Casboult to CHB

[ElwoodBlues1]

Can someone explain why we need another key defender?

Lost Rowe and ACOS and now only have Weitering and Jones who had indifferent seasons in 2018......Goddard is the only true KP backup and when you are picking up the trash from
Stkilda's nature strip that doesnt bode well IMO.

Weitering isnt a one on one defender IMO and his best is usually in the loose intercept role as is Marchbank who isnt big enough to mind the real big blokes.....
McReadie..a kid still learning the game and trying to find a position.....
Jones is either great or terrible which makes him unreliable.....

Our midfield looks good and will get better and our forward line better equipped but its down back where I am tipping we will have most of our problems this coming season...

[DJC]

Lost Rowe and ACOS and now only have Weitering and Jones who had indifferent seasons in 2018......Goddard is the only true KP backup and when you are picking up the trash from
Stkilda's nature strip that doesnt bode well IMO.

Weitering isnt a one on one defender IMO and his best is usually in the loose intercept role as is Marchbank who isnt big enough to mind the real big blokes.....
McReadie..a kid still learning the game and trying to find a position.....
Jones is either great or terrible which makes him unreliable.....

Our midfield looks good and will get better and our forward line better equipped but its down back where I am tipping we will have most of our problems this coming season...

We didn’t really have ACOS last season and Rowe was only ever a stop gap key defender - even if he did manage 99 games.  The latter certainly got the best out of himself but his fumbles and skill errors probably cost us as much as Jones at his worst.  In effect, we lost one key defender from 2018, two if you count Glass-McCasker.

Replacing them is Goddard (who could be anything if he can stay on the park) and McGovern if necessary (although I would prefer him to play in front of the ball).

I have a different opinion of Weitering and I think that he will mature into a very good key defender.  Jones should improve too, particularly if we have a more competitive midfield and better defensive structures and cohesion.

Marchbank and Plowman are a little light on to mind a genuine key forward but they can do it and have done it successfully in the past.  However, if we are relying on them each week we will be in trouble.

Another option is Kerr, who I think could make an excellent key defender.  He has the size and, from what I’ve seen, the footy smarts and attitude to do the job.  Macreadie could also develop into a key defender but I would have him behind Kerr at this stage.  Ben Silvagni is a long term prospect and I don’t think we’ll know what the future holds for him until the latter half of the season.

That gives us Weitering, Jones, McGovern, Goddard and Kerr with Marchbank, Plowman, Macreadie and Ben Silvagni as possible back-ups.

[flyboy77]

Pat listed at 197cm, 97kg.

He's grown and filled out.....

[jeza]

We didn’t really have ACOS last season and Rowe was only ever a stop gap key defender - even if he did manage 99 games.  The latter certainly got the best out of himself but his fumbles and skill errors probably cost us as much as Jones at his worst.  In effect, we lost one key defender from 2018, two if you count Glass-McCasker.

Replacing them is Goddard (who could be anything if he can stay on the park) and McGovern if necessary (although I would prefer him to play in front of the ball).

I have a different opinion of Weitering and I think that he will mature into a very good key defender.  Jones should improve too, particularly if we have a more competitive midfield and better defensive structures and cohesion.

Marchbank and Plowman are a little light on to mind a genuine key forward but they can do it and have done it successfully in the past.  However, if we are relying on them each week we will be in trouble.

Another option is Kerr, who I think could make an excellent key defender.  He has the size and, from what I’ve seen, the footy smarts and attitude to do the job.  Macreadie could also develop into a key defender but I would have him behind Kerr at this stage.  Ben Silvagni is a long term prospect and I don’t think we’ll know what the future holds for him until the latter half of the season.

That gives us Weitering, Jones, McGovern, Goddard and Kerr with Marchbank, Plowman, Macreadie and Ben Silvagni as possible back-ups.

I'd really like Kerr to transition to the backline. His speed off the mark might be an issue but he's got such a level head, he's filled out and is going to struggle to get a game behind our 3 main tall forwards - I think he'd be a natural fit for the backline.

Most key defenders started out as forwards.

[Professer E]

Isn't the old saying "mugs to the back line"?  Though,  I don't think he is,  but he is more physically suited to defence.

[ElwoodBlues1]

Isn't the old saying "mugs to the back line"?  Though,  I don't think he is,  but he is more physically suited to defence.

My late father used that line often....Kerr isnt a mug but opportunities down forward will be limited and his talents could be used down back and I do
hope the coaching staff can see the same and give Kerr every opportunity to develop as a key backman...much more sensible than trying to use Casboult in that role..

[DJC]

Isn't the old saying "mugs to the back line"?  Though,  I don't think he is,  but he is more physically suited to defence.

I think someone said that about Gordon Collis ... and Kouta had a stint as a defender when he was out of form.

If nothing else, it has to be good for the young man’s development.

[Professer E]

Kouta played much of his underage footy at fullback,  and played as a tall defender in 98-99 when his father was suffering cancer and his heart wasn't in the game.

[Thryleon]

We used to use him for a half down back and then shift him on the ball in the second half.

It was a game changing tactic and left him fresh to use his athleticism to greater advantage at a time when he was athletically superior to the average midfielder and rotations were not used as a tactic to keep guys fresh.

We would choke the opposition for a half using tough nuggety Darren Hulme types, and then switch to Kouta mode to influence matches and take better advantage of Ratten underneath packs.

[DamonBlue]

We used to use him for a half down back and then shift him on the ball in the second half.

It was a game changing tactic and left him fresh to use his athleticism to greater advantage at a time when he was athletically superior to the average midfielder and rotations were not used as a tactic to keep guys fresh.

We would choke the opposition for a half using tough nuggety Darren Hulme types, and then switch to Kouta mode to influence matches and take better advantage of Ratten underneath packs.

I remember it well, Thry. Wasn't it nice when we were ahead of the game?