As others have identified, pressure is a concern. Low last year, which meant that while we were the highest-scoring team, we were also scored against more easily than any time since 2016.
George, Butler and The Prince are gone from the forward line, but then Butler only played in the 2017 flag, and George played wing in 2020 after Vlastuin went down and KMac went back. Still, a lot rides on MoJu's teleportation traits. Can Cumbo provide pressure? Can Juddy? The Chimp was our leading midfield pressure player for years, can he still do it at 33 in the forward line? Who takes over his ferocious midfield role? Taranto is hunting the ball more than the man so I guess it's down to Hopper and Graham. Hopper's transition running is poor so his pressure will come at the coalface of clearance - and he'll be hunting the ball too. So in-play midfield pressure will likely be led by Graham and Pickett, with everyone else tasked with doing their bit.
Pressure is a mindset. But you also have to be able to repeat sprint.
As for clearances, we have a reputation for not bothering with them, but a look at the 2020 finals series says we can (could?) when we want to. We only lost the clearances by 1 in the loss to Brisbane, while being +10 in contested ball. We were +3 and +6 respectively in the semi against the Saints, +12 for clearances and -6 for contested ball against Port after being well down in both at half-time, and +6 for clearances and level for contested possessions in the granny.
I expect it will take time for Taranto and Hopper to gel with the rest of the team and build the intuitive understanding and in-team predictability, but in theory we should be able to be a strong clearance team. However if the opposition rucks dominate and can hit it wherever they please, you're up sh!t creek.
Which brings me to the Nank problem. If he's fit he's still pretty much an automatic selection, but we'll have to beat Melbourne to win the flag and they have two rucks who have routinely flogged him over the years. Melbourne might just flog everyone out of the guts. They are the team to beat methinks.
George, Butler and The Prince are gone from the forward line, but then Butler only played in the 2017 flag, and George played wing in 2020 after Vlastuin went down and KMac went back. Still, a lot rides on MoJu's teleportation traits. Can Cumbo provide pressure? Can Juddy? The Chimp was our leading midfield pressure player for years, can he still do it at 33 in the forward line? Who takes over his ferocious midfield role? Taranto is hunting the ball more than the man so I guess it's down to Hopper and Graham. Hopper's transition running is poor so his pressure will come at the coalface of clearance - and he'll be hunting the ball too. So in-play midfield pressure will likely be led by Graham and Pickett, with everyone else tasked with doing their bit.
Pressure is a mindset. But you also have to be able to repeat sprint.
As for clearances, we have a reputation for not bothering with them, but a look at the 2020 finals series says we can (could?) when we want to. We only lost the clearances by 1 in the loss to Brisbane, while being +10 in contested ball. We were +3 and +6 respectively in the semi against the Saints, +12 for clearances and -6 for contested ball against Port after being well down in both at half-time, and +6 for clearances and level for contested possessions in the granny.
I expect it will take time for Taranto and Hopper to gel with the rest of the team and build the intuitive understanding and in-team predictability, but in theory we should be able to be a strong clearance team. However if the opposition rucks dominate and can hit it wherever they please, you're up sh!t creek.
Which brings me to the Nank problem. If he's fit he's still pretty much an automatic selection, but we'll have to beat Melbourne to win the flag and they have two rucks who have routinely flogged him over the years. Melbourne might just flog everyone out of the guts. They are the team to beat methinks.
