- Moderator
- #426
Righto. The list manager has a responsibility for carefully planning the demographics of the list. It was discussed from a mile out in the offseason how light on we were in key positions after losing Brown and Tarrant in consecutive years.
Of course we weren't going to find world-beater KPPs in the rookie draft or DFA circuit. But it was predicted that our AFL side could be exposed very quickly down back if something went awry. Ditto up forward where Larkey is rapidly headed for Ben Brown 2020 territory shouldering too much load solo.
As tazaa has said if we could add Walker, Bosenvulagi, Young, Greenwoood et al to our list just to "play roles" then we could've found other similar players to help us hold a structure while we develop. The VFL side hasn't been helped either by running a list so bereft of structure.
I can't see how the developing kids are benefited by running a list where players are having to play out of position to form a side (ie Bonar - Harry McKay). Injuries happen but we ran with a list that started the season with one arm behind our back.
Fwiw I rank the lack of small forwards as a list balance weakness also however accept that is is less dangerous to the side's long term competitiveness and structure.
Again as tazaa said not sure why the protectiveness of the club staff when questioning these things? We assembled a list that sits square at the bottom of the AFL and a VFL unit that's taken sound poundings with few clear apparent KPP understudies. Where's our next fullback or CHB coming from? Who's the developing KPF if Comben continues to break or Edwards is just a ruckman?
Nobody would expects these list players to be elite talents but IMO you need somebody there eg Josh Walker. The fact Luff bristled and cited McGuinness as a KPD option smacked of either arrogance or delusion to me. An eye around the league suggests other clubs don't run with such a high risk profile. And no, I don't think running a list structure this way assuming you're on the way to football nirvana in 3-4 years when things "come together" benefits the young mids or existing KPPs in any way.
Of course we weren't going to find world-beater KPPs in the rookie draft or DFA circuit. But it was predicted that our AFL side could be exposed very quickly down back if something went awry. Ditto up forward where Larkey is rapidly headed for Ben Brown 2020 territory shouldering too much load solo.
As tazaa has said if we could add Walker, Bosenvulagi, Young, Greenwoood et al to our list just to "play roles" then we could've found other similar players to help us hold a structure while we develop. The VFL side hasn't been helped either by running a list so bereft of structure.
I can't see how the developing kids are benefited by running a list where players are having to play out of position to form a side (ie Bonar - Harry McKay). Injuries happen but we ran with a list that started the season with one arm behind our back.
Fwiw I rank the lack of small forwards as a list balance weakness also however accept that is is less dangerous to the side's long term competitiveness and structure.
Again as tazaa said not sure why the protectiveness of the club staff when questioning these things? We assembled a list that sits square at the bottom of the AFL and a VFL unit that's taken sound poundings with few clear apparent KPP understudies. Where's our next fullback or CHB coming from? Who's the developing KPF if Comben continues to break or Edwards is just a ruckman?
Nobody would expects these list players to be elite talents but IMO you need somebody there eg Josh Walker. The fact Luff bristled and cited McGuinness as a KPD option smacked of either arrogance or delusion to me. An eye around the league suggests other clubs don't run with such a high risk profile. And no, I don't think running a list structure this way assuming you're on the way to football nirvana in 3-4 years when things "come together" benefits the young mids or existing KPPs in any way.
