Where do you play the ageing superstar? His on ball role has been very successful but with the emergence of our younger midfield brigade, especially Bentick Murphy and Blackwell who could all possibly play the extractor role, is it time to find a new role for Koutta?

A half forward line of Fisher Koutta Waite reads pretty well to me, especially with an in form Fevola, Betts and say Setanta on the Full forward line, our forward options look good. Koutta could act as the General , making sure that Fev keeps his head up.
This would free up Whitnal to play the floating half back role from last year with a half back line of Lappin(all australian in this role) Saddington and Whitnall. IMO a good mix of experience and talent.
A full back line of Carazzo Thornton and Livingston could bring the best out in Livo who could play a support role to Thornton rather than the "other KPP backman" which seems to be just out of his ability.

The exciting thing about this line up is that it ignores DeLuca, Hartlett, Kennedy, Bower ,Edwards, McLaren, Bryan all of which are arguably able to cover a KPP position in the next few years.
It also allows Whitnall and Livingston to play secondary roles which may bring the best out of both of them.

Kouta doesn't take many marks anymore so I'd prefer to see him stay in the middle.

Yeh i agree, but i would luv to see Kouta take those marks again.

Kouta out of the middle and onto a flank. A moving target who can take take a mark on the lead . Not a CHF is an aging Kouta.

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forward pocket and part of the midfield rotation is where i'd have him.

pinch hit up foward as a foil to fevva

You are very wise Grasshopper.
Either up forward or rotate Kouta off the bench.

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in the middle then bench for me, unless he gets some marking power back.

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I would like to play the guy who won our best and fairest award as a full-time midfield extractor in the midfield again this season ... rather than just throw up names of youngsters who have done f$%k all so far in their careers to replace him.

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Maybe five years ago but I dont think that center half forward is the best place for him or the team. As a few have already suggested a forward pocket and mid field position when needed.

I would actually like to see him at CHB this year.
The forward lineup is good.
The midfield is improving but we have the worst backline in the league.
We need leadership in the backline.
With Kouta at CHB, Saddo and Thorton taking the next 2 talls, and Houlihan, McGrath, Russell, Lappin and Teague taking the others, the backline would hopefully be more solid.

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I wonder if he couldn't work on playing back pocket/fullback.. that'd extend his career a bit longer.

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I remember him doing a job on Anthony Rocca a couple of years back at CHB ... absolutely destroyed him when Rocca had one of his best seasons. That was when kouta was sill coming back from all his injuries and proved (once again) what a champion he is.

Still think his best position is in the middle though ...

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he represented Victoria as a key defender in 1999, and played most of the season there, besides key times in the finals

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If we are really improving, no one will play full time in the midfield.
You wrote a post previously stating West Coast had the best midfield by a mile Dukes.
Who plays a full game in the midfield for West Coast....or any other team?

The only way to develop players is to give them opportunities.
It's as much about prolonging Koutas career as developing replacements.

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Did someone say............ Murphy?

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Actually I was thinking Bentick.
Murphy will complement our midfield but I doubt he could fill the role Kouta does. Bentick appears by far the most advanced and preferred alternative at this stage.
The time is right to give him plenty of opportunities.

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Our midfield looked much stiffer(for me) .. when Kouta wasnt in it.. he isnt accountable.
His best spot would be as BV says FP with time in the middle...rather than 100 mins in the middle walking around when the ball isnt there.

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agree with synbad and BV

He can't play in the back line for the reason Synbad listed, he's not accountable. And he can't chase & run down players like he used to. He would be useless in the backline IMO.

Midfield/forward pocket for me - too slow for CHF & doesn't use his body well enough to hold down that position, & he's not mobile anymore




If only.......

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