Something I Don't Understand About Our Backline

[Jacks Back]

When we picked up Carlisle (and assuming he was going to play this year) were we still going to play Fisher and Dempster as well?

I ask because we have only played the two "talls" in the backline this year at any one time - Fisher and Dempster - with the exception of Lee coming into the line up against Hawthorn and GWS and then only Dempster against the WC Eagles.

If Carlisle was playing, would we play all three "talls" and, if so, why haven't we played either Lee or Goddard every week like we would have played Carlisle (i.e. 3 talls)? I know those two aren't as good as Carlisle but you would think we should be experimenting with that three tall backs line up if we were going to do it with Carlisle.

And now again this week we have Fisher out with Goddard in only giving us two "tall" backs again.

What's the thinking with this? Run? But what if Carlisle was playing?

[Jacks Back]

And by the way Lee had 19 possessions against the hawks and 14 against GWS (with Dempster also having 14, Fisher 9 and Geary 12 against GWS) so Lee was no slouch.

[BigMart]

It's not his ability to win the footy or use the footy that's under a ?

It's his ability to defend

[Impatient Sainter]

Totally agree Bigmart its a strange decision.

You wonder what they would have done with Roberton and Gilbert who have both been used as the 3rd tall this year, neither to great affect.

I would have rather seen them play Lee or Goddard as the lock down FB and have Fisher as the floating 3rd tall and intercept marker which he did during the Lyon era. Fisher was alos a brilliant decison maker and user by foot when running out of defence. Its almost like AR has got it all arse about using Gilbert in those roles.

Even this week I would have dropped Gilbert and bought in Lee to match up on Walker, allowing Dempster to take on Lynch and Roberton to play the Gilbert role. Gilbert get maintained because of his pressure acts, but if we maintain possession you dont have to work as hard to win it back do you? Anyway the coaches know best....?

[Enrico_Misso]

... and speaking of key defenders, we kept Luke Delaney on our list because?

[WellardSaint]

Totally agree Bigmart its a strange decision.

You wonder what they would have done with Roberton and Gilbert who have both been used as the 3rd tall this year, neither to great affect.

I would have rather seen them play Lee or Goddard as the lock down FB and have Fisher as the floating 3rd tall and intercept marker which he did during the Lyon era. Fisher was alos a brilliant decison maker and user by foot when running out of defence. Its almost like AR has got it all arse about using Gilbert in those roles.

Even this week I would have dropped Gilbert and bought in Lee to match up on Walker, allowing Dempster to take on Lynch and Roberton to play the Gilbert role. Gilbert get maintained because of his pressure acts, but if we maintain possession you dont have to work as hard to win it back do you? Anyway the coaches know best....?

Agree 100%.
Close games vs Norf n Dorks had coaches believing their strategy was sound, just needing some tweaks. They are in denial, and it cost dearly in Perth.
Kennedy got 4-5 in the first qtr thanks in part to stupid backline selection.
And Robbo is a downhill skier/flat track bully, Freo let him run free, so he got plenty of ball.
He will never ever be a game-saver like Josh Gibson; crumbles under pressure.
Enough games in his CV now, he will never be elite or reliable.
Swans last year- gifted them 2 goals with fumbly panic kicks near the end.

Keeping Lee in Zebs- is that making him learn for the future? Bigger picture- not about short term?
I don't have faith in them.

[saintbob]

Totally agree Bigmart its a strange decision.

You wonder what they would have done with Roberton and Gilbert who have both been used as the 3rd tall this year, neither to great affect.

I would have rather seen them play Lee or Goddard as the lock down FB and have Fisher as the floating 3rd tall and intercept marker which he did during the Lyon era. Fisher was alos a brilliant decison maker and user by foot when running out of defence. Its almost like AR has got it all arse about using Gilbert in those roles.

Even this week I would have dropped Gilbert and bought in Lee to match up on Walker, allowing Dempster to take on Lynch and Roberton to play the Gilbert role. Gilbert get maintained because of his pressure acts, but if we maintain possession you dont have to work as hard to win it back do you? Anyway the coaches know best....?

Agree 100%.
Close games vs Norf n Dorks had coaches believing their strategy was sound, just needing some tweaks. They are in denial, and it cost dearly in Perth.
Kennedy got 4-5 in the first qtr thanks in part to stupid backline selection.
And Robbo is a downhill skier/flat track bully, Freo let him run free, so he got plenty of ball.
He will never ever be a game-saver like Josh Gibson; crumbles under pressure.
Enough games in his CV now, he will never be elite or reliable.
Swans last year- gifted them 2 goals with fumbly panic kicks near the end.

Keeping Lee in Zebs- is that making him learn for the future? Bigger picture- not about short term?
I don't have faith in them.

They're keeping Lee at the Zebs because he doesn't have a future, except for returning to the WAFL in 2017.

[Jacks Back]

But IF Carlisle was playing, would we also play Fisher & Dempster?

If yes, then why aren't we experimenting this year with either Goddard or Lee + Fisher & Dempster. (I know Lee & Goddard aren't as good as Carlisle and is that why they aren't playing three "talls" in the back line most weeks?

[Bunk_Moreland]

But IF Carlisle was playing, would we also play Fisher & Dempster?

If yes, then why aren't we experimenting this year with either Goddard or Lee + Fisher & Dempster. (I know Lee & Goddard aren't as good as Carlisle and is that why they aren't playing three "talls" in the back line most weeks?

Simply Carlisle was available then and FIsher and Dempster will retire soon.

Dont overthink it.

[LTN16]

... and speaking of key defenders, we kept Luke Delaney on our list because?

He was contracted

[GeorgeYoung27]

Why do people continually look only at match ups when working out teams (especially the back line). Like Hawthorn, WCE and WB size match ups are kind of irrelevant as the best team of 6 or 7 defenders is picked these days. It is why Cheney gets picked at Hawthorn and Adelaide, why Shepherd plays key defender at WCE and why Dempster plays FB for us when Fisher is out. It is purely organisation of defence. It's why Geary & Roberton are preferred and why we play a short backline and generally it works. The 3 (yes only 3) games this where we have been smashed, it's been midfield and defensive ball coming in quickly.

[WellardSaint]

Why do people continually look only at match ups when working out teams (especially the back line). Like Hawthorn, WCE and WB size match ups are kind of irrelevant as the best team of 6 or 7 defenders is picked these days. It is why Cheney gets picked at Hawthorn and Adelaide, why Shepherd plays key defender at WCE and why Dempster plays FB for us when Fisher is out. It is purely organisation of defence. It's why Geary & Roberton are preferred and why we play a short backline and generally it works. The 3 (yes only 3) games this where we have been smashed, it's been midfield and defensive ball coming in quickly.

Jamie Cox said the same thing after the WCE game. You're repeating him.
Kennedy had 4 in the first few minutes; if we had a big defender it may not have happened. If size is irrelevant, let's have 6 forwards of Sinclair/Weller size!
When we score 2 goals in a game, blame the mids and delivery again.
Cool story, bro

[ace]

... and speaking of key defenders, we kept Luke Delaney on our list because?

Because he can defend but can't get the ball.
Once Delaney and Lee have children together in this brave new world they will produce wonderful key position backmen.

[GeorgeYoung27]

Why do people continually look only at match ups when working out teams (especially the back line). Like Hawthorn, WCE and WB size match ups are kind of irrelevant as the best team of 6 or 7 defenders is picked these days. It is why Cheney gets picked at Hawthorn and Adelaide, why Shepherd plays key defender at WCE and why Dempster plays FB for us when Fisher is out. It is purely organisation of defence. It's why Geary & Roberton are preferred and why we play a short backline and generally it works. The 3 (yes only 3) games this where we have been smashed, it's been midfield and defensive ball coming in quickly.

Jamie Cox said the same thing after the WCE game. You're repeating him.
Kennedy had 4 in the first few minutes; if we had a big defender it may not have happened. If size is irrelevant, let's have 6 forwards of Sinclair/Weller size!
When we score 2 goals in a game, blame the mids and delivery again.
Cool story, bro

Where the hell's that come from!

Cox told me what to say, hey. You obviously know so much more than me, and Richo and everyone else on our coaching panel. A better understanding than Clarko or even Longmire who played Rampe (not Grundy) on Tom Lynch tonight and has Laidler at CHB. Like I said we have been clearly beaten in only 3 games out of 9, including 5 games against top 8 sides.

[WellardSaint]

Why do people continually look only at match ups when working out teams (especially the back line). Like Hawthorn, WCE and WB size match ups are kind of irrelevant as the best team of 6 or 7 defenders is picked these days. It is why Cheney gets picked at Hawthorn and Adelaide, why Shepherd plays key defender at WCE and why Dempster plays FB for us when Fisher is out. It is purely organisation of defence. It's why Geary & Roberton are preferred and why we play a short backline and generally it works. The 3 (yes only 3) games this where we have been smashed, it's been midfield and defensive ball coming in quickly.

Jamie Cox said the same thing after the WCE game. You're repeating him.
Kennedy had 4 in the first few minutes; if we had a big defender it may not have happened. If size is irrelevant, let's have 6 forwards of Sinclair/Weller size!
When we score 2 goals in a game, blame the mids and delivery again.
Cool story, bro

Where the hell's that come from!

Cox told me what to say, hey. You obviously know so much more than me, and Richo and everyone else on our coaching panel. A better understanding than Clarko or even Longmire who played Rampe (not Grundy) on Tom Lynch tonight and has Laidler at CHB. Like I said we have been clearly beaten in only 3 games out of 9, including 5 games against top 8 sides.

Rampe was on Bruce last year in Rd22, and held Bwoose to 6 touches and goalless for the first time in 2015.
Rampe can obviously take a forward, so not sure why you mention him.

[Impatient Sainter]

... and speaking of key defenders, we kept Luke Delaney on our list because?

Think he was contracted for the year ... but will be his last no doubt.

[spert]

I would hate to play in our backline, as when the midfield don't get hands on the ball in one of their brain-fade quarters, it comes down back way too often, and that is a backman's nightmare.

[Spinner]

Totally agree Bigmart its a strange decision.

You wonder what they would have done with Roberton and Gilbert who have both been used as the 3rd tall this year, neither to great affect.

I would have rather seen them play Lee or Goddard as the lock down FB and have Fisher as the floating 3rd tall and intercept marker which he did during the Lyon era. Fisher was alos a brilliant decison maker and user by foot when running out of defence. Its almost like AR has got it all arse about using Gilbert in those roles.

Even this week I would have dropped Gilbert and bought in Lee to match up on Walker, allowing Dempster to take on Lynch and Roberton to play the Gilbert role. Gilbert get maintained because of his pressure acts, but if we maintain possession you dont have to work as hard to win it back do you? Anyway the coaches know best....?

Agree 100%.
Close games vs Norf n Dorks had coaches believing their strategy was sound, just needing some tweaks. They are in denial, and it cost dearly in Perth.
Kennedy got 4-5 in the first qtr thanks in part to stupid backline selection.
And Robbo is a downhill skier/flat track bully, Freo let him run free, so he got plenty of ball.
He will never ever be a game-saver like Josh Gibson; crumbles under pressure.
Enough games in his CV now, he will never be elite or reliable.
Swans last year- gifted them 2 goals with fumbly panic kicks near the end.

Keeping Lee in Zebs- is that making him learn for the future? Bigger picture- not about short term?
I don't have faith in them.

I don't think I agree with any of the four or so points made in this post.

Roberton has been fantastic and anyone who blamed the defence against West Coast surely has no idea given we were absolutely smashed in the middle. An extra ten centimetres on anyone wouldn't have stopped that.

[Enrico_Misso]

... and speaking of key defenders, we kept Luke Delaney on our list because?

Think he was contracted for the year ... but will be his last no doubt.

He might get a chance now!

[Con Gorozidis]

Time to give Coughlan a debut and bring Lee in for a month of games.

[Con Gorozidis]

Roberton has been fantastic and anyone who blamed the defence against West Coast surely has no idea given we were absolutely smashed in the middle. An extra ten centimetres on anyone wouldn't have stopped that.

How do you define 'fantastic'?

6 games this year and for three of them he got 2/10 on inside football ratings.

I personally wouldnt call that 'fantastic'.

You must be easily pleased.

http://www.aflplayerratings.com.au/Rati ... n-ROBERTON

[Enrico_Misso]

... and speaking of key defenders, we kept Luke Delaney on our list because?

Think he was contracted for the year ... but will be his last no doubt.

He might get a chance now!

[Wombat15]

Our selection is a weird one and Lee was originally dropped because he didnt play tight on Cameron like he was asked to.
personally i would liked to have seen 3 talls against the crows considering they had Jenkins, Walker and Lynch.
As much as Gilbo has been a servant to the club im not sure on the benefits of having Him, Roberton and Webster all in the same defence. Gilbos disposal is questionable, Roberton panics like crazy when under pressure hence why teams want the ball in his hands (very rarely hits a target cleanly) and Jimmy seems to do a lot of Losers limp style stuff where he just doesnt position himself correctly in the first place. im not sure what else can be done and i know brandon white is 10kg off being ready, bailey rice is slowly coming on, Murdoch cant find the footy, Nathan wrights usage is always short of the target. Which raises the question should we get Marchbank this off season or bank on getting Jarrod Berry in the draft?

[kosifantutti]

... and speaking of key defenders, we kept Luke Delaney on our list because?

Because you never know when four key defenders will be unavailable.

[lintonstreet]

Can't underestimate the loss of Carlisle this year.
He's who we have missed to release either Fish or Dempster.
Line up Carlisle & Huey together in future years and our rebounder's will rip em apart.