What we do with Hendo next year will IMO depend a lot on the preseasons of Watson, Mitchell and Casboult (assuming we keep him on the list). They may not see senior footy, but their development will help steer the direction we take. Hendo needs to be established at one end of the ground, not thrown around. I believe Waite hasn't been able to reach his full potential partially because he's never been able to play consistent footy in one position, and I hope that Hendo doesn't suffer the same fate (Kreuz too).

It's one of the frustrating things about our team. If one tall goes out, it means we have to move another to fill that gap, then another to fill that gap, and before you know it the balance of the team goes out of whack. Cast your minds back to the WC game, having to put Gibbs on Lynch. Or when we lost Waite, having already given up Hendo to the backline, we had no plan B and were screwed. Even last night, throwing Jamo up forward was a Hail Mary that luckily paid off.

Our structure seems to be based on 'best-case scenario' and falls apart when we lose someone from it. Compare that to the team we played last night. They've lost multiple KPP players yet their structure holds up with little disruption (until they play Collingwood). So as important as it is to establish a quality key forward target, we also need to establish a structure that doesn't collapse like a house of cards when we need to adjust.

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#GUILTY

That was actually good coaching by Ratten and it showed that he does have a plan B if plan A is not working.

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You heard it here first!

In which year did De Luca (or Austin for that matter) kick five goals against the team that went on to win the flag that year?

Its fair to say that Kouta has her favorites and Ohalipin isn't one of them

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You heard it here first!

Hi Surrey,

Sorry but I think it's time for you to throw up.

Hendo has saved us several times this season down back. He's developing nicely and will play CHB when Jamo returns, no ifs, no buts - it's where the coaches have him placed.

Spoke with Jarrad last night, he's 2 weeks away.

Setanta has NO forward pressure -coaching panel have been trying to develop this but with fwd press so important and his style (no tackles) he's hard pressed to get a game. GWS anyone?

Regards,
Ockham

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A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.

That's nonsense Oakman. Ohalpin added forward pressure earlier in the season when he was in the side and now that he is back in form in the VFL, the MC committee will select him to play against St Kilda if Jarrad Waite doesn't come up.

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You heard it here first!

Hi Hot one,

Nonsense it may be - but horses mouth view of the Irish man.

Haven't posted to any great length for awhile, however, if you've got the time or inclination revisit some history, I'm generally not too far from the mark!

Re the big Irish man and early season - easy for you to say he added fwd pressure - how many tackles did he apply?

Ciao,
Ockham

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A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.

What does a five goal game against a 21 year old and fourth year player have to do with Setanta's ability?

Even Hale kicked eight on Scarlett.

Setanta looks good with his mobility for his size, but just doesn't go the rest of the way to finish like an AFL player.

Makes Waite look consistent.

Well lets hope Hampson puts in a good week in the VFL next week then.
Atleast a Hampson (ff) / Kruezer (CHF) combination up forward might gives us half a chance to take a mark or at the very least give the opposition defenders something to think about.

You are comparing Setanta with De Luca and Austin!

How many other players kicked five goals or more against Collingwood last year?

Are you referring to Brown who beat Riewoldt in the GF or Reid who will go close to AA this year? Either way Collingwood are excellent at utilising the spare defender to zone/assist making that performance even more impressive....

As for Hale, arguably the pick of the ruckmen from the four (took as many marks as the other three combined) that played Friday night....

Again De Luca and Austin have achieved what?

Setanta kicked 6 yesterday against the top VFL team so he deserves a go!

Which horses mouth are you quoting Ockham? I hope it isn't the same horse who decidied Brock McLean was worth a first rounder.
Setanta is not great player, but is he better up forward than Thornton?
Surely the horse you speak of doesn't rate TbIrds forward press, or Hammo and Warnock when they are up there for that matter. TBird is slow, any defender in the finals will run away from him. Setanta is not a great tackler, in fact, understandably from a hurling background, his tackling is poor. But pressure is not just about tackling, it is about closing down space which you can do if you are quick, and it is about reflexes from a big guy making him harder to kick around.

We need to get away from this mind set that Setanta has to be great or he is nothing. We are playing Bret Thronton as a key forward. Setanta just needs to offer more than he does. And on Friday's evidence he could hardly fail to. And forget the TBird as a 'swingman'. He will only go back if he fails up forward which would suggest he can't play both ends. As a defender he is behind about 7b other guys. He has been reasonable recently but he is not a forward and will not give us much ag finals oppo.

I am not sure that Waite's defensive pressure is great either. And Hendo has been ordinary in attack this year and very good in defence.

Setanta has many deficiencies but is quick tall agile and handles the ball very well at ground level and is a reasonable lead and a pretty accurate kick. He is not Buddy Franklin, but is he better value than TBird? In Waite's abscence isn't that the only question, and wasn't that partially answered on FRiday?

Play him to his strengths (and not as an unmoving marking target in the square, and I reckon he has a bit to offer).

Sounds like the Irish papers have been stamped. I guess we'll know for sure when the next team is announced.
thanks for the mail OR

Agree with all of that, Setanta is easily the best option on our list as a tall forward target in the absence of Waite, at this point in time.

Big irish has kicked 17 in his last 3 games in vfl

GET SENTANTA...........!


kindest regards tommi

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that'siti'mnotchangingthistagain......!

Didnt he kick 3 against Coburg
2 against geelong
and 6 yesterday.

Have i missed a game?

I think 17 sounds better than 11.

Let's go with that.

Get Sentanta

i honestly thought he kicked 6 then 5 then 6! sorry

It's all a bit of fun