I know it's been done to death but......

[captain blood 17]

Round 10 last season where we finally roll the saints. Just watched Ben Griffiths first half at CHB. He aint going anywhere. If you want to see the pro's for him staying there, just watch round 9 and 10. He's gonna be a monster to get past.
So that's my argument, no hypotheticals, go watch the proof. Chaplin, Rance, Grimes and Griffiths with Morris and Houli/Batchelor/Conca/Ellis/Dea. It's a backline that's gonna go places. Make no mistake.
Griffiths CHB, you know it makes sense.

 

[TJTIGER]

Round 10 last season where we finally roll the saints. Just watched Ben Griffiths first half at CHB. He aint going anywhere. If you want to see the pro's for him staying there, just watch round 9 and 10. He's gonna be a monster to get past.
So that's my argument, no hypotheticals, go watch the proof. Chaplin, Rance, Grimes and Griffiths with Morris and Houli/Batchelor/Conca/Ellis/Dea. It's a backline that's gonna go places. Make no mistake.
Griffiths CHB, you know it makes sense.

I remember that game CB17 and recall he was very solid too. @ this stage I don't care where as long as he can get consistent good quality games I'll be happy and he can build from there.

 

[Ned_Flanders]

Round 10 last season where we finally roll the saints. Just watched Ben Griffiths first half at CHB. He aint going anywhere. If you want to see the pro's for him staying there, just watch round 9 and 10. He's gonna be a monster to get past.
So that's my argument, no hypotheticals, go watch the proof. Chaplin, Rance, Grimes and Griffiths with Morris and Houli/Batchelor/Conca/Ellis/Dea. It's a backline that's gonna go places. Make no mistake.
Griffiths CHB, you know it makes sense.

its a VERY tall backline though. Assuming we go in with a 7 man backline, I'd imagine it would be something like this:

Morris Chaplin Grimes
Houli Rance Griffiths Batchelor

I don't mind it, but worry sides like Carlton may expose us with small forwards

 

[Bird Man]

its a VERY tall backline though. Assuming we go in with a 7 man backline, I'd imagine it would be something like this:

Morris Chaplin Grimes
Houli Rance Griffiths Batchelor

I don't mind it, but worry sides like Carlton may expose us with small forwards

Batch will be on the wing, but will be fight for his spot with vlas and Ellis

Personally I would rather play vlas or Ellis than houli but I think the coaching panel is soft with houli for some reason

 

[Ned_Flanders]

Batch will be on the wing, but will be fight for his spot with vlas and Ellis

Personally I would rather play vlas or Ellis than houli but I think the coaching panel is soft with houli for some reason

Reckon you will see Ellis on the wing more often than not - don't think Batch has the tank to do it in more than bursts, and Ellis showed good signs at seasons end (and apparently has been a powerhouse in the preseason training).

Agree on Vlas fighting for a spot, and initially he'll probably be taking up Batch's role (with him filling in for Grimes). When Grimes comes back though, could be interesting...

On Houli, I'm a massive fan. He is not there to be a key defender and smack people around. He is there to set up play in the HB line, and get the ball moving. This is why he is often bagged for not being on a man, like Grigg he is tasked with finding space so they guys can off load the ball to them and they bang on from there.

 

[captain blood 17]

its a VERY tall backline though. Assuming we go in with a 7 man backline, I'd imagine it would be something like this:

Morris Chaplin Grimes
Houli Rance Griffiths Batchelor

I don't mind it, but worry sides like Carlton may expose us with small forwards

I'm pretty sure it's been posted previously, but if you were to run height comparisons between what you have posted above and Geelongs premiership back lines, the sizes are similar believe it or not.

 

[Ned_Flanders]

I'm pretty sure it's been posted previously, but if you were to run height comparisons between what you have posted above and Geelongs premiership back lines, the sizes are similar believe it or not.

The Geelong guys played smalls quite well though - we would be relying on Grimes/Rance to play quite short on some occassions (Chap/Griff would always get the biggest guys)

 

[captain blood 17]

The Geelong guys played smalls quite well though - we would be relying on Grimes/Rance to play quite short on some occassions (Chap/Griff would always get the biggest guys)

That's right. But I feel Grimes could cover a smaller forward, and Rance would be great running out of defence. We made massive inroads defensively last season with Ross Smith's coaching, they will understand each other even better this season.

 

[johnno77]

Based on the title, I was expecting a "best 22" thread. Now that's something that's been done to death.

Here's mine............

Back on topic, agree 100%. Really liked what I saw of Griffiths this year.

 

[TigerGlory]

Yeah the only issue is fitting him in down there. But Griffo definitely needs to be in the side. With Chaplin/Rance/Grimes having key position defensive spots I dont know where to slot him in down there thats all.

Morris - Rance - Chaplin
Houli - Grimes - Newman

It looks a real solid back 6. Whereas there is definitely a spot for Griffo at CHF.

 

[The Rusty Trombone]

Ben Griffiths is a gun.

 

[Rustof]

Loved him down back, I was most impressed with his hands. His handballs not only found a team mate but always seemed to just hit a team mate at the right time to release them into space. Hopefully he can build his tank a bit more so we see him running off the HB and drilling into Jack's chest at FF.

 

[Turka]

its a VERY tall backline though. Assuming we go in with a 7 man backline, I'd imagine it would be something like this:

Morris Chaplin Grimes
Houli Rance Griffiths Batchelor

I don't mind it, but worry sides like Carlton may expose us with small forwards

It's only Betts we need to worry about. He's had the wood on us, just like the tiprat at St.Kilda.
But the tide is turning. I'm confident we can now keep Betts quiet, and Carlton quieter.
And agree on Griff. Has the goods to be a 200 gamer, with a bit of luck.

 

[tugga]

This has been done to death

 

[Turka]

This has been done to death

Merry Christmas Tugga...

 

[Bird Man]

Newman won't play in the back now with Chaplin

 

[tugga]

Newman won't play in the back now with Chaplin

What do you mean? I don't git it.

 

[theflea]

its a VERY tall backline though. Assuming we go in with a 7 man backline, I'd imagine it would be something like this:

Morris Chaplin Grimes
Houli Rance Griffiths Batchelor

I don't mind it, but worry sides like Carlton may expose us with small forwards

true but both grimes and rance can play on those smalls. whether they beat them i dont know yet.

 

[theflea]

Loved him down back, I was most impressed with his hands. His handballs not only found a team mate but always seemed to just hit a team mate at the right time to release them into space. Hopefully he can build his tank a bit more so we see him running off the HB and drilling into Jack's chest at FF.

yep he just needs to get better 1 on 1 and learn to used that massive body of his.

 

[Bird Man]

What do you mean? I don't git it.

my english fails me in the holidays

now that we have chappo in the back leading we don't need Newman there to add experience

 

[MR]

I was absolutely ecstatic that we got Griffiths at 19, and had he remained injury free during his junior days, we probably would have still taken him, although at 3. Ben is a top 5 prospect in my eyes, and now that his shoulder issues are gone, we have a beast to unleash.

I have very conflicting thoughts about the prospect of Ben playing in the backline.

After watching Griffiths as a junior and discussions with coaches at the Ranges, I always knew that this kid could become a 75-goal forward at the top level. He's one of the most athletic 200cm KPPs in the entire competition. He never played in the ruck as a primary position. Add this with incredible contested marking, a great leap, and his most prominent feature of 65m pin-point kicking, the prospect of him at full-strength is scary. You just have to watch his highlights against Essendon last year, he showed glimpses of what he can be. The only problem is that I can't see how he will thrive in a forward-line of Riewoldt and Vickery unless we take Jack out of the goal square and stick him on the flank. Similarly, the amount of arm-chopping that forwards receive could become a real long-term danger for Ben.

The coaches in my opinion realized this, and experimented him in the back-line. He just seemed to click perfectly, and to no surprise too. Ben looks like a very natural defender, but it pains me to think that we'd be robbing him out of the forward line. I think Griffiths could be elite at either side of the ground, and I don't think the coaches have even worked out his long term position yet. In my opinion, it all boils down to how our other talls develop. Let's see how Astbury and Vickery perform this year, and even McGuane.

To me, it's more important that Ben can start getting continuation in senior games before we can start deciding his true position. Once he has confidence, he can be anything. This kid is an x-factor KPP, and that's probably the rarest type of player in the game.

 

[db26]

Reckon you will see Ellis on the wing more often than not - don't think Batch has the tank to do it in more than bursts, and Ellis showed good signs at seasons end (and apparently has been a powerhouse in the preseason training).

Agree on Vlas fighting for a spot, and initially he'll probably be taking up Batch's role (with him filling in for Grimes). When Grimes comes back though, could be interesting...

On Houli, I'm a massive fan. He is not there to be a key defender and smack people around. He is there to set up play in the HB line, and get the ball moving. This is why he is often bagged for not being on a man, like Grigg he is tasked with finding space so they guys can off load the ball to them and they bang on from there.

Finally somebody knows the role of Houli great post.Loved big Griffths kicks out's and breaking the zone that was awsome.

 

[nut]

my english fails me in the holidays

now that we have chappo in the back leading we don't need Newman there to add experience

So you replace the lack of experience with lack of ecxperience? Surely Chaplian has been recruited to bolster the level of experience.
Newman stays in the backline because there isnt too many other positions we can hide.

 

[nut]

I was absolutely ecstatic that we got Griffiths at 19, and had he remained injury free during his junior days, we probably would have still taken him, although at 3. Ben is a top 5 prospect in my eyes, and now that his shoulder issues are gone, we have a beast to unleash.

I have very conflicting thoughts about the prospect of Ben playing in the backline.

After watching Griffiths as a junior and discussions with coaches at the Ranges, I always knew that this kid could become a 75-goal forward at the top level. He's one of the most athletic 200cm KPPs in the entire competition. He never played in the ruck as a primary position. Add this with incredible contested marking, a great leap, and his most prominent feature of 65m pin-point kicking, the prospect of him at full-strength is scary. You just have to watch his highlights against Essendon last year, he showed glimpses of what he can be. The only problem is that I can't see how he will thrive in a forward-line of Riewoldt and Vickery unless we take Jack out of the goal square and stick him on the flank. Similarly, the amount of arm-chopping that forwards receive could become a real long-term danger for Ben.

The coaches in my opinion realized this, and experimented him in the back-line. He just seemed to click perfectly, and to no surprise too. Ben looks like a very natural defender, but it pains me to think that we'd be robbing him out of the forward line. I think Griffiths could be elite at either side of the ground, and I don't think the coaches have even worked out his long term position yet. In my opinion, it all boils down to how our other talls develop. Let's see how Astbury and Vickery perform this year, and even McGuane.

To me, it's more important that Ben can start getting continuation in senior games before we can start deciding his true position. Once he has confidence, he can be anything. This kid is an x-factor KPP, and that's probably the rarest type of player in the game.

Agree with this. I consider him more dangerous as a forward.... but in saying that, if the backline offers him that continuation then I'm happy with that too and I'm sure I can get used his inside fifty stats with his outside fifty stat all in the same possesion.

 

[Bird Man]

So you replace the lack of experience with lack of ecxperience? Surely Chaplian has been recruited to bolster the level of experience.
Newman stays in the backline because there isnt too many other positions we can hide.

were defiantly not on the same page

Newman is a midfielder and was only in the back because we needed leadership down there .. and now that we have chappo we dont need him down there