Who leads our defence?

[Mofra]

Cast your mind back to 2005, when Chris Grant played a fair bit of his footy at CHB.

I remember he spent alot of time directing traffic, especially helping our Brian Harris wiith advice & positioning. He wasn't offically Captain, but was definately the leader of our back 6.

Now in 07, who fills the same role?
- I can't help thinking that SOS confused the bejeezus out of Harris until he lost confidence in his instinct:
- Morris is our no 1 stopper but needs to be led to the ball, so I don't think he is leadership material
- Gilbee spends as much time attacking as defending, so need to concentrate on his own game
- Hargrave knows what he is doing, but has lapses in concentration so should be free of leadership duties:
- No one else has yet stamped themselves as permanent defenders (apologies to Power, Griffen, Boyd, McMahon & Grant, but they will finds themselves all over the field).
Addision will take the scond flank in a year or two, but is still currently a fringe player.

Do we need a backline General, and if so who is the best candidate?

[Mofra]

.... so I managed to post about our backline without mentioning Cam Wight, but I thought he looked really good in the practice match qtr 2 (on Bulldogs TV)

Could he be the answer, or will Harris lift and take the role?

[GVGjr]

I think Grant should be used there again in 2007. He is the general no doubt.

Smith was pretty good at organising things and will be missed and I think you underrate Morris's input into the teams structure. I also think Gilbee certainly has a leadership role to play in the back half despite his attacking nature. One option would be to have Monty back there. He would be very good at coaching and leading the defensive group.

One wild card for the role is Farren Ray. IMO he could hake a very good HBF and I rate him as a natural leader.

[Dry Rot]

Bloody good question, and if it's not Grant playing back I don't know.

Also begs the question who will it be post-Grant in 2008?

[bulldogtragic]

Bloody good question, and if it's not Grant playing back I don't know.

Also begs the question who will it be post-Grant in 2008?

While I am starting to believe in Wight more and more, I see him as a running player much like he played in the intraclub match always running up the ground when we had possession. Not a general per-se that stays back and calms things. Could be Harris I think. Everitt and Williams are the other two big boys, but with their pace they two would be running. Harris for me is solid, takes good marks under pressure and led the AFL in 2006 with 1%ers. He wont be the loose man like Grant was sometimes, but Harris has the attributes for mine.

[bornadog]

He wont be the loose man like Grant was sometimes, but Harris has the attributes for mine.

I agree, I think Harris needs to step up and become the backline General so to speak. Mofra hit the nail on the head, SOS confused the hell out of Harris. I don't know what it is but I have never rated Silvani. All he did was hang on to players all day and the umpires let it go, it was an absolute discrace the way he played and got away with it. There I have said it.

[Dry Rot]

IIRC, Harris has the most experience after Grant. But is he a leader? And should it be someone from the HB line?

[BulldogBelle]

I think Grant should be used there again in 2007. He is the general no doubt.

Agree with that, I always feel safe and comfortable when he patrols the defence region, although after he retires, I am still unsure who would step into Chris's role as it will be one which will be extremely difficult to fill. There is only one Chris Grant.

[Dry Rot]

Agree with that, I always feel safe and comfortable when he patrols the defence region, although after he retires, I am still unsure who would step into Chris's role as it will be one which will be extremely difficult to fill. There is only one Chris Grant.

True, but given this is his last year, who do we look to in 2008 and beyond?

[BulldogBelle]

True, but given this is his last year, who do we look to in 2008 and beyond?

Not sure DR, will have to watch intently during the season and try and figure who can make that next step and take on a role like that. Will be an interesting season.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

True, but given this is his last year, who do we look to in 2008 and beyond?

It's a narrow list;

Long term it's either Williams or Everitt. Probably looking 2009+ for them though. Leaving, for the meantime, either Harris or Wight.

Morris could be an option of some sort, but I think the "general" in a Chris Grant mould would have to be one of the bigger guys.

You'd probably have to say Harris for 2008+ with hope that Williams is able to contribute in the later stages of this year, and then more so in '08 and '09.

[LostDoggy]

It surely couldn't be Brian Harris. If he was confused by SOS (and you would have to ask him if that was the case), and has to concentrate on not being confused (playing his own game well), why would you want him now to be watching over everyone else? A leader who can tell others where to be as well as play their own game.......has to be Granty or Monty...they have the experience. And experience is a must to know the nuances of the game so you can play your own game yet be aware of what others are doing and should be doing, particularly under sustained pressure.

[Hard Ball Get]

I think it has to be Harris in the future.
He needs to find his confidence obviously but under guidence from Grant and a few others I think he could turn into a pretty good leader.

[Go_Dogs]

I could see a bloke like Wight doing it. He has a great attack on the ball, very competitive. Grant will probably play a little bit down back this year, mainly dropping back to fill holes rather than dominating at CHB. Grant can help out a lot though, getting players to focus and in the right spots.

Gilbee is another one who is really like a general down back.

Harris has the potential to do something, but he really needs to work at his concentration on confidence. He's still a vital player for us, but I thought he fell back a bit last year, which was disappointing considering how well he started the year.