2023 List Management Thread

[SquirrelGrip]

Re: 2023 List Management Thread

Our midsized and lockdown defenders are also a concern; I'm a huge Duyrea fan and have been since day one but we really need Cleary or Gallagher to push him out by seasons end. It is a shame that Khamas and Raak lack that bit of pace to become a mid size lockdown defender.

The development of Richards over the past two years has been remarkable and his ability to blend defense and attack is quite impressive. Ironically we did try and make him a wingman after his breakout year as a HB flanker (pre 2022).

How do we fix it? I would not spend up big on a free agent or use a top 30 draft pick on a key defender. Clubs like Adelaide and GWS have shown repeatedly you can find meat and potato talls in the pick 30's and beyond. For our key defenders I would be heavily scouting the state league comps. Ideally we have a key defender circled and highlighted for the upcoming midseason draft and monitoring 1 or 2 more.
Mid sized defenders who can lock down should be an easier find and put a strategy in place to select them via the national draft.

I think we will start to move Laith into a defensive role, providing the speed and attack we need out of the back end. Like Ed Richards, we was drafted with that in mind, and like Ed has been tried in a number of other roles. We'll see the best of Laith once he has a proper role in defence.

Our target with drafting should then be identifying genuine small forwards. We did so with Cody, then with Charlie Clarke ()obviously it's early days), but we are heading in the right direction.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2023 List Management Thread

Time to have a look at our midfield.

Talls - English, Sweet, Bontempelli and Macrae
Mid sized - Treloar, B.Smith, Baker, West, McLean*, Liberatore, Bedendo, McComb, Scott, Williams*, R.Smith and Garcia*
* Versatile players who can be used in other positions. It doesn't mean that players like B.Smith wont start forward but is classed primarily as a midfielder.

That's 16 players on the list primarily allocated to the midfield which seems at least one player light on.

As with the defenders the age and injury profile of some of the players could be a challenge.

Quite a few players are coming out of contract and a few players have seem to have plateaued in their development in particular West and McLean. On my assessment we are also still missing another ruck option. Signing Williams needs to be our next focus.
Getting replacements in or sufficiently developed over the short term for Liberatore and Treloar needs to be a priority.

I'd suggest that players under the microscope to be retained include West, McLean, R.Smith, McComb and Bedendo. Bedendo's you age might mean he is viewed more favorably. Garcia might also be in the mix as he has just not quite grasped his chances and we have been patient with him in his development.

I would say R.Smith, McComb and one of either West or McLean should be likely departures at the end of the season.

[soupman]

Re: 2023 List Management Thread

I would say R.Smith, McComb and one of either West or McLean should be likely departures at the end of the season.

Why not both.

Based on current form West is no where near it, and Mclean is not able to contribute. I guess Wests two year contract is the biggest obstacle to this.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2023 List Management Thread

Why not both.

Based on current form West is no where near it, and Mclean is not able to contribute. I guess Wests two year contract is the biggest obstacle to this.

That's wouldn't bother me too much at all but we tend to be conservative. It's an early call with a lot more of the season to play out and if we finish the season strongly then it will be minimal changes but if we finish poorly perhaps that number climbs a bit.

[FrediKanoute]

Re: 2023 List Management Thread

Think part of the conundrum with West is if you want to play him on the ball then how do you play him on the ball. He should be playing the LIbba role, but isn't quite good enough too. If Libba finishes up at the end of next season we have a massive hole to fill that a young mid is not going to be able to fill - West needs game time in the middle at a senior level.

Its almost a shame you can't "loan" him out to say a North or a WCE for experience

[GVGjr]

Re: 2023 List Management Thread

Think part of the conundrum with West is if you want to play him on the ball then how do you play him on the ball. He should be playing the LIbba role, but isn't quite good enough too. If Libba finishes up at the end of next season we have a massive hole to fill that a young mid is not going to be able to fill - West needs game time in the middle at a senior level.

Its almost a shame you can't "loan" him out to say a North or a WCE for experience

That's a good call. Based on what we have seen so hard to see what position he can fill for us. He's not been effective as a forward rotating through the middle and when used in a more midfield role he's been average at best. West is a good tackler.
West's got the balance of the season to get a few things right and save his spot and has competition from McLean and Garcia as an alternate midfielder.

[Mofra]

Re: 2023 List Management Thread

That's a good call. Based on what we have seen so hard to see what position he can fill for us. He's not been effective as a forward rotating through the middle and when used in a more midfield role he's been average at best. West is a good tackler.
West's got the balance of the season to get a few things right and save his spot and has competition from McLean and Garcia as an alternate midfielder.

West's best chance is as a pure tagger to develop midfield minutes... but we need rarely employ a pure tagger

[Bornadog]

Re: 2023 List Management Thread

West's best chance is as a pure tagger to develop midfield minutes... but we need really employ a pure tagger

As a midfielder you need to have the ability to find the ball. West is currently struggling at VFL level, let alone AFL. Not sure what has happened to him this year?

[FrediKanoute]

Re: 2023 List Management Thread

As a midfielder you need to have the ability to find the ball. West is currently struggling at VFL level, let alone AFL. Not sure what has happened to him this year?

Interesting he wrap this week on him was positive:

Rhylee West
18 disposals, four marks, five tackles, six clearances, one goal

Rhylee impacted the game effectively on Saturday, laying an equal game-high five tackles to go with six clearances and 18 disposals. He also hit the scoreboard for the consecutive week too.

[azabob]

Re: 2023 List Management Thread

Interesting he wrap this week on him was positive:

Rhylee West
18 disposals, four marks, five tackles, six clearances, one goal

Rhylee impacted the game effectively on Saturday, laying an equal game-high five tackles to go with six clearances and 18 disposals. He also hit the scoreboard for the consecutive week too.

18 disposals in the VFL? Doesn't exactly scream domination. West has been very disappointing this year and hasn't been able to grasp his chances.

[Mofra]

Re: 2023 List Management Thread

18 disposals in the VFL? Doesn't exactly scream domination. West has been very disappointing this year and hasn't been able to grasp his chances.

Does accumulation = effectiveness?
I think it depends on what his role in the contest was

[Bornadog]

Re: 2023 List Management Thread

Does accumulation = effectiveness?
I think it depends on what his role in the contest was

You would expect a midfielder to accumulate a lot more than 18 disposals. I have seen all the VFL games this year, some live, and he certainly hasn't made a huge impact on the games.

[azabob]

Re: 2023 List Management Thread

Does accumulation = effectiveness?
I think it depends on what his role in the contest was

No it doesn't. Do you rate West 2023 season so far?

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: 2023 List Management Thread

Serious question - if his last name wasn't West, would he even be on the list?

Aside from a small stretch of games last year, he's never really shown an ability to play at the top level.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2023 List Management Thread

Serious question - if his last name wasn't West, would he even be on the list?

Aside from a small stretch of games last year, he's never really shown an ability to play at the top level.

It's a fair question but I think he possibly would have been retained for this long with injuries and potential considerations.
Having said that, it's very hard to justify keeping him on unless he finishes this season strongly.
Has he become a Mitch Wallis in the eyes of the match committee now?