Back 7 and depth in 2022

[B.M]

How does it look??

Cal Wilkie
Lock - is he a better suited 3rd or can he play taller???

Dougal Howard
Lock - is he better as the #1 defender or should he be #2

Jack Sinclair
Lock - as a small running back

Ben Paton
Depends how he comes back from a broken leg. But his 2020 for has him as the best small defender

Jimmy Webster
Took Paton’s spot as the small lockdown defender and been very good - I have him top 6 in the B&F

Tom Highmore
Revelation as a intercept defender. Kicking not as bad as I first thought, in fact looks solid. Stupidly courageous.

Nick Coffield
Excellent 2020, inconsistent ‘21. Provides both intercept marking and some run. Kicks it well, but decision making can be average

Brad Hill
Provides run and carry from defence. Gets him into the game.

Hunter Clark
Very good with the game in front of him, very courageous. Provides good run and carry

Jarryn Geary
Should retire, but isn’t! Obviously can play as a small defender

Ben Long
2020 was OK across HB. But has moved forward

Josh Battle
Good at CHB in 2019 where he’s played his best (only) good footy
Courageous, good mark!

Leo Connolly
Good signs - as a small back.

Darragh Joyce
OK at times, but depth. Will he continue to stay in Aus to play VFL footy?

Clavarino
Can he develop or is he done?


What will the best 7 look like? Do we need to recruit another??

Will Frawley or Carlisle go on??? Doubtful.

Pick your best 7 defenders!

[darylcowie]

Paton Howard Webster
Sinclair Battle Wilkie
Floater Highmore (has passed Coffield)
Hill and Clark should be in the midfield.
The rest are depth.

[cwrcyn]

I would love to see Battle back at CHB. Although only 1cm taller than Highmore, Battle can play a lot taller. He's strong, has a huge tank, and is fearless. I'm really perplexed as to why Ratten won't play him there. He would have seen plenty of him there in 2019. Now that we have Sharman, it seems obvious to me that Battle plays CHB. He's only 22, and he will get better.

[B.M]

I think Battle is on the way out

Not sure he’s in Ratten’s plans

If I had to guess the back 6

Highmore - Howard - Paton
Sinclair - Wilkie - Webster

Coffield

Personally
I have had an about face on Talia
Would get rid of both Carlisle and Frawley
And
Give Talia 2 years with a trigger for a third on average coin

[bangaulegend]

I like Battle & I think he can play a forward or back role but we need to give him a chance to settle IMO has been swapped around too much forward ,wing, back & even ruck at times . Does have a decent tank pretty good overhead & a handy size. I hope he stays

[saynta]

I like Battle & I think he can play a forward or back role but we need to give him a chance to settle IMO has been swapped around too much forward ,wing, back & even ruck at times . Does have a decent tank pretty good overhead & a handy size. I hope he stays

Me too mate.

[Vortex]

The backline is well stocked albeit we will need another 2nd tall strong tall defender but I suspect Carlisle will stay on if they think he is physically capable and the market doesn't present an option.

Clark hopefully can play more minutes in the midfield to increase the depth of quality in that part of tbe ground.

The question is can Highmore and Coffield play in the same side.

[Toy Saint]

No doubt plenty of depth but a lot of similar types, and probably missing a big strong type. Battle could be that guy, and I do like him, but he could also play at CHF. Sadly I get the impression that Rattan's not a fan. Hope we don't let him go.

[Gershwin]

I think Carlisle will retire once the season ends.

[Beno88]

I think Battle is on the way out

Not sure he’s in Ratten’s plans

Battle isn't going anywhere, and has a contract until the end of next season.

[Winmar7]

Top 7 - Wilkie, Howard, Sinclair, Paton, Coffield, Webster, Highmore. Joyce is a handy depth player and could be a bag up ruck, not sure where Clav sits... Geary could develop our depth in Sandy, is there anything he hasn't broken..?

Ideally Hill play forward and is putting the ball down the throats on King and Membrey, and Clark is playing more midfield time. Long looks better forward as does Battle.

[older saint]

Battle has a bit of the Goddard about him coach where he can play.

To me its either CHB or potential trade - plenty with contracts get traded so a contract just means the clubs negotiate who pays and he is locked if not traded - ala Treloer had a contract which had to be honoured.

[Yorkeys]

Battle seems injury prone in recent seasons and while reputed to have a "big tank" seems slow in his reflexes and turning circle, runs up and back without much impact.

Is very brave, but. Can see why he has been tried in a few spots as he is young and has the physical attributes apart from pace/quick hands but has been unable to make one his own. What was his break out game? One against GWS as defensive forward on Haynes? Just can't remember a lot of his highlights reel. One more year, so ball is in his court.

Re Paton who was a star, how many come back from a broken leg. What happened was tragic. You hope for the best but apparently these young men are only human.

Defence options with Highmore and Coff regaining touch are good as mentioned above but it just gets swamped by the ball coming back so often. Defence/disruption against opposition mids and on ballers must be one of the worst in the league. Ours are just too slow and fumbly I guess and don't seem to work together instinctively. Gresh out was/is a big loss.

Depressingly I cannot see that changing soon as we have competent players in those areas but only Jack Steele is a match winner and he just gets tagged or worn down. We must be quite easy to coach against with such a pedestrian group of mids; Ratts cannot make a silk purse out of the midfield he has to work with at the moment. Looking forward to recruiters doing something inspirational by Christmas. Hope Clark comes back to his former self.

His horrific injuries would set anyone back a lot.

Come on Fortuna, smile on us. We have a very good defence, a once in a generation forward we just need that mid field missing piece. Please, I dedicate this Lockdown 6 part II to you and my vaccinations. That's all I have right now.

[Vortex]

No doubt plenty of depth but a lot of similar types, and probably missing a big strong type. Battle could be that guy, and I do like him, but he could also play at CHF. Sadly I get the impression that Rattan's not a fan. Hope we don't let him go.

Don't let the internet suck you in, BMs beliefs aren't necessarily reality and that is no disrespect to BM but his comment about Battle not being in Ratts plan is the only place I've heard that. My take on the situation is Battle is a favourite of Ratts and thinks very highly of him.

[Impatient Sainter]

Apparently Sam Skinner 197cm key defender has been playing well for South Adelaide and some are suggesting he is worth another shot at AFL.

[B.M]

What position does Ratts see Battle playing?

Forward?
We have King, Marshall, Membrey and now Sharman as a kid who looks likely
And Wood showed a bit

Back
We have Highmore and Wilkie

Wing
Playing Ross and McKenzie atm, Hill should move back there. Hannebery and Byrnes can also roll through the wing.
And there Billings.

Not sure where he fits? With his lack of pace and agility he needs to be 198 and 100
Then he could play Key Position

[Vortex]

What position does Ratts see Battle playing?

Forward?
We have King, Marshall, Membrey and now Sharman as a kid who looks likely
And Wood showed a bit

Back
We have Highmore and Wilkie

Wing
Playing Ross and McKenzie atm, Hill should move back there. Hannebery and Byrnes can also roll through the wing.
And there Billings.

Not sure where he fits? With his lack of pace and agility he needs to be 198 and 100
Then he could play Key Position

Isn't Ratts on the record as being very positive about Battle and his willingness to play wherever Ratts needs him to play.

Versitle/Swingman/utility/spare parts, take your pick if you are seeking a label for the way Ratts utilises him.

It would be interesting to know if Battle has a preference or desire to settle into a permanent part of the ground.

[B.M]

Massively overrated player Battle

Like Carlisle

They are regarded yet achieved FA

[Impatient Sainter]

What position does Ratts see Battle playing?

Forward?
We have King, Marshall, Membrey and now Sharman as a kid who looks likely
And Wood showed a bit

Back
We have Highmore and Wilkie

Wing
Playing Ross and McKenzie atm, Hill should move back there. Hannebery and Byrnes can also roll through the wing.
And there Billings.

Not sure where he fits? With his lack of pace and agility he needs to be 198 and 100
Then he could play Key Position

Quoted on BF that Battle is not happy with how he was thrown around every week and is looking at his options. He is contracted for 2022 so if he does leave the trade hand will be in our favour.

[Wayne42]

Does anyone trust the info that is posted on Big Footy.

Mostly they speculate and hope they get it right.

[saynta]

Does anyone trust the info that is posted on Big Footy.

Mostly they speculate and hope they get it right.

No, no way. Big footy is just big crap, worse than this site actually.

[skeptic]

The challenge with Battle is size - he tends to play a style that would require him to be a touch bigger and stronger then he is.
Has a forward he’s contested mark power forward but he’s not big enough or strong enough to excel that way. He might actually be better off playing more leading/Membrey or Wood style

As a defender, he goes CHB but he gives up height and weight.

As a midfielder… doesn’t really have the agility

I was super into Josh 12months and was particularly impressed with how he finished the year.
Right now however, I wonder if he’s the type of player that we’d be better served trading whilst he has value.

Several years into his career… I just don’t see what his best position is.

Where do people think he’d be best suited to play?

[Vortex]

The challenge with Battle is size - he tends to play a style that would require him to be a touch bigger and stronger then he is.
Has a forward he’s contested mark power forward but he’s not big enough or strong enough to excel that way. He might actually be better off playing more leading/Membrey or Wood style

As a defender, he goes CHB but he gives up height and weight.

As a midfielder… doesn’t really have the agility

I was super into Josh 12months and was particularly impressed with how he finished the year.
Right now however, I wonder if he’s the type of player that we’d be better served trading whilst he has value.

Several years into his career… I just don’t see what his best position is.

Where do people think he’d be best suited to play?

I'm as confused and clueless as anyone when trying to answer that question.

Can a premiership team have spare parts player that doesn't have a set position and then I suppose it's a question of is Battle good enough to be that versatile spare parts player that just fills gaps from week to week.

[B.M]

I remember BJ being used Midfield, Back and Forward week to week

Struggled to find consistency

Went to HB for a couple of seasons and settled

then moved to the Midfield (pinch hitting forward)

Ended up back across HB in a QB role

However, Josh is not in that class

[Banger9798]

Battle as CHB if we don't pick one up in the trade period.

Would leave us undersized versus big forward duos, but with Highmore, Wilkie and Battle as intercepting marks, and Dougal on the No.1 we might back ourselves as a string rebounding defence.

Wilkie Howard Highmore

Sinclair Battle Paton/ Webster/ Coffield