KPD. What is the plan? Is there a plan?

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Barnett probably needs a bit of time to learn the defensive craft, but hes got great attributes to be that full back.
203cm, athletic, great contested mark.

Its good we may have some competition for Edwards for that full back spot in 2026.

I mentioned it in another thread, but as of 2027 our KPD stocks are likely to look something like:
Edwards, Bazzo, Barnett, Maric?, Shanahan, one of VanEs/Brock, and maybe a draftee.

Bazzo will be 23 for the 2027 season as the second oldest, unless we sign Brock.

If we assume Shanahan will be good in the role long term, and Barnett goes well this year, drafting Curtin may not be that big of a need.
One of Maric, Bazzo, or VanEs/Brock could be that 3rd KPD we run with. If we want Marics kick off half back then Maric would be the 3rd tall, with Barnett and Shanahan taking the KPFs.

We might actually be ok for KPDs
totally agree with most and 2025 will be the make or break for a few of them.
The biggest part will be where Bazzo and Edwards end up this year, if they can solidify themselves as our next KD stocks and not get injured constantly then we will have decent depth, if they don't they are depth players.
Barnett will be a FB if he grabs the spot with both hands and that is good news but still a couple of years away from that.
Same with Shanahan or Archer if 1 of them are to become KDEF options, still 3 years away from holding a main spot, hopefully sooner but that's normally what it takes for KP players to reach their abilities, 21-22 before they are ready.
Van Es/Brock hopefully 1 of them can show enough to be a nice prospect.
Maric looks most in danger of grabbing the 3rd KDEF spot, probably from Bazzo.
I feal Bazzo and Edwards might be the most vulnerable to dropping outside the team or not getting another contract if we have developed Barnett, Maric, 1 of Shanahan/Archer.
Curtin is a priority if you look at the scenario where Bazzo and Edwards don't make the best 22 or are depth players, better to have elite talent in a position and force others out or onto depth players when they come along, the same philosophy that Shanahan wasn't a list need in his position but he was too good of talent not to draft.
 
Barnett probably needs a bit of time to learn the defensive craft, but hes got great attributes to be that full back.
203cm, athletic, great contested mark.

Its good we may have some competition for Edwards for that full back spot in 2026.

I mentioned it in another thread, but as of 2027 our KPD stocks are likely to look something like:
Edwards, Bazzo, Barnett, Maric?, Shanahan, one of VanEs/Brock, and maybe a draftee.

Bazzo will be 23 for the 2027 season as the second oldest, unless we sign Brock.

If we assume Shanahan will be good in the role long term, and Barnett goes well this year, drafting Curtin may not be that big of a need.
One of Maric, Bazzo, or VanEs/Brock could be that 3rd KPD we run with. If we want Marics kick off half back then Maric would be the 3rd tall, with Barnett and Shanahan taking the KPFs.

We might actually be ok for KPDs

yes agreed - Maric being 196cm and a decent distributor would be a class choice for 3rd tall.

Once he gets a few more preseasons in the gym and fills out his frame he could be quite a unit.
 

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I think a more interesting thread is what does our entire back 7 look like this year?

We need a 2nd KPD, but also run and carry, third tall, distributor, someone taking kick outs etc.

The only players that have really clearly defined roles in the D50 at this point is Gov and Hough, and we know that Ginbey and Baker will play back there as well.

When Ginbey played down back last year he spent a lot of time playing taller, almost as a 3rf tall.

I wonder if we use him more as run and carry.

How much time does Duggan spend down back as opposed to wing/mid (rotating inside with Graham as def mid?) and where does hunt play?

Potentially there could be a lot of change down back in terms of both personnel and role and who plays full back is just one element of a much bigger question/conundrum in terms of what we do down there.

For me, I’d like to give Shanahan first dibs at it, especially given Edwards is injured. I want to see him at AFL level and see what he has got.

I’d move Hunt to a wing and have Duggan play some time in the midfield to give Graham a chopout and also a bit of wing.

That creates a lot of spots.

Hough: Lockdown
Cole: med def
Shanahan fb
Ginbey/baker: hbf with run and carry
Gov: gov role
Maric: third tall/distributor and shares lockouts with gov.

Cole Shanahan Hough
Ginbey Gov Baker
I/C Maric.

The other option instead of Shanahan is to give Barnett a crack down there. In U/18 he would play ruck and float back very similar in style to Gawn. He was considered a great overhead mark in his draft year, and majority of his aerial work was in the D50 supporting defence.



I tried to fit in Allan but I think Cole keeps his spot and keeps Allan out if everyone is fit and available r1. Would like to see him crack in to the team at some stage, but he’s competing with Cole and Ginbey (I wouldn’t consider him for Marics role imo).

It’ll be fun to see how it pans out.
 
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I think a more interesting thread is what does our entire back 7 look like this year?

We need a 2nd KPD, but also run and carry, third tall, distributor, someone taking kick outs etc.

The only players that have really clearly defined roles in the D50 at this point is Gov and Hough, and we know that Ginbey and Baker will play back there as well.

When Ginbey played down back last year he spent a lot of time playing taller, almost as a 3rf tall.

I wonder if we use him more as run and carry.

How much time does Duggan spend down back as opposed to wing/mid (rotating inside with Graham as def mid?) and where does hunt play?

Potentially there could be a lot of change down back in terms of both personnel and role and who plays full back is just one element of a much bigger question/conundrum in terms of what we do down there.

For me, I’d like to give Shanahan first dibs at it, especially given Edwards is injured. I want to see him at AFL level and see what he has got.

I’d move Hunt to a wing and have Duggan play some time in the midfield to give Graham a chopout and also a bit of wing.

That creates a lot of spots.

Hough: Lockdown
Cole: med def
Shanahan fb
Ginbey/baker: hbf with run and carry
Gov: gov role
Maric: third tall/distributor and shares lockouts with gov.

Cole Shanahan Hough
Ginbey Gov Baker
I/C Maric.

The other option instead of Shanahan is to give Barnett a crack down there. In U/18 he would play ruck and float back very similar in style to Gawn. He was considered a great overhead mark in his draft year, and majority of his aerial work was in the D50 supporting defence.



I tried to fit in Allan but I think Cole keeps his spot and keeps Allan out if everyone is fit and available r1. Would like to see him crack in to the team at some stage, but he’s competing with Cole and Ginbey (I wouldn’t consider him for Marics role imo).

It’ll be fun to see how it pans out.

That video shows similar contested marking that he did at WAFL end of last year playing KDEF, from training repots sounds like Barnett has taken a big step and would be 1st up if Edwards is not available.
Maric looks like he is very capable of being that 3rd tall, he is turning into mr versatile, could play wing also.
 

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KPD. What is the plan? Is there a plan?

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