The Minson forward line experiment

[Desipura]

Re: The Minson forward line experiment

For many of the points you make I view his forward work as having enormous scope for improvement.

His contested marking can clearly improve and his conversion rate around goal. I think he did start to get a little more of the ball on the lead but thats another area he can improve. If I remember correctly he took a nice mark out in front of his face on the lead against Geelong in the prelim.

He's never going to be our go to forward, but he can still be part of the solution.

To develop the key forwards our side lacks we are going to have to blood players. I view Minson as having been blooded as a key forward in 2008. It was really the first time he was played as a forward for any length of time. He's still a work in progress but I'm hopefully he will have some more dominant games in 09

He also played as a forward in 2007.

[soupman]

Re: The Minson forward line experiment

He also played as a forward in 2007.

I don't think he did. He spent almost the entire year in the reserves, and even if he did go forward it was brief and he was probably underprepared. In 2007 he was considered a ruckman. In 2008 he was considered a ruckman who could have an impact up forward.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: The Minson forward line experiment

For many of the points you make I view his forward work as having enormous scope for improvement.

His contested marking can clearly improve and his conversion rate around goal. I think he did start to get a little more of the ball on the lead but thats another area he can improve. If I remember correctly he took a nice mark out in front of his face on the lead against Geelong in the prelim.

He's never going to be our go to forward, but he can still be part of the solution.

To develop the key forwards our side lacks we are going to have to blood players. I view Minson as having been blooded as a key forward in 2008. It was really the first time he was played as a forward for any length of time. He's still a work in progress but I'm hopefully he will have some more dominant games in 09

Good post, and I agree.

It takes time for players to adjust to new roles, and whilst Minson won't ever kick 40+ goals in a season, he won't always need to. The thing is, in the first half of the year when we had only lost one game, Minson was absolutely terrific up forward. No - he didn't kick bags of goals, but his contesting was brilliant. His deft little tap ons, bringing the ball to the front of the contest etc. really did help us. People seem to over look this.

Prior to '08, how many times did we see an opposition defender take relatively uncontested marks? ALL the time.

Minson really did cut out a lot of this though, simply by contesting, and that meant a lot of opportunity for Aker, Hahn, Harbrow, Gia etc. Unfortunately he faded in the second half of the year, but who didn't?

No doubt Minson needs to improve, but I'm sure he will, as explained above. Even when Grant comes along, Minson's spot will be safe. Grant looks more of a leading type capable of taking strong pack marks. Minson would still play as the 'get out clause', which is all he's really needed for. IF/When Cordy can play senior football, Minson may just become a full time ruckman, but for now his spot is safe so long as he continues to improve and considering last year was his first a KPF, you'd think he will.