Kelly, Cheney, Lever

[tbagrocks]

It's a new backline emerging with Lairdy, Browny the back pocket and Talia already established

But how good do the new three Kyle Cheney a 25yr old from the cheats at Hawthorn, Jake Lever the DT2 or Talia the second and Jake the "Bulldog" Son of a gun Kelly

This back 6 or so now is really impressing me, crows will be making finals as soon as this back six learn to play with each other! ;D

[tbagrocks]

Sure Jakey Lever is raw, skinny and hasn't played much footy in 18 months but gee, this trio of defenders looks better every week!

How good is Jakey Kelly? :o  Talk about a competitive beast who rose to the level! My bad I didn't pounce in fantasy land :-\

[powersuperkents]

I like Lever, incredible for a 2nd game player

I know Kelly has only played a handful of games, but I wouldn't say he's reliable against a strong team. He finds the ball, however I saw him panic and turn the ball over to the Saints 2 or 3 times yesterday. One time he kicked back into the 50 - no one in sight - leaving a surprising composed Lever to chase it and play it off to a teammate. I always thought they made the wrong choice not going Durdin (I had never heard of this kid and only knew that he had suffered injuries) but I think that if Lever didn't have the injury scare he would be selected ahead of Marchbank. Seriously a steal at the draft (falling outside the first 10 picks). I think Kelly has a lot of potential but it is hard not to overlook him when Lever plays with the composure of a 2nd-3rd year defender. 

Cheney is a hack, wouldn't trust him in the long-term and the Crows should only view him as a short-term fixture (a premiership team does not have Cheney in their best 22 - they have him as a 3rd tier reserve). He's been traded from 2 teams in the past. Furthermore, a weak demons outfit used him for over 10 games in his first season and then 2 for his second. He didn't play double digits with the Hawks for any of his four seasons. I think Walsh sees Cheney in the same way he would have perceived Lewis Stevenson & Campbell Heath in Port, a short-term fixture until Lever & Kelly (or in Port's case Pittard & Hombsch) have developed. 

[tbagrocks]

Yeah Lever's a beaut, a guy has played half a dozen games in over a year playing AFL footy! Sure he's a little exposed atm physically but yeah a real draft steal!

Harsh on Cheney I recon. He's a solid unit and has done a terrific job so far! Maturity does a lot for a person and Kyle is around the age of maturity, sure he is suspect occasionally with the ball but. Will he be playing in two years? Given his size and composure I cant see why not!

[powersuperkents]

Yeah Lever's a beaut, a guy has played half a dozen games in over a year playing AFL footy! Sure he's a little exposed atm physically but yeah a real draft steal!

Harsh on Cheney I recon. He's a solid unit and has done a terrific job so far! Maturity does a lot for a person and Kyle is around the age of maturity, sure he is suspect occasionally with the ball but. Will he be playing in two years? Given his size and composure I cant see why not!

I guess the Demons did always have a packed backline, consisting of top draft picks, and Hawthorn obviously is tough for any player to break into (good luck Jono O'Rourke  :P ). Cheney has been doing his job well, I haven't seen him make any mistakes and really that's what makes a good, but not great, defender. I can see him holding his spot. Personally, Talia is my favourite and I'm not convinced with Smith (I think he's only unlocked 50% of his potential so far - it's tough I know, but I think he's underachieving, it won't be long until he start accumulating Brownlow votes).

Lever is a draft steal, if you can throw a key defender into the deep end, without at least a year of physical development at AFL level and they perform at that standard, the only answer is natural talent. Imagine once he has physically developed (let's just say Tippett & Buddy won't be a problem with Lever & Talia)

Also, what's the go with Sloane? The Saints claim they intend to make a play for him if he hasn't resigned by seasons' end

[Jay]

Yeah Lever's a beaut, a guy has played half a dozen games in over a year playing AFL footy! Sure he's a little exposed atm physically but yeah a real draft steal!

Harsh on Cheney I recon. He's a solid unit and has done a terrific job so far! Maturity does a lot for a person and Kyle is around the age of maturity, sure he is suspect occasionally with the ball but. Will he be playing in two years? Given his size and composure I cant see why not!

I guess the Demons did always have a packed backline, consisting of top draft picks, and Hawthorn obviously is tough for any player to break into (good luck Jono O'Rourke  :P ). Cheney has been doing his job well, I haven't seen him make any mistakes and really that's what makes a good, but not great, defender. I can see him holding his spot. Personally, Talia is my favourite and I'm not convinced with Smith (I think he's only unlocked 50% of his potential so far - it's tough I know, but I think he's underachieving, it won't be long until he start accumulating Brownlow votes).

Lever is a draft steal, if you can throw a key defender into the deep end, without at least a year of physical development at AFL level and they perform at that standard, the only answer is natural talent. Imagine once he has physically developed (let's just say Tippett & Buddy won't be a problem with Lever & Talia)

Also, what's the go with Sloane? The Saints claim they intend to make a play for him if he hasn't resigned by seasons' end

Every man and his dog will be making a play for him if he doesn't re-sign...  :-\

[Rusty00]

Yeah Lever's a beaut, a guy has played half a dozen games in over a year playing AFL footy! Sure he's a little exposed atm physically but yeah a real draft steal!

Harsh on Cheney I recon. He's a solid unit and has done a terrific job so far! Maturity does a lot for a person and Kyle is around the age of maturity, sure he is suspect occasionally with the ball but. Will he be playing in two years? Given his size and composure I cant see why not!

I guess the Demons did always have a packed backline, consisting of top draft picks, and Hawthorn obviously is tough for any player to break into (good luck Jono O'Rourke  :P ). Cheney has been doing his job well, I haven't seen him make any mistakes and really that's what makes a good, but not great, defender. I can see him holding his spot. Personally, Talia is my favourite and I'm not convinced with Smith (I think he's only unlocked 50% of his potential so far - it's tough I know, but I think he's underachieving, it won't be long until he start accumulating Brownlow votes).

Lever is a draft steal, if you can throw a key defender into the deep end, without at least a year of physical development at AFL level and they perform at that standard, the only answer is natural talent. Imagine once he has physically developed (let's just say Tippett & Buddy won't be a problem with Lever & Talia)

Also, what's the go with Sloane? The Saints claim they intend to make a play for him if he hasn't resigned by seasons' end

Every man and the Dogs will be making a play for him if he doesn't re-sign...  :-\

FTFY ;)

[powersuperkents]

Just a quick SC related question..

With Jaensch's unfortunate injury, is Mackay's stock going to rise (personally see him thrive in the back this season & not fitting into the midfield)?

In your opinions, who will assume the biggest workload? 

[tbagrocks]

Id say Hendo more directly but it's good news for Kelly too, I can see Jake Kelly sticking to it now and maybe Laird getting more involved with the offence. Hard to say yet if Mackay does play further back but Id assume that move will be limited, maybe with Smith missing this week!

Wouldn't be surprised to see Martin named in a few minutes yet, but I don't think the backline will change too much

[elephants]

Jumping on Hendoooo in my draft this week I reckon ;)