Matthew Laidlaw

[BSA5]

You're judging Laidlaw based on one game in the pouring rain.

If you compare what he and O'Dwyer delivered over last year in the twos, you wouldn't be mentioning them in the same breath. Sure, there is scope for someone to have suddenly improved but I am not convinced that O'Dwyer is anywhere close to "knocking on the door" quite yet.

That's true, I am judging Laidlaw a bit harshly, but he just doesn't seem right to me. At least not yet. We certainly shouldn't be shuffling the team around, trying to make room for him.

[Old Royboy]

When Laidlaw was carving them up in the ressies last year he was floating around on the midfield/half forward line. Same for Cheese Barlow. Laidlaw was thrown in at the deep end last year (as was Keiren Jack) into an unaccustomed defensive role. In fact most guys promoted from the ressies into a defensive role will in effect be learning on the job.

[BSA5]

That set up is fine, although it does leave the midfield somewhat lacking!

My midfield:

C: Adam Goodes - Brett Kirk - Luke Ablett
R: Peter Everitt - Nic Fosdike - Jude Bolton

Midfielders on I/C: Jolly, Bird and Buchanan. Barlow could be played in the midfield as well.

So that's ten midfield options. Sure, not the best midfield in the league, but certainly not the worst. I don't see who you would drop from the midfield to make room for Mattner, just to make room for Laidlaw. Bolton is perhaps arguable, but I don't think so.

[2005]

Leo Barry (now we have LRT back and Grundy as another possibility to play on semi-tall forwards) is one option.

Barlow's another. I agree with NMW's comment from a week or so ago that it would be good to see Barlow be given a proper position to play to help him develop. Playing the roaming tall midfielder is probably harder than it looks - players have to know where to run as well as being able to do it. It's taken Goodes many many years to learn to play his current role, and along the way he's played as a ruckman, key forward, key defender and in a more structured midfield role along the wing. And of course, with Goodes one of the best current proponents of that role, it's not something the team really needs young Ed to be doing right now.

I reckon HBF is structured enough to give someone like Barlow a definite role to play but still with enough flexibility to allow him to try and be a bit creative.

Thornton also has a lot of the attributes that, for a week, might have had him pencilled in as as possible replacement for Malceski.

Agree with you there Liz.
Firmly believe Leo or Cheese are ready for that type of role.
Cheese needs some accountability in his game now as he has come in and just played .Having a job will further develop him into a more rounded footballer. And Leo would be great player on smaller forwards and can give us some run and break the lines. He aint afraid of having a ping either which is something different to how we normally bring it in.

[liz]

What's wrong with having Kennelly and Mattner across half back? Laidlaw didn't impress me much. ...

We've already got O'Dwyer and Bird knocking on the door, looking for midfield positions.

You're judging Laidlaw based on one game in the pouring rain.

If you compare what he and O'Dwyer delivered over last year in the twos, you wouldn't be mentioning them in the same breath. Sure, there is scope for someone to have suddenly improved but I am not convinced that O'Dwyer is anywhere close to "knocking on the door" quite yet.

[BSA5]

What's wrong with having Kennelly and Mattner across half back? Laidlaw didn't impress me much. I don't think there's any need to bring him into the side. We don't need Mattner in the centre of the ground. We've already got O'Dwyer and Bird knocking on the door, looking for midfield positions. It wouldn't make sense to put Mattner there, when he's used to playing HBF, and we've got enough players in the midfield already.

This should be our backline:

B: Richards Bolton Barry
HB: Kennelly LRT Mattner

I really can't see any problems with that setup.

[liz]

Leo Barry (now we have LRT back and Grundy as another possibility to play on semi-tall forwards) is one option.

Barlow's another. I agree with NMW's comment from a week or so ago that it would be good to see Barlow be given a proper position to play to help him develop. Playing the roaming tall midfielder is probably harder than it looks - players have to know where to run as well as being able to do it. It's taken Goodes many many years to learn to play his current role, and along the way he's played as a ruckman, key forward, key defender and in a more structured midfield role along the wing. And of course, with Goodes one of the best current proponents of that role, it's not something the team really needs young Ed to be doing right now.

I reckon HBF is structured enough to give someone like Barlow a definite role to play but still with enough flexibility to allow him to try and be a bit creative.

Thornton also has a lot of the attributes that, for a week, might have had him pencilled in as as possible replacement for Malceski.

[Cheese]

Hopefully he gets given the spot on the HBF or wing. He has shown that he is not out of his depth, although being injured in the pre-season wont help.

although, i cant see who else could play on the back-flank with height speed and rebound ability of the new crop. Bird is too short and not suited.

Mattner to the wing, and Tiger & Laidlaw on the back flanks? discuss?