Im looking at our list and after the trade period I can see depth. Im not going to debate each player, god knows there is enough bagging of nearly everybody on the team. You cant read a thread without it. The point of this thread is to show we have many players fighting for spots
Here is the Elimination Final team
B: Newman, Batchelor, Rance
HB: Houli, Vlastuin, Chaplin
C: B. Ellis, Cotchin, McIntosh
HF: Martin, Griffiths, Edwards
F: Riewoldt, Deledio, Vickery
R: Maric, Grigg, Hunt
IC: Grimes, Miles, Conca, Lambert
As I said Im not going to debate who should and should not be there.
We have lost a total of 1 player (Newman) off that team
Now we have
Players Added to list: Yarran, Moore, Townsend
Players stiff to miss last game: Lennon
Injured players that could of been in team: C.Ellis
Players been on list for while without much of a go. McBean, Elton
Young Players in and out of Side: Menadue
Development players that MIGHT push for selection: Butler, McKenzie, Drummond
Backup players that on "best form" could force way in: Astbury, Morris, Hampson, Lloyd
Now thats 15 players and 1 spot. That means competition for spots in my view.
I havent included any of our rookies or this years draft picks of which there may be one or two that will push for selection.
I will not debate the merrits of any of these players, I am just pointing out the numbers. Not many clubs would have 36 playerss that COULD be be pushing for selection.
That has been the trouble people and obviously the club look at the numbers and think we have each area covered.
I will give you an example and the simple truth is it is the same for all areas.
At a glance i could say we have SEVEN POTENTIAL RUCKMEN. Maric, Hampson, Soldo, Vickery, Griffiths, McBean and Chol.You look at the numbers and say yep we have ruck covered.
When you take a close look though and weigh up everything, The reality is there is just one Maric who actually plays to an acceptable afl standard consistently, and he is really struggling to compete. The reality is there is just one ruckman on the list who is afl standard and he is in decline, the rest are either no good, have huge deficiencies and none look like they could become a good quality #1 ruckman.
The reality is despite the numbers our ruck stocks are dire.
What is depth anyway? . Is a junior who may or may not make it, actually depth? of course he isnt he is a junior and the fact he is not up to afl standard has to be factored in.We need to make the neccessary distinctions.
To me depth is really about having players who can come into your side and perform his role to a decent consistent afl standard or develop enough to actually force a good consistent player out of the side.
Depth well we dont really have much after making all the neccessary distinctions.
