Why not Hickey to full back?

[Kickit]

Stupid comment

We clearly have a different idea of how many cm's makes a tall defender

Gwilt can play on the 8th tallest forward? All of the above have played the role to an extent and you are claiming that someone who has never played defense will be better at it than all of them simply due to being slightly taller.

[saint6709]

Stupid comment

We clearly have a different idea of how many cm's makes a tall defender

Gwilt can play on the 8th tallest forward? All of the above have played the role to an extent and you are claiming that someone who has never played defense will be better at it than all of them simply due to being slightly taller.

Im not sure what you mean by that - gwilt play on 8th tallest forward - But I guess for me it comes down to expectations for 2013....Lots of people here seem to think we will slide and are looking at 2014 -15 and beyond - I still think we can be very very good in 2013 providing a few things go our way

with regard to our backline - we were out gunned by tall forwards last year - concesus is pretty unanimous we need a 'big' guy to bolster our defence - I think there is a definition of insanity that says something about continually doing the same thing and expecting a different result - for us to improve in 2013 we need to re jig the backline - Gwilt(188cm) , fisher (191), simpkin (191) are fantastic players and team structure should allow for them to play at their best to give the team the most from their output - letting them be monstered by massive forwards is not in my opinion allowing them to contribute to the best of their abilities for the team - so we need a big guy to take that roll - the other 5 backmen can then concentrate on what they do best - and I think they are all very good - so if - and i admit its a fairly big if - we can can get someone to perform at a decent level in that 'big' backmans roll then the backline as a unit will be very very good.

I think we can have a crack in 2013 based on 2 big if's , 2 less important if's and some other things that I think we have covered.

2 big ones:

1 - Stanley ( not sure there is another option here?) can hold down the big backmans roll ( remembering he kicked 11 in 12 games last year so probably won't really be missed up forward)

2 - Wilkes holds down FF and becomes very good at keeping pressure on the backmen ( rumours on here about him improving his fitness from last year and working closely with Hamill on his game)

2 bonus if's

1 - Lee can perform straight away as third tall forward

2 - hickey can perform straight away as 2nd ruck

The other stuff:

1 - I think our veteran stars can perform well under watters -, with some new excitement with the younger blokes and as someone has mentioned the motivation of knowing they are running out of time

2 - I am confident our younger and second tier players will come on this year with quite a few of them really lifting


so I'll admit there are a few 'IFS' but I can see real hope for 2013 - and yes I am an optimist when it comes to the saints - GO SAINTS !!

[Kickit]

We clearly have a different idea of how many cm's makes a tall defender

Gwilt can play on the 8th tallest forward? All of the above have played the role to an extent and you are claiming that someone who has never played defense will be better at it than all of them simply due to being slightly taller.

Im not sure what you mean by that - gwilt play on 8th tallest forward - But I guess for me it comes down to expectations for 2013....Lots of people here seem to think we will slide and are looking at 2014 -15 and beyond - I still think we can be very very good in 2013 providing a few things go our way

with regard to our backline - we were out gunned by tall forwards last year - concesus is pretty unanimous we need a 'big' guy to bolster our defence - I think there is a definition of insanity that says something about continually doing the same thing and expecting a different result - for us to improve in 2013 we need to re jig the backline - Gwilt(188cm) , fisher (191), simpkin (191) are fantastic players and team structure should allow for them to play at their best to give the team the most from their output - letting them be monstered by massive forwards is not in my opinion allowing them to contribute to the best of their abilities for the team - so we need a big guy to take that roll - the other 5 backmen can then concentrate on what they do best - and I think they are all very good - so if - and i admit its a fairly big if - we can can get someone to perform at a decent level in that 'big' backmans roll then the backline as a unit will be very very good.

I think we can have a crack in 2013 based on 2 big if's , 2 less important if's and some other things that I think we have covered.

2 big ones:

1 - Stanley ( not sure there is another option here?) can hold down the big backmans roll ( remembering he kicked 11 in 12 games last year so probably won't really be missed up forward)

2 - Wilkes holds down FF and becomes very good at keeping pressure on the backmen ( rumours on here about him improving his fitness from last year and working closely with Hamill on his game)

2 bonus if's

1 - Lee can perform straight away as third tall forward

2 - hickey can perform straight away as 2nd ruck

The other stuff:

1 - I think our veteran stars can perform well under watters -, with some new excitement with the younger blokes and as someone has mentioned the motivation of knowing they are running out of time

2 - I am confident our younger and second tier players will come on this year with quite a few of them really lifting


so I'll admit there are a few 'IFS' but I can see real hope for 2013 - and yes I am an optimist when it comes to the saints - GO SAINTS !![/quote]

I agree with all that Except I think that the big backman needs to be more than a role. It has to be a skilled player. I have more evidence that Simpkin can take the big forwards ( based on plenty of VFL and some AFL ) than Stanley. I just cant see him being great against players like Jack who has plenty of tricks up his sleeve for getting the ball. There is more to it than height.
Sorry I was being a bit facetious about Gwilt, ( he was played on TIppett at one point I think , not good ). I just feel we are better making do with the limitations of the experienced defenders we have, rather than introducing new limitations that I suspect Stanley would have.

I think Blake can be better than he was too. Its just my opinion but I think he was shot for the season after he busted his arse in the ruck. ( did a terrific job and thank god we should never need to see it again ).

Damn I cant handle quotes after the stack gets to three...
I especially agree with your last line.