saintsRrising wrote:However based upon his playing history Dempster is clearly in front of Begley & Miles.
Agreed, although possibly not in terms of rebound ability.
Based on Raphs' form this year Dempster would be preferred. Though if it was the Raph of last years finals then raph...but we have rarely seen that Raph. with Dempster you are lot more sure what you can get.
Yes, in terms of overall performance, but I think that - even at his worst (eg, how he has played this year other than in the Rd 1 game) - Raph is more of a rebounder than Dempster.
Dempster is a much better user of the ball than Blake. Blake is the better key defender.
This statement is too much of a stretch for me. Dempster appears to be a better and more accurate kick than Blake (although Blake has improved over the years). But there is surely more to ball use than disposing of it.
These is also getting the ball in the first place and also running with it. Blake has always done a lot more of this than Dempster: even as CHB.
Throughout his career, Dempster has always been a low possession, negating sort of player. This is not a criticism, it is a statement about the role he has tended to play.
Our current key likely finals opponents in the Cat's, Dogs and Pies all have several good small forwards...and I am not sure that our current 22 has the right balance to cover more than one small forward.
Be amazed, I'm with you 150% on this one. In forthcoming big games, if fit, I reckon Dempster on Steve J or Aker or Mark Williams (I still have more faith in the Hawks making it to the PF stage than I do in the Pies) is definitely worth a go. I like him as a tagger, I just don't believe he can do the other stuff as well as Raph or even Blake.
However, wanting to have Dempster in as a tagger of small forwards isn't the same thing as knowing who to leave out in his place. The team that ran out against the Blues and the Tiges had 7 players down back filling 6 necessary roles IMO.
Bringing Dempster in for one of them doesn't solve that problem. Dempster could come in for Geary and Bakes could play more in the midfield (eg, trying to combat the Lings of this world). I wouldn't be surprised if this is what happens on Sunday, assuming that the club considers Dempster to be up for it.
It still doesn't solve the problem of one player too many in the backline. I still think we have to remove one of Blake, Dawson and Max. In the end, injuries may solve the problem for us (eg, forcing Blake into the ruck or into a midfield role).
I just can't see Blake being dropped. To me, he has become an elite backline player. If he were reading some of the criticism of him on here, I'm sure his first response would be "look at the scoreboard" (not only in 2009, but in the second half of 2008).
"It is useless to attempt to reason a man out of a thing he was never reasoned into."
- Jonathan Swift
