ThePsychologist wrote:
In defence I would really like to see a small shutdown defender. IMO Collins is the right person.
I agree we need someone to stand up as a small defender Psych, but I don't see it being Collins. He isn't strong enough over the ball or in the tackle, nor is he quick enough IMO. I also think his skills are inconsistent (particularly under real pressure). I like his courage and endurance, and he's said to be a terrific clubman etc, but I think he is strictly a HF/HB/Winger (if anything) at AFL level.
I'd be delighted to be proven wrong, but I think he'll battle to get games in 2013.
What qualities are we looking for in a small shutdown defender? Discipline, concentration, body strength, acceleration, agility, ability to spoil overhead, cool under pressure, sound skills.
Current candidates for the role-
Tuohy: has shown real promise, but needs to get better at strking the right balance between attacking and defending. Put in some ordinary defensive efforts at times last year and also lost his early season flair running out of defence. I'm not sure if it was his body or his mind, but the season seemed too long for him last year (as it often does with young players). As his game sense improves, and his body gets used to playing a full season, I reckon he'll become a good player. I'm not 100% sure that it will be as a small shutdown defender (he may develop into a Scotland-type player), but he's our best small defender option at the moment, IMO.
Armfield: is coming off his most consistent AFL season, playing as a defensive forward/mid. It wouldn't seem to make sense to move him back into defence (where he's had plenty of opportunities in the past with mixed results). It really depends whether there is a spot for him in his 2012 forward/mid role under MM's structure. He has a go and has nice pace, but he's not a player I would back one-on-one close to goal against a quality small forward.
Walker: did a decent job on Milne in the last game in 2012. Unlikely that's where we'll see him play regularly in the future, but he has the tools to do it if he embraces the role. I prefer him in attack personally (that's where he had his best season in 2011), but if he struggles early in the year as a forward/mid, I wouldn't be surprised to see him return to the backline in shutdown roles.
AJ: I admire him in some ways, but to be honest I think he's lucky to still be on an AFL list. He would need to have a major rebirth under MM to play regularly in 2013.
Davies: lucky to still be on the list too. Has some of the tools you want for the role, but I just don't think he's good enough quite frankly. I appreciate he's still fairly young and has had injuries etc, but I'm not seeing it from him at AFL or VFL level. He might be one of those guys who goes back to the state leagues for a couple of years and returns to the AFL in his mid/late 20s as a harder, smarter, fitter footballer. Another one who would have to make a big turnaround under the new coach. I have low expectations of him coming into 2013 (but I hope to be shown to be wrong!).
Temay: not this year, but maybe a longer-term answer. Will need time.
Duigan: not nimble enough for the role probably, in any event he seems to be being groomed for a loose man in defence role (which I'm dubious about - personally, I see him as a fringer player).
Yarran: no, needs to be used in more attacking roles.
Gibbs: see Yarran.
Bootsma: in a couple of years when he's AFL smart, fit and strong I can see him playing a variety of roles on different types of opponents. I think he'd get killed by a quality small forward at the moment though. For the timebeing, he looks more comfortable as a HB/Wing/HF to me.
McInnes: can play on taller and smaller types. Generally gets the job done with minimum fuss. More suited to the medium/taller types, but there will be some games (in the 2nd half of the year and beyond) where he might be a good match up for the opposition's small forward - as long as the knee injury doesn't rob him of mobility.
ROK: has played in the backline but made his mark at VFL level as a mid. Lacks the pace for the small defender role and he's another one who I think, if he makes it, will be playing further up the ground. Dare I say it, but I could see him playing a similar role to that which Grigg plays at Tigerland.