We need a ruckman but I reckon our list is taking on a very exciting shape. A Terry Wallace shape.
The absence of a monster ruck will mean we play a running half back game similar to what we rolled out in around Round 7 this year. We did get some ballast to protect Cotchin and Miles in the form of Townsend, Marcon and perhaps A. Moore, but which of those guys will step up like Lambert did this year?
The truth is that we will lose contested ball as often as we did this year. But that won't matter. This is why:
Yarran
Menadue
Houli
Castagna
Drummond
(Markov)
(Broad)
(Moore)
Our skillful run off half back is going to eviscerate most teams. Not only do I expect us to restrict opposition scoring like we did so well in 2016, I expect our transition to feature a combination of pass up play and hard gut running into space.
The problem for Dimma previously was that allowing guys to run means that you need guys up the field who can read the play. Hard running off half back is hard to read. These guys can run into dead ends, they can cut unexpected angles, they can simply run out of puff.
We also haven't really dared to put men too far forward of the ball in the past (but that's another story, children).
Now we have guys that can make the best of a 50/50 situation in Lennon, McBean, Lloyd, Rioli, to go along with natural football geniuses like Riewoldt and Deledio.
How's this for a dynamic back six:
Menadue Chaplin Grimes
Yarran Rance Castagna
I expect that to be rolled out in the second half of next year. Batch out. Hunt out. Houli up the ground or out. Vlastuin will obviously play back but might get time in the middle too.
The seeds of evidence can be found in the recruitment of guys like Callum Moore from the rookie draft and Nathan Broad from the national draft. These guys may take time but they can run and they can kick to advantage extremely well.
We'll have running types who can kick the ball pushing through for the next 5/6 years. It's Wallace's flankers all over again.
Except this time we might actually be on trend.
The absence of a monster ruck will mean we play a running half back game similar to what we rolled out in around Round 7 this year. We did get some ballast to protect Cotchin and Miles in the form of Townsend, Marcon and perhaps A. Moore, but which of those guys will step up like Lambert did this year?
The truth is that we will lose contested ball as often as we did this year. But that won't matter. This is why:
Yarran
Menadue
Houli
Castagna
Drummond
(Markov)
(Broad)
(Moore)
Our skillful run off half back is going to eviscerate most teams. Not only do I expect us to restrict opposition scoring like we did so well in 2016, I expect our transition to feature a combination of pass up play and hard gut running into space.
The problem for Dimma previously was that allowing guys to run means that you need guys up the field who can read the play. Hard running off half back is hard to read. These guys can run into dead ends, they can cut unexpected angles, they can simply run out of puff.
We also haven't really dared to put men too far forward of the ball in the past (but that's another story, children).
Now we have guys that can make the best of a 50/50 situation in Lennon, McBean, Lloyd, Rioli, to go along with natural football geniuses like Riewoldt and Deledio.
How's this for a dynamic back six:
Menadue Chaplin Grimes
Yarran Rance Castagna
I expect that to be rolled out in the second half of next year. Batch out. Hunt out. Houli up the ground or out. Vlastuin will obviously play back but might get time in the middle too.
The seeds of evidence can be found in the recruitment of guys like Callum Moore from the rookie draft and Nathan Broad from the national draft. These guys may take time but they can run and they can kick to advantage extremely well.
We'll have running types who can kick the ball pushing through for the next 5/6 years. It's Wallace's flankers all over again.
Except this time we might actually be on trend.
