One of the few highlights from the final was Lavβs contested marking on the wing.
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As well as it worked (β¦ ), Iβd be tempted to tinker with the balance of the forward line.
AM-T - JD - Stringer
Fanta - Lav - ??
Mozzie! Manic pressure and kicking goals out of their backside.
Almost feel 2020 is last chance saloon at EFC. No Brown opens up a forward spot. Heβs got enough about him, but he just needs a clear run at it. Who knows, he could be a player Rutten really invests a lot in. Whilst his offical title is not yet senior coach, he will have a large say on the players we keep and those we discard. We see it with every change of coach, some players fall in favour that may have been on the outer. Others might end up being surprise casualties of a change in regime.
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I donβt mind that. Iβd be happy to go a bit smaller.
The 6th spot could be Mossie if heβs ready or a mixture of resting mids like Smith, Zerrett, Zaka etcβ¦
Langford could rotate at times with LAV or Stringer as well if those guys are fit enough for a run on ball
The best it has worked of recent times was in 2017
HF: Fantasia Daniher TIPPA
F: Green Hooker Stewart
The reason it didnβt work as well this year is we had key personnel out continually, were relying on depth. And also often playing hampered players as depth remaining were injured/ not up to it.
Considering how good the top sides team defence is and the value of intercept marking I donβt see us playing a fwd line around 1 kpf who then goes into ruck leaving us continually being outmarked / unable to bring ball to ground adequately for the smalls.
I expect it will be:
HF: Smith Daniher TIPPA
F: Fantasia Smack Stringer
Off bench: Snelling
This structure could work if JD was a player who was rock solid in marking contests, who held his ground really well and brought it to ground to the advantage of the other forwards when he canβt mark it. You could build around him like youβve suggested if he was like that.
Unfortunately, even at his best, heβs not that player. Heβs a run and jump at it and hope that he doesnβt get a nudge that sends him off balance and out of the contest. Or heβs a fly too early give away free kick and look exasperated sort of dude. Other times of course, it works, his timing is good and he can clunk.
Iβd gladly be wrong as that structure and personnel looks exciting but I feel to get the best out of him he needs to play alongside a big strong tall who commands defensive attention (body on body attention) to allow him to flourish. A Hooker style player. Not him perse but that type of presence.
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Solution: McKernan!
(β¦)
I think the coaches need to play around with the whole shape of the forward line. JD plus two mid sizes might be a better mix than JD + McKernan + Stringer, which then pushes Lav into playing as a small.
Almost?
I still believe
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Caracella will crack the Laverde code.
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be still my beating lav
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Yep we are going to see the best of Larverde under Rutten and cara
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I think Laverde will be an improver next season. He turned a corner this season.
Strongest player pound for pound. Injury free preseason will hold him in good stead for a potential round 1 birth in 2020
Needs to improve his goal kicking and hoping he is kicking a 1000 footballs through the sticks a week.
Great athlete and looks ripped already this preseason needs to use it more and crunch packs if not finding the ball
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True story?
Fact!
Born again?
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Yep.
A beast.
I would have said Ambrose would be the strongest pound for pound. Wouldnβt weigh much more than Lav if any and he is very strong
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I remember watching him play in VFL and thought βwow, he is really stronger than he looks.β How do you know itβs a fact, though?