People making comment on Gibcus dropping off and fair enough, but no one talking about Balta and how ordinary he was most of the year including when he went back to defense at times..
I just think its a must we find that good balance of long term verses short term and get our share of better younger blokes to 60 80 games as quickly as possible.
Miller, Gibcus, Sonsie are too good to just leave in the two's. Miller in particular has done a long apprenticeship and now needs to be played.
For me as the teams swingman, we know he can play defense, we know he can play as a competent second ruck and he looks likely as a fwd.
When it comes to our tall structure he provides real good versatility and cover.
Sonsie just oozes class no way would any side now leave him out, especially with another preseason behind him. Imo he is already the 7th best mid we have which means he starts on the pine but he can also play fwd as well. Taranto, Cotchin, Prestia, Hopper, Martin, Bolton and Sonsie
Should all play midfield in front of the remaning mids on the list.
Same for Gibcus.
For me we have 5 blokes who are genuine key defenders.
Tarrant, Miller, Balta, Gibcus, Nyuon, and at a pinch if it came to it Grimes but Grimes can play other roles very well and is a better option in many of them.
Can tick Miller off as i think he has shown most as a second ruck come fwd. Atm play him well in front of Soldo.I think Soldo is not in competition with Miller but Nankervis for the first ruck job.
Atm Nyuon is behind all of them but who knows he may have a break out season what then.
i know it is not a popular opinion but i firmly believe we need another tall actually playing fwd and developing into the role as he goes with the two mature boys there to help and not relying on just TL and JR. We need to show patience with them in the role. For me that person should be Balta still. The process has already begun and no one can tell me he is not the most credentialed player and experienced to get the role.
If not Balta then someone.
Spine would go
Tarrant - Gibcus - Taranto - Balta - Lynch. This scenario we get the best of both worlds. we get our best fwd prospect playing there and we have him covered with potentially the best kpd on our list who continues to get games in Gibcus.
Third talls who play other roles would go
Grimes - Broad both regularly play on smaller players.
Ruck would go
1st Nankervis - 2nd Miller instead of Soldo for his better rounded game and his versatility.
Small/Medium forwards would go
Rioli, Cumberland, Bolton, Sonsie, Martin the first two are already permanent fwds and the others already rotate thru there. Ask yourself do we need to pick other small/mediums for a fwd role. Answer imo is no.
Just about everyone agrees the wing roles for now are taken. Pickett and McIntosh, but they are roles that should be looked at for reasons that people have already mentioned.
It all means if we pick the best option for each role and we do the best we can to cover the tall fwd short comings we have then some favorites are likely to miss games.
FB: Vlastuin - Tarrant - Grimes
HB: Broad - Gibcus - D Rioli
C: Pickett - Taranto - McIntosh . Im hoping for a kid to step up here.
R: Nankervis - Hopper - Bolton
HF: Martin - Balta - Cumberland
FF: M Rioli - Lynch - Riewoldt.
INT: Miller - Cotchin - Prestia - Sonsie - Baker/Graham/Short.
