Teams you think will definitely not make the 8

[The Prosecutor]

Remember last year when duritz and his gang were up and about after Brisbane's pre-season cup win? Then they shut up after they got pumped by nine goals by Footscray. They play Hawthorn and Geelong in the first two weeks, we could have a repeat performance.

I just don't see it.

They have a couple of players who could be nice mids, but apart from that, who do they actually have in the forward line and defence that they could centre a premiership tilt around, let alone make the eight this year?

 

[38Rockliff38]

I just don't see it.

They have a couple of players who could be nice mids, but apart from that, who do they actually have in the forward line and defence that they could centre a premiership tilt around, let alone make the eight this year?

Forward line is the only thing we are lacking, but have plenty of players ready to step up

 

[dymot]

Fitzroy.

 

[master bate]

Maguire would be ahead of Clarke in the best 22. Patfull is very underrated by opposition supporters, definitely better than a 7/10, can play on anyone (smalls & talls) and always keeps them quiet and he's won our last 2 b&f's. Staker and Mcgrath are used forward because we have too much backline depth.

edit: Harwood doesn't lack skill/athleticism like you say either. Never misses a target by foot and is very quick

Maguire is currently a better player than Clarke but surely a new coach comes in and sticks with the 20 year old than the 29 year old. Patfull is a very good player but really only 8/10 at best. He doesn't intercept mark and take the game on enough for mine to be a real top player. B+Fs reward consistency and ability to fill a role, that doesn't mean they judge talent. Might have to agree to disgaree on Harwood he improved a lot in 2013. You may have had backline depth building but I don't think you have that now. Any injuries should likely see some really young guys get opportunities but that's a good thing as well.

 

[The Prosecutor]

Forward line is the only thing we are lacking, but have plenty of players ready to step up

Who are they and who are your defenders?

 

[38Rockliff38]

Maguire is currently a better player than Clarke but surely a new coach comes in and sticks with the 20 year old than the 29 year old. Patfull is a very good player but really only 8/10 at best. He doesn't intercept mark and take the game on enough for mine to be a real top player. B+Fs reward consistency and ability to fill a role, that doesn't mean they judge talent. Might have to agree to disgaree on Harwood he improved a lot in 2013. You may have had backline depth building but I don't think you have that now. Any injuries should likely see some really young guys get opportunities but that's a good thing as well.

Key defenders wise - we have plenty of depth (Merrett, Clarke, Maguire, Patfull, Staker, Mcguane, Bourke, Mcstay, Gardiner, Michael)
Small defenders - we are a bit lighter on (Adcock, Hanley, Harwood, Golby, Polkinghorne, Mcgrath) but that isn't too bad

 

[Richo83]

Key defenders wise - we have plenty of depth (Merrett, Clarke, Maguire, Patfull, Staker, Mcguane, Bourke, Mcstay, Gardiner, Michael)
Small defenders - we are a bit lighter on (Adcock, Hanley, Harwood, Golby, Polkinghorne, Mcgrath) but that isn't too bad

Wait a minute, I thought that McGoof was one of those three mature aged forwards you drafted! Now he's depth in the backline! Hot tip, if you're ever playing him as a KPD, you've got problems. If you're counting him as part of your KPD you've got problems.

 

[lmach]

Staker isn't a KPD.

 

[38Rockliff38]

Wait a minute, I thought that McGoof was one of those three mature aged forwards you drafted! Now he's depth in the backline! Hot tip, if you're ever playing him as a KPD, you've got problems. If you're counting him as part of your KPD you've got problems.

We won't play him as a backman because we have good depth there. He played half his career as a full back at Richmond. If 5 of our KPD's go down (unlikely) he can step in.

 

[38Rockliff38]

Staker isn't a KPD.

At West Coast he was. He is a swingman at the Lions, plays mainly forward but also plays back at times. Reason being is we don't need him there - we have plenty of key position defenders.

 

[lmach]

At West Coast he was. He is a swingman at the Lions, plays mainly forward but also plays back at times. Reason being is we don't need him there - we have plenty of key position defenders.

He was a swingman at West Coast too.

Too bad only two of those KPDs are any good.

 

[38Rockliff38]

He was a swingman at West Coast too.

Too bad only two of those KPD are any good.

You're funny

 

[lmach]

You're funny

You trying to defend Brisbane at every opportunity is funny.

 

[master bate]

Key defenders wise - we have plenty of depth (Merrett, Clarke, Maguire, Patfull, Staker, Mcguane, Bourke, Mcstay, Gardiner, Michael)
Small defenders - we are a bit lighter on (Adcock, Hanley, Harwood, Golby, Polkinghorne, Mcgrath) but that isn't too bad

So talls wise if we put Merrett, Clarke and Patfull in the team the depth comes down to Maguire (decent player but 29), Staker and McGuane who are probably forwards and wont be much good as key defenders and then a bunch of untried kids.

Small defenders again it's throwing a couple of forwards in Polkinghorne and McGrath as defenders. That's not how the best clubs are set up. You aren't convincing me.

 

[38Rockliff38]

So talls wise if we put Merrett, Clarke and Patfull in the team the depth comes down to Maguire (decent player but 29), Staker and McGuane who are probably forwards and wont be much good as key defenders and then a bunch of untried kids.

Small defenders again it's throwing a couple of forwards in Polkinghorne and McGrath as defenders. That's not how the best clubs are set up. You aren't convincing me.

That is plenty of KPD depth. I can't think of any club who has as good KPD stocks as us

Mcgrath spent the majority of his career as a defender, Polkinghorne has been training with the defensive group for the whole preseason

 

[38Rockliff38]

You trying to defend Brisbane at every opportunity is funny.

Opposition supporters who think they know other clubs inside out (when clearly they have no clue) is also funny

 

[TheBlue]

I don't see how you could put any other teams aside from the saints, demons and GWS as teams who DEFINITELY won't make the eight. There are heaps of teams who have minuscule chances but these three almost certainly won't.

 

[lmach]

That is plenty of KPD depth. I can't think of any club who has as good KPD stocks as us

Oh lord. Stop, just stop.

 

[38Rockliff38]

Oh lord. Stop, just stop.

Go on then, name a club who has more KPD depth than us

 

[lmach]

Go on then, name a club who has more KPD depth than us

Brisbane's defence has depth, but not good depth. All those KPD's you named are average at best, bar two. Plus some you've named are forwards or untried rookies. Brisbane's defence is no where near good enough to be considered a genuine top eight contender.

 

[master bate]

Forward line is the only thing we are lacking, but have plenty of players ready to step up

I'd say the only good forward you have is Zorko. And like Mayes and Rockliff he's probably needed in the midfield for at least part of a game. It's the quality and depth of the young midfield that is very impressive with Brisbane. Leueny in the ruck plus Rich, Rockliff, Redden, Mayes, Hanley, Zorko, Lester, Beams, Taylor and Aish that's some serious talent. Add in a couple of experienced role players in Moloney (clearances) and Raines (Tagging) and you might be close to top 8 in that area of the ground. But to get back to the forward line:

Talls: Brown's 32 and beat up. I'm not convinced him playing on was a good idea. Staker is a handy floating 3rd tall but that's about it. West and Stef Martin - no, if they are in the team as second ruck you want them out of the way up forward. Lisle, maybe but hasn't shown that he'll be any better than mediocre. Close and Paparone need more time. Paine could be a handy pick up but the Pies flicked him for a reason and I think it was they thought he had a ceiling on his talent given his size and shape. It's hard to be a reliable key forward at 192cm and if you aren't a key forward you almost need to play midfield minutes to contribute. McGuane is a good guy to have around as a hard trainer and competitor but that's about it.

Smalls: Green - inconsistent. McGrath - past his best and inconsistent. Polkinghorne - never played a strong stretch of AFL. Bewick - seems limited. I doubt any of those guys get games in a top 4 side and not many of them in a better top 8 team.

Either way young players are going to have to step up into key position spots and young midfielders are likely going to have to play very well be they playing midfield or on a flank for Brisbane to make the 8. Port showed that last year where Wines was great from the start and Wingard and Neade starred forward and some bigger guys like Lobbe, Trengove and Jonas played great seasons but I'd be surprised if Brisbane can do it.

 

[38Rockliff38]

Brisbane's defence has depth, but not good depth. All those KPD's you named are average at best, bar two. Plus some you've named are forwards or untried rookies. Brisbane's defence is no where near good enough to be considered a genuine top eight contender.

You only need 2 or 3 KPD's in your best 22 anyway. Merrett, Patfull and Maguire is a very experienced trio of KPD's. If any of those go down, Clarke is next in line (very impressive last year if you watched our games), then Staker. Don't know why you think that defence isn't good

 

[38Rockliff38]

I'd say the only good forward you have is Zorko. And like Mayes and Rockliff he's probably needed in the midfield for at least part of a game. It's the quality and depth of the young midfield that is very impressive with Brisbane. Leueny in the ruck plus Rich, Rockliff, Redden, Mayes, Hanley, Zorko, Lester, Beams, Taylor and Aish that's some serious talent. Add in a couple of experienced role players in Moloney (clearances) and Raines (Tagging) and you might be close to top 8 in that area of the ground. But to get back to the forward line:

Talls: Brown's 32 and beat up. I'm not convinced him playing on was a good idea. Staker is a handy floating 3rd tall but that's about it. West and Stef Martin - no, if they are in the team as second ruck you want them out of the way up forward. Lisle, maybe but hasn't shown that he'll be any better than mediocre. Close and Paparone need more time. Paine could be a handy pick up but the Pies flicked him for a reason and I think it was they thought he had a ceiling on his talent given his size and shape. It's hard to be a reliable key forward at 192cm and if you aren't a key forward you almost need to play midfield minutes to contribute. McGuane is a good guy to have around as a hard trainer and competitor but that's about it.

Smalls: Green - inconsistent. McGrath - past his best and inconsistent. Polkinghorne - never played a strong stretch of AFL. Bewick - seems limited. I doubt any of those guys get games in a top 4 side and not many of them in a better top 8 team.

Either way young players are going to have to step up into key position spots and young midfielders are likely going to have to play very well be they playing midfield or on a flank for Brisbane to make the 8. Port showed that last year where Wines was great from the start and Wingard and Neade starred forward and some bigger guys like Lobbe, Trengove and Jonas played great seasons but I'd be surprised if Brisbane can do it.

Agree with most of that, our forwards are definitely under performing. Brown is going to be playing in the goalsquare this year, he won't be pushing up the ground as much as he did. If one of Lisle, Mcguane or Close can step up this year to support him, I think our forward line will be ok

 

[lmach]

You only need 2 or 3 KPD's in your best 22 anyway. Merrett, Patfull and Maguire is a very experienced trio of KPD's. If any of those go down, Clarke is next in line (very impressive last year if you watched our games), then Staker. Don't know why you think that defence isn't good

Yes you do only need 2 or 3. But you said the defence has good depth, which they don't. Any side with a decent forward line won't be worried coming up against a defence like Brisbane's.

 

[38Rockliff38]

Yes you do only need 2 or 3. But you said the defence has good depth, which they don't. Any side with a decent forward line won't be worried coming up against a defence like Brisbane's.

They do have good depth. Clarke and Staker are more than capable of shutting down the big forwards

Edit: Also when was the last time an oppisition player kicked a bag on Joel Patfull? Merrett was number one in the comp for spoils aswell. Not sure why you think opposition teams aren't worried about our defence.