Author Topic: Your club's depth in the run to the finals ... (Herald-Sun)  (Read 825 times)

Offline one-eyed

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Which AFL club has the greatest depth in the run to the finals

Herald-Sun
July 21, 2015 12:26PM


HAWTHORN might be raging favourites to complete the three-peat but is it Fremantle who boasts the greatest depth in the run to September?

Despite injuries to Michael Johnson (hamstring) and Hayden Ballantyne (pectoral) the Dockers have plenty in reserve.

Clancee Pearce, Zac Dawson, Paul Duffield and Tendai Mzungu are currently out of the side along with talls Zac Clarke and Jack Hannath.

While Hawthorn’s best 25-man squad is nigh on unstoppable, the next rung is not as strong.

West Coast might be vulnerable after losing Jeremy McGovern (hamstring) — the third Eagles key defender to go down injured this season.

Sydney, Richmond and North Melbourne are well placed but reliant on key planks standing up with largely developing players coming up through the ranks.

Collingwood’s depth is already being tested with injuries to star forwards Travis Cloke and Jamie Elliott.

SuperFooty has run the rule over the top 11 clubs to identify which contenders have the greatest depth.

Depth players are ranked in order of importance, while young developing players including rookies have been left off as it’s unlikely they’ll play a part in a premiership tilt.

RICHMOND

INJURIES

Ty Vickery (suspension) 1 week

Nathan Drummond (knee) season

Jayden Short (ankle) season

Nathan Foley (knee) indefinite

Ricky Petterd (foot) indefinite

Shane Edwards (leg) 2-3 weeks

Todd Elton (knee) 1-2 weeks

Dan Butler (knee) test

Ben Griffiths (shoulder) test

DEPTH

Reece Conca

Chris Knights

Sam Lloyd

Steven Morris

Corey Ellis

David Astbury

Liam McBean

Connor Menadue

Matt Dea

Matt Thomas

WE SAY: Ben Lennon, Matt McDonough and Shaun Hampson have been given a chance but are likely to be forced out when Vickery, Griffiths and Edwards return in the next few weeks. Conca played a half in the VFL on the weekend in his return from a long-term hamstring injury and went OK; he’ll be pushing hard for a best 22 spot soon. Knights has played two-and-a-half matches in his injury comeback and could add some class across half-forward if his body holds together while Morris can play shutdown roles like the one he did on Chris Yarran. McBean and Lloyd offer potential goalkicking power and last year’s top draft pick Ellis did some nice things in his six senior appearances from Round 6-12. All up the Tigers have good cover but if any of their big five go down they will be very hard to replace.

http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/afl-2015-which-afl-club-has-the-greatest-depth-in-the-run-to-the-finals/story-fnelctok-1227450696467

Online Andyy

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Re: Your club's depth in the run to the finals ... (Herald-Sun)
« Reply #1 on: July 21, 2015, 06:30:25 PM »
Should be getting games into Ellis and McBean. Menadue also. Young players who have shown a bit and have actual upside.

Conca (fitness), Knights (fitness) provide little to zero reassurance as depth players as they can hardly get on the park.

Lloyd, Morris and Thomas. Should be joined by Gordon and Newman as depth.

Offline YellowandBlackBlood

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Re: Your club's depth in the run to the finals ... (Herald-Sun)
« Reply #2 on: July 21, 2015, 09:24:48 PM »
If any side loses one of its best 5 players it will affect them..... :wallywink
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