The Hard Road To The Premiership

[LP]

Yes Tuohy was a best 22 player, as was Walker, although wear and tear rendered him a shadow of his best.  The other players we shed, including Jammo, did nothing in 2016.  Marchbank is a more than adequate replacement for Jammo (at his best) and we know Palmer and Smedts can play.  That's one reasonable HBF and two struggling players out and one exciting KPP and two reasonable players in, making a stronger list.  Of course, if a couple of SPS, Pickett, Lebois, Fisher, Macreadie, Polson, Williamson and Kerr make the grade, we're well ahead of 2016.  Then there's the development of last year's draft crop.

Holding on to our ladder position should be achievable as the lower end of acceptable outcomes.  That's based on a considered, realistic assessment of our list changes - and Bolton's call for fans to be patient   An optimistic view would have us playing finals, and I think that the chances of that happening are very slim.

I think we saw last year that Weitering and Plowman didn't quite have the size to deal with the KPFs, which is why Rowe had such a good season in my opinion. Rowe wasn't filling gaps around Jammo as Jammo was out, Rowe was the main man and it showed in his performances.

Not sure Marchbank or Plowman are a Jammo type. Whether supporters like him or not Jammo was an exceptional fullback dealing with opponents far bigger than him.

Perhaps Weitering will develop far greater upper body strength in 2017, he's got the legs, he needs the core, arms and chest. This idea of developing core strength is not as straight forward as doing the training, some people just never get it, the don't have a body wired the right way!

I don't see Smedts as a heavy defensive hitter, he can play, but he plays more like we want Boekhorst to play. I see them both as running options. Smedts reminds me of Simmo pressing forward, but without Simmo's attack on the football. If Casboult is fit and firing up the field, or McKay, I expect to see Boekhorst or Smedts hitting the front and square on the wing to receive and delivering the footy inside F50 or even finishing. They should model themselves on Breust or Gunston. I'll be very disappointed if I see Smedts and Boekhorst always forward of the contest looking for a cheap handball.

To me Palmer is McLean Mk.II, he'll do the grunt stuff, be the link man, put himself in the right positions to pop up regularly when required. You should not expect too much flash, just a job doer getting a job done.