molsey wrote:
Whilst we're seen in this thread to be playing too tall, at the same time I don't think we're actually tall enough for that 1-2 players to actually be seen as 'key defenders'. We have 4 mid height players who have various ability to play tall / small, and different ability to play on the lead or on strong opponents. I thought Setanta was going to make that but clearly the MC think otherwise.
Waite, Jamison, Thornton, Bower and Austin are all 192-194cm and not really able to play on the big fellas. That being said in individual encounters one of them tends to match up OK - Jamison on Riewoldt for one.
I'm really pleased you brought that up Molsey. I was having a discussion with my accountant yesterday (!) about the same thing, he was suggesting none of our key backs were big enough. I mentioned to him that I had looked into this prevoiusly, and did so again last night. This is what I found...listed below our our key backs (with heights), and current and recent past key backmen that are Premiership players or All Australians or good key backmen.
Our guys:Austin 193
Bower 192
Jamison 193
Thornton 192
Waite 194
O'hAilpin 199
Other current key backmen:Bock 193
Rutten 192
Prestigiacomo 193
Fletcher 198
McPharlin 193
Tarrant 193
Scarlett 192
Harley 193
Mackie 192
Croad 190
Gillham 192
C Brown 190
Firrito 190
Hansen 197
Carlile 192
C Cornes 192
Hudghton 191
S Fisher 192
C Bolton 190
Barry 184
Hunter 190
Glass 192
Lake 195
Morris 190
Recent past:Leppitsch 191
M Michael 190
Clement 190
Silvagni 194
Most of those are 190 - 193cm, same height as our guys. Seems our backs are tall enough, the question is whether they will be good enough.
molsey wrote:
In 2010 if Waite plays permanent forward because Austin and Bower have had such good 2009's, then we'll be in a much better position.
Completely agree. If Austin (or Bower) can hold CHB on a permanent basis, it will free Waite to play permanent CHF. Or...Kreuzer plays permanent CHF (I still think this is a distinct possibility in the next 1-3 years, if Warnock and Hampson/Jacobs can hold the ruck) with Waite playing as a wingman/swingman, a la Richo.
Either of these options will add a much needed second key tall, making our forward line far more potent.