We need another key defender

[WarrenerraW]

I believe we need another good, solid and experienced key defender next year.

Maxy - a loyal and wonderful servant must be close to retirement but I wonder if we can convince him to go around again... it all depends on his body I guess. Form has been excellent and he provides great leadership and experience down back.

Brown is very injury prone (although very good, is only another reco away from retirement you'd reckon)

Keeffe (is still developing - still a year or two away and needs t work on his strength to take on the big forwards 1 on 1)

Toovey (excellent - say no more)

Frost (Outstanding this year and getting better by the week)

Williams (getting better and better each week as well)

Fasolo (better up forward but still needs to learn how to defend and playing him down back makes him a more honest and accountable footballer. He's still learning the role and will take a while to settle down there know where and when to defend and position himself etc)

Harry (provides excellent run off half back)

Young (needs to back himself more, although he has shown glimpses of what he's capable of. I would like it if he was more harder at the contest)

Seedsman (will be a star once he's fully fit with a few more pre-seasons and another year or two experience under his belt)

I reckon we could use one more quality and experienced defender in the mould of Brown or Maxy because we lose a great deal of experience when those two are gone from the team. Who is available via free agency? I heard a while back that Frawley from the dees was yet to sign. Could we afford to throw a few dollars at him? Anyone else? Someone we don't have to spend a lot of time waiting to develop, who can slip straight into the team and hold their own down back.

[WarrenerraW]

I forgot to mention Reid. He's the obvious choice to assume that position I've been talking about but it's clear that the club see him as more of a forward option than a backman, although he is versatile and can still play that role if needed.

[jackcass]

I think you can never have too many big blokes and as this years draft is supposedly chock full of them I'd be taking a couple. Obviously Moore will be one. Think we've got sufficient short term coverage to grab kids and develop them rather then sell the kitchen for a Frawley type unless you can get him for about half the $800K he's alledgedly asking.

Think we're good for covering Maxy, his footy anyway. Got Scharenberg, Oxley, and Goldsack who can play similar roles. It's his leadership that'll be missed with so many young guys in defense.

[Albert Parker]

Brown, Keefe, Frost - primarily. They've only played 2 at any time
Reid to pinch hit if required if 3 talls amongst opponents
Moore - playing quite a bit of time down back this season will be our first drafted @~200cm

Scharenberg a natural cover for Maxy as a third tall type at ~190cm
Goldsack to pich hit in a game like he did against the Eagles.

No way you'd divert significant salary cap resources to Frawley when you have things relatively well covered already.

I'm really not sure this is much of an issue.

I reckon a genuine crumber up forward or a 25y.o. ruckman are more pressing requirements.

[Wokko]

Forgetting someone?

Langdon is currently 12th in the AFL for Rebound 50s, 37th for Marks and has average of 18.7 disposals.

[RudeBoy]

[Albert Parker]

[Tannin]

Good thread, WarrenerraW. I'm with the others though: I don't reckon an (expensive) experienced backman is something we need. The kids are doing brilliantly - Frost, Keefe, Langdon, Seedy, Williams: all good'uns and by the time next year rolls around they'll all be that much better for the experience, but all young enough to still have that extra edge of enthusiasm. Throw in Tooves - practically a veteran by our standards - and experienced half-back/wing types in Young and Hertier, and I reckon we can enter the post-Maxwell era with confidence. And there is always Brown if he can get fit and force his way back in. Brown is our best to take the old-fashioned gorilla forward, but young Frost is growing into the role so fast that even for this task he might be our #1 choice before too long. (He's already our best for the more mobile, athletic key forwards, with Keeffe a more than handy sidekick.)

[Dave The Man]

So would James Frawley help this?

[Damien]

I think our list and spread of player types is in remarkably good shape across the board. We've had more than our share of injuries this year and players out of form yet we're travelling pretty darn well.

[uuuuu..... The LoneSTAR]

Well, lets say we had to bring in 1 only experienced walk up 22 starter for 2015 - Would it be a key defender?
Perhaps. It would certainly sure things up, give Keeffe/Frost some relief AND let Reid off the leash!
Of course if all of a sudden we had another proper key forward, that would also provide new & improved dynamics for the team.
Midfielder??.. Can't have enough of those and as lucky as we are to have 3 absolute guns in Pendles, Swan & Beams - It does drop off after that!
Ruck?.. If we're talking about a walk up #1 ruck he'd have to be the best in the business.

I think overall, we're in a pretty good/even position at the moment!

[jackcass]

[Culprit]

Frawley from the Demons will be a prefect fit.

[roar]

^^ If it wasn't for the ridiculous price tag, I would agree.

[RudeBoy]