This was also interesting reading :-
Who gets squeezed out of the backline?
AT times last year Geelong was happy to play with up to eight nominal defenders in the side and those high numbers continued through the pre-season.
Against Essendon, eight – Tom Stewart, Mark Blicavs, Lachie Henderson, Jack Henry, Jake Kolodjashnij, Tom Atkins, Mark O’Connor, Jed Bews – predominantly played in the back half, while Jordan Clark, Zach Tuohy and Zach Guthrie are all able to float through half-back.
Are there enough dashers out of that backline group?
TALK around the league with the new man on the mark rule is of running defenders becoming an attacking weapon.
Clark will spend some time across half-back (and took several kick-ins on Saturday), Stewart is a master of the counter attack and Isaac Smith’s elite running could be useful.
While excellent defenders, the likes of Henry, O’Connor, Kolodjashnij and Bews aren’t known for their attacking flair and will need to show off new abilities.
So rather than Clark having to compete with Duncan/ Smith/ Menegola for a wing position, the cats need him in the side to be that running/ dashing defender that he provides with the new rules whilst Henry, O’Connor, Kolodjashnij and Bews don’t so maybe 1 or 2 them gets squeezed out.
Who gets squeezed out of the backline?
AT times last year Geelong was happy to play with up to eight nominal defenders in the side and those high numbers continued through the pre-season.
Against Essendon, eight – Tom Stewart, Mark Blicavs, Lachie Henderson, Jack Henry, Jake Kolodjashnij, Tom Atkins, Mark O’Connor, Jed Bews – predominantly played in the back half, while Jordan Clark, Zach Tuohy and Zach Guthrie are all able to float through half-back.
Are there enough dashers out of that backline group?
TALK around the league with the new man on the mark rule is of running defenders becoming an attacking weapon.
Clark will spend some time across half-back (and took several kick-ins on Saturday), Stewart is a master of the counter attack and Isaac Smith’s elite running could be useful.
While excellent defenders, the likes of Henry, O’Connor, Kolodjashnij and Bews aren’t known for their attacking flair and will need to show off new abilities.
So rather than Clark having to compete with Duncan/ Smith/ Menegola for a wing position, the cats need him in the side to be that running/ dashing defender that he provides with the new rules whilst Henry, O’Connor, Kolodjashnij and Bews don’t so maybe 1 or 2 them gets squeezed out.
