Talia

[CQ SAINT]

It wouldn't surprise me to see them bring in Michael Hartley, a 198 cm, 100kg GOP who could fill a need, just.

Strangely, his efforts seem to be a little neater than GOP too. He appears to be the Gorilla handler we need allowing Wilkie/Highmore/Battle to intercept and double team all day. He seems to be a mauler/spoiler rather than a intercept marker, of which, we have a few good ones.

[saintsRrising]

Confirmed that Talia 'injury will not be right for 2022 and that he is taking the year off.


A younger player was always a better option for us. We need to improve to be a genuine threat and so need recruits who have upside, and who are not on the slide.

[DJ Higgins]

Retired so I think we missed another Hannebery

[saynta]

Talia retires

https://www.afl.com.au/news/684497/upda ... -to-injury

[diddley]

Talia retires

https://www.afl.com.au/news/684497/upda ... -to-injury

I just saw this.
Obviously the Crows knew how bad his injuries were. No wonder no one picked him up. He must be crumbling away.

[evertonfc]

It wouldn't surprise me to see them bring in Michael Hartley, a 198 cm, 100kg GOP who could fill a need, just.

Strangely, his efforts seem to be a little neater than GOP too. He appears to be the Gorilla handler we need allowing Wilkie/Highmore/Battle to intercept and double team all day. He seems to be a mauler/spoiler rather than a intercept marker, of which, we have a few good ones.

Yes, Hartley should be in consideration. Has some scalps in his short but interesting AFL career (three clubs, 49 games).

Prefer Schlensog due to age but Hartley is a plug-and-play option with runs on the board and not too many miles on the clock, despite being 28.

After losing Clavarino, Frawley and Carlisle in one go, on the back of Brown, Austin and Roberton moving on, and with Joyce still a long way from week-to-week AFL standard (will he ever get there?), we're literally down to one quality KPP defender (Howard).

I'm not having this talk of Highmore and WIlkie playing as the number 2 KPP - they're too short. Wilkie certainly so at 191; Highmore is 193 but like Roberton (194 - same as Alex Rance FWIW), his game is much more about running, marking, intercepting and linking the play than wrestling and spoiling. Facing Richmond sees you up against a 199cm Tom Lynch and a 195cm Jack Riewoldt, for example.

I'd much rather Hartley on the list over, say, Kent. Those are the decisions we have to start making and fast.

If we can get two of Schlensog, Hartley and Skinner on the list, we might be able to scrape through 2022-23 whilst preparing a tilt for better options at future trade and draft weeks. Granted, these guys aren't Darren Glass and Ben Hart, but our list management team (or our development coaches - take your pick, either or, perhaps both) has failed us here and we're now looking at the options of last resort.

[Mr Magic]

The current Premiership CHB Steven May is 193cm tall.
His compatriot Lever is 195cm tall

I might humbly suggest that there are a number of 192-195cm KPD around the league who hold down the position well.
Conversely there are also a number of 198-200cm KPD around the league who are not great.
It seems to me that the deciding factor on who we should have play there is, are they any good and are they capable of playing the position, rather than their actual height.

As an example Tim Membrey is an opposition problem because of his ability to play 'taller' than his actual height would suggest.

Josh Battle at 192 had a pretty good season as a KPD in 2019 - he wasn't too short back then.

[evertonfc]

The current Premiership CHB Steven May is 193cm tall.
His compatriot Lever is 195cm tall

I might humbly suggest that there are a number of 192-195cm KPD around the league who hold down the position well.
Conversely there are also a number of 198-200cm KPD around the league who are not great.
It seems to me that the deciding factor on who we should have play there is, are they any good and are they capable of playing the position, rather than their actual height.

As an example Tim Membrey is an opposition problem because of his ability to play 'taller' than his actual height would suggest.

Josh Battle at 192 had a pretty good season as a KPD in 2019 - he wasn't too short back then.

I think I mention it above that a 194cm Roberton is vastly different to a 194cm David Astbury. And although Zac Dawson was 197cm, remember when he was rag-dolled by Anthony Rocca (195cm)?

So yes, it does depend. But neither Highmore or Wilkie are really suited (at the moment) for KPP roles, nor do I really see that in their body shape or body of work so far.

I think they've tremendous value as 'hybrid' defenders capable of doing many things: intercepting, taking a mix of talls and smalls when required, even filling in as either the KPP defender or the small defender (in emergencies/when others are out of position). But I think what they do are are legitimate roles in their own right and we'd be better suited looking for some classical defensive strength to support Howard.

I have a feeling - however - that the coaching staff thinks that we can get away with the three of them (Howard, Wilkie and Highmore, with Webster as the 'back up') as part of a 'very mobile' back six, aided by Paton, Sinclair and Coffield (and Hill linking the play). It will be fascinating to see if that is the strategy and whether it works. We will certainly move the ball quickly out of D50 but may be at risk of the high ball coming in - my principle concern at this point (hence my desire to see more KPP depth moved in ... and heaven forbid Howard gets injured).

[evertonfc]

(double post)

[B.M]

That defence will be under a lot of pressure at centre bounce.

We lose the clearance, with the 6-6-6 rule undersized defenders are vulnerable!

It’s why not having Ryder at centre bounce was so costly last season when he was out!

[Ghost Like]

That makes a ruck more important than a KPD plus it works the other way, in attack. I wish Ryder was only 30.

Gallagher alluded to the importance of our mids easing the pressure on our backs. I imagine at the centre square & pressure around the ground.

[happy feet]

Nice little snide comment Happy Feet

Isn’t that what you accuse me of?!

However, I love your obsession with me…

I did not mention you in my post about Talia so I’m not sure what you are on about.

Perhaps there is a risk when one presents them self as having superior knowledge and information, when they actually don’t.

You made your bed, go lie in it.

[Wayne42]

The current Premiership CHB Steven May is 193cm tall.
His compatriot Lever is 195cm tall

I might humbly suggest that there are a number of 192-195cm KPD around the league who hold down the position well.
Conversely there are also a number of 198-200cm KPD around the league who are not great.
It seems to me that the deciding factor on who we should have play there is, are they any good and are they capable of playing the position, rather than their actual height.

As an example Tim Membrey is an opposition problem because of his ability to play 'taller' than his actual height would suggest.

Josh Battle at 192 had a pretty good season as a KPD in 2019 - he wasn't too short back then.

Yes, i agree. Sydney's Key Defenders are McCartin 193cm, Melican 194 cm and Rampe is 190 cm and they go alright.

Stephen May is 193 cm and he is a very good Key Defender.

[Scollop]

This guy is keen to keep playing. He'll be turning 32 by the start of next season, but he's been pretty durable. He's not like a Hurley or a Talia that has had major injury concerns. https://www.sen.com.au/news/2021/09/29/ ... fl-career/

He missed games this year due to suspension and also an impact injury where he fractured his ribs. https://www.zerohanger.com/just-in-carl ... ury-19668/

Only played a total of 153 AFL senior games so could possibly play another 3 years. If he doesn't cost us much and we don't lose any draft picks on him it's a low risk play. We need a back up ruck and I'd play him over Paul Hunter

I think Ratts was still at Carlton when he was originally drafted and he can play back and forward.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levi_Casboult

[CQ SAINT]

This guy is keen to keep playing. He'll be turning 32 by the start of next season, but he's been pretty durable. He's not like a Hurley or a Talia that has had major injury concerns. https://www.sen.com.au/news/2021/09/29/ ... fl-career/

He missed games this year due to suspension and also an impact injury where he fractured his ribs. https://www.zerohanger.com/just-in-carl ... ury-19668/

Only played a total of 153 AFL senior games so could possibly play another 3 years. If he doesn't cost us much and we don't lose any draft picks on him it's a low risk play. We need a back up ruck and I'd play him over Paul Hunter

I think Ratts was still at Carlton when he was originally drafted and he can play back and forward.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levi_Casboult

I thought I heard he was on a promise from the Suns??

[Ghost Like]

I'm sorry, I could not handle getting Levi. For so many years I got great joy from Carlton mates who were lambasting him. Now Carlton finally chop him and we top up his super??? Flashbacks to the 80's & Moorabbin being the Cartonian Retirement Village.

[Scollop]

I'm sorry, I could not handle getting Levi. For so many years I got great joy from Carlton mates who were lambasting him. Now Carlton finally chop him and we top up his super??? Flashbacks to the 80's & Moorabbin being the Cartonian Retirement Village.

I’ve heard he has a very clean bedroom and he loves cleaning and helping out in the kitchen

[evertonfc]

Yes, i agree. Sydney's Key Defenders are McCartin 193cm, Melican 194 cm and Rampe is 190 cm and they go alright.

Stephen May is 193 cm and he is a very good Key Defender.

I explained all this before but anyhow - it looks like the coaching staff agrees with going undersized. I really hope our mobility is an asset and we can bring the ball to ground level. Sydney are a fair example to use as they were the #1 side at going D50 to I50 in 2021. I really hope we could replicate that kind of transition.

But our midfield is not Sydney's, and with our midfield setup the way it is (4th last in groundball differential in 2021), and our ruck stability in question, I feel very uncomfortable with this kind of framework.

It's a heck of a call to make but certainly suggests tremendous confidence in our defence. Let's see. Hope it pays off.

[Wayne42]

Yes, i agree. Sydney's Key Defenders are McCartin 193cm, Melican 194 cm and Rampe is 190 cm and they go alright.

Stephen May is 193 cm and he is a very good Key Defender.

I explained all this before but anyhow - it looks like the coaching staff agrees with going undersized. I really hope our mobility is an asset and we can bring the ball to ground level. Sydney are a fair example to use as they were the #1 side at going D50 to I50 in 2021. I really hope we could replicate that kind of transition.

But our midfield is not Sydney's, and with our midfield setup the way it is (4th last in groundball differential in 2021), and our ruck stability in question, I feel very uncomfortable with this kind of framework.

It's a heck of a call to make but certainly suggests tremendous confidence in our defence. Let's see. Hope it pays off.

I wonder what Corey Enright's preferred defensive set up is and whether he feels those players are already at the club or if he feels they need to look for
a DFA or SSP recruit to plug a gap.

[maverick]

Brander is available at 196cm
He could also help up forward

[Banger9798]

Howard 199cm
Wilkie 191 cm
Highmore 193cm
Battle 193cm

Not too bad....if only Highmore was more high....

I'll see myself out....

[B.M]

Highmore and Battle are not 6’4”

Of that I am sure

[saynta]

Highmore and Battle are not 6’4”

Of that I am sure

no. they are 6' 3.33333333"

Well, at least Battle is, Not sure about Highmore.

[Ghost Like]

Highmore and Battle are not 6’4”

Of that I am sure

no. they are 6' 3.33333333"

Well, at least Battle is, Not sure about Highmore.

They seem to be Collingwood 6'4"ers.

Battle's height seems overs unless he's that rare breed that plays shorter than what he is??? Perhaps they need to get him to play to his height.

[B.M]

Pay little attention to listed heights