We won't win a Premiership til we sort out our Our Defense

Look at all the recent Premiership sides. In fact look at ALL the Premiership sides.

They all had good KPPs down defenses.

Carl - Silvagni
North - Martyn
Ess - Fletcher
Bris - Michael
Geel - Scarlett
Swans - Barry
West Coast - Glass
Hawks - Hodge

What have we got?

I know we're only 3 rounds in, but already we have one of the worst Scores Against in the AFL... and we haven't even played one of the top sides yet.

It's time to take a serious look at our defense. Against Essendon* not only did old timers like Lloyd own us in the air, but we also got cut up down back at ground level. Little fellas like the Daveys killed us.

In a nutshell, our defense sucks.

What we need is a LEADER down back. And as much as I like Jamo, his quiet approach is not what I am talkng about. We need a Hodge. A player who is prepared to lead by example, who is prepared to take the game on and be tough but also defend.

Defense is the spring board to attack.

What have we got?

Jamison - good defender but has dodgy shoulders and is not attacking like a SOS or Hodge !
Waite - exceptional as the extra man down back who provides cover and re-bound, but far from convincing as a pure man-on-man KPP defender (that said he did OK the other night)
Johnston - dubious defensively (both ground and air... great kick though)
Thornton - above average but despite his experience is still unrelibale against the better forwards
Bower - after 4 pre-seasons is only marginally bulkier than Essendon*'s Dempsey amd has a yen for freezing in headlights !
Carrazzo - anyone who gets beaten by Monfries hasn't got much to hang his hat on
Scotland - decent player but runs one way only and has a worrying penchent for running around in circles
Stevens - just isn't bulit for defense
Austin - still young but struggles against opponents on the lead therefore FB is questionnable
Setanta - deserves another shot, but is probably getting close to his last chance given his age

On paper, at a massive 199cm the big Irish is our best shot down back, with Ozzie an agile flanker or CHB. But has Santy got the goods? Is he better than his deplorable showing against Bichmond 12 months ago suggests? I dunno, but I bloody hope so, because without him I'm not sure we have a good enough backline to win a Premieriship... which would be a crime given Judd, Gibbs, Murphy, Kruezer and Fevola will be so far ahead of their game in the next few years...

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It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to paint it

ummm, we do have a percentage of over 150 after three rounds.

Jamison is a very good KP backman.

Not sure what this thread is about really.

It's Jamison, stoopid.

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get Micky Martin back

Yep. I reckon Hodge would be the answer on guys like Lloyd and Jono Brown and Bradshaw.

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Never argue with idiots. They drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience!!!

After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says W T F .........
Visit http://fromthemoshpit.com/

It's DEFENCE.................!


kindest regards tommi
















Defence...............!

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

Replace defence with consisntency and intensity are you're closer to the mark.

Pagan was on to something when he played GIBBS at Full-Back.

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"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

Well he probably thought he could play Full Back like his old man did.....

Pagan =

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I think VB is on to something. He’s not saying we won’t win games or have a decent percentage with our current defensive line-up. He’s saying we won’t win a premiership. I tend to agree.

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"I had to eat"

same Horse, our backline is our weakness, everyone knows this. Jamison was a massive loss. I see the upside in Johnson though.

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Between our dreams and actions lies this world

I also agree. In those moments of the game when our midfield is not dominating our backline struggles to minimize the damage. I think that's the next development we need to address, but that's just it. We had to address our midfield - we have. Our ruck stocks - we have. And our forward structure is much better. I think we can structure up better this year - I do not want Stevo near a defensive position - I think T-Bird must play on their 3rd tall - so play Santy or whoever to allow this. Johnno or Scotland but never both. I'd like Army in there or Browney and I'd like to see the club get a few games into Austin/Edwards and Harts down back (when injuries - to them or others allow). See if any of them can help down there.

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This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

You could put forward an arguement that if we had converted our chances we would have romped in

But what we have to do more than anything is learn how to win 3 in a row - we have done it once since 2001 and that was against 12th 15th and 16th -

Everytime they get close we get a lot of flowery press and bingo we get done - this is the biggest barrier we need to overcome before they can move forward


Saying that we need Jamo back and a suitable replacement for Hot Head Thornton sooner rather than later

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If you allow the Government to change the Laws in an emergency
They will create an Emergency to change the Laws

I think T-Bird is fine on the 3rd tall but he is not a FB/ CHB.

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This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

We need to get Setanta back there for sure! We put Grigg in and it didn't pay off .. need a big defender down back to replace Jamo.

What happened to Austin? I thought he was gonna be the next Peter Dean ....

Austin is young, let development take its course with him. I do expect him to play a few games this year though.

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Between our dreams and actions lies this world

Austin has a groin injury and hasn't been playing

Setanta isn't the answer we need a defence general Setanta needs to sort his own game out we need someone to organise them down back - a Hodge- Scarlett- Glass - Barry- type of player - The club has been hinging it's hopes on Stevens and Scotland doing this role but i don't think they are up to it and are not suited to the role - The only player on the list who looks remotely capable of doing this is Gibbs - but he is not physically up to playing a permanent backman role against bigger bodies yet and plus that is robbing the midfield of a star .
I read in the Bullants reports tha Hartlett has been shifted to defence on the weekend maybe after a couple of years away from there and learning that he is never going to make it as a CHF plus a bit more maturity he might be a prospect - Hope they keep him there for a month or so to see how he goes

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If you allow the Government to change the Laws in an emergency
They will create an Emergency to change the Laws

Hawks won a flag with a "no name" defence so who knows.

Hopefully Austin can evolve into a quality defender and Jamo's shoulders hold up OK.
Agree that Thornton should be a "third tall" defender and Waite is more of a rebounding type.

At the end of the day if your midfield isn't applying pressure it is very tough for your defence. West Coast circa 2005/06 would kick big scores with a very average forward line because of their midfield dominance.

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There is no footy god

Many people on this forum ridicule the idea of Hartlett in defence however I think he may be best suited to this position.....lets persist with him there in the Bullants and see what happens.

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There is no footy god

Our defence needs some drilling.
We dont and cant get a Hodge , Scarlett etc.


Often theyre playing their man wrong.. or in the wrong spots ... its not the personnel.

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Austin definitely the answer at CHB and should be playing there in the 2nd half of the year. Great size,good mark and kick and reads the play well. If he can hold down this position, the whole backline complexion changes with some exciting possibilities(ie Waite on a wing). Add maybe O`Keefe in an Ang Christou type role with his kicking and Browne/Armfield for the small forwards and the defence might not be the problem people think it is. Most of the defensive group is still young and developing and will be vastly better after 100+ games.