Arguably this was our best performed side as rated in the Sun at the time. We beat Collingwood. !!!
So, based on that, have we really lost that much ?
Daniher. Did not play in this win
Fanta. 9 kicks, did not exactly impress. Replacement: Cahill, Johnson
Saad. I am disappointed in this bloke leaving Replacement: One of many half backs on the list.
Hibberd Never really gained traction at the level. Draft a big body?
McKernan. I think it was time. Replacement: ??
McKenna Did not play, Replacement: One of many half backs on the list.
Nominal Best 22 now available. Ambrose, Draper, Francis, Heppel, Hooker, Stewart, Laverde, Clarke??
Clearly this will be a developing story as we go into free agency, transfers and the draft. The way it looks at the moment without any new players factored in, we might just make 12th -13th again in 2021
Hopefully better
It is a massive step up for Draper from VFL to AFL level, he has been serviceable so far, but love how he has shown some ticker. another year post knee injury with a full pre season we might be able to see what he really can do. 100% on the Draper banwagon
My take on this is that if all these players are on the same page, and learn to play the Truck/Cara system we should be able to improve on this year, and end up in the 9-10 range. I am not expecting much more than that tbh and I just donāt want to scrape into the 8. I would rather finish 14th than 8th and go out in the first week.
Minor modificationsā¦and moving magnets - Truck will have the licence to experiment with the lack of expectation due to āmass exodusā tagā¦hopefully whoever we pick up at the trade table (Jye C/ OāHallaran/ Brodie/ Constable/ 2MP/ Big Ben) might replace one of the old boys (Zaka/ Hooker) - the focus next year should be to fully focus on:
Development (invest in the development area)
Ensure we focus on embedding the new game planā¦establish the non-negotiables and weed out the ones that will not algin.
It should be made clear to all the sr.citizens (zaka/hooker/hurls/towner)
Swap Leverde / Redman around (to where they played in their junior days) and see if we can get something better from them.
Up the ante on contested game, which will stand up in finals.
b: Hurley BZTGuelfi
hb: Heppell Ridley Laverde/Francis
c: Langford Stringer Merrett
hf: Smith Stewart Redman
f: Snelling Hooker Tippa
R; Draper Shiel McGrath
int: Parish Ham Clarke/ZakaJones
Agreed, but competing well is Phillips ceiling. Nothing wrong with that as a backup and to give Draper a few chop outs during next season, but Draper competes just as well as Phillips and has another level athletically. Draper is 100% the starting ruck in 2021.
That is possibly the slowest defence known to man.
I get some saying that with McKenna and Saad now gone that we simply change our methodology in how we exit the back half (i.e. become more of a kicking team) but man that is slow and would be really liable to getting exposed.
A good and defensively minded midfield goes some way to helping of course.