A lot of attention is being given to Wingers and small forwards however we are also fairly bereft in strong small backmen.

Outside of Nev, I can’t think of anyone on our list who is a specialist in shutting down opposition small forwards.

With teams now giving there small forward stocks more attention, we should be also looking to beef up our small backmen stocks to combat this.

Does anyone have any idea on who we may potentially use to superseed Nev as he continues to age for for him to pass on his wisdom to?

14 minutes ago, olisik said:

A lot of attention is being given to Wingers and small forwards however we are also fairly bereft in strong small backmen.

Outside of Nev, I can’t think of anyone on our list who is a specialist in shutting down opposition small forwards.

With teams now giving there small forward stocks more attention, we should be also looking to beef up our small backmen stocks to combat this.

Does anyone have any idea on who we may potentially use to superseed Nev as he continues to age for for him to pass on his wisdom to?

That is because our zone defence based game plan doesn't require that type of specialist on big or small players.  Not saying I agree with it nor that there won't be times where that is a player's role for a particular game.  Just the way it is.

Edited October 28, 20196 yr by Lucifer's Hero

I’d like to see Sparrow groomed as a small back men. Has the aggression and speed to fill the role. At 183cm he’s the right size. We’re well stocked for inside mids so he can be tried elsewhere IMO.

Hore, Chandler, Lockhart and Corey Wagner would be my current options to try.

Actually think Corey could do it well. Has fantastic effort, intensity and pressure, along with the willingness to be physical. Reminds me a lot of Nev when he made the switch in positions too.

 

Id go Lockhart

Has got footy smarts and good disposer. Ideal long term replacement

I’d be looking to Lockhart, Chandler, Jordon and, of course, possibly Young coming in in the next month.

Preuss

Lockhart is the only one I can think of.  I like him as a forward but if he can be Jetta 2.0 Im all for him being our little master down back.

Hard to replace Jetta though,  he has to be the most underrated player in the entire league.

The only hope Spargo has of making it as an AFL player is as Jetta's replacement. If he is smart he would ask his coaches to train with the defenders all summer. Lockhart is more likely though.

3 minutes ago, poita said:

The only hope Spargo has of making it as an AFL player is as Jetta's replacement. If he is smart he would ask his coaches to train with the defenders all summer. Lockhart is more likely though.

If Spargo was caught out in our defensive zone then this is what we’d see. He’s got to learn to play as a link man into the forward line or he won’t make it IMO.

Sah-lem??

28 minutes ago, poita said:

The only hope Spargo has of making it as an AFL player is as Jetta's replacement. If he is smart he would ask his coaches to train with the defenders all summer. Lockhart is more likely though.

Imagine Spargo isolated against Dangerfield inside forward 50.

Jetta has beaten Dangerfield down there numerous times.   Spargo would get eaten alive.

23 minutes ago, JakovichScissorKick said:

Imagine Spargo isolated against Dangerfield inside forward 50.

Jetta has beaten Dangerfield down there numerous times.   Spargo would get eaten alive.

Jetta absolutely destroyed Dangerfield in the elimination final, Spargo has not got Jetta strength jetta is the most underrated player.

I wonder if they consider getting Viney down there. Particularly if his foot needs to be constantly managed.

9 minutes ago, Neil Crompton said:

I wonder if they consider getting Viney down there. Particularly if his foot needs to be constantly managed.

We desperately need to get someone under Jetta to learn down there 

Lockhart played small back in 2018 at Casey.  Had a great year.  Definitely fits the bill imo

Lockhart the swingman, up forward or down back!

Edited October 28, 20196 yr by John Demonic

9 hours ago, olisik said:

A lot of attention is being given to Wingers and small forwards however we are also fairly bereft in strong small backmen.

Outside of Nev, I can’t think of anyone on our list who is a specialist in shutting down opposition small forwards.

With teams now giving there small forward stocks more attention, we should be also looking to beef up our small backmen stocks to combat this.

Does anyone have any idea on who we may potentially use to superseed Nev as he continues to age for for him to pass on his wisdom to?

Steven May can do this. 

9 hours ago, Lord Travis said:

I’d like to see Sparrow groomed as a small back men. Has the aggression and speed to fill the role. At 183cm he’s the right size. We’re well stocked for inside mids so he can be tried elsewhere IMO.

I've been pushing this line for a while now 'Lord'...

I reckon if he is to make it this is his place in the team. I don't think he's a natural mid.

I think Lockhart isn't tall enough, particularly if we are playing a zone.

10 hours ago, John Demonic said:

Lockhart the swingman, up forward or down back!

 

10 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Lockhart played small back in 2018 at Casey.  Had a great year.  Definitely fits the bill imo

Still like him as a potential forward but seems like the obvious option in terms of addressing the OP's question.  Cut his teeth playing predominately as a HB. 

Extract (Tom Couch..Nth Launceston's  coach) courtesy of Foxsport...

“When I went down there, there were big wraps on Jay. He’d played rep footy for Tassie the year before and was a premiership player, a best and fairest winner and everyone was saying he was the best player in the state,” Couch said.

“He was very talented, there was no doubt about that. He could play everywhere. We played him back, mid, forward, but predominantly down back because he is such a good reader of the ball and such a good kick, so he was able to set us up.

“You have one of him, but you want three of him so you can play one back, one in the middle and one up forward.”

Lockhart can fill this role.

 

I don't mind the calls for Spargo to be groomed as Jetta's protege. Spargo hasn't done enough for me to suggest that his position is forward, he's just not damaging enough. But he does have good disposal on him and he seems to be a determined little nugget. I remember Nev started as a forward/mid but ended up finding his niche down back. Could be a positive move for Spargo as well, my main question is whether he has enough balance and strength to stay in contests. He seems to go to ground quite easily.