Nick's Collingwood Bulletin Board

^ He meant Langdon.

WhyPhilWhy? wrote:

Pies4shaw wrote:We may never win a flag with him on our list..

We already have.

Snap!!!

Further thinking about the Eagles midfield vs ours: they will be adding Gaff, Kelly and Nic Nat to their GF midfield. Given that they already outplayed us in that area, I don't see how we can stand still. I'd also dispute it being our strongest line this season.

Our defence and forward line actually outperformed theirs on the day while our midfield lowered its colours. Both of these observations might go against the common narrative of where each team's strengths lie, but it is what happened. Our midfield was outplayed in all three contests against the Eagles and there definitely needs to be some change. We stayed in the GF because our defence and forwards outplayed the Eagles, if they didn't we would have lost by more. The Eagles midfield gave them more than a 5 point advantage, their forwards just did not take advantage.

Our forward line was brilliant all year. Probably our best performed line. Possible additions from within the squad: Elliott. Adding Elliott would make us even more deadly. Staying pat with what we have here is a definite option.

And even though our defence performed well in the GF and throughout the finals, we do have the potential of adding the following from our existing squad: Scharenberg, Dunn, Moore, Appleby, Murphy, McClarty (I still think he's a defender), Reid. There is plenty in reserve there. We also have priority access to Quaynor and Kelly. We could do with one more quality KPP (May would be perfect), but it's not a desperate need.

There's very little we can add to our GF midfield from our existing squad, other than giving more midfield time to younger players like Stephenson and De Goey and expecting a stronger output from a more match fit Treloar. Is that enough? That's far from certain, especially when you factor in further decline from Pendlebury and the possibility of a less clear injury run. We'll be relying on improvement from younger players like Phillips, Sier etc.

To be confident of beating the Eagles specifically we need to find a way to get general play onto our terms. The place where we've lost this is through the middle. Fixing it is not as simple as adding to the midfield, it's adjusting plans and improving overall team play. If we are looking at adding players to deal with the Eagles though, we should be looking more middle than defence as the main priority.

I think the club is expecting/hoping Callum Brown and Daics will become midfield options for us next year as well.

^^For sure. These are the only two possible additions we have that I can see though and I'm not overly confident on them. Whereas in defence we have many players pressing even though it looks like we'll lose Murray.

With all of those defensive options there's no doubt Langdon is expendable if his demands are not what we consider realistic and if we need to move him on to improve greater areas of need - midfield, KPP.

A player that wants to come back after walking out has to be super committed to the cause. Make it happen I say!!!

"I've thought about going back to Melbourne and those discussions happened, and I'm not going to lie to you, I had those thoughts in my head," Beams told a packed Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre which hosted the Lions' 2018 best and fairest count.

"The one thing I kept coming back to is this group and you blokes - I bloody love you, I really do."

Yeah, no one saw this coming. It's not like he has form or anything

AN_Inkling wrote:^^For sure. These are the only two possible additions we have that I can see though and I'm not overly confident on them. Whereas in defence we have many players pressing even though it looks like we'll lose Murray.

With all of those defensive options there's no doubt Langdon is expendable if his demands are not what we consider realistic and if we need to move him on to improve greater areas of need - midfield, KPP.

We may believe we don't have the trade currency for May so will look towards the next best option in Beams as that player who we know will make us a better side in 2019 albeit in an area of strength.

Of course other lower cost options are available to fill a key position role and I wonder whether their was ever any truth in our alleged interest of Bruce.

The simple reality though for our defensive stocks is Dunn and Goldsack will both turn 32 next season and are returning from knee reconstructions.

Scharenberg sadly suffered his 3rd ACL injury and his future prospects have to remain clouded because of it. An undersized key defender.

Reid will turn 30 next season and didn't play again past round 10. In 3 of his last 5 seasons he's only managed 6 games or less.

Moore needed to be re-signed but next year it's crucial we can get on top of his hamstring problems. But what if we don't?

Career suddenly in doubt?

Langdon seemingly likely to depart. Not a key defender.

Madgen undersized key defender at AFL level. Mihocek also undersized to take on the gorillas and has made a place for himself up forward anyhow.

McLarty could be one we look to return to full back next season in the VFL and has the size to play on the gorillas but I imagine he wouldn't be near nimble enough to take on the more mobile key forwards in the game. His value at AFL level remains an unknown.

We should be able to manage in 2019 if we don't add any experienced tall defenders this off season but beyond that I wouldn't be confident so it'll have to be addressed sooner rather than later.

P.S-Will Kelly likely to take 3 to 4 years to establish himself as a regular in the senior side unless a freak.

At moment I be taking that with a Grain of Salt.

As sound typical Barrett and Browne going with Story with stuff all info to back it up

swoop42 wrote:

AN_Inkling wrote:^^For sure. These are the only two possible additions we have that I can see though and I'm not overly confident on them. Whereas in defence we have many players pressing even though it looks like we'll lose Murray.

With all of those defensive options there's no doubt Langdon is expendable if his demands are not what we consider realistic and if we need to move him on to improve greater areas of need - midfield, KPP.

We may believe we don't have the trade currency for May so will look towards the next best option in Beams as that player who we know will make us a better side in 2019 albeit in an area of strength.

Of course other lower cost options are available to fill a key position role and I wonder whether their was ever any truth in our alleged interest of Bruce.

The simple reality though for our defensive stocks is Dunn and Goldsack will both turn 32 next season and are returning from knee reconstructions.

Scharenberg sadly suffered his 3rd ACL injury and his future prospects have to remain clouded because of it. An undersized key defender.

Reid will turn 30 next season and didn't play again past round 10. In 3 of his last 5 seasons he's only managed 6 games or less.

Moore needed to be re-signed but next year it's crucial we can get on top of his hamstring problems. But what if we don't?

Career suddenly in doubt?

Langdon seemingly likely to depart. Not a key defender.

Madgen undersized key defender at AFL level. Mihocek also undersized to take on the gorillas and has made a place for himself up forward anyhow.

McLarty could be one we look to return to full back next season in the VFL and has the size to play on the gorillas but I imagine he wouldn't be near nimble enough to take on the more mobile key forwards in the game. His value at AFL level remains an unknown.

We should be able to manage in 2019 if we don't add any experienced tall defenders this off season but beyond that I wouldn't be confident so it'll have to be addressed sooner rather than later.

P.S-Will Kelly likely to take 3 to 4 years to establish himself as a regular in the senior side unless a freak.

And then what will happen?

^^ I agree we can do with one more KPP. May would be great. I just don't think it's a desperate need. And yes there are some injuries or questions over certain players.

Langdon's best role is as backup KPP as he showed late in the year. As a medium defender he's only decent and the weakest link in our defence, with little upside. I'd like to keep him but if we could upgrade that position in our defence (either internally or from outside) we'd be a better team. Murphy, Appleby and Quaynor* even Pendlebury are all internal options

When I say he's the worst in our back six, I have him behind:
Crisp, Maynard, Howe, Dunn, Moore, Scharenberg

Beams appears to be a bit mentally unstable.

Um, why?