Round 1, 2013 - Team

[whythelongface]

Re: Round 1, 2013 - Team

Beg to disagree. Although there are some who simply haven't had sufficient match practice to push for selection, in previous years we would have played blokes who were under-done simply on reputation. I think we have a very even list now and I have the feeling the match committe is going to make players fight for positions every week.

Agree to a point when it comes to certain positions, in particular our midfield, however there are two significant postions where we just don't have any players of significance. These being CHB and FF. In saying that we do have Williams, but unfortunately he is injured more often than not.

[whythelongface]

Re: Round 1, 2013 - Team

I can see them going with Markovich if Brisbane go tall up forward but not if Cornelius is their key forward with Brown. I really think it will be horses for courses this year and we are likely to go with a more mobile defence when we can.

As for Picken, why does he need a set position? The beauty of Liam is that can play a number of roles depending on our needs. This week is a great example as he could line up on Rich in the midfield, Hanley on the forward line or Zorko in defence.

Both good points.

CHB is a significant weakness within our team. There just isn't the quality or depth for us at the moment. Whether it is Marko, Young or someone else it will be an area we will certainly struggle in.


Picken is an interesting one with Lower now likely to play the no. 1 tagger role it certainly does free him up and, as you state, does not pencil him into any one set position. However I do like him as a forward,not necessarily due to any ability to mark and kick goals,but more for his ability to help lock the ball in our fwd 50. This is an area we seem to have worked on during the pre-season and what from what I have seen and heard, an area where we are making progress.

[Greystache]

Re: Round 1, 2013 - Team

Beg to disagree. Although there are some who simply haven't had sufficient match practice to push for selection, in previous years we would have played blokes who were under-done simply on reputation. I think we have a very even list now and I have the feeling the match committe is going to make players fight for positions every week.

Of that team I selected 13 of 22 have played less than 50 games. The list is even because by and large it's unproven. We can't even select on reputation as we have previously, we have to select on potential which is even more subjective. Of course every player will have to fight for selection, because aside from 10 or so players, the rest of the club ARE fringe players.

Even at full strength Higgins is an automatic, Williams probably is too despite having actually produced very little as a senior player, and I'd argue Wood is no automatic selection, so it's not as if we have young kids filling gaps for injured senior players.

[always right]

Re: Round 1, 2013 - Team

Of that team I selected 13 of 22 have played less than 50 games. The list is even because by and large it's unproven. We can't even select on reputation as we have previously, we have to select on potential which is even more subjective. Of course every player will have to fight for selection, because aside from 10 or so players, the rest of the club ARE fringe players.

Even at full strength Higgins is an automatic, Williams probably is too despite having actually produced very little as a senior player, and I'd argue Wood is no automatic selection, so it's not as if we have young kids filling gaps for injured senior players.

Fair points.

[Bornadog]

Re: Round 1, 2013 - Team

I think The Age has summed it up well:

PREDICTED TEAM
Morris Markovic Picken
Wood* Roughead Johannisen
Boyd Griffen Wallis
Cooney Williams* Murphy
Dickson Jones Dahlhaus
Minson Liberatore Cross
Giansiracusa Smith Higgins Stevens

On the fringes:

Nick Lower, Brett Goodes, Ayce Cordy, Dylan Addison, Christian Howard, Tom Campbell, Tom Young, Jake Stringer, Lin Jong, Jarrad Grant

Defensive midfielder Nick Lower is likely to start the season given the injuries to a couple of senior players, and he ought to be hard to budge if he holds his pre-season form. Addison is a perennial stop-gap, whole-hearted but unpolished;

Campbell could easily usurp Cordy as second ruck after an impressive first season which saw him elevated from the rookie list; mature-aged back-flanker Brett Goodes must be extremely close to a starting role after impressing in pre-season, especially with Easton Wood in doubt. Ayce Cordy looks like a ruckman trying to play as a forward. An injury to Will Minson appears his best chance to show his wares, unless he can begin clunking grabs in attack.

Markovic's position depends on whether the Dogs continue the experiment of Williams in the forward line. If Williams heads back to join Jordan Roughead, Markovic most likely moves out of the team and key forward Ayce Cordy comes in. Robust youngster Jake Stringer will excite with his attack on the ball when he gets his games.

*Injured (in doubt for the start of the season):
Easton Wood (hamstring)

[G-Mo77]

Re: Round 1, 2013 - Team

I think The Age has summed it up well:

I don't think they did. No Goodes and no Lower show they haven't followed us closely at all in the pre-season. Even if we've got a full list those guys will be playing Round 1.

The multiple * saves them slightly.

[Bornadog]

Re: Round 1, 2013 - Team

I don't think they did. No Goodes and no Lower show they haven't followed us closely at all in the pre-season. Even if we've got a full list those guys will be playing Round 1.

The multiple * saves them slightly.

Goodes does seem to be slotted for round one.

When I say nailed it, I meant the summation, but agree on Goodes, not sure about Lower.

[F'scary]

Re: Round 1, 2013 - Team

You might have nailed it mate.

Having only seen one game live, and nothing of our last two I defer to popular consensus around here (apart for F'scary's despisal for Ayce!) and it all seems pretty reasonable.

If Higgins plays well this week however, he'll definitely line up at the expense of Stevens. And Marko might be picked ahead of Young, as we may need extra height to cover for Cornelius not having as crap a game as he did in the NAB final.

With regards to Cordy playing as a forward, I thought I was in company

[G-Mo77]

Re: Round 1, 2013 - Team

Goodes does seem to be slotted for round one.

When I say nailed it, I meant the summation, but agree on Goodes, not sure about Lower.

I'm pretty sure about Lower. He's done everything asked of him in the pre-season so I don't see any reason why they would leave him out.

I see both he and Goodes as players who are setting the bar, it's up to the fringe players to get to that level and push them out. If not then a few will be saying goodbye at the end of season. I want to get games into the kids but I don't want them to get a free ride either.

[Greystache]

Re: Round 1, 2013 - Team

Goodes does seem to be slotted for round one.

When I say nailed it, I meant the summation, but agree on Goodes, not sure about Lower.

I think Lower's a lock, because he can play a shut down role and he frees up Picken to play a more influential role. He probably adds more than the sum of his parts to a degree.

[jeemak]

Re: Round 1, 2013 - Team

With regards to Cordy playing as a forward, I thought I was in company

Not in company with me, my tinned friend.

The only way he'll improve as a forward is if he plays as a forward. He needs to show improvement, sure.

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: Round 1, 2013 - Team

Goodes does seem to be slotted for round one.

When I say nailed it, I meant the summation, but agree on Goodes, not sure about Lower.

Without any doubt Lower is locked in for round 1.

His effort against Cotchin simply could not be overlooked and he will start as the main tagger.

Brett Goodes is also a near certainty, while Stevens is right in the mix.

Those changes with 3 more mature bodies improves the whole team over where we finished 2012.

[Bornadog]

Re: Round 1, 2013 - Team

Without any doubt Lower is locked in for round 1.

His effort against Cotchin simply could not be overlooked and he will start as the main tagger.

Brett Goodes is also a near certainty, while Stevens is right in the mix.

Those changes with 3 more mature bodies improves the whole team over where we finished 2012.

I wasn't doubting Lower, just genuinely wasn't sure how he is progressing with us.

I think we are looking like a competitive outfit. Still worried about CHB and CHF and think Williams if fit should be CHB. Its a very important role in modern football as all the attack starts from the backline.

[Nuggety Back Pocket]

Re: Round 1, 2013 - Team

I'll take a punt.

Backs
B: Goodes, Roughead, Morris
HB: Lower, Young, JJ

I think they'll take Young. We need a bit more height down there but need a bit of versatility. Is Marko a better matchup for Brown? Does Roughy take him?

Midfield
C: Griffen, Boyd, Wallis
R: Minson, Cooney, Liberatore

They pick themselves. It's been pretty similar for a long time now, doubt they'll change it.

Forwards
HF: Murphy, Jones, Picken
F: Dickson, Cordy, Dahlhaus

Jones and Cordy will play together IMO. Cordy is needed to just spot Minson some minutes. I like Picken as a forward tagger. Not sure on how the Lions will line up but Adcock seems to run around without a man a lot.

Interchange
Int: Gia, Cross, Smith, Stevens/Higgins

A lot depends on health for that last spot. Young's I'm unsure on so we could possibly go in light down back and play both Stevens and Higgins.

Have I missed anyone?

I was very close to your line up apart from having Wood in for Wallis and Campbell instead of Cordy. I would think that Roughy is our best option to take Brown. I didn't consider Williams, Higgins and Stringer because of their interrupted pre-seasons. I would be happy to see Picken and Lower alternating as taggers. Lower has been terrific against both Mitchell and Cotchin and may well be used on Rich. Murphy going forward is good and similarly I can see Cooney spending more time across half forward. I am looking forward to seeing Goodes, Lower, Stevens and Young debuting in the red white and blue.
Expecting improvement in Liberatore Smith and Johannisen.

[Bornadog]

Re: Round 1, 2013 - Team

I was very close to your line up apart from having Wood in for Wallis and Campbell instead of Cordy. I would think that Roughy is our best option to take Brown. I didn't consider Williams, Higgins and Stringer because of their interrupted pre-seasons. I would be happy to see Picken and Lower alternating as taggers. Lower has been terrific against both Mitchell and Cotchin and may well be used on Rich. Murphy going forward is good and similarly I can see Cooney spending more time across half forward. I am looking forward to seeing Goodes, Lower, Stevens and Young debuting in the red white and blue.
Expecting improvement in Liberatore Smith and Johannisen.

You think Young will line up for the first round?