This pains me a bit because some of the guys I am highlighting I have been a big fan of (particularly Edwards and White and a lesser extent mcGuane), but the areas we need to improve on are fairly obvious. For comparison I have used this weeks named team and have highlighted the positions we need to improve.
Backline (main need: CHB): Need another key backman. Thursty not up to it. I've been a McGuane fan but he needed to take a step forward this year and if anything had gone backwards. Grimes and Moore will come back next year to fill one spot, but seem to be more flanker/3rd tall types and we desperately need someone to stand up in that CHB spot.
Centreline (main need: Wing): A spot I reckon has been a deficiency for us for a long long time. I've been a long time supporter of Edwards - creative, breaks the lines, good overhead for his size, but his kicking just hasn't improved. Unfortunatey in the modern game if you can't kick you can't play. On current list he is best for the spot, but we need someone better. Need a creative ball user with good skills on the wing. A Dale Thomas type would be ideal.
Forward line (main need: mid size marking forward flank). On present form CHF is the main need, but I reckon between Griffith and vickery we will have that covered long term. What we need is for Mitch morton to play to his full ability on a flank. He can run, mark, be creative and kick goals. We just need for him to do it all more consistently. And we despareately need some depth if he doesn't. I love the way Matty White goes about his footy, he gives it everything he's got. But he is too short for the lead up half forward role he has played at times and doesn't get enough of the footy or kick enough goals for a midfielder/come small forward.
Followers (part 1): Obviously need a ruckman. Don't know what Bellchambers contract is but i would be chucking big money at him, but there are also a few alternatives around. Like Mumford Bellchamers has plenty of talent but being kept out by more experienced team-mates. I don't see graham as a delisting but we need to upgrade so that he is at best a backup.
Followers (part 2). Conca and Foley are good players, but not first line midfielders. Conca may become one. Foley had made a great comeback from where he was, and still easily a best 22 player, but I would like to see another top class ball winning starting midfielder in the team. A Joel Selwood type would be ideal.
Bench: In talent terms probably the best looking bench we've had all year, but ideally we would want a lot more pace on the interchange. Tucky is obviously on his last legs from the clubs perspective and I can't see him being on the list next year. Based on my views above, I'd slot Morton onto a flank and Foley on to the bench. That would add pace to the bench and leave a spot open for another speedy interchange player.
Key areas we need to improve highlighted (based on this weeks starting 18). (Bold = players on last legs.)
B: Chris Newman, Alex Rance, Luke McGuane
HB: Brett Deledio, Will Thursfield, Bachar Houli
C: Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin, Shane Edwards
HF: Robin Nahas, Ben Griffiths, Matthew White
F: Tyrone Vickery, Jack Riewoldt, Jake King
FOLL: Angus Graham, Reece Conca, Nathan Foley
I/C: Daniel Jackson, Shane Tuck, Mitch Morton, Jake Batchelor
Backline (main need: CHB): Need another key backman. Thursty not up to it. I've been a McGuane fan but he needed to take a step forward this year and if anything had gone backwards. Grimes and Moore will come back next year to fill one spot, but seem to be more flanker/3rd tall types and we desperately need someone to stand up in that CHB spot.
Centreline (main need: Wing): A spot I reckon has been a deficiency for us for a long long time. I've been a long time supporter of Edwards - creative, breaks the lines, good overhead for his size, but his kicking just hasn't improved. Unfortunatey in the modern game if you can't kick you can't play. On current list he is best for the spot, but we need someone better. Need a creative ball user with good skills on the wing. A Dale Thomas type would be ideal.
Forward line (main need: mid size marking forward flank). On present form CHF is the main need, but I reckon between Griffith and vickery we will have that covered long term. What we need is for Mitch morton to play to his full ability on a flank. He can run, mark, be creative and kick goals. We just need for him to do it all more consistently. And we despareately need some depth if he doesn't. I love the way Matty White goes about his footy, he gives it everything he's got. But he is too short for the lead up half forward role he has played at times and doesn't get enough of the footy or kick enough goals for a midfielder/come small forward.
Followers (part 1): Obviously need a ruckman. Don't know what Bellchambers contract is but i would be chucking big money at him, but there are also a few alternatives around. Like Mumford Bellchamers has plenty of talent but being kept out by more experienced team-mates. I don't see graham as a delisting but we need to upgrade so that he is at best a backup.
Followers (part 2). Conca and Foley are good players, but not first line midfielders. Conca may become one. Foley had made a great comeback from where he was, and still easily a best 22 player, but I would like to see another top class ball winning starting midfielder in the team. A Joel Selwood type would be ideal.
Bench: In talent terms probably the best looking bench we've had all year, but ideally we would want a lot more pace on the interchange. Tucky is obviously on his last legs from the clubs perspective and I can't see him being on the list next year. Based on my views above, I'd slot Morton onto a flank and Foley on to the bench. That would add pace to the bench and leave a spot open for another speedy interchange player.
Key areas we need to improve highlighted (based on this weeks starting 18). (Bold = players on last legs.)
B: Chris Newman, Alex Rance, Luke McGuane
HB: Brett Deledio, Will Thursfield, Bachar Houli
C: Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin, Shane Edwards
HF: Robin Nahas, Ben Griffiths, Matthew White
F: Tyrone Vickery, Jack Riewoldt, Jake King
FOLL: Angus Graham, Reece Conca, Nathan Foley
I/C: Daniel Jackson, Shane Tuck, Mitch Morton, Jake Batchelor
I don't necessarily see all 6 I have highlighted as all being delisted, as they are likely ahead of a few others currently playing for Coburg (though I suspect at least 3-4 of them will go). But they need to be replaced as first choice players for the seniors.
And how I see it needing to improve:
B: Chris Newman, Alex Rance, Grimes/Moore
HB: Brett Deledio, CHB, Houli
C: Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin, wing
HF: Robin Nahas, Ben Griffiths, Mitch Morton
F: Tyrone Vickery, Jack Riewoldt, Jake King
FOLL: Ruck, Reece Conca, midfielder
I/C: Daniel Jackson, Nathan Foley, bench, Jake Batchelor
(bold = new players required; blue = changes from round 17 team)
While 4 or 5 changes doesn't sound like many from where we have been the last few weeks, it involves replacing our bottom 4 or 5 with a top class 4 or 5, so would take 2 years or at least one very good year of drafting and trading. Biggest worry is that apart from Astbury we have no-one who looks like even potentially filling our key needs at the moment.
Obviously this requires continuing improvement in our young players like Griff, Vickery, Conca, Rance and Batchelor (and even Cotch and Martin), but I'm reasonably confident on those blokes. There are still some players in the team have some deficiencies, but the key is to not have too many of those types. Guys like Nahas, Jackson and King (the latter who I have written off plenty of times) can fill a role and be valuable players if there is enough quality around them.
If we could get a ruckman and maybe key defender (Trengrove?) in trade and then concentrate on building our midfield in the draft, we could still make some rapid progress with our list next year.
