FFC: Established 1883
Premierships: AFL 1954, 2016 VFA - 1898,99,1900, 1908, 1913, 1919-20, 1923-24, VFL: 2014, 2016 . Champions of Victoria 1924. AFLW - 2018.
Not quite apples for apples but I recall a new coach helping to energise and transform the career of a key defender in Lake's age range, who was similarly plagued with serious and ongoing health issues, into a fearsome forward target, reaping fairly handy rewards.
His name: Alastair Lynch
BORDERLINE FLYING
Fraser Gehrig was traded into St Kilda as a FB too - made quite a forward.
Only concern is teaching Lake to lead hard - his normal forays forward he doesn't quiet present, and does that jogging lead with one hand in the air. Forwards need to demand the ball.
I'd definetaly want a second tall down there in soem form though to help out Jones.
Western Bulldogs: 2016 Premiers
Lake's kicking for isn't that good either. He needs a bit of work to make it there.
Neitz was a backmen
Brian played as a forward prior to getting drafted and was drafted as a forward. He is a strong mark in a contested situation and is quick over 20 metres, he has proven that he knows where to position himself with the ball coming in (as you are aware he was number 1 for marking opposition kicks) and his presence in the forward line takes the number 1 back away from Jones.
My only problem with Brian playing forward is that he is not an overly accurate kick.
Provided Marko can hold down full back (and I think he will continue to improve here) with assistance from Williams and eventually Morris, I think the Lake forward experiment is certainly worth looking at and I can understand why McCartney is interested in it.
If Brian is fit he is quick enough and smart enough to cut space and get to contests to be competitive if the ball hits the ground, the really encouraging part of him playing forward is that the ball won't hit the ground as much if he is in there.
Kosi started at CHB and has played as a full forward (with limited success) for 70% of the time since he moved away from CHB.
Petrie played all of his early games at CHB for North Melbourne
Ryder started at CHB and now exclusively moves from the ruck to FF
Neitz went to FF from CHB at Melbourne
Roach played his first 17 games at CHB
I'm not sure whether we actaully need Lake to kick bags of goals for us at FF, it's more about creating contest and helping out our developing forwards. With no other options other than to play jones at FF, does the benefit here outweigh what he will give us fully fit at FB?
What is your reasoning for not playing Brian forward?
But then again, I'm an Internet poster and Bevo is a premiership coach so draw your own conclusions.
Originally Posted by Rocket Science
Not quite apples for apples...
His name: Alastair Lynch
Right you are, though was a genuine swing man pre-Brisbane.
Also, Lake was drafted as a full forward from memory.
I'm iffy on Lake's virtues as a forward target myself, and despite our dearth of key position types up that end I'm not convinced ripping a guy out of a vital position he's extremely accomplished at is the smartest approach anyway, but it's still a curious proposition to ponder with a new coach seeking to transition/transform the side.
BORDERLINE FLYING
The only reason you would play Lake forward is out of sheer desperation. He is simply a natural defender and a good one at that. Providing Lake';s body is fit and well, he should return to his former self in a defence that badly lacks his class and brilliance. McCartney could just be the right tonic to get the best out of Brian Lake.