Forward line 2012

[Dry Rot]

Re: Forward line 2012

If Panos kicks 40 goals there will be the opportunity to see my hairy backside in Bourke St.

I suspect that you will now have many of us quietly rooting for the defender playing on Panos during the season.

[Missing-Dog]

Re: Forward line 2012

Murphy and Higgins will rotate
Cooney and Sherman may rotate a bit aswell.?

Not liking all the injuries really starting to concern me and how we maintain these players will be interesting. Cant wait for this season to start already cmon been watching 2011 replays for too long!

[Nuggety Back Pocket]

Re: Forward line 2012

Whilst I agree he is best suited to defense we need him more in the forward line. I don't think Giansiracusa and say Sherman can provide the necessary leadership.

I agree with your thoughts on Gia and Sherman,which adds support to your argument to move Murph forward to add class,maturity and leadership to an inexperienced attack.Using Cooney for longer periods forward could be a bonus as well.

[Mantis]

Re: Forward line 2012

I agree with your thoughts on Gia and Sherman,which adds support to your argument to move Murph forward to add class,maturity and leadership to an inexperienced attack. Using Cooney for longer periods forward could be a bonus as well.

Using him in the midfield for longer periods will be an even bigger bonus.

Without him playing some half decent footy our midfield looks very light on.

[stefoid]

Re: Forward line 2012

I reckon its the way the ball gets to the forward line that is more important than who gets on the end of it. Even the best forwards in the league struggle when the ball comes in slow and poorly.

For that reason Id rather see Murph play back - theres no one Id rather see carrying the ball from half back.

[Happy Days]

Re: Forward line 2012

Maybe Higgins is the answer to replacing Murphy as a defender.

Didn't Craig Bird kick 4 on him when he was down back this year?

No thanks.

[jeemak]

Re: Forward line 2012

I reckon its the way the ball gets to the forward line that is more important than who gets on the end of it. Even the best forwards in the league struggle when the ball comes in slow and poorly.

For that reason Id rather see Murph play back - theres no one Id rather see carrying the ball from half back.

But with the way Murphy plays half forward it's not as if he's much closer than 1.5-2 kicks to goal anyway, which is an area I think we'll struggle (particularly on the bigger grounds) to take possession of the ball and move it further forward without a decent target.

A fit Lake and Hargrave takes a lot of pressure off us and our need to use players like Murphy to work their way through traffic from defense, as they have sure hands and are decisive in their forward movement. If we didn't lose Harbrow we'd be in such a better position in terms of Murph presenting off half forward.

[the banker]

Re: Forward line 2012

Maybe a long way off, but does anyone see potential in Wallis developing into a back half player releasing Murphy and or Picken?

[Dancin' Douggy]

Re: Forward line 2012

If J. Grant doesn't start kicking goals I see him as a perfect candidate to go to half back

[Mantis]

Re: Forward line 2012

Maybe a long way off, but does anyone see potential in Wallis developing into a back half player releasing Murphy and or Picken?

I don't see it. Wallis does his best work around the ball.

[Desipura]

Re: Forward line 2012

If J. Grant doesn't start kicking goals I see him as a perfect candidate to go to half back

I tihnk he need to lift his intensity otherwise he will not be at the club in 12 months. B Mac does not like players who are lazy and hard at the ball, hates the word X factor when some refer to players with an ability of doing something out of the ordinary, is very much into consistency of effort.

[stefoid]

Re: Forward line 2012

But with the way Murphy plays half forward it's not as if he's much closer than 1.5-2 kicks to goal anyway, which is an area I think we'll struggle (particularly on the bigger grounds) to take possession of the ball and move it further forward without a decent target.

A fit Lake and Hargrave takes a lot of pressure off us and our need to use players like Murphy to work their way through traffic from defense, as they have sure hands and are decisive in their forward movement. If we didn't lose Harbrow we'd be in such a better position in terms of Murph presenting off half forward.

Hargrave and Lake are OK in a bit of space, but under a forward press, Murph is the only one I back at this stage to run 20m with the ball, evading blokes coming at him, and then spot someone up. Hargrave and Lake are much more likely to boot the thing 50m to nobody in particular in that situation.

Jones is our lead up CHF now. We will stop losing the ball across half forward so much when the midfield gains more composure -- which is exactly what BMac is focussing on.

I am totally on board with everything bmac is focussing on - winning the ball, using it under pressure, and applying defensive pressure. all of these things will automatically make our forward line more potent.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: Forward line 2012

I don't see it. Wallis does his best work around the ball.

Care to elaborate on this one for me? From what we saw in 2011 he was often second to the ball, looks to kick short and sideways, has OK hands but not as clean as Libba. He works hard defensively and should become a good running player - but I think his skill set could be effective in a number of roles. We have better players who should be the prime movers in the midfield.

I could see Wallis playing off a flank. My preference would be off a forward flank playing a defensively minded game on an attacking defender or a shut down/tagging role as an extra midfielder.

[jeemak]

Re: Forward line 2012

Hargrave and Lake are OK in a bit of space, but under a forward press, Murph is the only one I back at this stage to run 20m with the ball, evading blokes coming at him, and then spot someone up. Hargrave and Lake are much more likely to boot the thing 50m to nobody in particular in that situation.

Jones is our lead up CHF now. We will stop losing the ball across half forward so much when the midfield gains more composure -- which is exactly what BMac is focussing on.

I am totally on board with everything bmac is focussing on - winning the ball, using it under pressure, and applying defensive pressure. all of these things will automatically make our forward line more potent.

I guess I was trying to make the point that when we have Hargrave and Lake there, our ball winning ability is much better and we're able to clear the ball quicker without letting the opposition set the press up. Eade talked about the issues we faced last year in this area (lack of continuity in back 6), and I had to agree with him. The best way to beat the press is starve the opposition of opportunities to set it up by taking possession early and clearing effectively with lateral movement followed by a long kick.

Agree that nobody in our side let alone the league touches Murphy when it comes to being evasive and picking his way through the press.

You'll struggle to find a happier person than me if we can get Jones to play the leading CHF role effectively, but I'm not banking on it just yet as he has a lot of development in him. Having Murphy fulfill it on the bigger grounds might not be such a bad idea.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Forward line 2012

Care to elaborate on this one for me? From what we saw in 2011 he was often second to the ball, looks to kick short and sideways, has OK hands but not as clean as Libba. He works hard defensively and should become a good running player - but I think his skill set could be effective in a number of roles. We have better players who should be the prime movers in the midfield.

I could see Wallis playing off a flank. My preference would be off a forward flank playing a defensively minded game on an attacking defender or a shut down/tagging role as an extra midfielder.

Wallis must make it as a ball winner or he's in big trouble. He can't play back because his ball use isn't good enough.

A defensive forward is what you are right before you get delisted.