CAN BALTA-KOSI TANDEM WORK?
Let’s be honest, Noah Balta and Jacob Koschitzke are hardly the equivalent of Tom Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron. With a question mark on Tom Lynch’s fitness – he has not played since round 4 last year – can these keys kick a winning score?
‘Kosi’ was targeted inside-50m eight times against Collingwood in their pre-season match. He was involved in five one-on-one contests, breaking even in four and losing one.
Balta was targeted only three times, but had 11 touches, seven marks (two contested) and kicked 0.2. Balta’s marking gets a big tick and he looked more dangerous than Koschitzke.
But are the Tigers robbing Peter to Paul with the Balta experiment?
In round 1 it could be Tylar Young and Josh Gibcus against Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow unless Balta returns to defence. Lynch’s right foot might just be the most important portion of a limb at Punt Rd.
Craig McRae and Adam Kingsley – two coaches schooled at Richmond – took over struggling teams and went kapow.
McRae’s went prelim to premier, Kingsley, too, started with a prelim. It would be hard yakka for Yze given the understandable holes in the Tigers’ list, but it is also demonstrates you should never stop dreaming.
As for Yze’s gameplay, last week against the Pies it looked like there was a clear focus to flick the ball around by hand.
Yze believes the best teams play with a lot of speed and a lot of risk.
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM DUSTY?
The megastar is back to being a midfielder and that is mega exciting.
Martin turns 33 this year, but he is looking like he has multiple years left in him. He is also what this engine room craves because a centre ball brigade of Taranto, Hopper, Dow and Prestia might have a bit of sameness about it. While there is life left in Martin, there is a watch on fellow flag heroes such as Kamdyn McIntosh, Marlion Pickett and the much-loved Dylan Grimes. Not sure they will be safe in the best 23 all season, which would be an agonising call for former captain Grimes.
WHICH CUBS ARE READY TO EARN THEIR STRIPES?
Stoppage star Thomson Dow has arrived and Josh Gibcus will pick up where he left off in 2022 after a wipeout 2023 with injury. Don’t be surprised if No.40 pick Kane McAuliffe gets his chance after the inside midfielder turned heads immediately.