Our defence

[LostDoggy]

Re: Our defence

I think its been already mentioned here but I think whats improved our backline more than anything is the flexibility of being able to play Morris and Hargrave on opposition players there size or smaller.

I thought we were weak in covering for small forwards but both Morris and Hargrave can do the job there well.

Both Schnieder and Milne hardly got a sniff this week.

[Mantis]

Re: Our defence

I think its been already mentioned here but I think whats improved our backline more than anything is the flexibility of being able to play Morris and Hargrave on opposition players there size or smaller.

I thought we were weak in covering for small forwards but both Morris and Hargrave can do the job there well.

Both Schnieder and Milne hardly got a sniff this week.

But we learnt once again on the weekend that he can't pick up a tall. He slaughtered Milne, but when the Saints went tall and Shaggy had to pick up a tall he get's worried and gives away un-warranted free kicks.

[Topdog]

Re: Our defence

But we never "had" to put him there. I believe at that time we were still trailing Williams up forward.

[Bornadog]

Re: Our defence

But we learnt once again on the weekend that he can't pick up a tall. He slaughtered Milne, but when the Saints went tall and Shaggy had to pick up a tall he get's worried and gives away un-warranted free kicks.

What you forget is that Hargrave is only 190cm and doesn't weight much. In the past he has had to conceed 3 to 4 cm and also kilos to his opposition.

[Mantis]

Re: Our defence

What you forget is that Hargrave is only 190cm and doesn't weight much. In the past he has had to conceed 3 to 4 cm and also kilos to his opposition.

And that's fine. Hargrave when played on a suitable opponent has an excellent track record. When he play's on an unsuitable opponent (height and especially weight) he struggles.

I am more than happy for him to play as a 'small' defender, not so happy when he has to concede height or weight.

[Missing-Dog]

Re: Our defence

And that's fine. Hargrave when played on a suitable opponent has an excellent track record. When he play's on an unsuitable opponent (height and especially weight) he struggles.

I am more than happy for him to play as a 'small' defender, not so happy when he has to concede height or weight.

Shaggy had to concede height and weight for the first 80 - 100 games of his career and held his own. He would be one of my first picked every week. Just a great competitor and can kick goals when he sneaks forward. Doesn't mind a bit of biffo either, just ask Heath Black.

[wimberga]

Re: Our defence

Shaggy balances up the defence imo

Williams Morris and Lake can all take talls, with Everitt and Tiller suitable options for a 4th tall. Gilbee, although known and respected for his run out of defence, i believe, actually does quite a good job as a defender aswell. Gilbs Lake and Shaggy can all get up the ground a bit and rebound, which especially helpful in recent times as gilbee is getting tagged more and more. Ideally i dont think Shaggy is a defender, but then it was the same with Griffen, and he brings more to the table than just defending. Yes he can give away cheap free kicks on an oversized opponent, but he is a good user of the ball, runs off his opponent for the most part and when matched up on someone his own size does a very serviceable job.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Our defence

Originally Posted by Mantis
And that's fine. Hargrave when played on a suitable opponent has an excellent track record. When he play's on an unsuitable opponent (height and especially weight) he struggles.

Well he is better than say Mcdougall and Wight at picking up a tall forward and they are taller.

[Mantis]

Re: Our defence

Well he is better than say Mcdougall and Wight at picking up a tall forward and they are taller.

Is he?

McDougall played 3 or 4 games late last year as our 3rd tall defender and acquitted himself quite well. He got touched up by Lucas in a pre-season game this year and hasn't had a look in since.

If I had the choice to play Hargrave or McDougall on someone taller than 6'4" in a pure defensive role I would choose McDougall every time.

[Bornadog]

Re: Our defence

Is he?

McDougall played 3 or 4 games late last year as our 3rd tall defender and acquitted himself quite well. He got touched up by Lucas in a pre-season game this year and hasn't had a look in since.

If I had the choice to play Hargrave or McDougall on someone taller than 6'4" in a pure defensive role I would choose McDougall every time.

agree

[LostDoggy]

Re: Our defence

Hargrave is 10x better than McDougall. If McDougall was better at taking a tall then he would have played already, its not like we didn't need him.
Hargrave has played for years on blokes taller than him. And done very well(eg Riewoldt, Franklin and otehrs). He is no EJ but better than McDougall's 4 games when we were collectively were terrible.
I know one will stay on the list.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Our defence

If I had the choice to play Hargrave or McDougall on someone taller than 6'4" in a pure defensive role I would choose McDougall every time.

Yet he hasn't. I bet Hargarve has played on forwards that size this season.

[Mantis]

Re: Our defence

Hargrave is 10x better than McDougall. If McDougall was better at taking a tall then he would have played already, its not like we didn't need him.
Hargrave has played for years on blokes taller than him. And done very well(eg Riewoldt, Franklin and otehrs). He is no EJ but better than McDougall's 4 games when we were collectively were terrible.
I know one will stay on the list.

When Wight was playing that role at the start of this year McDougall was out injured with a bad back. I'm sure that if he was fit there would have been far greater pressure on Wight to hold his spot.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Our defence

When Wight was playing that role at the start of this year McDougall was out injured with a bad back. I'm sure that if he was fit there would have been far greater pressure on Wight to hold his spot.

McDougall still played a number of games for Williamstown this season.
Eade played Wight, Williams and Hargrave in the same side why not McDougall before Williams came back?

If he was better than Hargrave at taking a tall then he would have played. He might have on Hargrave for height but Hargrave craps on on him for approach, hardness, dedication and a number of other positives.