How can Saints cover Dobson?
INJURED BACK LEAVES BIG GAP
AT 191cm, Ben Dobson isn’t your traditional backman.
While his size could enable him to play as a key defender, Dobson often finds himself playing a “quarterback role”, freeing himself up and setting up St Mary’s attacks through brilliant reading of the play and exquisite ball use.
After representing Essendon at VFL level, the GFL in interleague and Vic Country all in 2017, his loss to a seasonending knee injury hurts St Mary’s coach Troy Mitchell.
“You just don’t pick up blokes like that out of the blue,” Mitchell told the Geelong Advertiser this week.
“But at the same time, the focus has never been about one bloke, it’s always been about the team mantra, and it just gives everyone an opportunity to step up.”
The St Mary’s backline is largely settled, with Ryley Hall and Tom Lang occupying the key posts. Brenton Snowdon, depending on the size of the opposition forward line will also spend time down back.
A trio of McMahons — Damien, Hayden and Dylan — are consistent contributors, while Kane Tenace is a ball magnet roaming off half back.
A replacement isn’t a clear cut task.
“The great thing is somebody gets an opportunity that you maybe didn’t think would get that opportunity and they step up,” Mitchell said.
“It’s always interesting; that’s the challenge of footy.”
Harry Kol was a player who would have come into calculations if his season wasn’t riddled by injuries. Kol came into the side late in 2016 and stood out in an impressive finals series, looking composed in the back half.
Ben Webb is another 20year-old defender who played three games this year, but he too has been struck by injury at the wrong time.
Tom Gillies made his name at AFL level as a defender, but St Mary’s would be reluctant to shift him from full forward.
That leaves two somewhat forgotten men. Doug Bond and Jordan Duncan have played a combined seven games of senior football this year, but loom as potential replacements. Bond isn’t a known backman but his left foot could be used off half back, and if he is put through the midfield, someone like Hayden McMahon is adept in the backline.
Duncan last played a senior game in Round 8 against former side South Barwon, and played down back for the majority of 2016. And while he has booted 17 goals in his last four weeks at reserves level, Duncan is a known quantity and is somebody who could fill the void being of similar height to Dobson.
Just what effect the loss of Dobson has on the Saints remains to be seen.