2016 Team

[troyjones2525]

Agree on Smith/Jones and the other scenarios with Rohan, Towers and Cunningham. They are all similar as in our quickest players but like you with Towers i am a Cunningham fan! While he probably doesn't get the ball enough for some, i think he is almost our most reliable user of the ball by foot whether be passing to a team mate or kicking at goal. And i think we all know that that's something we cant do without in our side! I've gone with Rohan as like a lot of us I'm still dreaming of him finally fulfilling his potential that we all think he has! And as for Smithy, well sadly i agree that he's starting to lose that title for most as almost the first picked each week! I just don't have the guts to write him off just yet as he's been such a reliable defender for us for so long! But agree, Jones is coming!!!

[Flying South]

I mostly agree troy. My ideal squad would be

B. Smith, T. Richards, Laidler.
HB. Jones, Grundy, Mills.
C. K Jack, Parker, Hannebery.
HF. McVeigh, Franklin, Heeney.
F. Papley, Tippett, Towers.
Foll. Sinclair, Kennedy, Mitchell.

Int. Rampe, Cunningham, Lloyd, Hewett.

Emerg. Talia, Rohan, Reid, Naismith, McGlynn

We saw on Saturday what a well balanced forward line can do. The forward line is too tall with Reid up there. For me he sits outside the 22 as coverage.

IMO Rohan plays his best football in the forward half were he can use his speed to apply forward defensive pressure. He is a good mark and reasonable kick. He and Towers are fighting for the same spot and I'd be happy to rotate the two.

Jones takes that HB spot.

Assuming Papley can maintain his debut form he takes the small forward role. With a fit McGlynn ready to step in if his form slumps.

[longmile]

I mostly agree troy. My ideal squad would be

B. Smith, T. Richards, Laidler.
HB. Jones, Grundy, Mills.
C. K Jack, Parker, Hannebery.
HF. McVeigh, Franklin, Heeney.
F. Papley, Tippett, Towers.
Foll. Sinclair, Kennedy, Mitchell.

Int. Rampe, Cunningham, Lloyd, Hewett.

Emerg. Talia, Rohan, Reid, Naismith, McGlynn

We saw on Saturday what a well balanced forward line can do. The forward line is too tall with Reid up there. For me he sits outside the 22 as coverage.

IMO Rohan plays his best football in the forward half were he can use his speed to apply forward defensive pressure. He is a good mark and reasonable kick. He and Towers are fighting for the same spot and I'd be happy to rotate the two.

Jones takes that HB spot.

Assuming Papley can maintain his debut form he takes the small forward role. With a fit McGlynn ready to step in if his form slumps.

Seconded, I agree with you completely here. Our forward structures have been compromised in the past with the talents of Goodes and Reid but I think this is a good balance now

[longmile]

However I could also see McGlynn taking Cunningham's or Hewett's role as well as Papley's.

[bungwahl]

I mostly agree troy. My ideal squad would be

B. Smith, T. Richards, Laidler.
HB. Jones, Grundy, Mills.
C. K Jack, Parker, Hannebery.
HF. McVeigh, Franklin, Heeney.
F. Papley, Tippett, Towers.
Foll. Sinclair, Kennedy, Mitchell.

Int. Rampe, Cunningham, Lloyd, Hewett.

Emerg. Talia, Rohan, Reid, Naismith, McGlynn

We saw on Saturday what a well balanced forward line can do. The forward line is too tall with Reid up there. For me he sits outside the 22 as coverage.

IMO Rohan plays his best football in the forward half were he can use his speed to apply forward defensive pressure. He is a good mark and reasonable kick. He and Towers are fighting for the same spot and I'd be happy to rotate the two.

Jones takes that HB spot.

Assuming Papley can maintain his debut form he takes the small forward role. With a fit McGlynn ready to step in if his form slumps.

I think that's pretty close to the money. I'm very interested to see how Reid & Rohan go when they return from injury. Rohan in particular has suffered from being a Mr Fix It in every position from full forward to CHB, but I could see him taking Cunningham's spot on the outside. There are so few players of his size with extreme pace that he could prove to be a huge asset.

[Nico]

I think that's pretty close to the money. I'm very interested to see how Reid & Rohan go when they return from injury. Rohan in particular has suffered from being a Mr Fix It in every position from full forward to CHB, but I could see him taking Cunningham's spot on the outside. There are so few players of his size with extreme pace that he could prove to be a huge asset.

Jones and Towers stay in. Towers seems to be improving all the time. Reid is a difficult one. Does he make the forward line a bit unbalanced. He and Rohan have not had much pre season so I would expect they are a fair way off. Simply, barring injuries, it is going to be a fight for spots as the season progresses. Like others I think Harry is the vulnerable one, but if he continues to kick 2 goals a game it will be hard to displace him.

[bungwahl]

Jones and Towers stay in. Towers seems to be improving all the time. Reid is a difficult one. Does he make the forward line a bit unbalanced. He and Rohan have not had much pre season so I would expect they are a fair way off. Simply, barring injuries, it is going to be a fight for spots as the season progresses. Like others I think Harry is the vulnerable one, but if he continues to kick 2 goals a game it will be hard to displace him.

I guess we'll have injuries throughout the year so players will naturally make their way in to the side, then it's just up to them to perform. I'd love to see Reid playing on the wing as he's a superb 1 on 1 mark, and a decent field kick (grrr set shots..). If we leave a forward structure in place then Reid could become a nice pivot.

[Ludwig]

Reid and Rohan, fully fit, should be in our best 22. I won't suggest who they could replace in Flying South's side because there are many variations as both can play either forward or back. I can see a backline that has Reg, Laidler, Rampe and either Reid or Rohan as our 4 tallest defenders. I can also see a side that had Reid playing forward-ruck in place of Sinclair with Tippett doing the bulk of the ruck work. The best solution would be for one of our tall prospects like Talia (who will hopefully return to full fitness this season), XR, Aliir or Abe Davis get to a level to hold down a KPP role. I thought Talia was well on his way and I have a lot of confidence that Abe Davis will be a very good player, but not sure when.

[Mug Punter]

I know I am bad for looking at early trade bait but I could see a straight swap of Reid for a gun CHB as being a trade option for us at the end of the year, he's on a big money deal and I'm actually not quite sure he is earning it but he would attract massive interest at the trade table.

[Ludwig]

I know I am bad for looking at early trade bait but I could see a straight swap of Reid for a gun CHB as being a trade option for us at the end of the year, he's on a big money deal and I'm actually not quite sure he is earning it but he would attract massive interest at the trade table.

I doubt very much that we could find a better CHB than Sam Reid, so why would we trade him. The only problem is his soft tissue injuries. He's only 24, which is just around the time he should come into his own. Shame about his slow start to the season. I hope it doesn't affect him too much. I think it's a great asset to have a tall utility that can play back, forward or in the midfield and take on some of the ruck work if needed.

[Mug Punter]

I doubt very much that we could find a better CHB than Sam Reid, so why would we trade him. The only problem is his soft tissue injuries. He's only 24, which is just around the time he should come into his own. Shame about his slow start to the season. I hope it doesn't affect him too much. I think it's a great asset to have a tall utility that can play back, forward or in the midfield and take on some of the ruck work if needed.

I guess you are right that turning Reid into a specialist CHB may well be part of the solution to our defensive issues at season end.

[troyjones2525]

I mostly agree troy. My ideal squad would be

B. Smith, T. Richards, Laidler.
HB. Jones, Grundy, Mills.
C. K Jack, Parker, Hannebery.
HF. McVeigh, Franklin, Heeney.
F. Papley, Tippett, Towers.
Foll. Sinclair, Kennedy, Mitchell.

Int. Rampe, Cunningham, Lloyd, Hewett.

Emerg. Talia, Rohan, Reid, Naismith, McGlynn

We saw on Saturday what a well balanced forward line can do. The forward line is too tall with Reid up there. For me he sits outside the 22 as coverage.

IMO Rohan plays his best football in the forward half were he can use his speed to apply forward defensive pressure. He is a good mark and reasonable kick. He and Towers are fighting for the same spot and I'd be happy to rotate the two.

Jones takes that HB spot.

Assuming Papley can maintain his debut form he takes the small forward role. With a fit McGlynn ready to step in if his form slumps.

We could very well see your line-up soon as the only change from the likely round 2 side is McVeigh in for Robinson. While i agree about what you say about forward balance being important, I still feel Reid and probably Rohan are too talented not to be in the side if fit and both have the speed to apply forward pressure if used up there.