Backline

[Carn dees 108]

baileys plan seeting around speed and fast rebounding.

Atm we have a few key possy players the bulkl of em still young developing players.

justr wondering how people rated them and who they see more appart of our future.

heres mine

1.garland

2.rivers

3.martin

4.frawley

5.wheatley

6.warnock

Open to all opinions.

Let us no if ive left any one out.

[Little Goffy 14,579]

I think the tricky part is fitting people into the right places.

I think Warnock is pretty specifically a Gorilla Keeper.

Frawley is mostly a Gorilla Keeper but looks like he'll be a decent third tall as well.

Rivers is obviously an interceptor of some quality, zoning off from a third tall forward when he judges appropriate.

Garland is an agile guy who can handle the mobile CHFs and play on third forward as well, but is not ideal for the Gorillas.

Martin looks like he'll be a Gorilla Keeper but, like Frawley, has a bit of speed to him and might handle the CHF and third tall roles.

Rivers and Garland are certainies when fit and holding the form we can reasonably expect.

Frawley, Martin and Warnock will fight between them for managing the goalsquare forward and one other.

BUT, i think one of these guys will miss out each game. Still, they'll all get a decent number of games into them because there will of course be the occassional niggle, and some horses for courses selections. It also complicates things that we really can't say what form we ought to expect from these guys.

Wheatley isn't really a tall defender as far as juggling these positons go - attacking HBF onto the wing.

And he's a whole other story. Will soon be competing hard for his spot if any of those draftees get a good stretch together. Sadly, because I appreciate him, I think he will be next year's Jeff White - eased out to make way for younger players, who in this case may even be outperforming him soon.

[Rogue 585]

Wheatley isn't a KPP IMO. I'm not sure he's even a defender to be honest - if he is it's as someone who's primarily used to make play.

There's probably room in the team for the other five, but who knows whether they'll all make the grade (in Rivers case, whether their body will hold out).

Garland could probably play forward, and a few people on here have suggested Martin has the makings of a forward.

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

With a keen eye on the future, I'd say Frawley, Martin and Rivers, with Warnock on the bench or in for injuries would be my starting set-up. Why these 3 or 4? Their kicks deny them ay scope for serious damage further up the ground. Frawley is probably the only one who could damage on the rebound with his pace and courage, and since his kick looks worse than it actually is I'd like to see him playing on the HB line, as opposed to deep in the pockets or square.

Garland can always play there, and certainly will if needed as he's pretty much already our second-most credentialled KP defender, but with a kick like his, he needs to be damaging sides, and I'm certain that sooner or later he'll be called upon to hurt the opposition on the scoreboard.

As for Wheatley the deepest he's EVER played is as a rebounding flanker. I consider him an out-and-out wingman... and that's where my analysis stops. I have always had problems getting excited about Wheatley, even with his years of service. He's not part of our long-term future, so I'm not really fussed if he makes way for youngsters.

[montasaurus 0]

Any side will/should always have a backup defender in the two's.

I think the last spot will be between warnock and martin.

Dutchie is no longer with us so that will mean one of the younger players will miss a spot. I would suggest if they are all fit then another option to look at is either martin or garland should be played KPF if newton doesn't take the next step.

[the_russian 17]

Garland could probably play forward, and a few people on here have suggested Martin has the makings of a forward.

I saw Martin play a game for Sandy in 07 up forward, he took everything in the air and Sautner was fuming as he didnt get a touch all day because of Martin, so the makings are there for him to go up forward

[mo64 5,875]

baileys plan seeting around speed and fast rebounding.

Atm we have a few key possy players the bulkl of em still young developing players.

justr wondering how people rated them and who they see more appart of our future.

heres mine

1.garland

2.rivers

3.martin

4.frawley

5.wheatley

6.warnock

Open to all opinions.

Let us no if ive left any one out.

McNamara. I believe that he's a similar type of player to Rivers. Wheatley excluded, I agree with your ratings.

[mordja 187]

where is petterd?

[Carn dees 108]

I dont see petterd as a key backman. Hes a high possy getter who could create run on the flank along with possibly strauss and buckley.

[DeeBest 13]

Someone will have to go forward, I reckon it'll end up being Garland.

The problem with Stefan Martin is his kicking, unless he plays forward within about 25m of goal then I wouldn't want him down there. Unless they've continued to improve his skills over summer of course.

[Vipercrunch 2,827]

Stef Martin probably has more improvement in him than others players the same age because of his non-football background. It's also hard to gauge his set shot kicking as we haven't seen much of that.

I would rank Warnock as the most important big tall, and see another good year for him. I can't understand why so many seem to think he will go backwards this year.

A fit Rivers will play the general "Tom Harley" roll, filling the gap, zoning off ect, etc - all the stuff we really missed last year with our younger guys on their steep learning curve.

I would love Frawley to make up the other big defender roll. He has been highlighted by the club as having a big pre-season, but time will tell.

I think Garland and Martin have the skill and pace to be possible forward options. It would be a luxury I suppose for them NOT to be required down back, but it would be good to see how they go as forwards if they get the chance.