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Best players by position.

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I being an ex full back (Local league) am interested to know who has been our best F/B and B/pockets in recent memory.

I barely remember the names Tassie Johnson, Crompton, Biffin, etc but what about Hughes, Whelan, Hoppy, Wight, Tony Campbell?, Nicholson etc?

Maybe we can go through each line with some discussion.

 

M. Whelan.

Wow

I think I cam safely say Whelan was the best defender I saw in red and blue. That's if you don't count Neita's days at CHB. Doggie went ok, though he didn't always "defend."

 

our best backline in recent times

Whelan Wight Grinter

Rivers Ingerson Yeates

Key Position - Wight, Ingerson

Back Pocket - Whelan, Yeats

Half back flank - B.Lovett, S.Febey

 

I know that this shows my age, but Gary Hardeman for CHB.


Off the top of my head ... at their best, to win the game with a balanced line-up:

Tall Backs: Neitz, Hardeman, Wight

Small Backs: A. Johnson, B. Lovett, Flower

Mids: Alves, Wells, Tingay

Rucks: Stynes, Viney, Wilson

Tall Forwards: Lyon, Jakovich, Schwarz

Small Forwards: Farmer, Gerard Healy, Davey

I: P.Moore, G.Lovett, Woewodin, Yze

Line-up generally lacking a bit of pace for today's game is my main concern.

I'm sure there's good players I've missed.

And good players unlucky to miss - e.g. White, Fowler, Rhode, Yeats.

Barassi, Dixon etc a bit early for me.

  • Author

Agree with Undeeniable re Gary Hardeman.

I'll post my 1/2 back line in a day or two.

For now I'd probably go with Backs; Yeates ; Wight ; Whelan/Ingerson depending on whether a small or tall pocket matchup was needed.

Off the top of my head...

B: Wight, Ingerson, A. Johnson

HB: B Lovett, Hardeman, S Febey

Wight definitely somewhere there, for his run out of the back line (tenacious). Alan Johnson similarly.

Gary Hardeman CHB for his impressive marking.

And i just loved Brett Lovett.

Alan Johnson (The 88 Final against West Coke) he polled a perfect score at the B & F count) gave his all.

Gary Hardeman-always played for the Big V

Graeme Yeats-Fearless

Sean Wight-Brilliance & originality

Danny Hughes-beautiful long kicks & his efforts on Brian Taylor

Matty Whelan-courage, but too easily injured sadly.

Ingerson-Fantastic Pick up from the crows

Clint Bizzell-Gave 110%


did Whelan ever play a bad game?

Not a chance

  • Author

My 1/2 back line would be S Febey Hardeman B Lovett

C/line is Alves Wells Flower

Must agree with Hardeman , he was exceptional.Other good ones were Steven Icke.Alan Jarrot(tough as nails!),Ingerson,Laurie Fowler,Brett Lovett.

  • Author

1/2 fwd line; Lyon, Schwarz, Alan Johnson (gotta be in somewhere)

F fwd line ; Farmer, Neitz, Davey

Onballers; Stynes, Viney, Yze (see AJ above)

I/C Ingerson, G Lovett, White, Jakovich

some really hard omissions. :mellow:


1/2 fwd line; Lyon, Schwarz, Alan Johnson (gotta be in somewhere)

F fwd line ; Farmer, Neitz, Davey

Onballers; Stynes, Viney, Yze (see AJ above)

I/C Ingerson, G Lovett, White, Jakovich

some really hard omissions. :mellow:

I understand your pain with the omissions but in reality you can't run with that interchange of 2KPPs a ruck and an on-baller. It's a cop-out to put your 4 next best players on the bench - it is used positionally too for rotations. Interchange is 1 ruck and 3 onballers or 1 ruck, 2 on-ballers and a versatile tall - Jako and Ingo aren't that versatile, I could buy Lyon for example but he makes everyone's 18, possibly Sean Wight.

did Whelan ever play a bad game?

Great when he played but missed too many finals with injury.

Was he diligent enough with his preparation?

Great when he played but missed too many finals with injury.

Was he diligent enough with his preparation?

Preparation: eating right, meeting training requirements including stretching thoroughly, warming up, no short cuts.

I'm out of my league on this one.

45HG16 might know.

 
  • Author

Old55, It's not a cop out to have the guys I have, on the I/C.

I have flexibility where I need it. Must have anther ruckman. Must have a running midfielder and still have Davey, The Lovetts, AJ, Ooze,and maybe even Whelan to rotate if required. Got a backup fwd and defender too! Both Lyon and Hardeman give me extra flexibility as well. My I/C were not the next best 4 players but those who I would happily take to war.

IMO rovers are a dead breed now and R/R seem to do this chore.

This side has brilliance, arrogance, class, leadership, rat cunning, athleticism and a fair dose of experience. It might lack absolute leg speed but where have we had an abundance of that over the years?

Pretty happy to stick with what I have. ;)

Old55, It's not a cop out to have the guys I have, on the I/C.

I have flexibility where I need it. Must have anther ruckman. Must have a running midfielder and still have Davey, The Lovetts, AJ, Ooze,and maybe even Whelan to rotate if required. Got a backup fwd and defender too! Both Lyon and Hardeman give me extra flexibility as well. My I/C were not the next best 4 players but those who I would happily take to war.

IMO rovers are a dead breed now and R/R seem to do this chore.

This side has brilliance, arrogance, class, leadership, rat cunning, athleticism and a fair dose of experience. It might lack absolute leg speed but where have we had an abundance of that over the years?

Pretty happy to stick with what I have. ;)

You need 3 mids on the bench for rotations or you'll get torched. Not sure what a "rover" and a "ruck-rover" are.

With Ingerson on the bench I'm assuming your back 6 (from above) is Yeats, White, Whelan, B.Lovett, Hardeman, S.Febey

so I'll accept with only 2 talls that you can slot Ingo in there to a free up a midfielder but none of Whelan, Yeats or S.Febey make my 22 as midfielders.

If you push Jakovich into that forward line to free a runner then you've got Neitz, Jako, Lyon and Schwarz in the 18 - too top heavy.

You've got one too many talls and one too many HBFs.


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