2006 Structure

[Lucky Knickers]

Watching games on FFC, I was wondering about the senior players on our list and who the heir apparents may be.

With Willo in possibly his last year, who is going to be our midfield general? Assuming he will play more off HB?

With Crouch and Matthews getting on - who gets groomed as the competitions Nbr 1 tagger? I thought this would be Ablett and don't want to judge his form on the job he has done on Judd but thought he looked a little slow?

I haven't seen much live footy in the last few years so haven't had a lot of opportunity to see the young guys in action live.

[goswannie14]

Originally posted by singaporeswan
With Crouch and Matthews getting on - who gets groomed as the competitions Nbr 1 tagger? I thought this would be Ablett and don't want to judge his form on the job he has done on Judd but thought he looked a little slow?

To be fair to Luke Ablett, most footballers look slow aginst Judd. I don't like Judd as a footballer due to his consistently bad disposal, but his leg speed is second to none, it is like comparing apples and oranges when you compare the two.

[Bleed Red Blood]

I don't think Ablett will be a 'tagger' for much longer, except for the odd occasion.

Mathews and Crouch aren't really get on, either. I think they are both only 26/7. Unless something major happens, I can see them both around in 2010 at the least.

Bevan could be a tagger. If you really want.

And yes, I hope Williams plays more across half back to give players like McVeigh, Malkeski and Dempster more opportunity in the guts where they will be needed post Willo.

[hammo]

Good thread.

I'd envisage Ablett to play far more attacking roles from now on. Buchanan would be a likely 'general' based on his form in the second half of 2005. A fit Nick Davis will probably also spend far more time in the midfield.

Roos has shown that he's prepared to use younger players coming into the team as his taggers, therefore our next main "defensive midfielder" could be out of Moore, Willoughby or Schmidt.

[Lucky Knickers]

What about Fosdike? Watching some of the old games - his disposal is very smart and he seems to have a lot of time to use the ball.

I understand Ablett had a knee injury (observed tape on knee) - how serious was it? Is he having surgery?

Nick Davis seems to have improved tenfold. His 2nd/3rd efforts and willingness to chase the opposition down were really impressive this year.

Re Crouch and Matthews - both turn 28 in 2006. What's the average age of a footballer? I would have thought the 32yo was the exception to the rule.

Where does Kennelly fit?

[Magic Man]

Originally posted by singaporeswan
Watching games on FFC, I was wondering about the senior players on our list and who the heir apparents may be.

With Willo in possibly his last year, who is going to be our midfield general? Assuming he will play more off HB?

With Crouch and Matthews getting on - who gets groomed as the competitions Nbr 1 tagger? I thought this would be Ablett and don't want to judge his form on the job he has done on Judd but thought he looked a little slow?

I haven't seen much live footy in the last few years so haven't had a lot of opportunity to see the young guys in action live.

This is a good thread, I also think ablett will play a much more aggresive role next year, he is a good strong mark and has a booming kick. The tagging for the next few years will be left to Crouch,Dempster, Mathews and co - I really dont see any obvious personnel to fill this position. The obvious slot for the midfield is Fossie, he is extremely valuable to the team - loves the wide open spaces, and generally uses the ball very well.

To be totally honest there really isn't alot of free spots in the midfield next year, Willo to HB seems like an obvious move, and then maybe Mathews and Crouch and perhaps Kennelly or Dempster on can go through the middle. I think our forward structure has worked wonders - so there really is no need to change it - just yet. Davis and Okeefe will play permanently down there with the rotation of one of Buchanan or schneider and Jolly or Doyle - works well for me.

I dare say one of Willoughby, Scmidt, Malceski, McVeigh or Moore will be a permanent fixture in the midfield next year - having said that there may need to be room for the likes of Richards, Chambers, Vogels and Bevan.

A very good prediciment to have.

[Bleed Red Blood]

Originally posted by Magic Man
This is a good thread, I also think ablett will play a much more aggresive role next year, he is a good strong mark and has a booming kick. The tagging for the next few years will be left to Crouch,Dempster, Mathews and co - I really dont see any obvious personnel to fill this position. The obvious slot for the midfield is Fossie, he is extremely valuable to the team - loves the wide open spaces, and generally uses the ball very well.

I agree. We don't necessarily need a straight out tagger, it's very possible that our young midfielders will just do that for a couple of years before they are ready to become more attacking players. Port do this - Cassisi, K Cornes, Carr.

Originally posted by Magic Man
To be totally honest there really isn't alot of free spots in the midfield next year, Willo to HB seems like an obvious move, and then maybe Mathews and Crouch and perhaps Kennelly or Dempster on can go through the middle. I think our forward structure has worked wonders - so there really is no need to change it - just yet. Davis and Okeefe will play permanently down there with the rotation of one of Buchanan or schneider and Jolly or Doyle - works well for me.

Davis MUST be a midfielder next year. At least seventy percent of the time. He should have the fitness next season (He's done the International rules, was playing hard, tough football a month longer than usual, and went the last half of the year uninjured. He's also doing his first pre-season in about five years uninjured) Fifteen kicks of his in the midfield will mean about three-four goals more. We need to be more attacking next year, absolute thrash some teams. Remind other clubs that we are the reigning premiers.

And Buchanen should also be around the packs as often as possible. Look how well he did while Jude was out with his hammy.

Originally posted by Magic Man
I dare say one of Willoughby, Scmidt, Malceski, McVeigh or Moore will be a permanent fixture in the midfield next year - having said that there may need to be room for the likes of Richards, Chambers, Vogels and Bevan.

A very good prediciment to have.

It won't be a good situation next year. Looking ahead, Willo might retire, Erikson or Shaw might go backwards and the other develope so much that they are uneccesary. Other than that, I don't see anyone looking a likely 'delete'.

[stellation]

Originally posted by singaporeswan
With Willo in possibly his last year, who is going to be our midfield general? Assuming he will play more off HB?

Nicky D is the man. If he is not given the role I will begin to suspect that Paul Roos favours drab, stoppage crazy, defensive football. I am certain that is not the case.

[Sanecow]

I have a lot of very incredible things to say on this issue that would totally blow your mind but it's "heirs apparent," not "heir apparents" so I have chosen to boycott the discussion.

Please, continue.

[stellation]

Damn you, you magnificent bastard.

[dimelb]

Who watched the twos often enough to answer this? I know Spriggs can't kick and can't handball (at least according to reports) but I know he can run. What I'd like to know is can he tackle? If the answer is yes, and he's fast, what is the club doing with him? If he has trouble reading a game, then minding someone else might be the go - it certainly helped LRT.

[Schneiderman]

I suspect Dempster may be the 'next big thing' at the club in 2006. Just like the way Bucky and Ablett moved their games to the next level, I think Sean will do the same. Roos will likely play him off half-back and as a defensive run-with player to build his fitness and 'footy-smarts'. His kicking skills and great speed also make him a potentially very good footballer, as long as he develops and keeps relatively injury-free.