Could we be the new Brisbane….?

[Mofra]

Re: Could we be the new Brisbane….?

Gia has the same issues which you failed to mention.

I'd agree Gia needs to improve, although I don't think he is as bad as Johnno or Hahn - it gets less of a mention in anycase.

How does that change Jones' standing in the team?

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Could we be the new Brisbane….?

I'm not so sure - people are already talking about Collingwood's "swarm" which is the way players run, chase, and harass the opposition ball carrier, shutting down their space.
We still talk about Johnno's propensity not to chase hard, and Hahn's inability to chase due to pace issues. Pressuring the opposition defenders in the attacking 50 is the new black in AFL circles and is an important father in Jones' bow.

No-one cared when he was winning best & fairests.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Could we be the new Brisbane….?

If you have a young midfield you will probably get smashed. However ours is mature. Happy to bring kids into a dis-functional forward line at best. Top 4 is a consequence of doing the right things and building the team. It will happen if make the right decisions.

Absolutely we need to keep pumping games into kids, but if we lose 8 mature bodies - which is a very good chance of happening - before we have any injuries at all, we would have to play at least 4 first or second year players every week. Half a dozen injuries and nearly half the side would be kids.

[Mofra]

Re: Could we be the new Brisbane….?

No-one cared when he was winning best & fairests.

In fairness, rebound defence wasn't as big a part of the game as it was now, and as the no 1 forward the defender was less likely to run off.

[Mofra]

Re: Could we be the new Brisbane….?

Absolutely we need to keep pumping games into kids, but if we lose 8 mature bodies - which is a very good chance of happening - before we have any injuries at all, we would have to play at least 4 first or second year players every week. Half a dozen injuries and nearly half the side would be kids.

Yep, that's what killed Freo later in the season.

Our younger guys tend to have a year or two longer in the system which may help us a little.

Wood, Roughy, Jones, Ward, DFA and Reid will push for gametime and all have a decent amount of bulk on them (especially after another pre-season). Hooper's not too skinny either.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Could we be the new Brisbane….?

Yep, that's what killed Freo later in the season.

Our younger guys tend to have a year or two longer in the system which may help us a little.

Wood, Roughy, Jones, Ward, DFA and Reid will push for gametime and all have a decent amount of bulk on them (especially after another pre-season). Hooper's not too skinny either.

Wood, Roughead and Reid have all had shoulder problems. Jones will be barely out of his teens and has played 5(?) games. Grant weights about as much as one of my legs.

I expect them all to play most games next year regardless of injuries or not, it's the next group I'm worried about.

If we get injuries, Hooper, Wallis, Liberatore, Howard, Tutt and Cordy could all end up playing half a season each. I can hear people saying this is a good thing already, but if we try and play too many of them at once we will get monstered.

[Mofra]

Re: Could we be the new Brisbane….?

If we get injuries, Hooper, Wallis, Liberatore, Howard, Tutt and Cordy could all end up playing half a season each. I can hear people saying this is a good thing already, but if we try and play too many of them at once we will get monstered.

True - I'd be more worried if we asked them to play for long periods of the season. Kids tend to get worn out/fatigued which makes them more injury prone when they are playing at the highest level when not physically ready.
Given we rested Grant later in the season, hopefully the MC take the same approach with the younger guys and rest them if needed.

[Desipura]

Re: Could we be the new Brisbane….?

That couldn't be further from the truth Gia averages almost 4 tackles a game, which is more than Cooney and Griffen who play in the midfield. The only problem Gia has with his defensive efforts is that he runs about as fast as I do.


On the OP: I didn't read anything about our club being linked to any of those players you mentioned apart from Sherman. Most of those players have instead been suggested by overzealous supporters wanting to trade coal for coal and thinking they'll end up with diamonds. Seriously we do this every year, only this year the players being suggested are just as inept but shorter and faster (thanks to the development of Grant and Jones).

Yes it could, I am referring to Gia's lack of pace. Hahn was mentioned but Gia was not.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Could we be the new Brisbane….?

That couldn't be further from the truth Gia averages almost 4 tackles a game, which is more than Cooney and Griffen who play in the midfield. The only problem Gia has with his defensive efforts is that he runs about as fast as I do.


On the OP: I didn't read anything about our club being linked to any of those players you mentioned apart from Sherman. Most of those players have instead been suggested by overzealous supporters wanting to trade coal for coal and thinking they'll end up with diamonds. Seriously we do this every year, only this year the players being suggested are just as inept but shorter and faster (thanks to the development of Grant and Jones).

Gia is a great tackler. Maybe he can join with Hill and run some clinics.

[mjp]

Re: Could we be the new Brisbane….?

...before we have any injuries at all, we would have to play at least 4 first or second year players every week. Half a dozen injuries and nearly half the side would be kids.

Which is why the 2009 draft was such a disaster.

Howard had better turn out to be an a-grader...he had just better.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Could we be the new Brisbane….?

I think we should be conservative again during trade week, as it's not really our talent that's the problem — it's their mental application and game style that needs some serious pre-season overhauling.

If we trade, I want us to trade for pace. Farren Ray has shown that a fast player with poor decision making can be useful as long as they're coached right.

[Desipura]

Re: Could we be the new Brisbane….?

Farren Ray is not quick. We need to top our list with established players given the experience that has retired. I would be pissed off if we do not pick up at least a few players next week. A goalsneak and an onballer.

[Nuggety Back Pocket]

Re: Could we be the new Brisbane….?

Yep, that's what killed Freo later in the season.

Our younger guys tend to have a year or two longer in the system which may help us a little.

Wood, Roughy, Jones, Ward, DFA and Reid will push for gametime and all have a decent amount of bulk on them (especially after another pre-season). Hooper's not too skinny either.

Collingwood and St. Kilda now lead the way in committed relentless type team football.
We need to get a lot better in this area and that is why younger players like Grant, Jones, Wood, Roughead,Ward, Wallis and Liberatore become so important to our future.
Cross and Picken lead the way in their ferocity as does Hudson but this needs to become wider spread throughout the team. Our lack of depth proved costly in 2010 and combined with ageing and tired bodies, we probably were fortunate to finish top 4.
Harbrow will be a big loss as he was one of our few really consistent performers throughout the year. Walker providing he is over his injuries would be a good pick up at age 24, giving him a 4 year advantage over the likes of Gilbee and Hargrave in age.