The key to success in 3 to 5 years, our back line.

[1eyedog]

Re: The key to success in 3 to 5 years, our back line.

A player from another club has already committed. If it comes off, it will be the biggest recruiting coup in our history.

Bigger than Allen Jakovich? I don't believe you!

Seriously, it is mean to state that then log out, cruel really...

[1eyedog]

Re: The key to success in 3 to 5 years, our back line.

I've just been looking at the main two teams I see as potential challengers in 3 or 4 years. It's debatable, but I'm looking at Melbourne and GWS in particular if the rabble they are start getting things on track. Assuming their forward lines stay similar, they both are going to have massive and very, very highly talented forwards.

Melb: Dawes, Fitzpatrick, Hogan, Watts, and some good smaller types like Howes etc.

GWS: Boyd, Cameron, Patton, Jacksch, and some good smaller types, etc.

(EDIT: Sydney ??: Buddy, Tippett, Reid, Membrey)

It's one thing to have a manic midfield to stop the ball from entering their forward lines, it's another thing about strategising on how to combat teams with 4 x first round tall forwards.

At this point, I'm sticking with Roughy at fullback. I'm a big fan of Talia, but I see him like Hargy that a smaller opponent he can run off would be a better suit. Morris will be gone unfortunately, so we need 2 taller types.

3rd Tall Player:

Young vs Watts/Patton: I'm not overly keen on this
Williams vs Watts/Patton: if he could be relied upon, yes for me, but he seems to be favoured forward and perennially injured

4th Tall Player:

Redpath vs Fitzpatrick/Jacksch: I have no confidence in this at this stage
Roberts vs Fitzpatrick/Jacksch: this year will tell us


So following on from this, IMO we need to draft a talented backman highly if possible and appropriate, trade in a backman,find a FA or find someone else on the list. If you're still with me thanks, I'll get to the question, which is, if Jones by years end hasn't turned his freakish talent into a decent goal tally, do we move him into a CHB?

The boy can take a contested grab and opposition teams work him hard, but I'm still never confident in his goal kicking and he still seems to run under the ball a big too much for mine. I've always been a massive fan, but I think he hasn't reached his potential, and so the question goes coukd moving him back assist in facilitating this? It's not as easy as just moving him back, but it seems in the next few years we might need to find another tall backman as the trend I'm guessing by these two teams stockpiling first round big forwards might be to stretch, out muscle oppositions of have hard running talls (ie what Cameron might be like) as the primary goal scoring set up.

How do we prepare today for this? (Just realised I've left Sydney off this list too, as Membrey could be anything) I'm not suggesting any urgency, rather how we would of could plot things going forward with lists like those above possibly all competing with us?

I can't see Melbourne having the midfield to challenge us in 3 years - certainly not the midfield depth to even get the ball into their forward line often enough to be honest. As for GWS they will have 7-8 great players but they will have so many holes in their list in 3-4 years that they will not be in position to challenge for a flag unless they bring in the right (and a heap of) very good established players.

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: The key to success in 3 to 5 years, our back line.

You raise a good point BT and we always need to be assessing where we are heading.

On Jones, I really have doubts about him in the back half. It is clear that he lacks aerobic capacity and that is very limiting. He just could not cover the repeated leads of a Riewoldt type key forward.

Jones does need to show his worth this year or his AFL future may be limited.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

Re: The key to success in 3 to 5 years, our back line.

A player from another club has already committed. If it comes off, it will be the biggest recruiting coup in our history.

Bigger than Barry Hall or Akermanis, wow You've got me excited, You've never let me down yet. Frawley would be awesome but anybody you rate would address the problem identified in this thread

[The Underdog]

Re: The key to success in 3 to 5 years, our back line.

My real concern currently is our inability to cover quick small forwards. Goodes is too slow, not convinced Picken is capable against the real top line smalls, JJ has the pace but seems to not quite be there defensively (possibly his only defect, otherwise he's perfect). Morris has probably dropped enough speed to not quite be able to cover this like he used too. Maybe Darley or Fuller will get there but it's a hole at the moment. Agree we need a 3rd tall but have belief in the development of Talia & Roughead. Also wouldn't completely discount Austin.
Oh and nice hand grenade Twodogs

[wimberga]

Re: The key to success in 3 to 5 years, our back line.

in relation to potential recruits, please god let it be Tex Walker.

I know we need backline...but please!

[The Underdog]

Re: The key to success in 3 to 5 years, our back line.

I just hope it's a free agent & not someone we have to give up picks for.

[1eyedog]

Re: The key to success in 3 to 5 years, our back line.

in relation to potential recruits, please god let it be Tex Walker.

I know we need backline...but please!

Imagine Tex in the goalsquare, oh my!

[bulldogtragic]

Re: The key to success in 3 to 5 years, our back line.

Imagine Tex in the goalsquare, oh my!

I thought Tex was resigned for a long time last year??

Curse you TD, this is a monster hijack!

[Bornadog]

Re: The key to success in 3 to 5 years, our back line.

Bigger than Barry Hall or Akermanis, wow You've got me excited, You've never let me down yet. Frawley would be awesome but anybody you rate would address the problem identified in this thread

Bigger than Andrew Wills

[boydogs]

Re: The key to success in 3 to 5 years, our back line.

My real concern currently is our inability to cover quick small forwards. Goodes is too slow, not convinced Picken is capable against the real top line smalls, JJ has the pace but seems to not quite be there defensively (possibly his only defect, otherwise he's perfect). Morris has probably dropped enough speed to not quite be able to cover this like he used too. Maybe Darley or Fuller will get there but it's a hole at the moment. Agree we need a 3rd tall but have belief in the development of Talia & Roughead. Also wouldn't completely discount Austin.

I agree, JJ is our Harbrow replacement, both can be beaten 1 on 1 by the Eddie Betts' and Cyril Rioli's of the world.

A player from another club has already committed. If it comes off, it will be the biggest recruiting coup in our history.

Wow, that's a hell of a call. It would have to be one of the league's best to outrank Hall, Aker & Crameri. Are you worried you're giving too much away here, and releasing this info could affect whether it goes ahead?

My money is on Daniel Talia joining his brother.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: The key to success in 3 to 5 years, our back line.

My money is on Daniel Talia joining his brother.

Didn't he re-sign recently?

I would cry with joy if we landed Daniel Talia.

[Bornadog]

Re: The key to success in 3 to 5 years, our back line.

Didn't he re-sign recently?

I would cry with joy if we landed Daniel Talia.

3 year extension last year

http://www.news.com.au/national/daniel-talia-agrees-to-three-year-contract-extension-with-the-adeliade-crows/story-e6frfkp9-1226596122871

[jazzadogs]

Re: The key to success in 3 to 5 years, our back line.

Ben Reid is my pick for the cryptic commitment.

As for the actual thread topic, I don't mind the idea of looking for free agents to top up in areas of need once you hit the premiership window. If this team builds as we all hope it will, we will be a much more attractive option to opposition defenders looking to play finals. We have a number of young talls on the list at the moment, and I think the club is doing the right thing by giving them time to develop.

[1eyedog]

Re: The key to success in 3 to 5 years, our back line.

Originally posted by bulldogtragic

I thought Tex was resigned for a long time last year??

yeah he did - just a dream.