Must have watched a different game. My two daughters and I voted unanimously around the couch that Kersten was worse on ground. Slow, cumbersome, fumbly, surely not able to keep up with any key forward. At least the Fist had closing speed.
I seriously think Hamling, Logue and Pearce are all in front of him as proper defenders due to their pace and agility. I would also hazard that Johnno and Duman are also in front of him and probably even Ethan Hughes. With Ryan, Nyhuis, Wilson, Hill and Blakely all vying for part of the back 6 (7) I cant envision a position for Kersten back there, even with Johnnos impending retirement.
Thats why it was so strange that he be reinvented as a defender. Why not stay with the original invention as a forward given thats where our real need is, more so since Tabs went down and McCarthy has lost all confidence. His one skill is straight kicking so play him forward close to goals where his few possessions can be made the most of.
This experiment hasnt worked.