Measuring it up.

So looking at the ins/outs the average height dropped significantly over the list management periods. Our 12 players out measured on average 1.89m (from the base). The 12 players coming in measure at a much smaller 1.83m, which is signifanct as its the average number.

The number looks better as some of our taller flankers are 1.90m (Young) and 1.89m (Khamis) and the other rookie Jordan Sweet (2.02m) are the only taller players and they are all rookies as it happens. The incoming main listed players range from 1.72m to 1.87m.

Of the role players, we moved out two main listed rucks for a rookie listed ruck. We moved out a KPF and two KPD's, and didn't replace them. So four tall role players were not replaced. The question must be asked, we were significantly unbalanced in 2018 with too many top heavy talls on the list, and this is period has been a re-balancing of the list to have a smaller, quicker squad? Or did we have it about right this year and we've not found the talent to fill these roles and we going into 2019 short? Or is this a preview into Bevo's gameplan/s heading into 2019? Or a bit of all the above?

There was one VFL game where we had Campbell and Roughy playing forward with NMM as the 'small', while English rucked and Robrts, Young and Collins rotated through the defence. As the game wore on we just killed by run.

We were short on mids at stages last year so I do think we were a little tall. It would have been nice to add one more swingman at the draft but we're probably more balanced now than during the 2018 year.

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Originally Posted by bulldogtragic

Or is this a preview into Bevo's gameplan/s heading into 2019?

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It's not a preview. Beveridge has always been happy to field a shorter side.

2015/16 had frequent games where we were happy to gamble and play a short side. We had many games where we had just one genuine tall defender with Wood or Morris or Biggs playing a taller role. We have always been happy to gamble on our team defence to bail us out and equally happy to gamble that crap key forwards wouldnt be able to do enough damage to bother putting someone in the side to stop them.

Last year for some reason we had an extraordinarily tall squad despite this known reluctance to pick talls, and this is finally a rebalancing of the list to a squad that suits the way we select sides.

One of the aspects that's made me feel a bit better with Hayes' recruitment is that we really missed that midfield depth so hopefully even if he's not a star he can maybe fill in for someone like Koby Stevens.

I welcome our additional smalls.

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Originally Posted by soupaman

Last year for some reason we had an extraordinarily tall squad despite this known reluctance to pick talls, and this is finally a rebalancing of the list to a squad that suits the way we select sides.

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And the recruiting division has been overhauled since. I wasn't surprised it happened.

Cordy, Naughton (Young, Morris, Roberts)
English (Trengove, Sweet)
Boyd, Schache

Probably a ready to go and a developing KPF short

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Originally Posted by The Doctor

And the recruiting division has been overhauled since. I wasn't surprised it happened.

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May have been a deliberate strategy to get the talls in and cull the ones not up to it.

Always very noticeable when talls aren’t quite at AFL lever compared to smalls who can often get thier hands on it. Wouldn’t be surprised if they were comfortable sacrificing average height for footy ability.

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Originally Posted by boydogs

Cordy, Naughton (Young, Morris, Roberts)
English (Trengove, Sweet)
Boyd, Schache

Probably a ready to go and a developing KPF short

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Will be interesting to see if we start developing Young as a swing option. He's still not even 20.

It's not just the average height that has changed.

Having gone smaller this draft our list looks a lot quicker. Biggs was probably the only one we lost with any dash while most of our new boys have some toe. I think opposition sides will find it harder to get the ball out of our forward line and hopefully we can move it in there a bit quicker.

I also think the recruiting of Khamis, Young, Vandermeer & Smith who can all play mid/small defender roles along with the revelation of Daniel in this role late last season could see players like Williams, Lynch & Richards play midfield a lot more giving this area a much needed injection of pace in the coming seasons.

I believe our biggest problem has been forward line entry to score . Our entries have been great but the score ratio terrible, a little more pressure inside 50 . Who do we think will be the small or mid forward who could keep the ball in and score ?
Cavarra and Lloyd could be the pieces that fill the puzzle.

Was a few years back now. Maybe 2014 where I thought that hunter would be most improved. It happened. So I'm gonna go again.... I just think Bailey Dale. He has all the gear to get it done.

I think the list has just been polished. A bit of flair back into the side. Smith will play games. Hungry mature agers. Looking back on. Last year. Shit we nailed Naughton and Richards. They just look settled at senior footy.

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Originally Posted by dukedog

I think the list has just been polished. A bit of flair back into the side. Smith will play games. Hungry mature agers. Looking back on. Last year. Shit we nailed Naughton and Richards. They just look settled at senior footy.

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So did Young in his first year , I guess we wait until this year to see how they go.