D2.0
Years ago
Changes needed at the Wildcats
No, this isn't a panic thread. It's about what the Cats need to do to "complete" their roster for 2021. I'm not demanding the Cats win a 3-peat, but I do want to see them remain competitive in an improved league.
And no, I don't read anything into a pre-season game in which they extensively ran their bench and DP's.
(Apart from the obvious)
The DPs have shown that the Wildcats have some impressive depth. Except it all seems to be clustered around the 2 and 3 spots.
Trev and the Cats have a history of making do, and manufacturing a championship out of a squad that many thought wouldn't work. Two seasons back, he ignored calls for a 3rd import and backed his squad to a championship.
However, equally he's at times secured the ring with strategic upgrades during the season.
I'll back his judgement, so mostly I just curious about how the season will unfold.
Nothing I saw in these two games has really concerned me (yet.) Our Bench doesn't look great, but its early days, it's only the bench, and the DPs add a bit there.
What "worries" me is what I haven't seen, which is a complete starting front court. Even in this era of small-ball, and outside SFs, we're looking extremely thin up front.
Even when he's had two dedicated centres, Trev often liked to play his PF at the 5 for a few minutes, often with Wagstaff at the 4. So I'm not going to get into a debate about whether Mooney plays the 4 or the 5. Time will tell on that. The league will change again, without Bogut, and I've yet to see how other teams play.
But either way, our frontcourt currently consists of Mooney and Wagstaff. Impressive though he was, I just don't see playing Clint at PF as being a long-term solution.
Since day one, there has been talk of Big Plums returning when Cotton naturalises. Much as I love what he brings, I don't think he's even been spotted training, and as a 20 minute player, I don't feel he completely fills the needed space.
We have seen in recent years that Wagstaff's output will tend to drop as the season progresses. He's a Good player, and a great asset to have, but we're going to need more to cover the frontcourt. We could do a lot worse than starting Mooney and Jesse, but then who comes off the bench?
Could this be the time for Trev to Swallow his pride and go asking for a Next-Star?
A player the quality of Jessup, could well leave us open to cries of "4 'imports'." But unless there's another Aussie hiding in the woodwork, what choice do we have?
Even waiting for our "'3rd' import" could have consequences.
