Forward line 2012

[Hotdog60]

Re: Forward line 2012

Lakes approach to goal would always worry me as a forward, I'd keep the AA fullback in the back line and let him sneak forward on the odd occasion.

[GVGjr]

Re: Forward line 2012

I can understand why we might be tempted to throw him forward on occasions but right at this moment we should be planning on him being the full back for the season.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Forward line 2012

I can understand why we might be tempted to throw him forward on occasions but right at this moment we should be planning on him being the full back for the season.

I understand. Although I think we have a habit of putting our classiest players behind the ball. Just once, I would like to see Murph and Lake in the same forward line. Coaches headache.

We have a history of watching our most talented fill gaps, because we are poor for options. the time goes by with their talents in the backline. Chris Grant as an example. I think Brian has exactly the right attitude and pep to be a forward. A bit of a character, swagger, etc. What hurts his chances is how well he plays down back. He has had some mighty and memorable purple patches.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yva84FYeMeU Brian beats Barry to goal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNKyGQqCvHI Moving forward Brian!

[Before I Die]

Re: Forward line 2012

I understand. Although I think we have a habit of putting our classiest players behind the ball. Just once, I would like to see Murph and Lake in the same forward line. Coaches headache.

We have a history of watching our most talented fill gaps, because we are poor for options. the time goes by with their talents in the backline. Chris Grant as an example. I think Brian has exactly the right attitude and pep to be a forward. A bit of a character, swagger, etc. What hurts his chances is how well he plays down back. He has had some mighty and memorable purple patches.

I think you mean successful cameos. He has also had some disappointing cameos and has never, ever taken a game by the scruff of the neck as a forward. We have already had this discussion regarding Lake. I think his credibility as a forward relies very heavily on Sockeye Salmon's 19 game rule. Though in his case it is not because he has played less than 19 games in total, just less than 19 games as a forward.

Even if he was as good as Barry, Barry alone wasn't the answer! To be successful next year we need Lake playing well as fullback and at least two of our young forwads figuring in our BF top ten. Give them a chance and throw Brian forward in cameos. If we play Murphy at CHF and Lake at FF then Jones, Grant and Panos have no chance of coming on and we just stagnate for 12 months.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Forward line 2012

I think you mean successful cameos. He has also had some disappointing cameos and has never, ever taken a game by the scruff of the neck as a forward. We have already had this discussion regarding Lake. I think his credibility as a forward relies very heavily on Sockeye Salmon's 19 game rule. Though in his case it is not because he has played less than 19 games in total, just less than 19 games as a forward.

Even if he was as good as Barry, Barry alone wasn't the answer! To be successful next year we need Lake playing well as fullback and at least two of our young forwads figuring in our BF top ten. Give them a chance and throw Brian forward in cameos. If we play Murphy at CHF and Lake at FF then Jones, Grant and Panos have no chance of coming on and we just stagnate for 12 months.

Sorry, I meant so many purple patches as a full back.
Eagerly await the rematch of Buddy and Brian in 2012

[Before I Die]

Re: Forward line 2012

Sorry, I meant so many purple patches as a full back.
Eagerly await the rematch of Buddy and Brian in 2012

No worries, that I would agree with.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Forward line 2012

Sherman, Roughead, Higgins
Gia, Panos, Jones

Rotating: Cooney, Dalhaus, Picken

Minson and Cordy to ruck.

Like to see Jonescloser to goals, may improve his kicking. Playing two tall lead up forwards could stretch opposition backs. Roughead could easily hold down a traditional CHF role. Mobile flankers and a crumbing forward.

[Mantis]

Re: Forward line 2012

Sherman, Roughead, Higgins
Gia, Panos, Jones

Rotating: Cooney, Dalhaus, Picken

Minson and Cordy to ruck.

Like to see Jonescloser to goals, may improve his kicking. Playing two tall lead up forwards could stretch opposition backs. Roughead could easily hold down a traditional CHF role. Mobile flankers and a crumbing forward.

What have you seen from Roughy (that I have missed) that makes you believe this?

[Missing Dog]

Re: Forward line 2012

Are our expectations on Panos who is yet to play a single AFL over the top? I see people naming him as a FF or setting him a 40 goal pass mark which is insane.

Also, with regards to Roughead holding down a key position spot as some have alluded to, last year showed he can pinch hit at times but he does become a defensive liability with his inability to apply pressure or a second effort due to his lack of mobility. He is in the same mould of Minson in that he has the ability to push forward and take a grab and pinch a goal but he isn't a long term option for a quarter let alone an entire match.

As an opposition coach I would be quite pleased to have Roughead or Panos holding a permanent key position and I would encourage their opponents to push them wide and direct them to be involved offensively and try create plsy through them.

Its quite obvious that our forward line is full of holes and our ability to rotate and manipulate match ups is crucial to our success as is our execution of the forward press but it is worth noting this will be something that may take years to perfect and which will see some short term pain as we adapt.

I would argue that while Jones will still contribute he is probably 12 months away from genuinely influencing games and he is much further developed than any of Cordy, Roughead, Panos & Grantn sok it's worth keeping perspective especially on our expectations. I for one will be interested watching it all unfold in 2012

[jeemak]

Re: Forward line 2012

Excellent post Swoop.

I would say however, that Grant and Jones aren't too far apart in terms of being ready to influence a game, or provide some hope in 2012.

We all know Grant had an ordinary year last year, but I'm not ready to put a line through his name right now. He's a player that has come from a long way back physically and mentally, and he still has some way to go on both fronts. A solid step forward in effort and output this year resulting in similar results to 2010 should provide us with some hope as far as he is concerned (we also need to bare in mind how tough it was for him as a second or third option in 2011, in a forward line that was starved of clean opportunity compared to years gone by).

As far as I'm concerned, apart from Jones we don't have a player on our list that has the same potential to become a tall contributor to the extent that he does.

[Mofra]

Re: Forward line 2012

Sherman, Roughead, Higgins
Gia, Panos, Jones

Rotating: Cooney, Dalhaus, Picken

Minson and Cordy to ruck.

That would mean one of Minson & Cordy are on the bench which will seriously rob us of run.

For mine, Jones is a natural CHF and if the kid can hold don the hardest position to play on the ground we should be thankful.

Minson no 1 ruck, Roughy & Cordy to battle it our for no 2 ruck spending alot of time forward, with a support cast that may or may not include Panos & Grant (they should only be played if form warrants it, not for any ideas of "structure".

I like the idea of Cooney forward with Gia - Cooney is almost as smart a footballer as Gia, with alot more athleticism. Dalhaus will be a pernanent fixture, and Sherman to play alot as the "high" forward.

[Missing Dog]

Re: Forward line 2012

Is it just me but I can't seem to recall Cooney playing a quality game as a dangerous forward. He has led well on a few occassions but most of his goals have come from pushing forward through the midfield, can he really be damaging as a forward?

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Forward line 2012

Is it just me but I can't seem to recall Cooney playing a quality game as a dangerous forward. He has led well on a few occassions but most of his goals have come from pushing forward through the midfield, can he really be damaging as a forward?

This.

I've never seen Cooney impact games as a forward.

It's been his ability to push forward from the midfield that enabled him to kick bags of goals up untl 2008/9.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Forward line 2012

This.

I've never seen Cooney impact games as a forward.

It's been his ability to push forward from the midfield that enabled him to kick bags of goals up untl 2008/9.

I don't remember the details but I do remember a few games early in his career where he played out of the goalsquare a bit and was quite a handful on the lead with his pace and game sense.

There was also another game maybe 5 or 6 years ago -- again I can't remember the details -- where I think he kicked 6 or so playing predominantly out of the goalsquare in the last quarter and a half when the opponent couldn't get the right match-up on him. He's quite big for a fast dude, and quite fast for a big dude.. a bit Johnno-esque.

ps. Having said all that, I said in another thread that I don't think he should play forward, but actually play the McLeod role off half-back.

[Greystache]

Re: Forward line 2012

This.

I've never seen Cooney impact games as a forward.

It's been his ability to push forward from the midfield that enabled him to kick bags of goals up untl 2008/9.

In his Brownlow year we played the Swans at the SCG, we struggled in the first quarter, Cooney played most of the 2nd quarter out of the goal square and kicked 4 goals in a quarter.