either ruck and a superior kick. He's quicker too. So in saying all that I believe WP is correct, Hampson wont be dropped and the selectors will be keen to experiment with their concept of playing both ruckmen in the same side. Therefore, Griffiths will be dropped...unless Vickery begins to falll away in form.

[the claw]

if we go by the dimmas favorites criteria the following wont happen.  the followingis what i think should happen though.

theres 4 obvious ins maric, jackson, rance, knights. simply put atm   when fit and ready they are easily best 22. with no real other option.
then theres 4 who i think if played improve us when fit and ready.  they are the 4 who are most ready as well. miles, gordon, lloyd,and lennon.

i cant wait for the day when we cut the glass half fulls and try to improve the overall quality of the side.
the 22 id like to see.
 
fb/ morris - chaplin - rance.  dont believe the two talls here are good enough 1v1 and morris has issues as well . please lets not get into a slanging match over these comments its just one persons opinion.  atm they are without doubt the best options we have and cant be replaced imo. not this yr anyway.
hb/ vlastuin - astbury - lennon. in time the one id like to see play hb is mcintosh freeing lennon up. id also like to see mcbean play at chb in time but they have different plans for him.

r/  maric - thomas - cotchin. if thomas can maintain the level hes currently at, he plays imo. the question really is will he drop off.
c/ ellis - martin - deledio, pace and skill in the middle with a little bit of grunt . the issue is the defensive side of the game. they have to work both ways.

hf/ gordon -  griffiths - knights. big mobile strong marking kpf lets hope he continues to improve  and stays fit. two good sized hf with good skills can go thru the middle and can kick goals. what a novelty. gordon is yet to be proven but isure as hell would like to see what he has to offer and soon.
ff/ hampson - riewoldt - lloyd.  genuine second ruckman who hopefully will show he can be a presence forward and kick golas.  jack at ff and a small goal kicking fwd.

int/ miles - jackson - conca - mcdonough. jacko aside its the future. probably our best rated 22 and unders.

so theres none of the following regulars just given regular games. obviously  not all are up for delisting  they become depth players or they actually improve enough and earn their spot. either way for the club its a win win.
grimes keep, s edwards trade, grigg delist, houli keep,  king retire/delist, newman retire , vickery keep/possible trade , and petterd delist..  some tough decisions right there but what do we really lose if these guys are eased out over the course of the yr.
thing is while we are a finals contender.  to a man these over the hill,   glass half fulls and underperformers   will continue to be regulars.

[eliminator]

Defence: I believe there is room for Astbury, Rance, Grimes and Chaplin in the backline. Rance or Chaplin tend to take the monster forward. Astbury is equipped to take the third tall and the beauty about Grimes is that he can play on a small or med sized forward. Grimes is fast and is good at spoiling.  Chaplin ideally should be playing as the general of the defence. Marshalling and chopping out marks. Morris should play on a small forward as should Vlastuin.  Newman is at the end of his career and therefore more time should be spent on giving the younger players experience. Houli should play on a wing and if one of the smaller defenders is experiencing difficulties he is an able back up.

Forwardline/Ruck. Maric is our number ruckman by miles. He is great around the ground and provides a good presence. Griffiths should play in the forwardline but can play as a backup ruckman. Griffiths showed on Thursday night that he is a good contested mark and that is what he need if we are having trouble in getting it out of defence. Have not seen enough of Hampel to say whether he will make it.

For me the critical question is who we play as our small forwards. We struggled on Thursday night when the ball hit the deck in the forwardline and it really showed our lack of a quality small forward. I have no doubt that if we had a quality small forward on Thursday we would have won by a mile.

[bojangles17]

Yeah unfortunately probably Astbury and Griffiths will be dropped even though Astbury has probably been our best KPD so far and Griff is starting to show something.

No I couldn't see that happening, only 1 of Maric or Hampson can play, simple. Astbury is firming a place in the side, playing better ea week. Tbh Chaplin looks shaky right now,