I desperately hope Frawley stays. I'm bemused that others seem so blasé. Frawley and McDonald as dazzledavey36 suggests is a solid core down back as is Dawes and Hogan. I like the flexibility Dunn, Howe, Watts and now Pedersen offer us. With a developing midfield and an emerging ruck in Gawn we're looking in good shape structurally.

  On 25/05/2014 at 01:14, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Sauce?

Tomato please

Frawley needs to learn how to take a contested mark if he is to be a permanent forward.

If frawley signs on with us, I would prefer him to go back to his natural position and to have Howe as the floating 3rd forward.

Opposition 3rd best defenders would sh!t themselves on Howe

  On 25/05/2014 at 03:07, deeflog said:

If frawley signs on with us, I would prefer him to go back to his natural position and to have Howe as the floating 3rd forward.

Opposition 3rd best defenders would [censored] themselves on Howe

not sure about Crawley up forward but howe has to stay back. Roos has found a perfect role for him

At the moment we've got Dunn, McDonald, Howe, Garland, Pedersen, Terlich and Grimes all playing back (predominantly)

Pedersen, Grimes, Garland and Terlich all float into the midfield occasionally whilst Cameron bobs up in the forward line periodically. I'm not sure there's any room for Frawley in the backline in the foreseeable future (unless we change things up)

There's a distinct possibility that Frawley playing forward will be persevered with at least for this season. He's not strong overhead but who is? Dawes is ok but not great and Watts is better in a one-on-one situation. Gawn is still learning and is not a guaranteed selection anyway. Hogan is still under a cloud.

Roos looks like he wants a few of our talls to be more adaptable and to be able to play in multiple positions. Frawley, Howe, Pedersen and Watts are all playing utility type roles and Garland is another player who can play that sort of role.

Roos himself played a lot of his footy as a utility so it should come as no surprise that he's trying to shape a few players to play similar roles. He was an absolute gun footballer himself and that part shouldn't be underestimated when appraising his coaching attributes.

Frawley is a backman all the way.

I reckon with better total field defence he will get back to being an all Australian quality defender

  On 25/05/2014 at 01:01, Sassy said:

Apparantly we have increased the pressure on chip to 're-sign

  On 25/05/2014 at 01:14, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Sauce?

  On 25/05/2014 at 02:11, dazzledavey36 said:

Once Hogan is up and going its back to the backline for me.

One thing has not been mentioned here at all is how good Tom Mcdonald has been this year as a defender. In fact he has been absolutely super form! Has shut down Franklin, Reiwoldt, Hendersen and Hawkins in the Nab cup. Frawley and Mcdonald in the backline is a formidable duo with Hogan and Dawes up forward.

Natural forwards and backs in their natural positions.

TMacs formline reminds my of a former club champion. I think it was Neita I'm thinking of, in his really early years.

  On 25/05/2014 at 03:07, Clint Bizkit said:

Frawley needs to learn how to take a contested mark if he is to be a permanent forward.

True, but I can't see him being a permanent forward for us past this season if he signs on. He's a natural backman, and with McDonald and Garland down there along with Dunn we look very, very solid back there. Dawes, Hogan and Pedersen as a third tall with even Howe as a fourth tall is fantastic up forward too.

  On 25/05/2014 at 04:35, dee-luded said:

TMacs formline reminds my of a former club champion. I think it was Neita I'm thinking of, in his really early years.

but for the fact that Neeta could always kick ....just saying

  On 25/05/2014 at 02:44, Goodvibes said:

I desperately hope Frawley stays. I'm bemused that others seem to blasé. Frawley and McDonald as dazzledavey36 suggests is a solid core down back as is Dawes and Hogan. I like the flexibility Dunn, Howe, Watts and now Pedersen offer us. With a developing midfield an emerging ruck in Gawn we're looking in good shape structurally.

not blase`, I want him to stay, but we have to be ready for whatever he decides. so it is, that we discuss footy options in todays AFL environment.

  On 25/05/2014 at 04:37, beelzebub said:

but for the fact that Neeta could always kick ....just saying

frawley was an ordinary/poor kick in his early days. he hits many targets now.

  On 25/05/2014 at 02:44, Goodvibes said:

I desperately hope Frawley stays. I'm bemused that others seem to blasé. Frawley and McDonald as dazzledavey36 suggests is a solid core down back as is Dawes and Hogan. I like the flexibility Dunn, Howe, Watts and now Pedersen offer us. With a developing midfield an emerging ruck in Gawn we're looking in good shape structurally.

That can change very quickly with injury though. We still lack a little bit of KPP depth.

  On 25/05/2014 at 03:07, deeflog said:

If frawley signs on with us, I would prefer him to go back to his natural position and to have Howe as the floating 3rd forward.

Opposition 3rd best defenders would [censored] themselves on Howe

I think Howe has the attributes to be more damaging as a third up defender. See the Richmond game. That's his go. Everyone uses the word 'elite' a lot, but Howe could be AA material as a backman. As a forward, he has the talent to be flashy and hit the scoreboard, but his aerial prowess suggests he could become a real weapon that could affect the scoreboard defensively. Thus, IMO, he'll be best utilised in defence.

The Sydney demolition of Geelong does us no favours, Frawley has an outstanding record playing on gun forwards and I reckon a few of the contenders will be looking for some kryptonite. While Geelong got their pants pulled down, and had a very unsettled back six (Tippet was always going to be too much for Rivers), the sight of these two playing together will be causing much discussion in other FB departments. BTW How good was Franklins kick to Tippet on the lead, Tippet really reminds me of Pav at his peak when he's up and about.

I still hope he plays for us, we'll need him too...

Geelong are drifting back to the pack though.

Not as enticing a destination as it once was.

  On 31/05/2014 at 00:43, Machsy said:

Geelong are drifting back to the pack though.

Not as enticing a destination as it once was.

i'd still argue they have some good talent coming through and will be playing regular finals for a while to come, which is a fairly significant point of difference between them and us as i'd say we are at least another season off playing finals.

If by "another season off finals" you mean we won't play then this year, but potentially next, I'd agree.

But that has no bearing on Frawley being there next year.

In 2015 I'd expect us to push for finals.

And it'll only get tougher with Geelong losing Enright, Bartel & Johnson in coming years.

Still it is those 3 plus Selwood, Duncan and Hawkins that stand up for Geelong.

There is the perception of depth, but not a lot of star power behind the big names.

  On 31/05/2014 at 01:04, Machsy said:

If by "another season off finals" you mean we won't play then this year, but potentially next, I'd agree.

But that has no bearing on Frawley being there next year.

In 2015 I'd expect us to push for finals.

And it'll only get tougher with Geelong losing Enright, Bartel & Johnson in coming years.

Still it is those 3 plus Selwood, Duncan and Hawkins that stand up for Geelong.

There is the perception of depth, but not a lot of star power behind the big names.

I agree, if everything went perfectly we might sneak into the 8 next year, but more likely 2016, i don't feel as though Geelong will have too many issues they still have some real quality players around, Motlop, Hawkins, Duncan, Selwood, Lonegan, Guthrie, Taylor, Rivers, and so on so the nucleus of a good side will remain,

i don't believe they will make a play for Chip though

our biggest risk of losing him is in our control, winning today would be another big step, and it sounds from what i am hearing most sides think he is going to stay anyway.

Real quality?

Motlop flashes in and out of games. He's icing.

Rivers is on his last legs.

Lonergan is a pure stopper.

Taylor is an overrated solid defender.

Guthrie is solid, but not a star.

Still, you're left with the names Duncan, Selwood and Hawkins, and not much else that other clubs don't have in spades.

Motlop, lonegan, Taylor are all Australian premiership players, would love three of those at the Dees

  On 31/05/2014 at 01:23, Sassy said:

Motlop, lonegan, Taylor are all Australian premiership players, would love three of those at the Dees

All forever riding on the coat tails of others...

I like most others hope Chip stays, but I feel he has had a very poor season so far.

  On 31/05/2014 at 03:20, Redleg said:

I like most others hope Chip stays, but I feel he has had a very poor season so far.

Not only is that unfair as Frawley has been played out of position in about 80% of his games this season, but it's also impeccable timing as he is having another excellent game playing in the unfamiliar role as key forward.

Frawley's efforts to repeatedly offer long leads in the conditions and on such a big ground have been exemplary.