My read on Bauer is that he's not big enough to make it as a key forward/defender at AFL level, so he's caught between KP and being a flanker and a wingman but isn't quick or clever enough for that either. At least that's what our hierarchy believes.
After a performance like that, if he's not picked next week then you'd have to think he's never going to get a shot. But I wouldn't be picking him as the second tall, more as a third tall cum swing defender.
Reckon he has the height at 192cm to play kpp or third tall he only needs to bulk up to have the attributes to play kp.
Jack Riewoldt ring a bell. Just 193cm and 92kg plays kp pretty well.
Jack Gunston at just 193cm and 87 kg was a perfect foil for Franklin and Roughead.
The fella at Adelaide Fogarty just 193cm tracking along nicely id say plays kp because he has the bulk and strength that enables him to play kp. Treacy, Van Rooyen, Ash Jonson all 193 and looking good.
While on Collingwood Mihocek 192cm. Curnow the coleman medalist 192cm,
There is plenty Darling held down kpf for wce at just 191cm.Georgiades at Port just 191cm but a real areal threat maybe not kpp size but he still offers genuine height and that areial presence that tall fwds have to have.
I think what gets lost here we largely have just JR and Lynchy then its a plethora of small fwds with no genuine fwd around the 188 - 192 range.
Have complained for years about the lack of medium fwds or for that matter medium players. We have relied on Dusty to play fwd primarily a mid to get a real point of difference between the KPF'S and small fwds.
Bauer to me should be developed as a third tall a lot like Gunston and if he bulks up and gets the power and strength to play kp then so be it. He is currently good or strong enough in the air to warrant a tall player to play on him. If he is to be a defender then we need look no further than Grimes to see what type he could be and thats much more than just a hb or wing.
As a defender Grimes is not big 193/90 0dd kg, Broad 192/90 odd. both imo are not kpp,s but no one is saying they are inbetweeners
and are only good for wing or hb. They when needed play on all types and its their height that allows them to do this.
Any way enough from me just have to say though if the club have him pencilled in as you say then they are wrong imo.
Atm with no Lynch, Bauer and Riewoldt with RUCK/FWD Ryan look to be an ideal sort of set up imo.
Its been my opinion all year that Miller should be playing kpd instead of Young.
