Most supporters have little idea really. They are obviously uninformed and come Round 1 will be very surprized at some of the selections and positional changes.
nothing a little deduction and plain old common sense cant overcome and with a little information about players and what hardwick wants.
footskills decision making and height/size are areas hardwick has come out and said he will target regardless. hes said vickery will play ruck and post will play back. hes also said ploak will play ff and is going well at training.so theres 3 positions covered. hes made comment about how big griffiths is and for sure if fit he will get some games so maybe fp for now to get that added height he wants forward.
we have guys who will be eased into games and the midfield because of injury cotchin springs straight to mind so hes likely to play predominately hf with rotations. . kids getting a game is a priority.
we also targeted 4 mature players farmer webberley nason and roberts. common sense says both webberley and farmer will likely play if fit and doing well preseason. well at least one anyway.
common sense says a big bodied mid will play to help foleys inside work load, well theres only thomson and tuck so one of these blokes will play for sure. the better skilled is thomson but has not done a lot to date career wise. we lack for experience and where possible he will spread the experience thru the team.
okay
footskills. - can anyone truly see him playing edwards mcguane rance in the one backline for the life of me i cant. it would be ignoring the biggest single thing that has crucified us on field. for that matter i cant see king or polo getting a run down back either.
to me rance needs to develop his game at coburg he may play mcguane for his competetiveness.
to me the back half squad will be.
Thursfield, Moore, Post, Webberley, Farmer, Newman, Tambling, Dea Mcguane. nearly all good kicks lots of run pace with adequate height with post back there.. still lacking size but hopefully we are finally doing something about that in the gym.
with tambling moore and newman theres almost as much experience as we own as well. thursfield is also now turning 24.
decision making/kicking - sort of excludes a few as well again. i would have mcguane in here and rance. others outside the backs who make poor decisions or are poor by foot. king, white, jackson, tuck, graham, polo, edwards, mcmahon, hislop.
of these jackson probably will get the tagging jobs.
anyway to cut it all short and apply the above i think rnd 1 will go as follows allowing all are fit.
B Farmer Thursfield Moore.
HB Newman Post Tambling/Webberley
C Martin Cousins Collins.
HF Morton Riewoldt Cotchin
F Nahas Polak Griffiths.
R Simmonds Deledio Foley
Int Vickery Jackson Thomson and the last spot from Taylor Edwards Webberley Tuck and maybe one or two others.
the team has good structure, surprising height and SIZE. Good footskills through out. pace and even though light on for experience it is spread throughout. and with post collins martin cotchin griffiths vickery and perhaps taylor is has a fair sprinkling of kids thus catering to development.
anyway just my take on it.
