Still don't think he has done anything to suggest he is needed or is a must down back.
Whichever way we go i believe one of Balta, Miller and Nyuon has to be played and developed as a key fwd.
Im confident Gibcus will hold down a key defensive post for us next year. Him paired with Tarrant as key defenders along with Grimes and Broad
really does mean tall backs are not an issue for us but key fwds or the lack there of really is.
We have basically ignored this problem for yrs on end and if we are not going to address it thru any of the drafts or trade then we have to address it from with in.
Then it becomes a simple question who from within is best credentialled to be developed as a key fwd playing in the seniors.
No matter how you look at it Balta is by far and a way the best credentialled player to develop there.
Not only does he have the right attributes but he also has the experience.
Going back to this. Still has to happen especially if we do not get an experienced key fwd in to help Lynchy and with Jack Retired.
Will say one of Noah's problems have been the brain fades if you like they remain a constant and it really hurts when playing in defense but is not such a big problem playing fwd. I also think when he has to stand a player he struggles at times.
Circumstance hurt us a bit this year we lost Gibcus before the season and then Tarrant never got going so we had to play someone back and they chose Balta.
Reckon he had a 5 or 6 week period where he looked like he finally found that consistency that he needs and managed to cut a lot of the mistakes out of his game. But then inevitably it fell away.
What really disappointed me was we could not see a way to play Miller as a defender and Nyuon at all.
Going fwd well if i listen to vfl watchers Bradtke is a dud but i cannot agree at this point in time with that. Would like to see what he can produce with some fitness and a real preseason behind him.
Bauer while a good aerialist is not a KPP IMO. Get sick of having to make the distinction between a genuine kpp height and size and what we all call a third tall flanker type who can play kpp if there is a need.
Next year i Would like to see us play Ryan is as many games as possible as first ruck i hope they lock him in the weights room in the off season.
Next year id be real happy to see them play Lynch Balta and Bauer fwd. Then put some pace and real speed at their feet.
It not as if Balta and Bauer are are slow coaches either. They both look like good mover over the ground.
As i have done for the last few years now, and asked we play and develop Balta as a forward i will say it again we desperately need to find a KEY FORWARD who can play straight away. That means a trade of some description or free agency. Imo there is a solution with in and that is not waste another season playing Balta in defence but play him fwd and settle him there.
Do that and then go out and chase the free agent or trade for a mature kpd which is much easier to do than find a key fwd.Or god forbid even try Miller back there next year if he is not given the flick. He certainly has not worked out as a fwd.
