I believe we will achieve improvement through three avenues this year -
1. General increase in experience, maturity, confidence and understanding of individual roles and team game plan
2. Trades/Recruits
3. Established Players improvement
1. This year all of our young list are a year older. After a year of working to understand what Dimma's wants them to do they are far more comfortable in what the new coach is directing them to be and far more instinctual in their actions and understanding of how their eam mates will play and react. The base has been established and now the list will build from it. Familarilarity breeds confidence.
2. The recruitment of the established players Houli, Grigg and Miller will give us far more depth and immediate experience into our growing list. Houli and Grigg brings in size, strength and polish around the contest and extra delievery into the F50. Miller will at the very least add experience and competition to the F50. I think Miller could easily be our second tall in week one. The best part about these players is that 2 of the 3 we gained for absolutely nothing!
Adding to this is our new draft recruits. Conca and Batchelor look ready to line up excepting injury. A noticable exciting reality coming into this year though is that it finally appears that we have enough depth that we don't have to play these future gems immediately but rather have the luxury of giving them time to get experience at Coburg and earn their place in the 22. I think this speaks volumes of the lists improvement and potential to jump up the ladder this year.
In my opinion I would like to see Conca gain a game around week 6 starting on the bench or substitution place to rotate through the midfield. With an injury such as he has and potential that we all can see, take it easy with this kid.
3. A fit Foley would add to our midfield strength immeasurably as would a fully fit Cotchin. Astbury gaining considerable size to go with his already wise head will make our backline far more secure. Vickery and Post fighting for the 3rd tall forward/2nd ruck can only be good and players such as Contin bursting through the banner after earning his place through sheer hard work also will help lift the list and will highlight the increased competition for spots in the team additionally.
So barring injury to key players, all of this points to a significant improvement in the list imho.
MADTIGER - I agree with most of what you said but I have a few differences to my round one team.
FF morton reiwoldt vickery
HF farmer miller houli
C edwards cotchin martin
FOLL graham jackson foley
HB grigg astbury deledio
FB connors mcguane newman
INT contin tuck grigg Sub: White
EMER moore post webberley/nason gourdis
Stripes
