(07-19-2021, 01:21 AM)ElwoodBlues1 date Wrote:Good point about Plowman and Teague and knowing what being a true defender is all about.....Newman was missed when he was injured, but is undersold in terms of value. Makes the odd mistake but is generally ok with ball in hand and stays reasonably close to his man. Unfortunately its hard to see how Docherty fits in that backline now IMO and even taking it further I thought we were better defensively around the ball with Cripps out of the Full Time midfield.In fairness to both playing injured isn't a fair measure, as it is not a fair measure to Williams in his midfield rotations. I suspect long term Doch will be back on the HBF, and guys like Williams and Stocker will get more mid and forward rotations.
We certainly need to strike a better balance for Cripps in the midfield, but he has to work on his F50 craft for that to be fair on others.
I think guys like Setterfield, Cottrell and Gibbons might be the big losers in all this, at least in the short term. Cottrell I like, he has that edge we lack and compliments players like Stocker and Newman.
I think if the AFL extend the bench as rumoured it might play into our hands.
"Ruck, ruck, ruck, ruck ....... Ruck, ruck, ruck, ruck"