Melbourne’s small defender stocks are depleted before the season has started, opening up opportunities.
Jack Grimes is the latest general (i.e. non-key-position) defender from the Demons to be confirmed to miss round 1, with a back problem. According to the Herald-Sun, the injury is different to the one that caused him to miss much of 2008, but it will hold him out of the first game of the season against North Melbourne at least. Back problems do tend to turn into long-term issues, and Grimes does have a history even though this isn’t a recurrence of the older injury.
This news comes on the back of Daniel Bell‘s thumb injury sustained on the weekend, Paul Wheatley‘s lingering convalescence from a calf injury, and the likelihood that Matthew Whelan will also miss round 1 with another calf problem. The Demons are blessed with tall defenders, with five of them competing for spots in the 22 come opening weekend, but with Melbourne facing the likes of Lindsay Thomas and Matt Campbell, with Brent Harvey pushing forward and the likes of younger players like Jack Ziebell and Ben Ross also spending time in the Kangaroos forward line it would be folly for Dean Bailey to err on the side of height in his selected backline.
So who does Bailey have left to rely upon? Simon Buckley seems ensured a spot now, at least. Brad Green spent a lot of games last year playing as the man in the hole across half back, though it had been seeming like Bailey wanted to use him in a more attacking role in 2009 – and Green’s far from the sort of hard-nosed, lock down defender that a pacy small forward like Campbell requires. The smokie of this situation is Kyle Cheney, a 2008 draftee who played for Sandringham in the VFL last year – for which I can’t get stats – and for the previous two years at North Ballarat Rebels in the TAC Cup, for which I can present numbers to you now.
Kyle Cheney’s TAC Cup stats from 2006:
50, 66, 44, 32, 36, 64, 65, 40, 29, 50, 53, 55, 44, 42, 66, 32, 95, 57, 56, 67
Average: 52.2
… and 2007…
83, 61, 77, 44, 40, 59, 55, 59, 104, 85, 92, 64, 136, 83, 104, 97, 45, 50, 99, 100, 96
Average: 77.8
I like the progression of those numbers, particularly the last month or two of 2007. Cheney’s kick-to-handball ratio in 2007 was an extremely healthy 284 to 117, up from 163 to 80 in 2006, so he loves to get the ball on the toe. The effectiveness of his possessions, albeit in the low pressure environment of the TAC Cup, were also solid at about 68% for his kicks and 83% for his handballs.
Along with Nick Suban, Jared Petrenko and Nathan Grima, Cheney has to be considered a strong candidate as one of the vanishing few rookie-priced backs who will get a consistent run of early games in 2009, helping to stave off any repeat of last year’s backopalypse. With Grimes out of the picture for now, realistically, it becomes all the more important to nail which of those four – or other smokies who come out of the clouds in the next eight days – are the ones to buy for your fantasy teams.
Tell me your thoughts on what the Grimes injury means to your team, if anything, and how it screws wiht your structure.
weatherman
March 18, 2009 at 9:37 pm
I was going to have Grimes too, and have opted for a similar idea mentioned by lovepelican.
–> Broughton, Suban and S Hill all in my backs.
Freo after all had J Carr, M Carr, H Black, Bell and McManus all leave last year, so there are plenty of spots for mids/half backs. I would think/hope that at least 1 would play every week….just as likely for 2 to play, and who knows maybe all 3.
lovepelican
March 18, 2009 at 9:45 pm
Cheers NT.Thunder.
I know Krakouer only plays up front, BUT Houlihan, who I have as a forward can play in both the backline and forwards. So can effectively switch Grimes for Krakouer by switching Houlihans position.
Hope this makes sense!!
Superfist
March 18, 2009 at 9:50 pm
I think the people looking for a straight swap aren’t thinking enough – you’ve got to ask yourself why you didn’t have the other guy in there in the first place. was it really that close between them that a straight swap doesn’t cost you much, or is the other guy just not as good/too much of a risk? For me the answer was the second option so i reorganised my team.
Brad
March 18, 2009 at 10:00 pm
I think Mr. Grimes would be very flattered by this thread Monty?
I am now referring to Jack grimes as Paris Hilton, he, like Paris, has become famous overnight for doing nothing!
Charlie
March 18, 2009 at 10:01 pm
@ Superfist – spot on. Me too.
@ everyone. See this as an omen. A good one. Last year every friggin backmen got injured mid season.
This yea, Grimes was a sacrifice to the DT Gods. A way of saying – here, have this fellow then leave us alone for 22 weeks. Be thankful it didn’t happen in two weeks time, because this injury was obviously just an accident waiting to happen.
Disco (UK)
March 18, 2009 at 10:07 pm
NT.Thunder – Lovepelican then said put Houlihan BAC, Krak FWD. Back to the learn how to read board…
XztatiK
March 18, 2009 at 11:49 pm
“christoff Says: 4:05 pm, March 18th, 2009
whos it gunna b Geary or collier?? and does any1 know if ricky Henderson is going to get a game for the crows?”
Nope. Keep looking.
Never had Grimey so it’s all good.
Simonoz
March 19, 2009 at 12:13 am
Had Grimes…..no real knowledge of Collier & Henderson in Brisbane…..short-term opinion on will they be serviceable enuf for a straight up Grimes switch ? Tks
Clive
March 19, 2009 at 12:13 am
Suban and Broughton are playing different positions. Broughton is a old fashioned shutdown defender in the last line of defence. Suban has been played in the midfield and up forward during the practise matches. Both are in the mix for round 1, but they aren’t competing for the same position.
Brad
March 19, 2009 at 12:32 am
“The Demons say second-year utility Jack Grimes, who has impressed during the pre-season, will be out for up to a month with a stress fracture injury in his lower back.”
Craig
March 19, 2009 at 1:23 am
My swap to fix the Grimey situation:
Grimes, Haselby, Gumbleton and Swan OUT
Knights, Suban, Beams and Franklin IN
Argh!
Raf
March 19, 2009 at 2:51 am
I’m looking at Grimes and Cassisi out, Hodge and Butler in.
Simonoz
March 19, 2009 at 3:11 am
Any chance that Jesse W Smith recovers in time for Rd 1 ?
Matt
March 19, 2009 at 7:57 am
Anyone rate Zac Dawson? I know he copped a famous pantsing by Rocca but I read in the paper this morning he is being promoted and will line up Round 1. Price is right.
Dare2Dream
March 19, 2009 at 8:45 am
Simonoz – not according to AFL website. There’s an article there to have a look at. Had a training setback and will miss R1 R2.
Stu
March 19, 2009 at 9:01 am
I think bringing Hill (provided you don’t already have him) in for Frank is the best option. Frees up another 40K at the very least.
Matt, not sure about Zac. Apparently he’s been impressive down at the Saints, and he’s bulked up a bit, so who knows? If you need the cash and a round 1 emergency, may be a good option.
love4thegame
March 19, 2009 at 9:10 am
im all over geary like a fat kid on a cup cake, apparently he ripped it up in 07 at VFL level, he is set to step up, with other backs taking the big targets he will get duds like krakour etc and destroy them wit his talent.
TwoBeaus
March 19, 2009 at 9:22 am
I always thought grimey was a risk for a selection and injury. plenty of other options.
Simonoz
March 19, 2009 at 9:44 am
Any chance that Grimes injury is all a farce – implemented solely for the purpose of insuring that all DT & SC teams were now going to be different in the backline ?
It seems nearly everyone had him, and now everyone has a diff opinion on how to replace him.
LOL
Simonoz
March 19, 2009 at 9:45 am
Tks Dare2Dream – its a shame….more talent than most in the game, yet he’s only played about 40 games in 4 seasons now – brittle.
Orba
March 19, 2009 at 11:13 am
I have grimes but with the injury am looking at swapping him for dawson. I think dawson is a cat but the style of play st.kilda play he will get cheap backward marks before dishing a handball to goddard. St.Kilda are in all sorts with backline injuries and are relying on maguire to be right but lets be honest the guys career is over. I think you might get half a season out of dawson and if he does a good job straight up on hall then it will relieve the pressure on him.
I have traded grimes for dawson freeing up 100k which i upgraded reilly to gibbs. Peoples thoughts on that?
Simon
March 19, 2009 at 11:21 am
I didn’t have Grimes because of his well known injury problems. A bit disappointed he went down this early. Geary will become the new kid on the block, but have you all done your research on to whether he will actually get a game? Seems the spots between 18-26 at the Saints is very competitive.
Charlie
March 19, 2009 at 11:44 am
I’ve had a decent look at this, and after all sorts of rejigging attempts, have decided the best balance for my team is to take the chance on Geary and have Hill on the bench as backup. IF Geary plays, he does get a bit of the ball for his TOG, so will pay off nicely. But you get the feeling Geary will play either 6 or 20 games. He’ll either cement his spot early or be a professional emergency. Just like Raines. Gotta have the backup I reckon.
Simon
March 19, 2009 at 1:39 pm
You’ve got your head screwed on Charlie.
Brad
March 19, 2009 at 1:54 pm
No chance Raines will be a professional emergency.
He looks like he has improved out of sight this year.
butch
March 19, 2009 at 2:09 pm
troy chaplin is an awesome replacement, ive read up on him and he is going to float in the port backline and gather up touch after touch and loads of marks. straight sawp for a cornes or a goddard/lockyer if you want to save some dosh for the rucks/forward line
ryab
March 19, 2009 at 5:01 pm
im thinking of downgrading hille and grabbing mcintosh, using the money to upgrade grimes. is mcintosh a handy pick up or am i wasting my time
ryz
March 19, 2009 at 5:09 pm
i havnt got raines cause i got rid of grimes, traded in hill, with the extra money, upgraded to buddy up forward and got houlihan down back for raines.
is that bad?
houlihan –> buddy
grimes –> hill
rains –> houlihan
i really want raines but, but i think jed adcock might be a stayer, rainsey is an out of form few weeks away from coburg imo with a few boys close behind him
Ward
March 19, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Im pretty sure Petrenko will get a run alot cheaper than Grimes
Pies 09
March 19, 2009 at 8:50 pm
To those wondering whether to punt on Jarryn Geary, I’ve had a chat to someone close to him and basically Geary knows that there’s three players competing for that last defenders spot. There’s himself, Raph Clarke and Colm Begley.
Raph Clarke’s form last year was indifferent and Geary may have had a great pre-season, but to me it’s still too much of a gamble to start him in your 22 and bank on him all year. I hope he proves me wrong but I’m going with a safer option.
Craig
March 19, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Prestigiacomo! No Seriously….. DT tonnes abound. 😛
Ash
March 19, 2009 at 10:20 pm
Monty, will there be a version 8 for round 1? It gives me something to look fwd to before the season kicks off!!! Love ya work.
matt
March 19, 2009 at 11:51 pm
andrew raines maybe?
matt
March 19, 2009 at 11:52 pm
sorry hard to dtermine sarcasm in writing youd definately get him
Dan
March 20, 2009 at 1:58 am
Pies 09 – thanks for info
krabzy
March 20, 2009 at 7:40 am
I don’t think Geary’s competing for a spot in defence. He’s played mostly out of the midfield in PS. He’s one of 5 or 6 guys competing for a spot on the bench. While he looks good for a R1 start, it’s possible Lyon could opt for experience and leave Geary and Steven out in favour of guys like Gwilt, Jones and McQualter.
Geary’s going to have massively reduced TOG once the real stuff starts, and he’s no guarantee to retain his spot if he is selected. SC coaches have the added concern of his less than stellar disposal. I think he’s a much greater risk than Grimes was.
James
March 20, 2009 at 9:45 am
And there goes Vezpremi, though I doubt he was in anywhere near as many teams as Grimes.
Big Jim
March 20, 2009 at 9:48 am
The mid range options are dropping like flies – the vesz is out for eight weeks with a finger injury now.
Big Jim
March 20, 2009 at 9:50 am
aargh… James beat me to it. Or are we the same person? Even I’m not sure.
hamish
March 20, 2009 at 10:42 am
troy chaplin is a mid range priced gold mine, i agree butch, hes gathered so many touches black loose in the back half, and his disposal is good for SC
ben
March 20, 2009 at 2:48 pm
it all comes down to whether daniel rich is named to play round 1. if not, will need a young guy to start in the midfield, and with hill in my backline, that guy wil be hard to find.
Dicko
March 20, 2009 at 3:10 pm
It’s not the end of the world if you get a “0” in the first week or so.
evan
March 20, 2009 at 7:00 pm
hey guys. if any of you are looking for a leugue to join here are two still with spots:
385740
556408
please join
thanks
Dicko
March 20, 2009 at 7:16 pm
joined 556408 (just Misunderstood)
evan
March 20, 2009 at 7:22 pm
guys join 385740
not the other 1
Simonoz
March 20, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Monty is working on VERSION 8….should be out this w/end
ben
March 21, 2009 at 12:22 am
butch are you an agent for chaplin and rance? you suggested chaplin is a straight swap for goddard, who will be the league’s best back this year. please, cut the crap.
noffle
March 21, 2009 at 11:17 am
“I heard on Friday when Cale Morton was on SEN that every single Demon player had Grimes in their own Dream Teams, so unless he’s picked up a new injury this weekend then I’m not so worried about Grimesy.” – m0nty 15/03/09
The curse of m0nty…
pascoe
March 21, 2009 at 12:38 pm
hi all, if you are looking for a very competitive and high quality players join 928571. Thanks, also grimes was my key!!
Ian
March 21, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Geary, Surjan but im going for Raines