The Hawthorn Defensive Unit

[bumsonseats]

I think Burgoyne could be that quality rebounding player off HB, when he is not playing in the middle that is.
I would love to see Hodge playing accross HF when not on the ball.....definitely more damaging up forward and will put presure on the opposition backline when they are trying to bring the ball out of their defence.
We have to persist with Shoey at CHB......he is a class act and needs the time on the field to develop. I love his composure, just needs to fine tune the skills, which we all know he has.
I think Clinton Young is another important player for us......creates that link between backline and forwards, with a long pentrating kick into Buddy and Co.
I would love to see Morton get an extended opportunity accross HFF. He seems more versatile than Dowler, and dont forget he is in about 191cms...The club obviously has faith in him which is why he has been given the number 19.......i hope he wears it with pride and shows us what he is capable of this year.

 

[Dipper]

We have to persist with Shoey at CHB......he is a class act and needs the time on the field to develop.

Is he actually going to play CHB or is it going to be Gibson?

I was assuming that it would be Gibson with Shoenmakers playing a 3rd tall role & providing a bit of run.

 

[Simon_Nesbit]

Gibson will most likely play the "Hodge" role full-time, nominally 3rd tall, but spending most of his time controlling the defensive zone and going 3rd man up whenever possible.

Releases either Hodge or Birchall further upfield (or both if Suckling/Whitecross/etc come on).

Guerra..Gilham..Ladson
Birchall.Schoe....Gibson

(Hodge/Ellis/Whitecross/Suckling/etc 7th man)

 

[Arkadia]

Anyone think 'Stratton' and 'J.Thomson' will play in our Defensive line-up next year? Watching highlights of the lads, they can play close, run and carry from HB, an area of the game we were stagnate in 2009, we tended to hand pass in circles coming out of the backline this year, hence the reason why the lads were selected.
Along with 'Suckling' and his long precision kicking into our forward line , i am confident these lads will have some game time next year.
Watch out for a big improvement from our Defence next year, it is shaping up to be versatile with more options.

 

[Brant]

Anyone think 'Stratton' and 'J.Thomson' will play in our Defensive line-up next year?

Not sure if they will both get regular game time early on but they are definitely in contention - part of the reason that there is a ground swell of confidence building behind what our defenders can do in 2010 and beyond is that we have guys like these pushing for selection.

 

[SA HAWK]

At full strength our backline is good.

If Gibson or Gilham go down then we are in trouble.