Backline

[IluvHarvey]

Don't shoot me down because I haven't seen a lot of him but is Archer a possibility for a FB type role?

He seems to fit into the big bodied type that people here are talking about.

[magnifisaint]

Don't shoot me down because I haven't seen a lot of him but is Archer a possibility for a FB type role?

He seems to fit into the big bodied type that people here are talking about.

He's too shithouse

[barrel-it]

Not saying raph is our saviour, far from it. People talk about balance and an even spread and I think he needs to be in our back 6 to apply this even spread that people seek. The narrow minded 'supporters' who call for players heads week after week with no real 'footy brain' may as well read another thread, this applies to any team not just the saints. You want to blame someone for the loss, blame the fwds who missed the easy goal in front, yes even nick....

Having played the game in the modern era (last 10yrs till last year) as a backman at clubs all over the country, you may call me biased but hear me out... im not saying he will win a brownlow or a b&f but this thread is about a backline....in my opinion a balanced backline

Joffa 5 answered my above question with obviously no hesitation, the first name that comes to mind is raph clarke

a back 6 is a team within a team, a band of brothers who are all makes and models.... some small, some tall,quick,slow,left foot, right foot and all can spoil and scrag an opponent . etc etc the list goes on for days on end. All posses qualities that when they are bound together, stick.. he brings some fearless guts, unconvential run and creative flair to the BALANCE.. gwilts raking left foot over 45m cancels out fishers looping 45m kick... BALANCE is the key, look at the team approach..

Under this new game plan from what I can see, the caught from behind will phase out. Just be aware that him bombing long is a team directive...just like under lyon finding a target was team directive, no target dont kick..... despite other players going the bomb in the last few years.... doesn't take a rocket scientist to see the game plan...

[saints66]

I understand he is young and inexperienced but is he a potential key backman who is big enough to take on the big forwards of the competition.

I looked up the Saints.com.au website to find his height/weight but he is not listed in the player list - Why?

[loris]

Not saying raph is our saviour, far from it. People talk about balance and an even spread and I think he needs to be in our back 6 to apply this even spread that people seek. The narrow minded 'supporters' who call for players heads week after week with no real 'footy brain' may as well read another thread, this applies to any team not just the saints. You want to blame someone for the loss, blame the fwds who missed the easy goal in front, yes even nick....

Having played the game in the modern era (last 10yrs till last year) as a backman at clubs all over the country, you may call me biased but hear me out... im not saying he will win a brownlow or a b&f but this thread is about a backline....in my opinion a balanced backline

Joffa 5 answered my above question with obviously no hesitation, the first name that comes to mind is raph clarke

a back 6 is a team within a team, a band of brothers who are all makes and models.... some small, some tall,quick,slow,left foot, right foot and all can spoil and scrag an opponent . etc etc the list goes on for days on end. All posses qualities that when they are bound together, stick.. he brings some fearless guts, unconvential run and creative flair to the BALANCE.. gwilts raking left foot over 45m cancels out fishers looping 45m kick... BALANCE is the key, look at the team approach..

Under this new game plan from what I can see, the caught from behind will phase out. Just be aware that him bombing long is a team directive...just like under lyon finding a target was team directive, no target dont kick..... despite other players going the bomb in the last few years.... doesn't take a rocket scientist to see the game plan...

Note to self remember "barrel-it"......................... definitely a poster worth reading IMHO Many more posts from you please "barrel-it"

[8856brother]

Don't shoot me down because I haven't seen a lot of him but is Archer a possibility for a FB type role?

He seems to fit into the big bodied type that people here are talking about.

He's too shithouse

Thanks for your quality input. It's quite refreshing.

[To the top]

I seem to recall that in our second last game of 2011, against a finals bound Carlton at the MCG, Clarke was close to, if not, BOG playing a superb game in defence.

Yet he seems to be totally ignored.

He is in my side for his ability to position himself to the benefit of the team which he is excellent at, spoil against size with courage and his ability to rebound - where, hopefully, he will have greater licence this season and onwards.

I would prefer Gwilt, when he returns, to be on the outer line of defence because of his damaging length kicking being able to create goals - plus he can get found out overhead too close to goal because he always gives away height on the last line.

Gilbert at 194cm and with his 'go, go gadget" reach in the spoil and his pace could take full back - mentored by Max.

Fisher leads the outer defence as usual.

Dempster can play last line because his defensive bent is what you need on the last line.

As mentioned, Gwilt can get found out against some of the 3rd talls in opposition sides - so ideally we need to unearth another Gilbert type defender and with Gilbert's height and attributes (Stanley?).

Has Simpkin the size (same dimensions as Max but probably lacking a "yard") and Wilkes is an unknown being trialled.

Gram I would have as a running mid-fielder, again because his damaging length disposals can create goals.

As someone said, it is our attack that has to function because that has been our weak link - and by a long, long way.

Too many "smalls" putting far too much reliance on Riewoldt and Koschitzke who are then far, far too easily double and triple teamed and out marked because they are blocked/out-positioned against numbers in the contest.

We definately need more height in our attack to increase our danger by increasing the numbers who can grab overhead (Ray?).

We should only play one designated "small forward" and that person should have pace to burn to also put defensive pressure on.

Fingers crossed for Sippos and any others of his build.

The small players should be buzzing around the mid field creating opportunity and havoc with their ball winning abilities, their pace and their disposal into the forward line.

Watters covered off on flexibility - and hopefully we see that with any one position player/s under pressure to get a game.

Everyone has to do their bit by contributing wherever.

[whiskers3614]

Maybe forward line will work better once backline actually is allowed to kick it forwards.

[bergholt]

I understand he is young and inexperienced but is he a potential key backman who is big enough to take on the big forwards of the competition.

I looked up the Saints.com.au website to find his height/weight but he is not listed in the player list - Why?

rookies are separate to the main list on the saints site, for no apparent reason. he's currently said to be 194/85, but those who know seem to suggest that he doesn't play tall.

[AnythingsPossibleSaints]

From what I've seen of him I wouldn't say Ferguson doesn't "play tall", necessarily, as he is pretty tall, but it's just that he's (or at least was last year) a bit of a bag of bones and very quick and athletic. Very much like Sam Gilbert. So he's not likely to be suited to playing FB or CHB and having to push and shove with the big strong Travis Clokes and Johnno Browns and so on, of the AFL. At least not for a fair while.
You'd want him to be in the pocket, or on the flank and be able to use his height and athleticism to intercept kicks into their forward line, or to jump over packs to mark, or punch the ball away and for his aggressive run and carry out of defence.
I think he could really be good for us, given how well he went right off the bat last year and given that we already have Gilbert and Gwilt down there, I guess it will be ideal if Wilkes manages to hold down full back for us, otherwise, in a couple of years we're going to have up to 4 "talls" down there who either are tall, but not that strong (Gilbert and Fergo), or who are not quite tall and fairly strong (Gwilt and Simpkin), if Simpkin makes it instead. At least if Wilkes makes it we'll have one who is both tall and strong, back there.