Backline balance

[the_boy_jake]

We need to work out which 2 of Moore, McGuane and Thursfield (probably a straight choice between Moore and McGuane to join Thursfield) we want in our best 22 and stop having ridiculous matchups like Moore on Swallow. We can then put the bloke we move on on the table at trade time, and offer clubs a dependable if not dominant backman.

Today wasn't lost there, we lost it in the clearances, but our defence suddenly looked very fragile again.

Over the last two seasons, we have only won 3 games whilst all three have played, a rate of about a win every 6 games. When one of these blokes has been out, we win approx. 1 in 3. Just watching it, I reckon we look way better balanced and less easily exploited by opposition matchups.
 

[mightytiges]

Yep and once again we struggled to clear the ball out of our backline because our movement of the footy was too slow. Prefer Astbury back there ahead of McGuane based on previous weeks.

[the_boy_jake]

Yep and once again we struggled to clear the ball out of our backline because our movement of the footy was too slow. Prefer Astbury back there ahead of McGuane based on previous weeks.

Agree the three of them are exponents of the chipped pass from pocket to pocket. Really struggle on our transition across HB. None of them really fit Hardwick's vision of having A grade footskills, whereas Astbury looks quite a good kick.

[tony_montana]

Yep and once again we struggled to clear the ball out of our backline because our movement of the footy was too slow. Prefer Astbury back there ahead of McGuane based on previous weeks.

Agree the three of them are exponents of the chipped pass from pocket to pocket. Really struggle on our transition across HB. None of them really fit Hardwick's vision of having A grade footskills, whereas Astbury looks quite a good kick.

He is also a quality reader of play - ver good football brain, something the other 3 lack

[mightytiges]

He is also a quality reader of play - ver good football brain, something the other 3 lack

Yep today we can put most of the blame on being too slow above the shoulders with our decision making rather than miskicks. Often the right options were actually there and open but by the time the defender with the ball acted the option was either gone and it resulted in turnover or we just bombed long towards the ruckmen on the boundary when instead we needed to switch. You can't have players who continually hold onto the ball too long because they think too slowly.

[WilliamPowell]

Of the 3 I thought Thursfield was the best of them until he got hurt and he was average at best

Was very disppointed in Moore's game - he seemed to give his opponent far too much latitude and was some of decisions were woeful

But hey he wasn't alone 

[the_boy_jake]

Was very disppointed in Moore's game - he seemed to give his opponent far too much latitude and was some of decisions were woeful

Thats the problem I eluded to in the match thread. Kel is an honest spoiler, but when the three of them play, he invariably picks up someone smaller and more mobile than he.

Today he had Edwards and Swallow in the first half and had 10cms on them but was far less agile. He either pressures and gets run around or corralls and can't apply any pressure - result unpressured kicks into the F50.

[Siberian]

Sit all three out for the year and run Gourdis and Rance in the key posts and re assess over the summer

[Chuck17]

Sit all three out for the year and run Gourdis and Rance in the key posts and re assess over the summer

We back on the tanking bandwagon are we

[eliminator]

Will was good before he got injured. His spoiling was very good. Moore played quite a good game he took some good marks however there were times when the defence was standing off their opponents which led to easily goods being kicked

[Siberian]

Sit all three out for the year and run Gourdis and Rance in the key posts and re assess over the summer

We back on the tanking bandwagon are we

not so much a tank but we cant have gourdis rance polak and post on the list playing for coburg forever, although I dont think we would win with them in key defensive posts but they have to play sometime and somewhere

[Judge Roughneck]

Give the Irish man a gAme