Which defender for D3/4

[GCSkiwi]

Hi coaches

My current defense is McVeigh, Mitchell, Simpson, Hanley, Suckling, L.Macdonald (K.Kolo, Fuller)

However I'm not really 100% on Hanley, as the Lions have a reasonably tough opening run up to their bye, a disaster finals run for the last 4 games, and he might get a bit more attention this year. So I'm considering him as a wait and see prospect.

On the other hand Hurn has been on the edge of my radar, I think he can score better than his price reflects and the Weagles have a soft opening run. However I can't see Hurn being a top back in the field, so I don't really know how much he will gain before I trade him anyway... Hanley an outside chance at top 6 I think.

With Hanley in my byes are 8/9/13, Hurn would make that 8/10/12 so not too big of a deal. Currently $72600 in the bank, Hurn would make that 116,800 (I'm reserving some money for rookie chops and changes).

Votes welcomed, comments much appreciated.

[sammy123]

i've got hurn atm. looked good last night

[ben_020285]

Have you considered another bloke with a surname starting with 'H' in Hibberd? I would prefer him over both Hurn and Hanley.

Hurn is the sort of player that doesn't need to get the ball a whole lot to get a good score but there are games where he goes missing completely. Also cops a tag regularly. I think a 95 average is about the best we can expect from him.

Hanley is a gun no doubt about that but the Lions difficult draw at the start of the season and the fact that he can't handle a tag are putting me off starting with him. Potential upgrade target though.

I think the only way for Hibberd is up and can see him easily averaging 100 this year. Might attract a bit more attention this year but Watson, Stanton, Zaha and even Heppell are likely to cop the tag ahead of him. I have him locked in as D3.

[GCSkiwi]

Thanks guys

Yeah I've thought about Hibberd Ben, but I'm extremely reluctant to touch bombers until ASADA is done and dusted with everything...Possibly an overly conservative approach but I'm not convinced they're out of the woods yet...

[ben_020285]

Thanks guys

Yeah I've thought about Hibberd Ben, but I'm extremely reluctant to touch bombers until ASADA is done and dusted with everything...Possibly an overly conservative approach but I'm not convinced they're out of the woods yet...

Now you're getting me worried. Haha.

Surely there won't be any penalties for the players, surely  :-\

[GCSkiwi]

Hard to say. I've made a few comments on the Essendon board about it. With every day that passes it looks better for the players but equally I've competed in WADA controlled events and the bottom line is the competitor is responsible for what goes into them. I don't necessarily think it's fair given that high performance staff should be able to be trusted by the players, but there isn't really a defense of unintentional doping - look at Ahmed Saad, or Alberto Contador (Contador lost the 2010 Tour de France title and was banned for doping when they detected clenbuterol in one of his samples. His defense was always that it was food contamination, and I think it was completely plausible, plus the amount detected was next to nothing, certainly not the sort of dose needed to have a performance enhancing effect. Nevertheless, he got banned...)

WADA/ASADA will not want to let this go easily as it sets a precedent - from here on out players could dope and then argue they were told by trainers it was something else, or that it was event legal, and the precedent for no punishment would be there. I can't see them letting that happen.

[ben_020285]

Hard to say. I've made a few comments on the Essendon board about it. With every day that passes it looks better for the players but equally I've competed in WADA controlled events and the bottom line is the competitor is responsible for what goes into them. I don't necessarily think it's fair given that high performance staff should be able to be trusted by the players, but there isn't really a defense of unintentional doping - look at Ahmed Saad, or Alberto Contador (Contador lost the 2010 Tour de France title and was banned for doping when they detected clenbuterol in one of his samples. His defense was always that it was food contamination, and I think it was completely plausible, plus the amount detected was next to nothing, certainly not the sort of dose needed to have a performance enhancing effect. Nevertheless, he got banned...)

WADA/ASADA will not want to let this go easily as it sets a precedent - from here on out players could dope and then argue they were told by trainers it was something else, or that it was event legal, and the precedent for no punishment would be there. I can't see them letting that happen.

Well that is a bit worrying but personally I won't let it affect whether I include Essendon players in my team or not.

Can completely understand why yourself and others don't want to take the risk though.

[jfitty]

Voted Hanley in the poll, but only just.

Trying to choose 2 between Simpson, Hanley and Hibberd myself.

I reckon Hanley might not have as bigger problem with taggers as people think. Going by FanFooty, he really only got completely tagged out of one game against Collingwood in round 10 (10 touches, 49 SC).

In round 22 and 23 he was tagged by the Dogs and Geelong, and still managed 22 and 20 touches respectively (80 and 79 in SC).

I might be totally wrong, but for his potential he's definitely worth a punt.

[GCSkiwi]

Yeah I feel similarly jfitty, especially given that he would be probaly 3rd/4th in line for the tag at most so is unlikely to face off with the likes of Crowley who are masters. 

[jfitty]

Yeah I feel similarly jfitty, especially given that he would be probaly 3rd/4th in line for the tag at most so is unlikely to face off with the likes of Crowley who are masters.

Another interesting tidbit about the game against Collingwood is both Rich and Rockliff didn't play.

Wonder if they were in if the Macaffer tag would have gone elsewhere?

[timtim]

Hurn over Hanley purely for the fact that Hurn is under priced, and I don't see Hanley significantly increasing his output this season to justify a huge price jump.

Or just go Enright.

[GCSkiwi]

Hurn over Hanley purely for the fact that Hurn is under priced, and I don't see Hanley significantly increasing his output this season to justify a huge price jump.

Or just go Enright.

Thanks mate. Would like to avoid a round 8 bye player, but Enright was certainly impressive the other night. Enright is super consistent but I can't see him in the top 10. Hurn at least will make some cash even if only a little...

[Bully]

No love for Enright again, he's only missed 6 games in 8 years, has averaged 91, 92, 101, 97, 98, 96, 93, 94, and only dipped below 80 on two occasions last year.

If you want a good point of difference Enright is the man, despite his age he looks to be in tip top condition and should average around the 95 mark again.

The only thing going against him is the round 8 bye, aside from that he's Mr Reliable.

[GoLions]

Yeah I feel similarly jfitty, especially given that he would be probaly 3rd/4th in line for the tag at most so is unlikely to face off with the likes of Crowley who are masters.

Hanley will be 2nd in line for the tag, only behind Rich. Rocky isn't as damaging as those 2, which will put him most likely 3rd in line for a tag (and thus rarely getting tagged).

[GCSkiwi]

Interesting. Thanks GL, I would have thought Rich and Rocky would be the first. Hmm. Way to throw a spanner in the works ;)