I don't see Moore as a viable ruck option, some have tried to paint him in the Casboult mould but I think he is far far from it. He was a stand in for Grigg really, but those rules have changed and the Grigg option is dead in the water now, and rightly so!
At the moment I think our club has it's list in a bit of a pickle, I realise some won't think this because they see the potential for a few nice forwards and mids, but that won't help us if we start getting smashed in the ruck contests. We got a glimpse of that last season when Pittonet had his form slump. FFS, do not ruck Harry!
Yeah he can ruck but we'd prefer he was not required. I'd have gone for Corey Gault from Swan Districts.
Fair enough Pratty, my view is probably a specialist KP defender is a priority. Not saying Oscar Mcdonald is a world beater but he has some experience, size and some idea of what's required. Moore is a great athlete but is a jack of all trades but master of none.. Raw is a kind way of saying he has little nous. Ben Crocker has appeal because he looks different to the usual Carlton cleanskin von Trapp kid we recruit but imo isn't quick enough at AFL level. Be a handy VFL player as he has some nous after playing at two clubs but I think we have his position covered and need cover where it's thin with a KP defender.
It doesn't bother me that much who we go with to tell you the truth but I see Callum Moore a better option down back to Oscar McDonald. Just a preference.
Dont fancy Moore vs Richmond rnd1...he wont touch it and his opponents like Nankervis in the ruck or Grimes, Astbury, Balta etc down back will tear us a new one. Who did Essendon have in the ruck...kids? McDonald probably makes more sense, any long term injury to Jones or JW and we would be done for the year without some cover IMO.
It's a tough one actually.
I was against Moore initially, favouring McDonald but I'd be going between either Moore or Crocker myself.
Moore, IMO, is a versatile tall - forward, ruck, back. I see him more as a Liam Jones style fast, agile and aggressive defender as opposed to a forward making the play. Like Jones, I don't think Moore has the forward craft to play forward and I would prefer him down back as cover opposed to McDonald.
Good to see Williamson on a wing. I wanted him as part of our midfield group this week. And good to see McGovern go back. I called for both. Happy Teague can make a couple of adjustments where required. Walsh into the middle is another this past month. He's better in there than out on a wing, that's for sure! Plus Cripps and Walsh have such a high standard, incredible appetite for the contest and seem to have a real connection.
Play all the kids in the guts, all the time, and you get what happenned to Bolton - lose games, kids get smashed and lose confidence, no one wins.
Play the senior guys in the guts, and the kids dont get an exposure - you see Cunners getting frostbite sitting on a flank for games on end, you see youngsters come in and play on a flank or in a pocket (where they havent played in the 2s) and they fail, along with not getting any exposure to the heat and a chance to learn and develop
Of course, the good sides make it look easy. We just need to get that balance right
Yep it's definitely a balancing act for sure. Dow has had knee issues this season anyway. 2021 is his time after a hopefully strong preseason like the rest of the list.
If we're after Jack Graham, Zach Merrett and Zac Williams (to play midfield) I'm all for it for sure but wonder of the fate of the younger group of mids we have.
From what I have seen, he seems to be bringing them in slower which is probably a better mix. Give them a bigger role next season and see how we go.
Remember irrespective of how this season has gone, the most mature players were probaby better equipped to survive it and thrive in it simply due to time playing the game. Repeat pre seasons, better knowledge of their body and how to get up for the following week after quick turnarounds in unfamiliar locations.
Its been interesting.
Id really love to know where Liam Stocker is and whats going to happen there in respect to his footy.
I agree Thry. Next year I would think it has to be the next step. I think for me it;s this past 3-4 weeks I would have loved to see some change up on field.
I'll not going to get into another Bolton argument, but any development in the young blokes would be negligible since Bolton left. Yes, the passing of time makes them older, but how much real football development have they experienced since mid 2019 ? Teague played them in the 2nd half of last season because he had to. The minute trade time rolled around, he brought in grandpa Eddie, 100 gamer Martin and Pittonet, and pretty much banished the kids to stuff all scratch matches, and an occasional appearance in the seniors, like a human drip feed. Teague's priority was not development, you can be quite certain of that. That will have to change, but I don't think he will do it until he really has to.
It's not about Bolton, anymore. I too think the young guys' confidence is shot from the early days. Times have changed. 18 months older is a big difference in maturity.
If we're not going to play these younger guys in bigger roles, then why do we still have them on our list and why would we keep them past tomorrow's final game?
I think the next step for Teague now is to balance the winning with exposing some younger guys into bigger roles with more responsibility. I don't say that for the sake of it. We're not winning games of footy so think that's our cue to change it up a bit. I'm disappointed Teague hasn't. He's stayed loyal to the structure and senior players. That's ok to a degree. His next challenge is to get more our of the fringe types.
That's what the previous coach tried to do, and he was bashed from pillar to post. At any rate, this is the sort of thing that should be tried with several games left. Doing it for the last game of the year won't show much IMO.
I think we've come a long way in a short period of time since Bolton to be honest.
I think equally the young blokes are that 18 months older. Makes a difference. I think also there is a better system in place now compared to under Bolton. Plus he threw Dow and a small Fisher into the midfield and I reckon it was just too early for them.
Last game? I'd rather we try something for the preseason and 2021 than not. You might uncover something.
Couldn't possibly let Cameo Cuningham run around again. McGov redeemed himself a fraction with some 2nd half efforts against the Crows.
So if Cuningham is a cameo what is McGovern?
Cunners needs midfield time with the other young blokes if we are ever going to see how they go. Whole game midfield without reliance on Cripps, Ed Curnow and Murphy.
The uncontracted guys at season's end in - Fasolo, Lobbe and Garlett should be gone. Lebois too. Has talent but after 3 years of next to zero output, we probably need to move on. To tell you the truth though, I'd prefer to keep Lebois ahead of all the above listed players, plus Lang and Polson. The contracted in Polson and Macreadie worry me a bit. Particularly Polson. If we wanted to make room with an extra senior list spot, could we delist him then rookie him. Upgrade Gibbons and perhaps trade for another small forward form a rival AFL Club (D.Butler, S.Gray, S.Bolton, A.M-Tipungwuti)
