Opinion SC 2021: Rate My Team
- Thread starter KLo30
- Start date
Current side - would love some thoughts.
Laird, Crisp, Williams, Clark, DBG, Gould (Highmore, Chugg)
Oliver, Merrett, Rocky, Cripps, Rowell, Hately, Phillips, Macrae (Perkins, Valente, Downie)
Gawn, Grundy (Flynn)
Dunkley, Rozee, Caldwell, Ziebell, Daniher, Impey (Cockatoo, Rowe)
Kept on ground rookies to as few as possible (4) and selected ones I think are well placed for a R1 debut.
My back up plan is if we get an extra rookie in either the FWD or Mid lines I could move Caldwell on and swing Perkins around to accommodate and allow myself to go Clark to Harmes possibly or Hately to a Cunnington/Tarranto?
Laird, Crisp, Williams, Clark, DBG, Gould (Highmore, Chugg)
Oliver, Merrett, Rocky, Cripps, Rowell, Hately, Phillips, Macrae (Perkins, Valente, Downie)
Gawn, Grundy (Flynn)
Dunkley, Rozee, Caldwell, Ziebell, Daniher, Impey (Cockatoo, Rowe)
Kept on ground rookies to as few as possible (4) and selected ones I think are well placed for a R1 debut.
My back up plan is if we get an extra rookie in either the FWD or Mid lines I could move Caldwell on and swing Perkins around to accommodate and allow myself to go Clark to Harmes possibly or Hately to a Cunnington/Tarranto?
Looks pretty good to me, and some interesting PODs here.
A few thoughts:
- Defence looks good in term of individual selections, but if recent chat on def rookies is on the money, this line might be a bit light. Apparently Zac will also be playing 50-50 mid and forward (switching with Jack Martin), which may impede his scoring. I recently took him out for this reason, but he was lineball for me anyway.
- Mids are quite POD. Bont and Merrett are very durable and have good scoring records, so I would be happy enough owning them versus many of the alternatives. With that said I am viewing both as upgrade targets given Merrett reportedly benefit from short quarters last year, and Bont could throw out a couple of low scores if he plays forward. Both are a nice complement to Fyfe’s lack of durability though, and Fyfe gives good scoring power. Neale and Oliver are also super durable though, so they may provide decent alternatives should you want to tinker.
- Zorko is an interesting POD that I saw you mentioned previously. If you think he maintains his normal role (eg doesn’t go forward more) and doesn’t have increasing injury risk (I think he had a calf, which concerns me somewhat as an older player!) then he is probably a bit like Bont and Merrett - overall very reliable and probably underowned.
Good luck!
A few thoughts:
- Defence looks good in term of individual selections, but if recent chat on def rookies is on the money, this line might be a bit light. Apparently Zac will also be playing 50-50 mid and forward (switching with Jack Martin), which may impede his scoring. I recently took him out for this reason, but he was lineball for me anyway.
- Mids are quite POD. Bont and Merrett are very durable and have good scoring records, so I would be happy enough owning them versus many of the alternatives. With that said I am viewing both as upgrade targets given Merrett reportedly benefit from short quarters last year, and Bont could throw out a couple of low scores if he plays forward. Both are a nice complement to Fyfe’s lack of durability though, and Fyfe gives good scoring power. Neale and Oliver are also super durable though, so they may provide decent alternatives should you want to tinker.
- Zorko is an interesting POD that I saw you mentioned previously. If you think he maintains his normal role (eg doesn’t go forward more) and doesn’t have increasing injury risk (I think he had a calf, which concerns me somewhat as an older player!) then he is probably a bit like Bont and Merrett - overall very reliable and probably underowned.
Good luck!
The Phantom's pre-AAMI series side
D: Lloyd , Laird * , Witherden , H Young , Gould , Highmore / L Jones , Wehr
M: Neale , Walsh , Cripps , Rowell , Green , Heppell , Phillips , Campbell * / Collier-Dawkins , Durdin * , Berry
R: Gawn , Grundy / Flynn
F: Dunkley * , D Martin * , Rozee , Ziebell , Impey , Rowe / Cockatoo * , Smith *
D: Lloyd , Laird * , Witherden , H Young , Gould , Highmore / L Jones , Wehr
M: Neale , Walsh , Cripps , Rowell , Green , Heppell , Phillips , Campbell * / Collier-Dawkins , Durdin * , Berry
R: Gawn , Grundy / Flynn
F: Dunkley * , D Martin * , Rozee , Ziebell , Impey , Rowe / Cockatoo * , Smith *
Thanks for the thoughts, appreciated!
Yeah if that's the case with Zac will be a good one to have a look at in the preseason games then for role. First I'm hearing of the forward stuff, will keep an eye out. Otherwise love him as a pick, think Carlton need plenty of help in that midfield still.
I love Merrett he always seems to fly under the radar for some reason, his end to 2020 was phenomenal, plus he's in a contract year and back in the leadership group. Plenty going for him as a pick and handy durability like you said. But yeah tinkering will keep happening here for sure, Oliver, Petracca, Macrae and Jelly certainly other picks on my radar.
Neale overpriced for mine, I don't think he's a 130+ scorer. I doubt he goes that big again, plus the poor pre-season, enough question marks for me to not start him at that price. I'm big into horse racing and you don't back the $2.00 chance if he's drawn the wide barrier and pulled up lame on the thursday! (cough... enthaar.... cough).
Yeah if that's the case with Zac will be a good one to have a look at in the preseason games then for role. First I'm hearing of the forward stuff, will keep an eye out. Otherwise love him as a pick, think Carlton need plenty of help in that midfield still.
I love Merrett he always seems to fly under the radar for some reason, his end to 2020 was phenomenal, plus he's in a contract year and back in the leadership group. Plenty going for him as a pick and handy durability like you said. But yeah tinkering will keep happening here for sure, Oliver, Petracca, Macrae and Jelly certainly other picks on my radar.
Neale overpriced for mine, I don't think he's a 130+ scorer. I doubt he goes that big again, plus the poor pre-season, enough question marks for me to not start him at that price. I'm big into horse racing and you don't back the $2.00 chance if he's drawn the wide barrier and pulled up lame on the thursday! (cough... enthaar.... cough).
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There was an article that read he was one of six inside midfielders this season. Felt like they all were going to play. It was the article where Walsh wasn't mentioned and made SCSers nervous he would be more outside.
found this article.
Carlton star Jack Martin is being prepared for more time through the midfield in 2021.
In his first year with the Blues, the 26-year-old played mostly across half forward and occasionally on-ball.
He impressed with his contested marking prowess and ball-use inside 50, but held his own when used in the middle.
Talking on the Carlton website, assistant coach John Barker said they will be upping Martin’s midfield minutes in 2021.
"He’s spending more time through the midfield this pre-season, specifically more as an inside midfielder: we know how good he is as a ball hunter. He’s very hard to tackle and what he brings to the inside is his elite pressure. If he’s not winning it, he’ll be applying significant pressure to the opposition,” Barker told Carlton Media.
"He’s got a great ability to evade and get out of traffic and he’s continued to work on that over the pre-season. He’ll play both midfield and up forward: what we want to do is expose him to more midfield minutes this year."
Will Setterfield has completed his second full pre-season as a Blue, after arriving at the club in the middle of ACL rehab at the end of 2018.
Barker said the 23-year-old continues to grow and improve with more time fully fit under his belt.
"‘Setters’ is someone who keeps taking steps forward. He had his first real pre-season last year so the fact that he’s going to get another pre-season now is massive for him,” Barker said.
“His inside work last year was great and he’s become a real barometer around stoppages. Arguably the most impressive thing about him is he’s one of those guys who’s working really hard to help our midfield organise around contests and stoppages.
"His smarts are what have grown significantly not only over the last year, but over this pre-season in particular. His running has gone to another level and he’s built on the foundation that he grew in the last pre-season on the back of an ACL injury.
"He’s a true hybrid for us, he’s got the ability to play inside and out and he’s going to give us some real flexibility."
Liam Stocker had a 2020 season derailed by personal issues, with the former first round pick returning home from the Queensland hub early in the year.
Barker said they’re hoping to continue to develop the youngster as a midfielder this season after starting his career across half back.
"He's in his third year in now and his run has continued to improve. He’s very strong in the contest but he’s continuing to grow that also: with a lot of young players, he’s looking to continue to improve his consistency and train with consistency. That’ll give him the ability to play consistently well,” he said.
"Young players can go in and out of form over the course of the season so the ability to sustain good training habits is what helps them in this area. He’s been training as a midfielder but he’s continuing to work on all aspects of his game to fit in where needed if needed, he’s training to be flexible."
found this article.
Carlton star Jack Martin is being prepared for more time through the midfield in 2021.
In his first year with the Blues, the 26-year-old played mostly across half forward and occasionally on-ball.
He impressed with his contested marking prowess and ball-use inside 50, but held his own when used in the middle.
Talking on the Carlton website, assistant coach John Barker said they will be upping Martin’s midfield minutes in 2021.
"He’s spending more time through the midfield this pre-season, specifically more as an inside midfielder: we know how good he is as a ball hunter. He’s very hard to tackle and what he brings to the inside is his elite pressure. If he’s not winning it, he’ll be applying significant pressure to the opposition,” Barker told Carlton Media.
"He’s got a great ability to evade and get out of traffic and he’s continued to work on that over the pre-season. He’ll play both midfield and up forward: what we want to do is expose him to more midfield minutes this year."
Will Setterfield has completed his second full pre-season as a Blue, after arriving at the club in the middle of ACL rehab at the end of 2018.
Barker said the 23-year-old continues to grow and improve with more time fully fit under his belt.
"‘Setters’ is someone who keeps taking steps forward. He had his first real pre-season last year so the fact that he’s going to get another pre-season now is massive for him,” Barker said.
“His inside work last year was great and he’s become a real barometer around stoppages. Arguably the most impressive thing about him is he’s one of those guys who’s working really hard to help our midfield organise around contests and stoppages.
"His smarts are what have grown significantly not only over the last year, but over this pre-season in particular. His running has gone to another level and he’s built on the foundation that he grew in the last pre-season on the back of an ACL injury.
"He’s a true hybrid for us, he’s got the ability to play inside and out and he’s going to give us some real flexibility."
Liam Stocker had a 2020 season derailed by personal issues, with the former first round pick returning home from the Queensland hub early in the year.
Barker said they’re hoping to continue to develop the youngster as a midfielder this season after starting his career across half back.
"He's in his third year in now and his run has continued to improve. He’s very strong in the contest but he’s continuing to grow that also: with a lot of young players, he’s looking to continue to improve his consistency and train with consistency. That’ll give him the ability to play consistently well,” he said.
"Young players can go in and out of form over the course of the season so the ability to sustain good training habits is what helps them in this area. He’s been training as a midfielder but he’s continuing to work on all aspects of his game to fit in where needed if needed, he’s training to be flexible."
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This is my current set up. Mostly watching Harmes, Green, Hately and Heppell in the preseason,
I'm a bit worried about midfield rookie depth, but if another fwd/def rookie pops up then can swing Dunkley/Laird to mids and add rookie,
A bit iffy on McDonald and Short, with McDonald unsure of how Noble wants him to play in def and Short only has the one corona season scraping as a premo, but did average 101 without Houli and new rules may favour him.
Probably will go without Neale, will need some patience and calming pills probably.
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Its a nice looking side but I have real concerns about how many decent mid rookies are going to be picked for round 1 - hoping for 6 I think is too much (yes I know 2 of them are fwd/mids).
I would be looking at changing 1 of Dunkley/Martin to Ziebell & use that money to bolster your midfield. Not sure if 4 premium defenders is viable to start, might need to look at a Young/Milera type as a gamble in the D4 spot to free up more money to spend on the mids.
I would be looking at changing 1 of Dunkley/Martin to Ziebell & use that money to bolster your midfield. Not sure if 4 premium defenders is viable to start, might need to look at a Young/Milera type as a gamble in the D4 spot to free up more money to spend on the mids.
