Is our backline strong enough in 2017?

We have very little tall depth down back, it is essentially just Garland not that Dunn has gone.

yeah we are a bit light.  I wonder with Hibberd coming in (6'1) will we only play 2 talls against some teams?

I wouldnt be surprised if we picked up a mature key defender from the VFL as a rookie

 

 

and to prodee saying jetta's spot is vulnerable...i can't even...no words, man, no words...

 

with you on that Andrew. I reckon Jetta is our toughest player by far. Will not back down.

Gotta have a crack at this

B: N Jetta. T McDonald, S Frost

HB: J Hunt, O McDonald, M Hibberd

C: B Vince, D Tyson, N Jones

HF: A Brayshaw, J Hogan, D Kent

F: J Garlett, J Watts, C Petracca

R: M Gawn, J Lewis, J Viney

I: C Salem, B Stretch, C Oliver, J Melksham

 

You have verbal diarrhea under this incarnation. 

Anyway...

I've posted my 2017 best team and you'll note Smith isn't in it.  I said "I wouldn't be surprised if he's there round one".

Internally he's rated exceptionally highly.  And for good reason.  Courage, speed, skill, and can play tall or small.

I see Jetta's position as becoming vulnerable.  

Let's hope we have competition for spots.  It's how we get better.

I think so too. Even irrespective of Smith. If we want another speedster or kicker, Jetta may have to make way.

 

I think so too. Even irrespective of Smith. If we want another speedster or kicker, Jetta may have to make way.

I respectfully disagree. There are better players in our team but none more valuable than Jetta. First picked each week for me

b: Jetta OMac Hibberd
hb: Hunt TMac Vince
c: Stretch Lewis Salem
hf: Petracca Hogan Kent
f: Watts Weideman Garlett
r: Gawn Jones Viney
i: Tyson Oliver Brayshaw Harmes

e: Frost Melksham Vandenberg

A thought on Melksham being in our consistent best 22. If you look at his YouTube highlights, he can kick at elite level on both feet. He is very good at getting the pill out the middle from the tap down. Melksham is also a very effective player in tight traffic and he is a good chase down tackler. He is an excellent kick from 50 metres in and is a fiery character. Just thought those who were constantly doing him down might like to consider this. Melksham learnt his craft from Ken Fletcher at P.E.G.S. who loves contested footy, which is what we are now all about. Consider other Fletcher understudies: Trengrove & Cotchin. Melksham was only a year or so after them and came out of that competitive environment.

 

Jordan Lewis walks into the midfield starting 18

Jetta   Tmac  Omac

Hibberd Frost Hunt

Vince    Tyson  Stretch

Petracca Pedo Lewis

Garlett    Hogan Watts

Gawn Viney Jones

I/C Oliver Brayshaw  Salem Kent

Obviously depends upon match ups with opponents, weather/ground conditions and injuries. Melksham, Bugg, Vanders, Wagner and Harmes will come in and out of the side as will others I have put in best 22.  What I like about our side/squad  is plenty of rotations through the guts, several who can run of HB and a couple of players who can play run with roles. 

All of Jones Viney Lewis Melksham Oliver Vince Petracca Brayshaw Tyson and Watts can do stints on the ball.

All of Vince Hibberd Hunt Salem and Lewis can play off HB

We certainly possess a lot of hard big bodied players which our club has lacked for so long

Jetta  T.mcd  Frost

Salem  O.mcd Hibberd

Hunt  Viney  Melksham

Kent Hogan Petracca

Gartlett Weideman Watts

Gawn Lewis N.Jones

Oliver Brayshaw Vince Tyson

emerg. Pedersen Harmes Stretch

Backline depth.  Garland Lamumba Mckenna White* Wagner*

Midfield depth    Stretch Harmes Trengove ANB Vdhbrg Bugg

Fwd depth    Pedersen Hulett Jkh BenKen

Ruck depth    Spencer Mitch.King

Add 3 draftees   Add 2 rookies

Jetta    Frost    Hibberd

Salem    T Mac    Hunt

Melksham  Jones    Vince

Petracca    Pederson    Lewis

Watts    Hogan    Garlett

Gawn  Tyson  Viney

i/c    Oliver  Stretch  Kent  Brayshaw

emerg  O Mac  Vandenberg  Harmes

Cannot see the need to play 3 tall defenders against many sides, particularly when Hibberd plays so tall. 

 

I respectfully disagree. There are better players in our team but none more valuable than Jetta. First picked each week for me

Jetta is currently my favourite player, so don't get me wrong, but every year we have to look at any slight weaknesses in our list. Although Jetta is a great one on one player, he's not elite by foot or in terms of pace. Given our zonal defensive game style and slingshot, unless he lifts his kicking once more, his place in the side may become vulnerable IMO.

I don't see anyone on our list challenging Jetta's position in the 18. The role he plays for us is a match winner; in so much that we don't get carved up by small forwards anymore.  Until another player can do that; he's a certainty to play every match he's fit for.

 

(Can't believe we almost lost him a few years back - Rawlings earnt his money that day)

 

Jetta is currently my favourite player, so don't get me wrong, but every year we have to look at any slight weaknesses in our list. Although Jetta is a great one on one player, he's not elite by foot or in terms of pace. Given our zonal defensive game style and slingshot, unless he lifts his kicking once more, his place in the side may become vulnerable IMO.

I agree. We've just drastically increased the competition for spots in that back half by adding Melksham and Hibberd. Add in organic improvement from Salem, Vince being pushed back by Lewis inclusion, it gets tight. In 2016 he was "first picked" because of his disciplined style of play, but as the standard is raised to the point where that's the minimum requirement, Jetta may no longer have a point of difference over other players.

We'll see though.

 

I agree. We've just drastically increased the competition for spots in that back half by adding Melksham and Hibberd. Add in organic improvement from Salem, Vince being pushed back by Lewis inclusion, it gets tight. In 2016 he was "first picked" because of his disciplined style of play, but as the standard is raised to the point where that's the minimum requirement, Jetta may no longer have a point of difference over other players.

We'll see though.

The day when Jetta no longer gets a game will say less about Jets and more about the direction of the MFC.

I would contend that Jetta would get a run in pretty much every back six in the league.

I suspect we may see quite a dramatic turnaround in age profile at the beginning of next season, along with a focus on hard, experienced bodies and cleaner execution. Last year was a development year without a realistic chance to impact the finals. We gave the kids a run, told them to back themselves in, and were steadfast in implementing our game-plan with endeavor and contested intent rewarded over precision. This year, I think we’ll be looking to bolster our chances in tight games with a greater focus on experience and contested endurance.

 

 

FF:       Garlett          Hogan            Watts

HF:      Petracca     Pedersen      vandenBurg

 

C:      Brayshaw       Jones            Melksham

RR:      Lewis           Gawn              Viney

 

HB:     Hunt             TMac            Lumumba

FB:      Jetta            Omac             Hibberd

 

INT:     Vince      Tyson      Oliver       Bugg

 

 

I would contend that Jetta would get a run in pretty much every back six in the league.

That's a contention that can't really be put to the test.

Anyway I'm not saying I see his position under threat yet. Just that it could plausibly happen. Time will tell.

 

I suspect we may see quite a dramatic turnaround in age profile at the beginning of next season, along with a focus on hard, experienced bodies and cleaner execution. Last year was a development year without a realistic chance to impact the finals. We gave the kids a run, told them to back themselves in, and were steadfast in implementing our game-plan with endeavor and contested intent rewarded over precision. This year, I think we’ll be looking to bolster our chances in tight games with a greater focus on experience and contested endurance.

 

 

FF:       Garlett          Hogan            Watts

HF:      Petracca     Pedersen      vandenBurg

 

C:      Brayshaw       Jones            Melksham

RR:      Lewis           Gawn              Viney

 

HB:     Hunt             TMac            Lumumba

FB:      Jetta            Omac             Hibberd

 

INT:     Vince      Tyson      Oliver       Bugg

 

Are you SA ?

I can't read that.

 

Backline: I think Omac has potential, I just don't think he fits in our starting backline right now.  IMO we need two defensive smalls in Jetta and Salem, team defence is what won the dogs the premiership this year, so will make us a pressure side. Hunt and Hibberd will surely be the HB flankers for that rebound that Goodwin will be keen on.

Mid:  Viney and Oliver first to the ball, with Jones and Tyson 2nd receiver. Also agree with earlier comments around Stretch - the kid is a gun, has speed, skills, and attack and will be critical on the wing in 2017. I also think Brayshaw due to explode next year and suits this position despite his bigger build. Vince obviously rotating through there (I put him on bench because he plays multiple roles) and the half-back, and Lewis rotating through but at half-forward. Surely our midfield will be a force next year.

Forward: I don't think Weideman is fully ready, his manager said he was targeting to play 15 games next season and I think that's about right. Can see him and Pederson fighting over FF. We don't have much decent depth in the tall forwards and although I think cutting Dawes was the right move, we may open up if a couple get injured. I rate Kent but surely he is going to be pushed from half-forward to forward pocket due to development of the midfield and addition of Lewis.

Jetta                 T.mcd               Salem  

Hunt                   Frost               Hibberd

Stretch               Jones              Brayshaw  

Lewis                  Hogan             Petracca

Garlett         Weideman/Pedo      Watts

Gawn, Viney, Oliver            

Int: Vince, Tyson, Melkshem, Trengove/Harmes

 

 

Are you SA ?

I can't read that.

SA?

 

 

Gotta have a crack at this

B: N Jetta. T McDonald, S Frost

HB: J Hunt, O McDonald, M Hibberd

C: B Vince, D Tyson, N Jones

HF: A Brayshaw, J Hogan, D Kent

F: J Garlett, J Watts, C Petracca

R: M Gawn, J Lewis, J Viney

I: C Salem, B Stretch, C Oliver, J Melksham

Like it except

O Mac out!! Frost moves to CHB

Salem to BP

Stretch Out 

Need another rucking option= Pedo 

Do not envisage Watts Rucking for much longer!

Brayshaw?? Prefer Vander! 

 

B: Jetta, Frost, Hibberd, 

HB: Hunt, T Mac, Salem

C: Stretch, Jones, Vince

HF: Petracca, Hogan, Kent

FF: Watts, Peds, Garlett

Ruck: Gawn, Lewis, Viney

Int: Tyson, Brayshaw, Oliver, Bugg

Watts can't keep rucking, Peds to take over. Hibberd to be third tall. Looks a strong team!!!

I have seen multiple teams with no Dean Kent named in them.  Injury permitting, he will be there in Round 1, guaranteed.

Can't be bothered trying to jockey them in to position, but I have 20 players I'm confident will start:

Hogan
Jones
Watts
Petracca
Viney
Brayshaw
Gawn
Tyson
Oliver
Stretch
Kent
Melksham
Pedersen
Vince
McDonald T
McDonald O
Hunt
Jetta
Hibberd
Lewis

And 6 players competing for the last 2 spots:

Salem
Garlett
Frost
Harmes
vandenBerg
Bugg

Each year there are fewer and fewer plonkers in the mix.  It is heartening.  We're not at zero plonker stage yet though.