Defence Talk

[dmac07]

Leaning more and more towards a premium heavy defense and a weak forward line. The forward preiums may score more, but the extra cheapies in the forward line onstead of the back will also score more to level that out, and generate more cash in the process.

Looking like I may start - Shaw, Rance, Simpson, B.Smith, Harwood, Hartley (M.Brown, Adams/Ruggles), with the option of swininging Tipungwuti through there too.

[Bully]

If I was going with a mid pricer McKenzie would probably be my guy, but I've decided to pass on all mid pricers

Mid pricers can be gold in defence, think back to last year, Laird & McDonald were sub 400k, MacMillan & Roberton were sub 300k, all four were keepers. Many of the others at least put on reasonable profit like KK, Yeo, Pearce & Ibbo. I think the Lumumba experience has put many people off but it shouldn't, he was the rotten egg in a decent batch. I think the limited downside to this strategy was clearly evident last season.

[bowyanger]

Leaning more and more towards a premium heavy defense and a weak forward line. The forward preiums may score more, but the extra cheapies in the forward line onstead of the back will also score more to level that out, and generate more cash in the process.

Looking like I may start - Shaw, Rance, Simpson, B.Smith, Harwood, Hartley (M.Brown, Adams/Ruggles), with the option of swininging Tipungwuti through there too.

+1

Seems to be more potential value from rooks in the fwd line

[MontyJnr]

If I was going with a mid pricer McKenzie would probably be my guy, but I've decided to pass on all mid pricers

Mid pricers can be gold in defence, think back to last year, Laird & McDonald were sub 400k, MacMillan & Roberton were sub 300k, all four were keepers. Many of the others at least put on reasonable profit like KK, Yeo, Pearce & Ibbo. I think the Lumumba experience has put many people off but it shouldn't, he was the rotten egg in a decent batch. I think the limited downside to this strategy was clearly evident last season.

Yeah but for every success story there is always a dud. Outside Lumumba, what about the years people tried Geary, Jack Grimes, Hurn, Yarran, Atley? Then the frustration of one year success stories like Brodie Smith & Malceski. Defense can be an absolute nightmare.

[Bully]

If I was going with a mid pricer McKenzie would probably be my guy, but I've decided to pass on all mid pricers

Mid pricers can be gold in defence, think back to last year, Laird & McDonald were sub 400k, MacMillan & Roberton were sub 300k, all four were keepers. Many of the others at least put on reasonable profit like KK, Yeo, Pearce & Ibbo. I think the Lumumba experience has put many people off but it shouldn't, he was the rotten egg in a decent batch. I think the limited downside to this strategy was clearly evident last season.

Yeah but for every success story there is always a dud. Outside Lumumba, what about the years people tried Geary, Jack Grimes, Hurn, Yarran, Atley? Then the frustration of one year success stories like Brodie Smith & Malceski. Defense can be an absolute nightmare.

My point is that we can go with one or two cheapies this year and there should be a reasonable chance of securing a keeper and if not, there should be a sufficient cash increase to do a sideways trade to a fallen premo. I don't know about you but a combination of Harwood & Trent McKenzie looks very attractive compared to a combination of Simpson/Rance & rookie, it's also a marginally cheaper option. As far as cash generation is concerned, I can see those two earning close to 250k, can't say I'm confident too many defensive rookies will do the same.

[RaisyDaisy]

Fair comments Bully, and most would agree considering so many are going with mid price options but I like the idea that I am not

A lot of them have uncertain JS or could result in flops requiring later trades, where as I will go with my rookies who will generate more cash and requires 1/2 1/3 of the outlay. Might lose a few points, but make that up elsewhere

[GoLions]

A lot of them have uncertain JS or could result in flops requiring later trades, where as I will go with my rookies who will generate more cash and requires 1/2 1/3 of the outlay

You could argue that half the def rookies we're all looking at have uncertain JS as well though, and therefore might not make much cash at all :P

I'm still trying to decide whther I go with a 2/2/4 or a 3/1/2 setup.

[RaisyDaisy]

I've got Dea, Brown and Hartley all on field. Their JS is iron clad

Shouldn't be too hard finding 2 other rookies to sit on the bench (Adams for me with Tippa at F8)

[ben_020285]

I've got Dea, Brown and Hartley all on field. Their JS is iron clad

Shouldn't be too hard finding 2 other rookies to sit on the bench (Adams for me with Tippa at F8)

Have heard from knowledgeable Essendon fans that Dea's JS is not as great as some think it may be.

Could easily play round 1 but from there who knows?

[PiPies]

Heard the same thing with Dea's JS being a bit dodgy. Not sure why, I thought he looked OK in NAB2.

At this stage thinking I might have a crack at a midpricer in DEF and minimize the risk a little by having Shaw at D1. Defence is well and truly doing my head in.

[NickyBoy]

Keeping it simple in the backline. 3 premiums + Harwood at D4. If a mid pricer explodes, so it be. It really is a guessing game right now since there are so many options to pick.

[Southstorm]

I've got Dea, Brown and Hartley all on field. Their JS is iron clad

Shouldn't be too hard finding 2 other rookies to sit on the bench (Adams for me with Tippa at F8)

Have heard from knowledgeable Essendon fans that Dea's JS is not as great as some think it may be.

Could easily play round 1 but from there who knows?

Dea's JS is certainly more questionable than Hartley's and Brown's. I wouldn't count on any one of our top up players playing more than 15-16 games this season.

[jfitty]

Everyone seems pretty keen on the two Richmond boys, Rance and Houli. What are we expecting them to do this year?

I tend to avoid key defenders, but Rance had a much better year last year than I thought. I was a Houli owner last year, who cooled off a bit in the second half of the season after a few massive scores early on.

I currently have Laird and Simpson at D1 and D2, but thinking of swapping in one of Rance or Houli..

[IntegralX]

Everyone seems pretty keen on the two Richmond boys, Rance and Houli. What are we expecting them to do this year?

I tend to avoid key defenders, but Rance had a much better year last year than I thought. I was a Houli owner last year, who cooled off a bit in the second half of the season after a few massive scores early on.

I currently have Laird and Simpson at D1 and D2, but thinking of swapping in one of Rance or Houli..

I'm thinking Rance will be D2 behind Shaw by the end of the year. 96-100.

By contrast - and I've said this before - I think Houli's scores will suffer a bit when Yarran comes back. They play the same role, and yes they can coexist, but not without Houli suffering. That being said I still think he ends up around the 90 mark and inside the top 20 or so.

My backline right now is: Shaw, Rance, Laird, Harwood, Brown, Hartley (Broad, Adams) for reference sake.

[Holz]

Shaw bartel rancec harwood weits brown (hartley mcdonald tippa)

Adams up front.

Safe as houses.