Backline: 3 Talls plus Brown?

[Hawks2009]

I'm interested in every1's thoughts on whether you think there is room in our backline for Dawson, Croad, Gilham and Brown all at 1 time.

Obviously we need a FB, CHB and a 3rd tall. With Browny taking the 3rd tall last year and doing so well, and Dawson showing some reasonable form in the NAB cup. 1 think there are about 3 options.

A) Dawson FB, Croad CHB, Gilham 3rd tall and Brown going back to taking a small defender.
B) As above but Brown goes forward
C) 1 of Croad, Dawson, Gilham misses out and we keep Brown taking the 3rd tall as last year. (We all know which tall will miss out)

All this is assuming that other sides only play 3 talls in their forward line. And no one is injured

Any1 else with other options, feel free to give your opinion.

 

[macdaddio]

Re: Backline: 3 Talls + Brown ???

murphy, croad, ghilim, brown.............

 

[croady_fan24]

Re: Backline: 3 Talls + Brown ???

I chose C because..our backline did a tremendous job last year and that is the line up we had last year..I would take Dawson out of the 3..who wouldn't?

 

[DannyJ]

Re: Backline: 3 Talls + Brown ???

Please no Dawson...

 

[Carn Hawkas]

Re: Backline: 3 Talls + Brown ???

No Dawson please.

 

[Tonka]

Re: Backline: 3 Talls + Brown ???

There is room for another tall but I don't think Dawson is at the standard required to force his way in.

 

[Spook]

Re: Backline: 3 Talls + Brown ???

Depends who we are playing, where we are playing and the weather outlook

 

[Simon_Nesbit]

Re: Backline: 3 Talls + Brown ???

Gilham is our best 3rd tall still, and will continue to play that role.
Brown is an average small defender, but an AFL AA tall defender. He will continue to play the 2nd (lead-up) tall forward.
Croad will continue to be our #1 defender.

Dawson will back up Croad, Murphy will back up Gilham/Brown.

The status quo will remain.

 

[Leather Poisoning]

Re: Backline: 3 Talls + Brown ???

I think Murphy has out-performed Dawson to this point.

St Kilda is the forward line that would present the most trouble.



Gherig - Croad
Riewoldt - (it was Browny last year) Gilham
Kosi - Murphy/Dawson??
Milne - Browny! WHAAAACK!

It's not as simple as one-on-ones though. Our team backs up the defence almost as good as any. 4th best in the league with Gilham getting better and better and Murphy/Dawson having been given some early season exposure.

 

[Noneedforaname]

Re: Backline: 3 Talls + Brown ???

Roughie goes back and is replaced by Thorpe forward. They need the experience now, not when an injury occurs, or Croady retires. We hardly want to be looking for a CHB and upsetting a stable forward line in the middle of the 'window'. Do it now.

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

Re: Backline: 3 Talls + Brown ???

Gilham is our best 3rd tall still, and will continue to play that role.
Brown is an average small defender, but an AFL AA tall defender. He will continue to play the 2nd (lead-up) tall forward.
Croad will continue to be our #1 defender.

Dawson will back up Croad, Murphy will back up Gilham/Brown.

The status quo will remain.

Agreed.

My hope is that we'd move Roughie back and Thorpe or Dowler into the forward line to replace him, before Dawson is risked against a key forward.

 

[starbux]

Re: Backline: 3 Talls + Brown ???

Roughie goes back and is replaced by Thorpe forward. They need the experience now, not when an injury occurs, or Croady retires. We hardly want to be looking for a CHB and upsetting a stable forward line in the middle of the 'window'. Do it now.

I like your thinking, I was hoping that we would've seen more of Thorpe or Dowler by now, hopefully they get some decent game time this year!
Id also like to see Roughy moved down back if one of those 2 mentioned above can start performing in the forward line, but i don't think we need to be too concerned about Croady retiring just yet; he's still only 28 and i would expect him to play for at least another 4-5 years barring injury.

 

[starbux]

Re: Backline: 3 Talls + Brown ???

to answer your original questions Hawks2009... I would also take option C!

I dont want to keep saying it but i never want to see Zac playing in the Hawthorn senior squad again; he might turn out to be a teriffic VFL player, but from what ive seen in the career to-date he doesnt have the brain to perform in the AFL... apart from being too skinny atm, he's too quick to dispose of the ball when he has time, he's too slow with the ball when under pressure, and even with a bit of extra weight still seems to get bullied on the field.

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

Re: Backline: 3 Talls + Brown ???

I think Murphy has out-performed Dawson to this point.

St Kilda is the forward line that would present the most trouble.



Gherig - Croad
Riewoldt - (it was Browny last year) Gilham
Kosi - Murphy/Dawson??
Milne - Browny! WHAAAACK!

It's not as simple as one-on-ones though. Our team backs up the defence almost as good as any. 4th best in the league with Gilham getting better and better and Murphy/Dawson having been given some early season exposure.

Maybe this is where we need flexibility.

Against the Saints it might make sense not to pick Murphy or Dawson and pick Renouf to play on Kosi when he goes forward.

 

[starbux]

Re: Backline: 3 Talls + Brown ???

Maybe this is where we need flexibility.

Against the Saints it might make sense not to pick Murphy or Dawson and pick Renouf to play on Kosi when he goes forward.

does Robbie Campbell has the pace/stamina to go with a Kosi, assuming Bailey/Renouf can cover his ruck duties with Taylor??

I remember Campbell playing CHB or FB against Barry Hall (I think it was BH) not long ago and doing a great job; I just worry that Kosi would have to much experience for someone like Renouf.

 

[Leather Poisoning]

Re: Backline: 3 Talls + Brown ???

Maybe this is where we need flexibility.

Against the Saints it might make sense not to pick Murphy or Dawson and pick Renouf to play on Kosi when he goes forward.

RENOUF!

Love the guy. Probably hasn't had enough game time to take on Kosi, and you know it's against our policy to throw young players to the wolves . I think he's a great long-term CHB option, although it definitely looks like they've got a ruck role etched out for him.

Would you feel a little worried if your name was R Campbell or S Taylor?

 

[Consumed]

I think Dawson is still under-rated for his work. While still being a bit off the pace for an AFL player, he is still more advanced, not to mention match fit, compared to some of the names being thrown up.

Bailey, Renouf, Dowler, Thorp. How many games have these guys played? Posters still raise their names purely based on potential and what they have read on BF. Watch Dowler on Rocca at the MCG or Bailey actually being match fit to play before calling for them to replace our back-up KP back.

We need to get some serious gametime into these players before they will be ready to do anything. And that may never happen. We've been waiting for Muston to come on, suddenly a 3rd knee reco and maybe his chance has gone. But it hasn't stopped posters hoping for the messiah.

Thorp hasn't kicked a ball in anger since surgery, but people are saying send Roughie to the backline, bring in Thorpie. This may never happen, so lets look at who has played, and who can play. I think we need a 3rd tall down back, not because Brownie cannot do the job. But rather because genuine premiership teams should have 3 quality talls at each end.