I only heard it in the background but on Ch 7 news last night there was a snippet about us likely to offer Houli a one-year deal for 2020 and him being comfortable with whatever happens.
Nooooooooo!!
Time to move him on........ hopefully after winning his second premiership medal.
We have kids lining up for his roll/position that can actually defend.
Who are these kids? Menadue, Markov, Egg? are there others that play off hb at vfl lvl that I’m forgetting? If not 2 of those haven’t proven to be any upgrade defensively and certainly not offensively while I guess we’ll see about egg this week and maybe beyond.
I would like to see Stack and Short playing off halfback.
A backline of
Vlastuin Rance Grimes
Short Astbury Stack
But if we want Stack to play elsewhere I think Edwards has shown he could walk into the halfback roll.
And next in line for me is McIntosh.
Markov is probably next cab off the rank but if we want to prolong Cotch’s career, I think he could play off half back.
I think the halfback roll is well and truely cover when Houli eventually retires.
Your right I don’t think a half back flanker is too hard to replace but of the ones you mentioned:
Short - already plays in that position
Edwards - imo more beneficial to us as a half fwd flanker with bursts in the middle
McIntosh - barely provides drive off the wing let alone off half back
Cotch - remember when they tried to move dusty down back? Leave the guns where they belong.
Markov - is behind Menadue and neither have shown for any prolonged period that they can fill this role and they look to be running out of time.
Stack - Gun! Don’t think he provides as much drive as houli although that might just not be the role he’s given. In any case I think we’ll see him in the midfield sooner rather than later.
Point being that until someone shows that they can perform the role better than bachar I don’t see why you wouldn’t give him a 1 year deal (fitness permitting).
