While Batram is playing well, I am not sure who is really challenging him for the small defender role. Bennell is not accountable up back. Strauss is still learning. Cheney lacks pace.

If the FD feel the need to squeeze Rivers into the backline when he recovers perhaps Garland will be asked to play small in a shut down role on the Milne/Le Cras types. Once Garland gets some touch/fitness back he should have the closing speed and agility to go with those small forwards while providing better skills and rebound than Bartram currently does.

Perhaps neither Dunn nor Bartram are going to be in the best 22 in time, but right now they are playing well and have something important to offer, strength and a bit of toe. Dunn looks better than Bate and has it all over Miller and Newton as a tallish forward (even if not KP), Bartram looks at least as good as Bruce.

One sees names like Wona and Jurrah and Maric and Tapscott bandied around as replacing Dunn and Bartram as if there's some sort of obvious natural order to things - but they've all played little or no senior football. Wona had one breakout game and obviously has a troublesome hamstring; Jurrah might be a proppy proposition because of injury and really has to prove himself all over again; Maric hasn't been selected for some reason, not sure why; Tapscott hasn't had a game and is long term injured; Jetta is another one, in my opinion the most likely of all those not yet playing to get one soon; Strauss seems to be headed for defence and might vie with Bartram for a spot; Watts? He'll need a tough body nearby and is no certainty to replace Dunn completely even if he fires.

The point of all this is that these blokes are doing well in an improved and even side; suggesting they'll be passed by when all those virtually untried youngsters are set to go is pure conjecture. There's no reason why Dunn and Bartram shouldn't hold their places if they continue to improve like most of the side has done. Bartram had a great first season and can play; Dunn has been shifted all over the paddock but has some strings to his bow: bulk, strength, pace, kicking.

I'll go along with that, ultimately they may be replaced but at the moment they are playing well enough to hold their place and we should be happy that they have both turned the corner. Dunn is a big boy and the one thing that all the good clubs have in common is the size of their players, I feel happier that we have some hard bodies playing against the Bears this week. I reckon Dunn has been played out of position for several years now and if he is left in the forward line he could be alright. Bartram has been injured on and off for the last couple of years and with some good players around him he is looking better, funny that.

I feel happier that we have some hard bodies playing against the Bears this week...

Exactly!

They are average players holding their spot in an bottom 8 team.

I agree - there's a long way to go for both.

I agree - there's a long way to go for both.

Just had a look at some stats for this year and interestingly Dunn is in the top 15 of the AFL for marks - with 30 (leader is on 44).

I know stats can be misleading but he's averaging over 7 marks a game, which at least means that:

1. he's been providing an option;

2. he has some sort of awareness; and

3. he's been getting on his bike a bit.

Compared to what he's dished up in the past, I think Dunn's been excellent so far this year. Completely exceeded any expectations I had for him (which were admittedly very, very low)

Edited April 23, 201015 yr by BennytheJet

Just had a look at some stats for this year and interestingly Dunn is in the top 15 of the AFL for marks - with 30 (leader is on 44).

I know stats can be misleading but he's averaging over 7 marks a game, which at least means that:

1. he's been providing an option;

2. he has some sort of awareness; and

3. he's been getting on his bike a bit.

Compared to what he's dished up in the past, I think Dunn's been excellent so far this year. Completely exceeded any expectations I had for him (which were admittedly very, very low)

He has shown a clean pair of hands lately - his marks stats are good but overall his stats put him in the bottom third of the team on average for the season (of those that have played 4 games). Some of his clangers can be explained as noted above by forwards under pressure. Against Adelaide several of his kicks were just mis hit mongrels. Our future is the clean hit ups that Sculgove / Grimes and Bail have shown they can deliver already on a shorter learning curve.

I think in the medium term I cant see him competing as a midfielder (that will be a crowded high quality space) and he doesnt cut it as a key position player - has shown no potential to kick a bag. He may have a role as a utility - I hope he succeeds