The Wings in 2023

[AshMac]

Dunkley is the best defensive midfielder in the AFL (the stats back it up). His is absolutely a massive loss

There’s a difference between being a great player and leaving a hole in a team.

[Mofra]

There’s a difference between being a great player and leaving a hole in a team.

I would argue Dunkley probably isn't a 'great' player but his effect on the team is greater than his ability.
It's likely his absence in the centre means Bailey Smith and Adam Treloar get more centre square time.
Their weakness is exactly what Dunkley's forte was.

[EasternWest]

Mail suggests that at this stage we are planning pre-season to go with Williams and R.Smith. That’s come from someone in the playing group based on exit interviews. Not sure who else we are looking at using.

I think that COULD work, I actually think both of those guys have a bit to work with but it would be nice if they had a bit of pace.

[Go_Dogs]

I quite like the Truck and Roarke combination.

Truck didn’t have his greatest year but he’s got the ability to defend, strong enough in a contest and can roost the ball.

Roarke able to play the more shutdown role and work hard back and forward to create the extra number, while also having a strong presence in the air.

A lot of it will come down to structure and game plan as to who is the best fit. I’m not quite sure what that looks like, which means it’s hard to speculate who may be our best fit. It’s probably an area of the ground we’ve been lacking in from a strategic standpoint with other teams having more obvious role players in these positions with a clear focus.

[Dogs 24/7]

I quite like the Truck and Roarke combination.

Truck didn’t have his greatest year but he’s got the ability to defend, strong enough in a contest and can roost the ball.

Roarke able to play the more shutdown role and work hard back and forward to create the extra number, while also having a strong presence in the air.

A lot of it will come down to structure and game plan as to who is the best fit. I’m not quite sure what that looks like, which means it’s hard to speculate who may be our best fit. It’s probably an area of the ground we’ve been lacking in from a strategic standpoint with other teams having more obvious role players in these positions with a clear focus.

We are fortunate to have depth and I agree they could be a good pairing.

[MrMahatma]

Where to for Scott?

[GVGjr]

Where to for Scott?

He's still the ideal spare parts player.

[F'scary]

Mail suggests that at this stage we are planning pre-season to go with Williams and R.Smith. That’s come from someone in the playing group based on exit interviews. Not sure who else we are looking at using.

Truck: I think his best is as a defender. He just doesn't get enough of the ball as a winger.
Roarke: His disposal skills are a bit average. Also is not an accumulator. I like him as an interchange player, to be frank. He is good at filling gaps in forward, back and on the wing, but he is not a first choice winger.

We already have our number 1 winger: Bailey Smith. On the other wing, I would let a few fight it out for the spot. Anthony Scott, VDM, Roarke, Truck, Crozier, etc. Maybe have specialising in the role in the VFL for a few who are designated as playing primarily for that role.

[Nuggety Back Pocket]

I would argue Dunkley probably isn't a 'great' player but his effect on the team is greater than his ability.
It's likely his absence in the centre means Bailey Smith and Adam Treloar get more centre square time.
Their weakness is exactly what Dunkley's forte was.

I reckon we could do worse than move Daniel into the midfield to replace Dunkley where Caleb’s superior foot skills further afield would provide more opportunities for our forward line.

[GVGjr]

I reckon we could do worse than move Daniel into the midfield to replace Dunkley where Caleb’s superior foot skills further afield would provide more opportunities for our forward line.

It would be an interesting to see how he would go in that role NBP. I do like the suggestion of moving him into the midfield or even forward flank. The forwards might benefit from see a bit more of his passing.

[dog town]

It would be an interesting to see how he would go in that role NBP. I do like the suggestion of moving him into the midfield or even forward flank. The forwards might benefit from see a bit more of his passing.

Bevo deployed him around the ball lots of times in 2021 and especially in the period where we had no Dunkley/Treloar. My view is he is half back or he needs to be around the ball (includes high half forward at stoppages).

My issue with him forward is if we play 3 talls plus Weightman who nearly needs to be picked like a tall then Daniel doesn’t have the pressure skills to give us the right balance. If we were much smaller then having Daniel finding players in space would have more appeal.

I also think Daniel looked heavy last year. This is related to the knee issues he had late 21 and carried this year I dare say. Really want him to get a full preseason in, I can remember some players running past him in transition and he was really labouring this season.

[GVGjr]

Bevo deployed him around the ball lots of times in 2021 and especially in the period where we had no Dunkley/Treloar. My view is he is half back or he needs to be around the ball (includes high half forward at stoppages).

My issue with him forward is if we play 3 talls plus Weightman who nearly needs to be picked like a tall then Daniel doesn’t have the pressure skills to give us the right balance. If we were much smaller then having Daniel finding players in space would have more appeal.

I also think Daniel looked heavy last year. This is related to the knee issues he had late 21 and carried this year I dare say. Really want him to get a full preseason in, I can remember some players running past him in transition and he was really labouring this season.

Great points DT. One of the reasons Daniel was drafted was his outstanding Beep Test result and if he loses that he might come back to the field a bit.

[azabob]

Mail suggests that at this stage we are planning pre-season to go with Williams and R.Smith. That’s come from someone in the playing group based on exit interviews. Not sure who else we are looking at using.

Did that player ask to be given an opportunity as a wingman?

I’d go with Bailey Smith and either R.Smith or Scott as our defensive option.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

I quite like the Truck and Roarke combination.

Truck didn’t have his greatest year but he’s got the ability to defend, strong enough in a contest and can roost the ball.

Roarke able to play the more shutdown role and work hard back and forward to create the extra number, while also having a strong presence in the air.

A lot of it will come down to structure and game plan as to who is the best fit. I’m not quite sure what that looks like, which means it’s hard to speculate who may be our best fit. It’s probably an area of the ground we’ve been lacking in from a strategic standpoint with other teams having more obvious role players in these positions with a clear focus.

Seconded.

Wingmen who are experienced, big, strong and can run are handy. Whether these 2 can perform consistently is questionable, but I think they round out our midfield better than the mix we've gone with previously. I've found it ironic that every time we play big games/finals, Roarke plays - and typically plays well - but he misses a lot of other games.

For right now, these 2 are our best options and give us a better balance of attack/defence.