It's only a rookie spot I know, but Newton has run his race.

Truly

and, for all those who say "what's there to lose", what are you smoking?

Agree.

I've always found that being a forward is easier.

You dictate terms & only have to be aware of where the ball is.

- indeed starting on the HFF.

I've always found that being a forward is easier.

You dictate terms & only have to be aware of where the ball is.

I've found the opposite.

The same sorts of comments raised in this thread were mentioned by Lonergan in an article talking about his switch to defence that I read not so long ago (for some reason).

Back to Newton, I agree he hasn't taken his chances at AFL level to date and been a massive cause for frustration, but having said that I have never seen hime play in defence. I may be wrong but I hazard a guess most on here haven't either. That's not to say he'll be any good in the role, or even retain his spot on the list, but if the FD decided to try him in a different spot, I wouldn't be too disappointed. On the available evidence he will not make it as a forward. Period. But we don't lose anything by trying him as a backman.

Apparently he did okay pushing back into defence this year at VFL level, but that's pretty different to playing as a KPD.

In any event, I see Frawley and Warnock as the only true KPD on our list. Garland is a jet but IMO is better suited to third tall role that Rivers / MacDonald currently play. Warnock is a good workhorse in his role but there is clearly an opportunity for someone to make one of the KPD roles their own, Newton or otherwise.

IMO Martin has shown more as a potential KPD.

If Newton plays on, he'll be duking it out for a second ruck/forward spot.

I'd sooner put Jurrah or Watts in the middle.

They have the tank & it wouldn't compromise our defence.

Agreed - there are plenty of guys we could run through the middle before Frawley.

More likely to go on a wing than anywhere else if we want to push him up the ground.

That wasn't a real football match- there were no points on offer, it was a 16 man a team field- VFL kings would have shown something. Didn't Brisbane have a guy from their finance department in the team?

hahahaha your signature is awesome!

Agree.

I've always found that being a forward is easier.

You dictate terms & only have to be aware of where the ball is.

Probably played about 30 games out of a back-pocket. Save for about 2-3 of those games, I found it the easiest position on the ground to play.

CHF was the most fun though.

I'm not sure that specific example is such a good point. The Frawley chase ended (not started) at half-forward and Frawley chased for a long time. If Frawley was lurking at half-forward he wouldn't have been chasing Jetta along the wing towards the half-forward flank.

Maybe there's some other famous chase on Jetta that I can't remember, but this chase certainly didn't:

('James Frawley's chase on Lewis Jetta (Round 17, 2010 vs Sydney)')

If that chase didn't start on our half-forward line, I'm Abe Lincoln.

IMO Martin has shown more as a potential KPD.

Agree with this. Martin has played his best footy as a backman.

Our backline doesn't need it.

This is exactly the type of "if it aint broke don't fix it" mentality I was speaking of. Newton is probably not the one that will make the difference, but if you think our backline won't need any improvement in the coming years you're kidding yourself.

and, for all those who say "what's there to lose", what are you smoking?

Nothing. Last time I checked our last rookie spot will be what? Around the 150th pick overall and in a weakend draft pool. One year to see if Newton can fulfil the role or not will cost nothing if the FD deems it worthwhile. FWIW I haven't seen anything to suggest Newton will be any better as a defender than a forward, but if he's retained with that sort of experimentation in mind, I won't feel that we've lost out on anything.

This is exactly the type of "if it aint broke don't fix it" mentality I was speaking of. Newton is probably not the one that will make the difference, but if you think our backline won't need any improvement in the coming years you're kidding yourself.

My view that it is misguided for Newton to be retained for a year to be resurrected into a KPD, is my risk averse mentality at play?

I don't think it is worth our time.