Unlike many, I do not think we are too badly served by our existing defenders. I think they do a damn fine job in the face of so little pressure from some of our mid-fielders.

1. Waite has found a home at CHB and is an important attacking option to break the zones with his kamikaze running. To do this he needs to zone off at HB and back his judgment but he can also play the defensive role if need be.

2. Thornton attacks in a more measured fashion than Waite but is a far better kick to position. He was starring early in the season (before being injured) with the luxury of playing on lesser opponents. Unfairly maligned by some supporters, T-Bird has spent years fighting out of his weight class but he is poised to play his best football as an attacking HB.

3. Jamison is clearly our best defender against a fast-leading forward - regardless of the size of the opponent - but has consistently struggled against big bodied opponents.

4. Bower has played some exceptional games this year to shut down some very good opponents and is a very important component of a versatile defence. Also provide strong attacking runs but, like Waite, can be a bot heart in mouth when kicking. Has developed into a better hand-passer.

These four guys represent to core of out defence and have the versatility to play on tall or small opponents but all have struggled against the largest opponents.

5. Setanta has been the only effective option against the big lumps but he too has the versatility to play against shorter opponents. He also provided important depth to the defence because of injuries to Thornton, Jamison and Bower at various times.

6. Bannister also offers a very useful option - especially against forwards who have big tanks and like to use them. Banno has the endurance to run with them plus the speed to go with them on the lead and the height to spoil overhead.

7. Walker can be used as a pinch hitter but I would prefer him as a forward.

8. Saddington has consistently been asked to play out of his height and weight bracket whenever he has been promoted.

9. Austin is still a developing player who struggles against fast leading forwards and big bodied opponents.

10. Anderson played possibly his best senior games in recent weeks after many injury interruptions.

In summary, we are well served by the versatility of the top six and have two promising youngsters but we are a little shallow on depth if there are injuries in certain areas. Setanta in particular appears to be the only effective option against bigger opponents.

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Hey Rocky; there are too many rabbits ... in China.

Don't forget the emergence of Browne and Armfield, two genuine small backmen with talent and guts to burn.

What we're lacking are two things though. A big-bodied bloke to handle the monsters and resting ruckman who always kill us (Setanta being the major option as mentioned), and a Wojinscki/Gram/H.Shaw type to set up our attacks from HB and break the lines. Scotland works well as a quarterback, but doesn't have the pace to get the opposition on the back foot. Armfield seems a natural choice to develop in this area, but will take time. Grigg's another option, and has shown he has the attributes, but looks like he may find a home in the middle.

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WADA medical director Dr Alan Vernec describes Essendon* FC drug case as biggest scandal in team sport the world of sport has seen. #WC2WB

#GUILTY

Excellent summary and I agree. I actually think Ratten has done a good job addressing our problems in defence.

I reckon your comments on T-Bird are spot on. I'm surprised so many Carlton supporters are so keen to trade him. We are not exactly spoilt for experienced key position players..

The only one on that list that won't be there next year is Saddo.

I think we need to hang onto Carlos. He may not be an automatic selection (with the emergence of Bower & Jamo, and with Waite & T-Bird down there), but he's really the only one we have that can play on the gorillas. This is important, particularly in a developing side that is still prone to being monstered now and then. We'll need him against specific opponents over the next few years. As already mentioned, Carlos gives us real depth (and can also be thrown forward or into the ruck as a pinch-hitter). I really hope Phil Cleary is wrong...(and that German medical science has the answers....)

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

Good post RR

I agree with you in saying that our defence has done a great job in 2008

Most of the time when the defence does look bad, it’s because the opposition’s midfield is given so much time by our midfield, that they have the space and time to hit there targets

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"Dont count the games, make the games count"

I didn't forget them, I just didn't consider them to be taller defenders.

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Hey Rocky; there are too many rabbits ... in China.

Maybe it's blue coloured glasses but I see a very strong defensive unit developing amongst those young blokes mentioned.

Jamison, Bower and Waite have kicked on nicely this year and I'd like to see them grow together in defence.

Surely Setanta must be retained as a tall option (if he wants to remain).

Not too sure about Thornton. Not too good when the ball's on the deck and can be too indecisive at times with disposal when he has the ball.

Austin looks very mobile but looks very young and raw. Shows promise.

Interesting:

Geelong go with:

Scarlett - Tall
Harley - Tall
Egan/Taylor - Tall
Mackie - Tall/Small
Milburn - Tall/Small
Hunt/Wojcinski - Small

All have good skills, all are reasonably flexible in terms of opponents but are all (besides their linkman - Hunt/Wojcinski) all quite tall

Can we run with?

Jamison - Tall
Waite - Tall
Bower - Tall
O'hAilpin - Tall
Thornton - Tall/small
Linkman - ?

all of Jamo, Waite, Bower, O'hAilpin, Thornton can play tall/small.....

the bit we lack is the player who's skill and run kills opposition. Carrazzo doesn't gets a lot ot possession but doesn't kill teams with his disposal. Anderson and Armfield aren't exactly Lindsay Gilbee either.

To me this is the type of player we really need... a Josh Hunt type (but not enough to swap Walker and a third rounder for him...!).... I wonder if Simmo might be shifted back to that role next season

(because as RR says, we have the tall backs to build a team around)

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Love Cricket? Love me

I agree with your comments RR. Our defence is coming laong very nicely indeed. All can be thrown around if things aren't working and give us multiple options.

Defence is only as good as the pressure up the field to give our boys a chance. Poor Austin last night was slaughtered as we let Hawthorn do what they wanted though half back and midfield.

I hope we focus on forward line prospects who can play midfield + 1 or 2 KP forwards.

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Mjonc signing off at 8888

gee.... lucky we didn't use the Gibbs pick on Hansen because we were desperate for a CHB..

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Love Cricket? Love me

Good post. I prefer Simmo playing out of defence. He or Grigg could play that role. If Armfield's skills settle down, he could be that for us too.

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

Agreed.

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Hey Rocky; there are too many rabbits ... in China.

I am really excited about our defence in the future.

We have an awesome athletic but tall nucleus with Waite, Bower, Jamison and Thornton.

Add in Carlos to play on the thugs and it is really taking shape. One thing that concerns me a little is we do not have a quality medium/small type defender to play on guys like Leon Davis, Farmer, Steve Johnson etc.

Carrazzo should not play as a small defender he is a midfielder and he gets exposed as a small defender.

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Blue boy thru and thru

Like the current group we are developing but also believe that Carlos is an automatic not only in our 22 but in our defence.

Has shown an improved ability to read the play (improved but not perfect just yet) and very reliable disposal often taking the best option. He is a standard in my defence regardless of the opposition.

My problem is Thornton; yes he is experienced but gets beaten more often than not. His disposal is OK but not the best that we have coming out of the back line and quite often he is lazy. I was a huge fan in the early days but these last couple of years have been below average at best.

I truly hope that he can turn it around and I would retain him for depth if a good trade wasn't offered but he ceratinly would not be a walk up start in my defence.

PS. Is Crossica our defensive coach? If so I hoep he is better than the changes that he made for the Bullants on game day....puzzling at best

I don't think we can Ty. I think our lack of run out of defence hurts as badly at times. The fact that Jamison and Thornton can play on smalls is a double edged sword...great for felxibility, but gets us sucked into playing too many talls down back, depriving us of run.

In a couple of years, I would like to see a backline of Jamison, and two of Bower/Thornton/Austin, complemented by 3 smaller running types, whether they be Grigg, Walker, Armfield, Brown, Scotland, Russell...whoever.

That would also release Waite to play forward...let's face it, unless Hartlett comes good or we draft a CHF, if we are going to challenge for a flag, with out current balance, Waite will have to play forward.

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Mens sana in corpore sano.

Bring back the laurel wreath logo!!!

I forgot about Setanta. If he can continue to improve, he is a possible CHB. That's his spot, problem is when clubs drag him back to the full back line, he gets lost.

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Mens sana in corpore sano.

Bring back the laurel wreath logo!!!