I know I'm on the outer here and if we win tomorrow it won't matter, but I'm still surprised we are going so undersized down back. I know Garth's form was poor as our lone key back in recent weeks but with Astbury back he wouldn't have been playing on the opposition's No.1 forward anymore. We now have to rely on Broad or Grimes to match up on one of Bruce or Membrey. Better hope we don't lose the clearances again and that the Saints continue to butcher the ball inside their F50.
The other issue is who plays on Gresham? He usually kicks a bag against us 
.
If Grimes and Broad can’t play on Bruce and Membrey then why even have them in the side.
They are perfect match ups.
Having Astbury back doesn’t all of a sudden mean Garthwaite can play on anyone half decent.
Last game he played on both Tex and Jenkins at different times, which he would have done if Astbury was in the side or not, and got his arse handed to him by both.
I know he is still young but he is only a week older than last week and last week showed he is not even close to being AFL standard in any way.
You can’t have 17 odd goals kicked on you in 3 weeks and keep getting games regardless of how tall you are.
Grimes and Broad aren't key backs. Grimes is suited to a 3rd tall/midsized forward while Broad is a good match-up for the Tom Lynch (Adel version) types that lead up to the wing. In fairness to all our defenders it's been harder for them this year without Rance and especially in the past month with the way our midfield has been smashed in the contests 
. I probably could've got a kick as an Adelaide forward against us last round when the Crouch brothers rack up 80 disposals between them. We're playing too short and been monstered in the air since the North loss. Structurally we should be playing two key defenders.
Stack should get first crack at Gresham IMO.
Pretty good call there. Stack did a good job on Betts who only got that stuff goal late on him. Although the word out of the Saints is Stack will get Parker.
Grimes and Broad may not be known as KPD but Bruce and Membery are hardly KPF.
Do you not think Grimes could beat either of those guys? And an in form
Broad could beat them too.
How big do you think Garthwaite is anyway to be able to play KB? He is smaller the Grimes and the same size as Broad. Just because Garthwaite can only play on the bigger slow forwards doesn’t mean he is more of a KPD than Grimes because he can play on both.
Garthwaite is Ben Darrou with red hair.
Grimes should have played on the best KPF while Astbury has been out. It cost us at least one win and probably even two IMO.
If Grimes and Broad could play KPD then Garth wouldn't have been brought in in the first place when Rance went down. Garth is heavier than those two even though he is still young and raw. Structurally it hurts us as every other defender has to move 'up' in the defensive roles. It's not simply just as one-vs-one match-up issue in the modern game.
Bruce is 197cm tall while Membrey plays as a kick and mark forward. I'm not saying they are Lockett and Dunstall but they both burnt us this time two years ago at Docklands. Membrey kicked 5 goals while Bruce had 7 scoring shots (2.5). Never underestimate your opponent especially when we are coming off 3 straight bad losses. We're hardly in any form to look down on them. St Kilda's woes are due to their mids and half-backs not being able to hit the side of a barn. They continually butcher their F50 entries. Pray that continues today and that they don't have a rare day out like they did two years ago or our short/slight defence will be exposed again.
Garthwaite is 1KG heavier than Grimes and 2KG heavier than Broad. Hardly a massive difference. And Garthwaite being younger and less preseasons under his belt means that 2KG means FA!
The main reason Garthwaite was brought in was to get some exposure at AFL level and he has failed at miserably IMO.
Dimma in his wisdom wanted his cake and eat it too not playing Grimes on the best forward. He wanted the luxury of him to play his normal role of playing on a medium or a small.
Grimes couldn’t be more suited to playing on Membrey as like you said he is a lead up mark forward. Grimes is nearly the best defender on a lead in the AFL.
Are you saying Garthwaite should be in the side today after conceding 17 goals in his last 3 games?
Do you know how stupid that sounds considering we have dropped Balta, someone who is bigger, stronger and quicker than Garthwaite who has actually shown he can play at the level.
