Great Challenges = Great Opportunity

[mjp]

Let's use JOD and Croft as the examples here. I too can't imagine they will have dominant Richo/Riewoldt seasons. But if they have the defensive running ability to cover back and intercept mark, then potentially they provide something to the team that we don't have. It's going to be a more defensive role than Riewoldt/Richardson.

...and that's fine but it's also where I get frustrated. Rolling in examples like Nick Riewoldt - one of the top 5 players (??) of this century - as evidence of why we should try something with an 18yo 200cm + junior key forward who has already spent time as a key back - like, it's just not close to the same thing. If you want him as a defensive interceptor who starts on the wing, well - Williams is by far best positioned to move his game to that role (he's good overhead, reads it well, knows the role) whereas trying to teach a kid a new position PLUS ask him to play it as an interceptor where he's rolling off his oppo etc? If we'd asked Bont to do that as a 19yo he prob would have failed...

...at this time of year I'm happy that we are trying a few things to see how they play out.

I agree with this...don't understand why we're messing with Croft in a role he's not going to play but yep, throw stuff in the air and see what sticks.

[Smads57]

Croft to me played an outside role because he is playing a non contact role (I am guessing) at this stage after he recovers from last years injuries.

Re Croft on the wing, I agree with BAD's assessment above and with G's statement that 'the Croft on a wing effort might have been more to do with getting some extra running into his match-sim session'.

He's just being given a licence to 'run' at the moment and with his physical build at present, that's not a bad thing.