The issue of spine - take two

[pahoffm]

Felt it worthy of note that not one of the suggested spinal options can achieve more than 30% support on this forum.

God help Terry in keeping us happy!

I don't see anything wrong with that.

If we were a top of the ladder side, that had just come off a premiership, I'd expect everyone to unanimously list our premiership goal to goal line.
But that isn't the case.

In truth, we are a bottom half of the ladder team that is searching to find long term success, and therefore there will be uncertainty about players and positions until that eventual success occurs.

It should happen too.
The North side of 1993 was fairly different to the one in 1996, (excuse the pun, Ian Fairley).
The Brisbane side of 1998 varied a bit from the eventual triple premiership winners.
This will be the case for the Tigers too.

Until we gain the 100% confidence level of a premiership, there will be a level of uncertainty.
That's mathematics, it's normal, and it creates debate, which is healthy.

 

[RemoteTiger]

For this year I envisage a running Tiger outfit - which means the make up of the spine will not be overly important.

Richo should play in Full Forward line - FF or FP

CHF should be Patrick Bowden's domain - with Hall or *smile* drifting into to lend assistance

CHB - I do not see us having a regular CHB - depending on who we are playing there will be two players drifting through the position at all times - from J Bowden, *smile*, Hall, Kellaway, Gaspar

FB - appears to be Gaspars position if he continues his upward form improvement of last year (as compared to the previous year)

All these positions will become supported (or irrelevant - depending how you view it) with the running style of our hunting midfielders, flankers, pockets and wingers.

So for my 2 bobs worth - Outside FB which is Gaspars all other key positions will have a rotation of players through them - even Richo will be seen this year in the FP, FF, HFF and CHF.

I personally would like to see P Bowden and R Hall both supporting Richo and Bowny in our forward line - like Davis and O'Keefe did in the Swans premiership forward line when they supported Hall and O'Loughlan.

Again R Hall can also be used as a strong 'sweeper' style CHB with support from J Bowden or Schulz

Our spine will vary throughout the year because we are now a running team - the new style in football is being forced upon us (hunting packs with quick releases and then a game of keepings off) and TW is preparing us for this.

My opinion - shoot it down.......................

 

[hopper]

Relax, RT. I don't reckon anyone's opinion can be shot down on this one. There are just so many possibilites that most seem plausible and few seem ridiculous. Hopefully, we're just a few wins away from this being one of those "great problems to have".

 

[Tigers of Old]

This is why Jay *smile* at CHB is so important, allows us to use Ray in a attacking manner, not as someon filling the gaps.

See I just don't get this at all.
Let's use the guy who played his best footy last season at CHB(Hall) at CHF and use a guy with natural forward instincts at CHB(Schulz).

The mind boggles.

 

[Scoop]

This is why Jay *smile* at CHB is so important, allows us to use Ray in a attacking manner, not as someon filling the gaps.

See I just don't get this at all.
Let's use the guy who played his best footy last season at CHB(Hall) at CHF and use a guy with natural forward instincts at CHB(Schulz).

The mind boggles.

It's about having KKP's that depending on match ups can best help us be able to put some pressure on the other side. Port did it with Chad Cornes. Maybe Jay goes forward, Ray goes back one week and then it changes the following week. We are trying to get mobile KKP's that can play at either end of the ground not just one spot players. Even if you are a KKP you need to be able to go where ever you best suit your team, like the Crows. They are leading the way in AFL with there mobile 185-195 footballers on the ground and Craig has the Crows miles ahead in training techniques that are not football based. Add that with there first class facilities and you pretty much have the benchmark club in the AFL.

Bit off topic there, Mobile KPP that can play either end of the ground are the way to go. It part of the learning curve for Jay and Ray.

 

[pahoffm]

In fact it wouldn't surprise me that in a couple of years, post Gaspar, that Schulzy may end up at FB.

 

[Tigers of Old]

Mobile KPP that can play either end of the ground are the way to go. It part of the learning curve for Jay and Ray.

That I can agree with.
However both of them will predominantly played forward or back most of the time. Where that is will eventuate in due course I suppose. Can't have them being juggled endlessly, but the flexibity would be an asset we've been missing for a long time with our KPP's.

 

[mk33]

For this year I envisage a running Tiger outfit - which means the make up of the spine will not be overly important.

Richo should play in Full Forward line - FF or FP

CHF should be Patrick Bowden's domain - with Hall or *smile* drifting into to lend assistance

CHB - I do not see us having a regular CHB - depending on who we are playing there will be two players drifting through the position at all times - from J Bowden, *smile*, Hall, Kellaway, Gaspar

FB - appears to be Gaspars position if he continues his upward form improvement of last year (as compared to the previous year)

All these positions will become supported (or irrelevant - depending how you view it) with the running style of our hunting midfielders, flankers, pockets and wingers.

So for my 2 bobs worth - Outside FB which is Gaspars all other key positions will have a rotation of players through them - even Richo will be seen this year in the FP, FF, HFF and CHF.

I personally would like to see P Bowden and R Hall both supporting Richo and Bowny in our forward line - like Davis and O'Keefe did in the Swans premiership forward line when they supported Hall and O'Loughlan.

Again R Hall can also be used as a strong 'sweeper' style CHB with support from J Bowden or Schulz

Our spine will vary throughout the year because we are now a running team - the new style in football is being forced upon us (hunting packs with quick releases and then a game of keepings off) and TW is preparing us for this.

My opinion - shoot it down.......................

Agree with you RT I think that is how it will happen, how many ruckman (knobs, staff, simmo and patto) though do you see on the field at one time. I can only see 2 at one time with 3 playing.

 

[RemoteTiger]

Agree with you RT I think that is how it will happen, how many ruckman (knobs, staff, simmo and patto) though do you see on the field at one time. I can only see 2 at one time with 3 playing.

In games where we need tall timber yes I agree 3 talls playing with 1 in the FP, 1 in the ruck and the other on the bench.

However where talls are not needed or are seen as a liability eg wet conditions or the need for a fast paced forward line - I see only 2 ruckman being used - one in the ruck and the other on the bench. In this instance we could have R Hall or *smile* as the other marking option to Richo up in the full forward line with a mosquito fleet of Pettifer, Tambling, JON, Krakrouer, Delidio, etc running amok at ground level in the forward line.

I don't believe we have a problem with talls.

However, it will be interesting to see as the 2006 season unfolds whether our mid-sized (and smaller) running players have the body strength to do the hard ground work to win the ball and the tough tackling needed to win games in the AFL today. This IMO is where we need to improve.

 

[Djevv]

I posted earlier re Joel Bowden as CHF. This was not considered by anyone as realistic as it was not commented on at all. At present as backline options we have Gas, Kella, Hartigan, Raines, Roach, Chaffey, Tivendale, Hall, Shultz, Thirsty and Newman all as realistic possibilities.

To me this releases a player like J. Bowden to play up in the forward line. He can mark, his delivery is good on the short kick and he can also kick long. He is creative and has a defensive game. He knows how to get the pill too! Given that we have Richo at FF and Brown down there as well he will draw the no. 3 backman. To me he MUST be the most damaging option for us in this position. After Brown he is the most creative player we have.