Disclaimer- I’ve never been one for starting a post, so please move or merge if this Is covered elsewhere.

While last night was a disappointing start to a game where we had the chance to showcase our new gameplan against a very good opponent. We didn’t handle the pressure, stopped running in waves and moving the ball forward by handball. While the team fell back into some old habits, I think understand that this will happen with a different style of play. So need to be patient.

This side is not a premiership side in its current form. Yes we will need to add some layers over the coming years. But I’m keen to hear what people think we can change this year to bolster areas of weakness.

For mine I see the Backline being an issue where we play sides with very good talls, or elite smalls. Freo, Bulldogs and Adelaide concerned me for the talls as do Brisbane, Hawks, GC for smalls. I think we are short 1 strong defender and 1 good utility and small defender.

So what do we have at our disposal this year. I think Petty and Turner can do a job, but we will need to look at Kentfield or AJ (if his body can handle it) down back. The 3rd Tall/interceptor is between Howes/Lever/Taylor. The quicker Taylor comes on the better. I want Lindsay to play on a wing for now.

Smalls. I think we will see AMW come in and hold that small defender role, Kolt is also earmarked as a defender when not tagging.

The other glaring one is the midfield. We did expect some issues here, but this year I can see Langford looks like he is not ready to play in the centre, so he might be better served at half forward. Koz is electric and Steele is workmanlike. Windsor is not a pure mid, Rivers looks a bit lost as does Sparrow.

I think we need to find the mix of energy, clean disposal- especially by hand and tackling ability. I’d like to see Chin play a bit of midfield time, but only when Koz rolls forward.

This is a very early review, things will change and I hope they do. We have some talent and some players who have been on the list a while and not yet taken the next step. Hoping that might happen this year with a change of role and freedom.

Keen to hear what people think on positional changes. Or anything they would like to see this year with what we have.

We're definitely thin down back

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by lorn

I disagree on Langford.

He seems to need the touch of the leather to get things going so he should attend most centre bounces/toss.

What do you think of the Kolt figure and his defensive role?

5 minutes ago, ElDiablo14 said:

I disagree on Langford.

He seems to need the touch of the leather to get things going so he should attend most centre bounces/toss.

What do you think of the Kolt figure and his defensive role?

I think for now that Langfords 2 way running is lacking as is his tackling pressure and clean hands. It will come, but I think confidence needs developing first. One thing that I’d say about modern footy, it you are not a great 2 way running, great at drawing tackles, great at tackling yourself and clean below your knees, you shouldn’t be in the middle. One thing that was noticeable from Freo is how they drive through tackles, forcing more Dees players to tackle, then they could find a team mate in space, it was brilliant.

Loving how Kolt is playing and listening to Kingy in the presser, he is a coaches dream.

The reality is that we are thin around the ball, and it exposes our defence, which is also not where it needs to be. I think AMW comes in, pushing XL up to the wing. Bowser back would help too, as would Viney when the chips are down in the middle.

We’ve got to stick with the young guys, and preferably in spots that support their development. I thought King held his nerve pretty well last night. We got absolutely slapped in the first quarter, but it was a lot to do with being clean with the ball - which King referenced in his post match. Windsor and Koz just weren’t clean, and Freo’s small forwards knew they had us for speed and took off on turnover. AMW helps. Howes might be nervous if XT finds form too.