Cross Matt Fuller off your rookie defender list

[timtim]

I disagree. The Dees backline can be broken down to three parts, which are Tall Defenders, Small(ish) defenders (shutdown defenders) and Rebounding defenders.

We play with 2-3 Tall Defenders, ideally three. James Frawley, Tom McDonald and Colin Garland play this role (although Garland often plays on smalls, he is still considered a tall given that he can play as one).

We tend to play one shutdown defender, while if a second is needed then Grimes will play that role this year. The shutdown defender we use most is Lynden Dunn, who also plays an intercepting role.

As for the rest of the defence we play 1-2 rebounding defenders, depending on how many shutdown defenders we need. Terlich earned this spot last year, while Clisby also played this role as the second one. However Grimes will re-take this role from Clisby, as he moves back into defence.


So going on our usual structure, minus the unavailability of any of the usual players (Garland), our defence looks like this:

B:      ??     Frawley   Dunn
HB: Grimes  McDonald  Terlich

The rest of our defensive group are:

James Strauss (Rebounding)
Mitch Clisby (Rebounding)
Alex Georgiou (Tall Defender/Shutdown)
Daniel Nicholson (Rebounding/Midfielder)
Cameron Pedersen (Tall Defender/Forward)
Christian Salem (Rebounding/Midfielder)
Luke Tapscott (Shutdown/Forward)
Neville Jetta (Shutdown)


From that we are more likely to play either a shutdown defender or Tall Defender. Tall Defender would be the preference as otherwise we risk being undersized. So effectively that narrows it down to Georgiou, Pedersen, Tapscott and Jetta.

Jetta will not be promoted ahead of Georgiou, and does not fix the problem of being undersized. Pedersen is being played as a forward this pre-season as back-up for the trio of talls with their various injuries. He could come in and play defence, but Georgiou has already shown more as a Tall defender than Pedersen has. As for Tapscott, whilst he is a utility his form to date means he needs to earn his spot in the VFL, along with the fact that he plays more as a defensive forward. I for one would like to see him used as an inside mid, but that's a different story.

From this, in my opinion, Georgiou is the obvious option until Garland is fit.
[/quote]


What he ^ said.

Now hurry up and promote Georgiou!

[Bully]

I hope you're right, I must say i was really impressed with Georgiou in the last match.

[shaker]

Yeah cmon Dees upgrade him already

[Grufflez]

Suckling at D6 anyone?

I'd much prefer Suckling at D5.

McDonald, Langford and Georgiou could still work. Come on Dees, please upgrade Georgiou!

Georgiou getting promoted would be like Christmas, but it's also unlikely. Clisby would be first choice IMO

Clisby has already been promoted to the senior list during last years draft.

I mean from a team perspective, Georgiou would be competing with Clisby for a spot in the back line.

I disagree. The Dees backline can be broken down to three parts, which are Tall Defenders, Small(ish) defenders (shutdown defenders) and Rebounding defenders.

We play with 2-3 Tall Defenders, ideally three. James Frawley, Tom McDonald and Colin Garland play this role (although Garland often plays on smalls, he is still considered a tall given that he can play as one).

We tend to play one shutdown defender, while if a second is needed then Grimes will play that role this year. The shutdown defender we use most is Lynden Dunn, who also plays an intercepting role.

As for the rest of the defence we play 1-2 rebounding defenders, depending on how many shutdown defenders we need. Terlich earned this spot last year, while Clisby also played this role as the second one. However Grimes will re-take this role from Clisby, as he moves back into defence.


So going on our usual structure, minus the unavailability of any of the usual players (Garland), our defence looks like this:

B:      ??     Frawley   Dunn
HB: Grimes  McDonald  Terlich

The rest of our defensive group are:

James Strauss (Rebounding)
Mitch Clisby (Rebounding)
Alex Georgiou (Tall Defender/Shutdown)
Daniel Nicholson (Rebounding/Midfielder)
Cameron Pedersen (Tall Defender/Forward)
Christian Salem (Rebounding/Midfielder)
Luke Tapscott (Shutdown/Forward)
Neville Jetta (Shutdown)


From that we are more likely to play either a shutdown defender or Tall Defender. Tall Defender would be the preference as otherwise we risk being undersized. So effectively that narrows it down to Georgiou, Pedersen, Tapscott and Jetta.

Jetta will not be promoted ahead of Georgiou, and does not fix the problem of being undersized. Pedersen is being played as a forward this pre-season as back-up for the trio of talls with their various injuries. He could come in and play defence, but Georgiou has already shown more as a Tall defender than Pedersen has. As for Tapscott, whilst he is a utility his form to date means he needs to earn his spot in the VFL, along with the fact that he plays more as a defensive forward. I for one would like to see him used as an inside mid, but that's a different story.

From this, in my opinion, Georgiou is the obvious option until Garland is fit.

Thank you for this insight.