Hawks search for key defender - Troy Chaplin

[Laurie Bingham]

Not surprisingly the Herald Sun has again run the old smokey about us being on the trade hunt for a key defender. Despite the Hun's reputation for inaccuracy in journalism this rumour keeps popping its head above water. I did a reasonable analysis of all the established key defenders and I reckon our number 1 target should be Port's Troy Chaplin. He's 193 cms, 95 kgs, turns 23 next year and has already played 59 games. He was recruited from Victoria. He would cost plenty as Port rate him but may be worth the risk.

Others to consider could be: Brian Lake, Luke McPharlin, Lewis Roberts-Thompson and Alipate Carlile (another Port player who was recruited from Vic). None of these players are superstars and all have drawbacks but this seems to be a period of time where there aren't too many very, very good key defenders going around.

Also worth considering is the fact that Mitch Thorp has played a few games at Box Hill this year at centre half back so if he was to remain injury free and put in a good pre-season we may already have the answer to our one major weakness already on the list.

If any Port supporters read this forum, what would you want for Chaplin (and no suggestions of a straight swap for Buddy please - I know Chaplin seems like a gun player but no-one is worth Buddy)

 

[Neville Bartos]

I agree, but I think there are numerous other threads on this exact topic, pretty much where everyone agrees with you. Get Chaplin, only if he wants to come home. We don't want to throw money at players to 'entice' them as we'll probably end up overpaying them and they might not have the passion required to win premierships

 

[Gold Member]

I agree, but I think there are numerous other threads on this exact topic, pretty much where everyone agrees with you. Get Chaplin, only if he wants to come home. We don't want to throw money at players to 'entice' them as we'll probably end up overpaying them and they might not have the passion required to win premierships

Soon enough we'll be the club of choice for players on the move.

 

[Mojo]

Soon enough we'll be the club of choice for players on the move.

I agree!

Plus all the exposure or speculation that Hawthorn are after a Key defender might be enticement enough to lure possible tradees to speak up.

We do rock after all.

 

[Neville Bartos]

I agree!

Plus all the exposure or speculation that Hawthorn are after a Key defender might be enticement enough to lure possible tradees to speak up.

We do rock after all.

=

I agree

 

[Mitchell Madness]

been done before this thread.

as i have said, The team does not need to recruit a middle aged player.

There is Dowler and Thorp pushing for selection (who have both been playing CHB for BH) Renouf pushing for selection leaving campbell to play in defence, and there is the draft also.

with our current situation, we can combfortably recruit the minimum 3 players per season (via draft), and allow the 3 i mentioned to develop. It keeps youth coming in, and will keep us as a power for many of years.

 

[Mojo]

been done before this thread.

as i have said, The team does not need to recruit a middle aged player.

There is Dowler and Thorp pushing for selection (who have both been playing CHB for BH) Renouf pushing for selection leaving campbell to play in defence, and there is the draft also.

with our current situation, we can combfortably recruit the minimum 3 players per season (via draft), and allow the 3 i mentioned to develop. It keeps youth coming in, and will keep us as a power for many of years.

I really like that idea. I hate the idea of becoming a team of recylced players, but teams who generally consider winning the premiership seek trades to take place to fill a void. Otherwise there are players developing at different rates and by the time one player has grown into the position a different one is vacated because we didn't action when winning a premiership was on a possibility.

If any of that makes sense..

 

[Mitchell Madness]

I really like that idea. I hate the idea of becoming a team of recylced players, but teams who generally consider winning the premiership seek trades to take place to fill a void. Otherwise there are players developing at different rates and by the time one player has grown into the position a different one is vacated because we didn't action when winning a premiership was on a possibility.

If any of that makes sense..

Mojo, it does make sence, however, with the quality of tall players in this day and age, a quality Jr. FF can develop into an AA CHB almost Overnight and viseversa, whilst the smaller players recruited often are so fit that any can also come in and play a vital role.

There really is no need for a recycled player, it is a kneejerk reaction to the supposed "hole" in our defence

 

[Forzaport]

I doubt port would consider trading either carlile or chaplin. They are two very important KPPs for us that we rate very highly.

In a hypothetical world though, if we were to consider trading chaplin, at minimum, it would take your first round pick (13-15).

 

[noosa hawk mad]

Mojo, it does make sence, however, with the quality of tall players in this day and age, a quality Jr. FF can develop into an AA CHB almost Overnight and viseversa, whilst the smaller players recruited often are so fit that any can also come in and play a vital role.

There really is no need for a recycled player, it is a kneejerk reaction to the supposed "hole" in our defence

I have read many reports from people regarding Thorp & Dowler saying that they will never play as a back man the speed of the game ect ect with the no chopping the arms rule defenders have to be able to be bloody quick over the first 20 meters! IMHO i would like to know when we started rebuilding through the draft we went for KPP in Roughead Buddy Thorp & Dowler i still think that we have our next FB on our list!Do people still think that Thorp can only play as a forward? Roughead played down back & look at him now surely Thorp & Dowler can learn the defensive role of a back man!

 

[Cosmo Kramer]

I doubt port would consider trading either carlile or chaplin. They are two very important KPPs for us that we rate very highly.

In a hypothetical world though, if we were to consider trading chaplin, at minimum, it would take your first round pick (13-15).

Chaplin for our first pick, where do I sign.

 

[Milkman_Joe]

Others to consider could be: Brian Lake, Luke McPharlin, Lewis Roberts-Thompson and Alipate Carlile (another Port player who was recruited from Vic).

Luke McPharlin - As much as I rate this guy there is zero chance considering he left us already to return to his home state.

LRT - Dud

 

[Cosmo Kramer]

How about one of the brisbane defenders?

 

[The Kipster]

Luke McPharlin - As much as I rate this guy there is zero chance considering he left us already to return to his home state.

LRT - Dud

Luke McPharlin is an injury prone Mummies boy and thank **** he left us

 

[Henry Jr]

Chaplin for our first pick, where do I sign.

Agreed

Throw in Danny Jacobs to sweeten the deal

 

[Henry Jr]

Not surprisingly the Herald Sun has again run the old smokey about us being on the trade hunt for a key defender. Despite the Hun's reputation for inaccuracy in journalism this rumour keeps popping its head above water. I did a reasonable analysis of all the established key defenders and I reckon our number 1 target should be Port's Troy Chaplin. He's 193 cms, 95 kgs, turns 23 next year and has already played 59 games. He was recruited from Victoria. He would cost plenty as Port rate him but may be worth the risk.

Birchall is 192cms and 92 kgs yet we don't speak of him in terms of being a KP.

Interesting comparision between the two.

 

[#6 Mark Williams]

Thats because he's attacking/rebounding role is too important for us.

 

[Hawks2009]

Any1 dare mention LRT again as a hawk should be banned from the Hawks board for life.

Carlisle is the 1 we should go after.

Big n strong and capable of taqking down the gorrilas.

Chaplin is more attacking and we dont need any more attacking players off half back. People will say you can never have to many but we just need some1 who will make stopping the oppisition power forward his no.1 objective.

 

[Tonka]

I don't know much about Chaplin or the others but Thorp will become a forward

 

[halfback dasher]

been done before this thread.

as i have said, The team does not need to recruit a middle aged player.

There is Dowler and Thorp pushing for selection (who have both been playing CHB for BH) Renouf pushing for selection leaving campbell to play in defence, and there is the draft also.

with our current situation, we can combfortably recruit the minimum 3 players per season (via draft), and allow the 3 i mentioned to develop. It keeps youth coming in, and will keep us as a power for many of years.

chaplin is 22......not mid age

 

[halfback dasher]

been done before this thread.

as i have said, The team does not need to recruit a middle aged player.

There is Dowler and Thorp pushing for selection (who have both been playing CHB for BH) Renouf pushing for selection leaving campbell to play in defence, and there is the draft also.

with our current situation, we can combfortably recruit the minimum 3 players per season (via draft), and allow the 3 i mentioned to develop. It keeps youth coming in, and will keep us as a power for many of years.

I doubt port would consider trading either carlile or chaplin. They are two very important KPPs for us that we rate very highly.

In a hypothetical world though, if we were to consider trading chaplin, at minimum, it would take your first round pick (13-15).

chappy.........Done deal

 

[MisterBean]

Birchall is 192cms and 92 kgs yet we don't speak of him in terms of being a KP.

Interesting comparision between the two.

Thats because he's attacking/rebounding role is too important for us.

You want to know the truth?

It's because if he played one-out against any of the premier forwards, he would get so badly beaten it wouldn't be funny.

There are some tall players, like Jobe Watson, who despite their height, are quite poor when it comes to contested marks. If only Jobe Watson had the marking ability that his height of 191 cms would suggest, he'd be in the league's top 10 players.

There are some shorter players, like our own Campbell Brown, who despite their lack of height, are very good contested marks. In fact, Brown is such a good contested mark, he is capable of playing on, and beating, the very best forwards.

The general rule is, the taller a player is, the greater the likelihood of his possessing superior contested marking ability. Unfortunately, there are some players who are quite tall, but will never be good enough in a contested marking situation to beat a power forward.

The way I remember it, Campbell Brown, Luke Hodge and Trent Croad (who are all shorter than Birchall, to varying degrees), demonstrated excellent contested marking ability even in their early years. How many contested marks do you remember Birch taking in his 3 years at the Hawks?

As much as I love watching Birch on the rebound, I can't shut my eyes to some of his obvious deficiencies.

Taller players are generally excused for being slower, because they make up for this with their contested marking ability. Birch is neither fast, nor a great mark, so for the most part, his height advantage is mostly negligible.

I don't want to turn this into a critique of Grant, but it's a good thing his main responsibility is rebounding, because his main talent is in sizing up movements across the field and picking, and hitting the man in the best position.

If his main role was a key defensive post, we wouldn't spend much time talking about how underrated he is. In fact, some of the threads on our hunt for another Key backman would start to take on a rather more desperate note.

Getting picked up by the Hawks is the best thing that could have happened for Birch. Imagine if he had to hold down Centre Half Back for Melbourne.

 

[flyby hawk]

Don't know much about Chaplin - but he is getting towled up by Cloke tonight

 

[Main Man]

No thanks!

 

[halfback dasher]

You want to know the truth?

It's because if he played one-out against any of the premier forwards, he would get so badly beaten it wouldn't be funny.

There are some tall players, like Jobe Watson, who despite their height, are quite poor when it comes to contested marks. If only Jobe Watson had the marking ability that his height of 191 cms would suggest, he'd be in the league's top 10 players.

There are some shorter players, like our own Campbell Brown, who despite their lack of height, are very good contested marks. In fact, Brown is such a good contested mark, he is capable of playing on, and beating, the very best forwards.

The general rule is, the taller a player is, the greater the likelihood of his possessing superior contested marking ability. Unfortunately, there are some players who are quite tall, but will never be good enough in a contested marking situation to beat a power forward.

The way I remember it, Campbell Brown, Luke Hodge and Trent Croad (who are all shorter than Birchall, to varying degrees), demonstrated excellent contested marking ability even in their early years. How many contested marks do you remember Birch taking in his 3 years at the Hawks?

As much as I love watching Birch on the rebound, I can't shut my eyes to some of his obvious deficiencies.

Taller players are generally excused for being slower, because they make up for this with their contested marking ability. Birch is neither fast, nor a great mark, so for the most part, his height advantage is mostly negligible.

I don't want to turn this into a critique of Grant, but it's a good thing his main responsibility is rebounding, because his main talent is in sizing up movements across the field and picking, and hitting the man in the best position.

If his main role was a key defensive post, we wouldn't spend much time talking about how underrated he is. In fact, some of the threads on our hunt for another Key backman would start to take on a rather more desperate note.

Getting picked up by the Hawks is the best thing that could have happened for Birch. Imagine if he had to hold down Centre Half Back for Melbourne.

The dees have a birchell.........................BATE....at 192/95,he dont play tall