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Western Bulldogs Football Club "Where it's cool to drool" -
Re: 2023 List Management Thread
In another thread (link), mjp wrote
No disagreement here. But where do these lockdown defenders come from? I don’t see any of these types in the development pathways. Are they rookie picks - guys who just work hard and may have flaws in their game but extreme effort and determination gets them in (e.g. Dale Morris)? Are they players who need to change the way they play so they can stay in the system (e.g. Libba snr)?We need:
- A lock down defender to replace Duryea NOW.
I feel there’s a big gap in the league for good players in this role. Who are the best half dozen across the AFL?
I’d have thought the criteria we are looking for are:
- pace, including acceleration, to keep up with the pests
- ability to concentrate for long periods and put team first
- aerial ability for spoiling
- good bodywork to go one on one
Do we have anyone on our list with these attributes? I think Duryea had them all but is obviously close to the end.
Maybe Laith, but not sure of his aerial ability nor concentration for 120min. Maybe Baker but not sure about his ability to go one on one. Maybe Harmes, but I can’t imagine this is what they sold him on to join our club.
Where do we find this type of player??"I'll give him a hug before the first bounce and then I'll run into my pack and give them orders to rip him apart."Comment
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Re: 2023 List Management Thread
I think it could be. He's been a tagger so I think if you sell him a role and a spot in the best 22 earmarked for him that will see him play every week as long as he does what he's asked to that can be a positive for some people.
Not every player is out to be a 'star' I think some know their limitations[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]Comment
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"I'll give him a hug before the first bounce and then I'll run into my pack and give them orders to rip him apart."Comment
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Re: 2023 List Management Thread
Sounds like he's actually considering retiring anyway. Not certain thing he goes around again even with the offer there. Someone has to play that role. Maybe it's Harmes. Maybe it's Vanders (vomits thinking about the Sydney game and Papley). Maybe it's still Dureya.[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]Comment
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Rocket Science: the epitaph for the Beveridge era - whenever it ends - reading 'Here lies a team that could beat anyone on its day, but seldom did when it mattered most'. 15/7/2023Comment
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Re: 2023 List Management Thread
If you look at the Grand Finalists they have 3 of the better small/medium defenders in Quaynor, Maynard and Starcevich.
Here are their pre-draft profiles:
Quaynor (Pick 13)
Maynard (Pick 30)
Starcevich (Pick 18)
Quaynor was always a defender and I guess it's no surprise the way he has developed at AFL level.
Maynard was a forward who had had some stints in the midfield, not sure if the pies identified him as a potential backman or it just turned out that way because he wasn't good enough as a forward?
Sounds like Starcevich's future was a little uncertain having played in a number of roles.
From that small sample there doesn't appear to be one sure way to identify these types, so that probably doesn't answer your question at all! I guess all were picked inside the top 30 and possessed a strong contested game?Comment
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Rocket Science: the epitaph for the Beveridge era - whenever it ends - reading 'Here lies a team that could beat anyone on its day, but seldom did when it mattered most'. 15/7/2023Comment
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Re: 2023 List Management Thread
Starcevich is an interesting one - I always thought he was Craig’s son, but turns out he’s Craig’s nephew - as he won the 20m sprint at the combine in his draft year. That’s what you want in this role. But was he on Bobby Hill in the GF?
Quaynor clearly has wheels too. He’s a little more like Ed Richards - fierce defensively but great on the attack.
Maynard is more a utility."I'll give him a hug before the first bounce and then I'll run into my pack and give them orders to rip him apart."Comment
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