Who’s going to fill the back pocket?

[Mel Bourne 4,515]

With the sad departure of Neville Jetta, Hibberd’s fast-approaching 32nd birthday, the letting-go of Jay Lockhart (which I’m personally a bit bummed about, not sure how others feel) and - whether or not you have the faith in him as a player - the injury-susceptibility of Joel Smith, we are forming quite the cavity in the back pocket. 

What’s the next step here? Start preparing Hunt for the role? Seek out a dedicated back-pocket in trade time? If so, who?

 

 

 

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,817]

Maynard from Collingwood.

[Little Richard 6,262]

I'd say Lockhart will get another shot - he's looked pretty good in patches.

Going forward I reckon we'll be fine between Smith, Hunt and even Bowey and Rivers pushing back when need be. Maynard though will be a good pickup if we can make it happen and will slot right in.

[btdemon 482]

I too am disappointed to see Lockhart go. Nev was sadly finished. It was so sad to see him miss out on the big one and I dearly hope that keep him as a specialist coach. Such a wonderful guy. Remember that we also have Marty Hore to come back in an Daniel Turner looks good. Gibbo has another year left in him on recent performances. 

[spalding 1,128]

I felt it was a weakness for us to shut down the small forwards, but after the job Bowey and Hibbard did on Weightman a couple of days ago - and the improvement in Hunt's defensive game, I'm pretty comfortable for the next 12 months at least.

It seems like quite a few track watches like D Smith too - so once he has a bit of continuity in our gold standard casy development programme he could be ready to replace Hibbard in 12 months.

[Mel Bourne 4,515]

2 minutes ago, Luther said:

I'd say Lockhart will get another shot - he's looked pretty good in patches.

Going forward I reckon we'll be fine between Smith, Hunt and even Bowey and Rivers pushing back when need be. Maynard though will be a good pickup if we can make it happen and will slot right in.

Lockhart’s been let go. Or do you mean a shot at another club?

Edited September 27, 2021 by Mel Bourne

[MadAsHell 4,212]

Bowser is now first pick there and I think Deakyn Smith will also be given time to develop.

Also I think Moniz-wakefield who we have access to in the draft through our NGA has the ability to play back?

[Mel Bourne 4,515]

2 minutes ago, btdemon said:

I too am disappointed to see Lockhart go. Nev was sadly finished. It was so sad to see him miss out on the big one and I dearly hope that keep him as a specialist coach. Such a wonderful guy. Remember that we also have Marty Hore to come back in an Daniel Turner looks good. Gibbo has another year left in him on recent performances. 

Yes, was going to edit to include Marty Hore as a possibility. 
 

 

[Little Richard 6,262]

2 minutes ago, Mel Bourne said:

Lockhart’s been let go. Or do you mean a shot at another club?

Sorry that wasn't clear, yeah I reckon another club will pick him up.

[The team we love 416]

Disco Turner seems to have impressed this far. 

[Mel Bourne 4,515]

13 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Maynard from Collingwood.

Would be a great get, but contracted till end of 22 (not that contracts seem to mean what they used to). The talk of him coming to the Dees seemed to begin and end with Brad Hardie’s “scoop” back in June. Have there been any further rumblings? 

[Mel Bourne 4,515]

7 minutes ago, Luther said:

Sorry that wasn't clear, yeah I reckon another club will pick him up.

Could be an asset for the Pies in their rebuild I reckon. 

[adonski 12,109]

Simply Jayden Hunt??

[Ouch! 2,262]

26 minutes ago, The team we love said:

Disco Turner seems to have impressed this far. 

I thought Turner was earmarked as an intercept defender more like Lever than a back pocket. Agree with some others though that Deakyn Smith is another option we have, and in a of the VFL games that actually got played earlier in the year he looked pretty likely.

[DeeZee 7,392]

If Anyone goes out if that premiership back line , Next in line is Hunt, Tomlinson, J.Smith and Hore.

Bowey played the role superbly on weightman.

[Kent 2,909]

2 minutes ago, DeeZee said:

If Anyone goes out if that premiership back line , Next in line is Hunt, Tomlinson, J.Smith and Hore.

Bowey played the role superbly on weightman.

Have you noticed Bowey never wastes a disposal will be elite in my opinion

 

[Redleg 40,905]

33 minutes ago, Mel Bourne said:

Would be a great get, but contracted till end of 22 (not that contracts seem to mean what they used to). The talk of him coming to the Dees seemed to begin and end with Brad Hardie’s “scoop” back in June. Have there been any further rumblings? 

Pretty sure he and his Manager said he was staying a Pie.

[durango 2,007]

The pressure for spots in the backline will be immense and you players now know they will have to perform or play at Casey.

[drdrake 3,163]

Just now, durango said:

The pressure for spots in the backline will be immense and you players now know they will have to perform or play at Casey.

Look at the back 6 of guys that didn't Play

Hore J Smith Turner

Hunt Tomlinson D Smith

Plus Declase can go back and I think Bedford spent time training with Defenders, also add in M Brown and Daw as break glass in case of emergency that can head back.