Selection questions - 2008

[awesome_days]

There have been plenty of threads about who is in the best 22 etc.

However, there are always questions every supporter asks themselves when trying to choose these teams. These questions are probably the same questions that the match committee ask themselves when planning for the new year.

For me, in order of importance to team structure.

1) J Koschitzke - Where do you play him? Is he a permanent KP forward? A #1 Ruckman? A #2 Ruckman come 3rd forward? A KP backman?

2) S Gibert - Is he our next fullback? Is he a 3rd tall swingman? Is he capable of being a tall inside midfielder? Where is our greatest need?

3) Will our current HBF (Gram & Goddard) be run through the midfield to allow the next crop of young guns to learn to read the play off HB?

4) How many talls do we want in our forward line? Are Allen, McEvoy ready to play? Does Milne and Gherig still form part of an effective St Kilda forward line?

5) Who is our CHB if Maguire doent overcome his injuries?

[BAM! (shhhh)]

There have been plenty of threads about who is in the best 22 etc.

However, there are always questions every supporter asks themselves when trying to choose these teams. These questions are probably the same questions that the match committee ask themselves when planning for the new year.

For me, in order of importance to team structure.

1) J Koschitzke - Where do you play him? Is he a permanent KP forward? A #1 Ruckman? A #2 Ruckman come 3rd forward? A KP backman?

For mine, for '08 he's 3rd forward and #2 ruck in the best side.

I honestly believe that tapwork at AFL level is one of those skills that only comes through experience (even giant Sandilands didn't win game in game out straight away), and with that experience Kosi can be a dominant ruckman... at the same time, we've got King now, and hopefully Gardiner at some point, who have the experience already, and are pretty handy around the ground in their own right.

King #1 ruck, Kosi #2, providing a tall 3rd forward most times. He and Roo can handle the lead outs in tandem, with Roo manly leadind to wing while Kosi leads to the square, and the turning and kicking at Gehrig or whichever of Roo or Kosi doesn't have the ball leading forward.

2) S Gibert - Is he our next fullback? Is he a 3rd tall swingman? Is he capable of being a tall inside midfielder? Where is our greatest need?

I'd suspect that he'll start out as a runner from the backline, but that his position is not, and will remain not set in stone for the time being. Speed, size, strength, good kicking, great tackling, put him where you need him, as we did with Goddard and Kosi for years, until we need to fix him somewhere.

3) Will our current HBF (Gram & Goddard) be run through the midfield to allow the next crop of young guns to learn to read the play off HB?

I'd be very surprised if Goddard runs the mid in '08. He's coming back from a knee reco, and hiss tated goal for '07 was to be better at handling opponents in defense.

I sincerely hope Gram will be run through the mids.

4) How many talls do we want in our forward line? Are Allen, McEvoy ready to play? Does Milne and Gherig still form part of an effective St Kilda forward line?

I suspect the only way we see McEvoy in '08 is at the NAB cup, or if something goes wrong. Allen I hope will get a chance at some point.

I suspect it's a watershed year for Milne. For mine has proven he cannot be used as a mid, and with Schneider and X Clarke on the list, Milne needs to rediscover his accuracy, find more of the ball, and pull off those moves that made us love him in the first place... he's got Clarke on set shots by a wiiiiide margin (but then, so does everyone), but both Schneider (who i believe we've actually recruited to play more of a midfield role) and Clarke are younger, and provide more options. With small forward being used by many teams as a development spot ala HBF, while I don't see his selection under pressure as some do, it has the potential to become so.

5) Who is our CHB if Maguire doent overcome his injuries?

Sam Fisher. With Maguire in the lineup, Fisher's more valuable as a playmaker, but Fisher's defensive side continues to progress. Provided Hudghton stays healthy, I've got no fears with Fisher at CHB, it's come to a point though that only when Fisher is required to take the #1 defensive responsibility that I've any concern.

[bigcarl]

1) J Koschitzke - Where do you play him? Is he a permanent KP forward? A #1 Ruckman? A #2 Ruckman come 3rd forward? A KP backman?

there's a good case for kosi as a ruckman (as outlined above). however with two quality specialist ruckmen likely available, the need to recast our underperforming forwardline is more pressing imo. kosi to full forward.

2) S Gibert - Is he our next fullback? Is he a 3rd tall swingman? Is he capable of being a tall inside midfielder? Where is our greatest need?

gilbert is a brilliant utility ... i cant think of a better one going around. my personal choice of role for him would be as a foil to riewoldt at hf, but you can play him just about anywhere. he'd be great as a tall inside midfielder, too.

3) Will our current HBF (Gram & Goddard) be run through the midfield to allow the next crop of young guns to learn to read the play off HB?

i'd use them on the wings where their excellent kicking and delivery would come to the fore. both capable of goals from outside 50.

4) How many talls do we want in our forward line? Are Allen, McEvoy ready to play? Does Milne and Gherig still form part of an effective St Kilda forward line?

I'd have four ... roo, kosi, gilbert, gehrig, aerially as dominant a forward line as has been seen for many years, probably since those great hawthorn teams of the 80s and early 90s.

I'm interested in McEvoy and predict a few cameos from him this year. i don't know enough about allen. perhaps if he makes an impact in the pre-season cup.

of course milne and gehrig are still integral parts of our forward line. they are desperately needed because we know they can both put a score on the board. they are proven goal-kickers.

they aren't the problem. the problem is we've left too much to too few. we need more reliable and consistent avenues to goal to take the pressure off fraser, milney and roo.

5) Who is our CHB if Maguire doent overcome his injuries?

Gilbert. the ultimate utlity. quick and nimble enough to play midfield. tall and strong enough to hold down a key position. a deceptively strong player.

i worry about sam against the gorillas. probably could handle it, but what a luxury to have him as a play maker off half back