Is that a round 1 effort BV?

If we can play Armfield, we really should. I know people still see him as just a defensive forward, but he was putting on good scoring pressure and assist/transitional work in a very poor team. I think he'd give us something on the counter attack through midfield to half-forward, a crumbing option, and obviously the forward pressure and defensive shutouts he's well known for.

You pick a fit Armfield and you tell the new kids that this kind of work rate is the expectation. He'll make the side better no matter who's around him.

Certainly beats the shit out of slowing down our midfield with Whiley.

_________________
29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

Whiley's not slow

I can't see Kreuz managing 80% of the ruck work with reduced rotations.

I'd be very surprised if we didn't pick another ruckman.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

He'd be managing more like 85-90% of the ruckwork; 78-85% of the game time.

He's the prototypical ruckman for this kind of interchange system. We've got Cripps, Rowe, Everitt and Casboult to drop in for support, why not try and carry another midfielder?


Granted he's picked up the pace and looks to be over his achilles and hamstring issues but he's not lightning either, and we've got enough blokes who can block and bullock, we need blokes who can create an overlap; he's not it.

He's in the mix, but I would drop Armfield, C.Curnow, Thomas, Sheehan, Sumner and Lamb into that team before him. Anyway I think it's a moot point because when the senior guys were running around, he was only getting half a game.

_________________
29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

Best 22:

Tuohy Jamison Weitering (even now the kid earns it)
Docherty Plowman Simpson
Gibbs Cripps Kerridge
Walker Jaksch Thomas
Phillips Casboult Graham (really feel he is the perfect mid/forward)
Kruezer Curnow (def mid) Murphy
Buckley Boakhorst

These guys IMHO pick themselves right now.

2 of (Everitt Armfield Sumner Smith Wright Whiley Lamb Byrne Sheehan Rowe Gorridge) to complete the 22.
Hopefully we get someone else pushing outside this list.

Given Kreuzers history re durability, I'm not sure he should be relied upon too heavily for ruck time.

They might.

I just don't think they will given it appears we targeted Philips and Gorringe (although Gorringe is pretty poor as a ruck) and they've played a lot of NAB and pre-season.

Of the other names there only Casboult can ruck with any sort of effectiveness, Rowe is just plain bad in the ruck and Cripps and Everitt are third man up types who rely on an a ruckman being there.

There's also injury concern and longevity of the player's. It's all well and good in March to say "Kreuz can ruck 80% of the time with limited support" but he could be cooked July. Todd Goldstein he aint.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

Gorringe was obviously being trialled a forward/ruck in a forward line that needs new options, whether those be structural or tactical. He got a good stint in the ruck in the second/third string game, but otherwise played forward.

Phillips was being trialled to see if he could be carried in a 22, and given how limited his impact was up forward and that he didn't really dominate the taps when offered an opportunity, he's no certainty either.

You're right that rotations will have an impact, and that impact is that players cannot go and hide on the bench all day; they need to be elite in a position, or they need to be able to pinch hit in more than one role to relieve others during the game. In that respect, I think Gorringe might be ahead of Phillips.

FWIW, Kreuzer would play games in the ruck with 85+% game time in the past, so asking him to do 80% isn't going to hurt, especially if they're not counting rotations between quarters.

_________________
29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

We will see who runs out Thursday.

My preference is Kreuz sharing ruck duties with someone other than Cas and I think that's how they will turn out. If Phillips or Gorringe get selected (both is a chance as well I suppose, slim though) then that would support the NAB selections and game style.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

im with you Surrey as desired state. unfortunately it wont happen until KJ decides he wants it badly enough. if he did why not at CHF...could be worse (like bloody jones)....interesting footage in one of the 'journey' clips, Neil Craig really getting into KJ's head about leadership and 'wanting' it

I'm hoping by round 10 our side is looking a bit like this -

Tuohy Jamo Plowman
Byrne Weitering Docherty
Thomas Cripps Boekhorst
Graham Casboult Kerridge
Murphy Jaksch Walker

Kreuzer Gibbs E Curnow

Armfield Rowe Simpson Wright

* I'm hoping that Plowman & Jaksch can stay healthy, have a solid month in the VFL and then settle into the senior side by about round 10. I haven't seen Plowman in action yet, but he seems to have decent wraps on him as a medium/tall defender. Jaksch looked more comfortable as a forward to me last year and we're crying out for another marking target, so I hope he develops into a tall forward who can go back sometimes when needed.
* Rowe will play as a key defender early in the season, but should drift into a spare parts/forward/2nd ruck role by about round 10 as Plowman & Jaksch settle into the side and Weitering establishes himself. Hopefully either Phillips & Gorringe will step up by the end of the season and force Rowe out of the team. I can't see that happening in the first half of the season because Phillips & Gorringe both looked pretty raw to me in the preseason games and will need time. Wood might still get opportunities with us in the short-medium term.
* Like Rowe, I can see White getting games early and being phased out as some of our kids come through.
* Sumner could force Armfield out of the side by the end of the year, but my expectations of Sumner are low in 2016. He has missed a lot of footy, so I think the priority is just to get his body right.
* It would be a huge bonus if Buckley, Dick, Lamb, Sheehan or Whiley can jump up and go to another level. They are all shaping up like depth players to me. But I give that quartet more chance than DVR, Jones, Smith & Tutt who I don't see making it at this stage.
* I'm still clinging to some hope that Thomas can play a role for us this year. He's not going to be around for our next flag, but I still see him being a regular senior play for us over the next 2 years.
* I'm not sure where Everitt is with his footy. I shouldn't write him off before the ball has been bounced for round 1, but I have a feeling he might be on the outer. Time will tell. FWIW, I would rather see him playing up the ground (wing/flank).
* SOJ, McKay, C Curnow, Cunningham, JGM, Gowers, Galucci, Foster - not expecting a great deal from these guys at AFL level in 2016. Hopefully they all get a taste of senior footy at some stage though.

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It's never as good as it looks and it's never as bad as it seems.

Really hope Plowman, Sumner, Jaksch, and Byrne can all make their way into the regular 22 this season.
If they can reach somewhere close to their potential and replace our bottom 4, we will be a much better team.

_________________

That's the dream

_________________
29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

Interesting to consider which of the current 22 those 4 players will replace in the next month or so.... ?

Maybe

Plowman > White
Jaksch > Casboult/Everitt/Phillips
Byrne > Thomas/Graham
Sumner > Lamb/Wright

_________________
*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

Sounds about right

_________________

Sure Sumner for Lamb, but Wright an absolute lock on what he's shown to date, a great pick up. He's likely to top our goal kicking FFS.

I agree on Wright but i just suppose they are fighting for similar positions

FWIW i see Sumner being miles away from the team

_________________
*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

Yep.

_________________
I hope Essendon* folds.

I reckon he might only be a month away, fitness-wise. Form seems solid too.

_________________
29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.