How do we cover Lakes absence down back?

[chef]

Lake needs to play forward(or we need to play another tall forward) IMO if we are going to have a shot a the flag, but this leaves a gaping hole in our defence. Are we able to fill this?

[Mofra]

Re: How do we cover Lakes absence down back?

No disrespect to Hahn, but I'm not sure he's a long term option down there. If he is persisted with, Markovic must be thinking he is a real chance for a debut at some stage.

Between Morris & Williams, the one extra tall we bring in should be able to cover Lake's absence.

[chef]

Re: How do we cover Lakes absence down back?

No disrespect to Hahn, but I'm not sure he's a long term option down there. If he is persisted with, Markovic must be thinking he is a real chance for a debut at some stage.

Between Morris & Williams, the one extra tall we bring in should be able to cover Lake's absence.

Maybe Everitt and Boumann are options too.

[lemmon]

Re: How do we cover Lakes absence down back?

He's an All Australian full back, moving him up forward would not only be robbing Peter but siphoning out his bank account. It has been glaringly obvious playing a second tall forward would be favorable so I'd rather see Jones be blooded or Minson/Hudson rest up there.

[LostDoggy]

Re: How do we cover Lakes absence down back?

Could actually have a few options, if they wanted to go down the Lake up forward move.

Everitt is definitely tall enough to play down back, has built up his strength & body over the last couple of seasons. Has the speed to keep up with the quick forwards and could provide plenty of run from the back half for us, hurting the opposition on the rebound.

Tiller, a small option to Everitt & Lake but could hold his own. If fit i think he can definitely force his way into the team, proved to be a good defender in the finals a couple of seasons back.

Markovic would be a massive long shot, just in my opinion.

[GVGjr]

Re: How do we cover Lakes absence down back?

Markovic would be a massive long shot, just in my opinion.

Especially since he hasn't played for a number of weeks.

[Rocco Jones]

Re: How do we cover Lakes absence down back?

We play Brisbane and are already top heavy.

[The Pie Man]

Re: How do we cover Lakes absence down back?

He's an All Australian full back, moving him up forward would not only be robbing Peter but siphoning out his bank account. It has been glaringly obvious playing a second tall forward would be favorable so I'd rather see Jones be blooded or Minson/Hudson rest up there.

I get the above point, and suspect the vast majority on WOOF will agree as well...and no doubt the MC will as well, and we'll see Lake at FB next week.

One thing I'll say to counter is that every time Brian goes forward he looks great there - we all think Jones will one day make a decent forward option, but having played no senior footy, he could be the next Tim Walsh...we just don't know.

What we do know is that Brian takes marks and kicks goals when played forward. I also thought the Lake/Hall partnership looked very promising.

Especially with the Brown/Fevola duel next week, I imagine Brian will be in the back half next week, and that makes complete sense. Hargrave might be ready to come back to push Williams onto Brown, but Williams on Brown.......

[Jasper]

Re: How do we cover Lakes absence down back?

At best Lake forward is short term option until Murphy and in particular Johnson get back, but it won't happen against Brisbane. Next week don't see Lake leaving Brown too much, although hopefully he gets a breather and doesn't get blown up by Brown like last time.

Lake is the most irreplaceable player at the club, closely followed by Hall. So I don't see anyone replacing Lakey at FB. Hopefully the forward line can sharpen up with Johnno, Murphy and a fit Higgins....and pea-hearted forward line players don't get a game anymore.

[chef]

Re: How do we cover Lakes absence down back?

At best Lake forward is short term option until Murphy and in particular Johnson get back, but it won't happen against Brisbane. Next week don't see Lake leaving Brown too much, although hopefully he gets a breather and doesn't get blown up by Brown like last time.

Lake is the most irreplaceable player at the club, closely followed by Hall. So I don't see anyone replacing Lakey at FB. Hopefully the forward line can sharpen up with Johnno, Murphy and a fit Higgins....and pea-hearted forward line players don't get a game anymore.

Not unless we are getting flogged again.

[mjp]

Re: How do we cover Lakes absence down back?

So, when Hawthorn beat us in the 2008 finals we needed MORE big defenders and the development of Williams would see us win the flag. Then when St Kilda beat us in the 2009 prelim it was all about our lack of a power forward that cost us - the recruitment of Hall would see us win the flag.

Somehow, we now have both Williams settled in and Hall kicking goals, yet we are further away from a flag than at any time in the last two years...

Is anyone else tired of us playing game-plan catch up? Can't we try and set a trend rather than continually react to a perceived problem? Moving deck-chairs around is not the answer - attack on the footy, willingness to run with the ball and a preparedness to work to provide a target for a team-mate.

Stuff positional changes - get back to playing bulldogs footy.

[Mofra]

Re: How do we cover Lakes absence down back?

Somehow, we now have both Williams settled in and Hall kicking goals, yet we are further away from a flag than at any time in the last two years...

Johnson
Murphy
Akermanis
Higgins

4 of our 6 best forwards from last year are out or were playing injured today - I can't think of any team that could lose that much firepower and not have it effect their gamestyle.

I think taking Mooney, Hawkins, Johnson and Chapman out of the Geelong side would radically change the way they play, ditto Roo, Kosi, Milne & Schneider out of the Saints.

I think we are only playing catch-up at the moment because of the personnel changes that have occurred. Yes some of the above mentioned players are 30+, but one fit fortnight of any of the 4 would have gotten us over the line in the last two weeks IMO.

[Jasper]

Re: How do we cover Lakes absence down back?

I think we are only playing catch-up at the moment because of the personnel changes that have occurred. Yes some of the above mentioned players are 30+, but one fit fortnight of any of the 4 would have gotten us over the line in the last two weeks IMO.

If we couldn't predict that:

Murphy would injure his knee - when its happened every year for the since he broke it
Johnson, Hall and Aker (and Eagle) some or all would break down then we have been kidding ourselves.

Most people who watched the increae in game speed and looked at our list could see were short a short fast forward. The aging/broken legs of these forwards could not be relied upon.

Yes we have been a little unlucky with players like Higgins and Ward injured whose mid rotations could have freed up more creative mids to play forward...but ah what can you say, if we are playing Stack then we are up shit street.

[mjp]

Re: How do we cover Lakes absence down back?

Johnson
Murphy
Akermanis
Higgins

Great. Anything about the form of ANY of those guys so far this year convince you they are the same player as in 2009?

[Mofra]

Re: How do we cover Lakes absence down back?

Great. Anything about the form of ANY of those guys so far this year convince you they are the same player as in 2009?

Strange as it sounds, Johnson still has his ability to find the football which means he could be useful in the 2nd half of the season.

I take your point on the others - Higgins especially, they simply can't be effective players whilst carrying niggles.