What we missed and what we need.

[cats2rise]

This year, we really missed Kingsley kicking his 40-60 goals. A tall forward HAS to step up next year so then in 2008 we can go for the premiership. Ottens has had a good year IMO but if we are to be a serious contender, he needs to kick 40+ goals, and if he doesnt, we need someone to.

Ablett, Chapman and SJ are a fantastic trio and I am very happy with them kikcing 90-100 goals between them, but we need another player to kick 40+, and thats what Kingsley had done previously.

This all sounds like old news about us needing good forwards, but this year we went backwards with Kent not playing and then having Playfair/McCarthy playing only a handfull of games.

I would not expect Hawkins or any other first year tall next eyar to kick 40, so who can?
Mackie - Could be a Robert Murphy type...:confused:
Ottens - Can we play him Full Forward for most of the year. Not with King.
Kingsley - Could he stay on the list and perform next year?
Playfair - Could he turn the corner?

Look at Lynch and Hanson from the WCE. Last year they were just as bad as Playfair and co (so says the media, bigfooty etc) but Glass looks like he is taking that extra step.

What I am saying is, now that we have -50 of Kingsleys goals, who will do his job next year?

[Turbocat]

KK's 50 goals where missed but I dont think we should be totally focused on the Key Forward.

We need to add goal kicking mids to our mix' guys running thru the middle , like Tenace has on occasion . Guys with a bit of speed but good finishing .80 Metre players that finish. If Mackie plays further forward when on the ball he may do it but I suspect he like Bartel will be more likely to be on the end of a pass and convert from set shots. It this type of player I thought we needed last year,its why I like Thomas before he became such a highly fancied pick and one can hope Varcoe can do this for us. An Acker type but probably not acker. Think about how often you seen our best mid Joel Coey kick running goals. He is not alone , our quality mids arn't really good at this and to me its where we can improve.

As far as KK's replacement Im hoping that Nathan will be ready to step up next year although he is still probably a year off in the body he needs. Looking at the guys on our list, to me, he is the most talented tall we have and the one with the most long term potential. He is the only one Ive seen do that little something special. Lonergan, McCarthy have all shown something but its he I'd be putting games into. Over summer he needs to be put into the gym and get some serious stregth into his frame and he needs to work on 30M sprinting. He is not or never will be an endurance athlete but when tuned he should be a very rare Power forward that cause other sides concern and pain.

[year of the cat]

What we are missing is quick precise transference of play into the forward line. Sure you need key forwards to be able to take contested marks but with the a quicker, more penetrating midfield the goals will come. Look at WC and Adelaide; neither team has what you would call a dominant forward but score plenty of goals from an attacking positive style of play.

Our midfielders are too one-paced, requiring more leg speed to be included. It was no coincidence that Tenace coming into the team on Saturday started to move the ball in that manner. For the same reason Wojcinski should be in the team, he also being directly responsible for 2 goals by running through the lines and catching the opposition defenders out of position.

We should make a priority to draft quick, skilled midfielders such as Proud and Connors. Obviously Hawkins will in time provide a key marking option up forward. Drafting a quick rebounding mid-sized defender such as O'Brien is also a priority. This will require some trading to be done and a little patience.

[Reg Hickey]

Agree with the need for quick goal-kicking mids. An 18yo Aker in the draft this year would be great - someone with speed, very good disposal and who knows where the big sticks are.

Hawkins will not be a factor until at least 2008, and probably 2009, so we shouldn't expect him to do anything next year. If we can get 6-8 games out of him late in the season for 10-12 goals then we should be very happy.

I think Nate has got to be the man. A big preseason and a commitment from the club that he will get at least a couple of months in the ones would be the way to go. Then if we can get the mids to actually kick it to him, I reckon he would be pretty good.

I would hope in 2007 we'd get a pretty good return out of -

HF: Chapman Mooney Stokes
FF: Ottens N Ablett G Ablett

I hope Chappy and GAJ also spend a fair bit of time on the ball, so you could also play SJ, Mackie and Varcoe as small/mid size forwards.

[hyperswivel]

Is the consensus that it is going to get worse before it gets better? I'm not sure anyone from the draft will prove to be all that instrumental for another 2 or 3 years at least.
If nothing else, there aren't many of your gun players looking to go elsewhere or retire, but does that also mean that they've hit their peak?
It's an awkward place to be. Not many young kids who are going to come through right away, and a senior list that isn't exactly improving.
Could be more pain before any true hope for another push at the flag I'm afraid.

[S "Thinks He's Daicos" J]

What we are missing is quick precise transference of play into the forward line. Sure you need key forwards to be able to take contested marks but with the a quicker, more penetrating midfield the goals will come. Look at WC and Adelaide; neither team has what you would call a dominant forward but score plenty of goals from an attacking positive style of play.

Our midfielders are too one-paced, requiring more leg speed to be included. It was no coincidence that Tenace coming into the team on Saturday started to move the ball in that manner. For the same reason Wojcinski should be in the team, he also being directly responsible for 2 goals by running through the lines and catching the opposition defenders out of position.

We should make a priority to draft quick, skilled midfielders such as Proud and Connors. Obviously Hawkins will in time provide a key marking option up forward. Drafting a quick rebounding mid-sized defender such as O'Brien is also a priority. This will require some trading to be done and a little patience.
"If you have a good forward line, you should get the footy in quickly.

If you have a bad forward line, you should get the footy in quicker." - S. Newman

[year of the cat]

"If you have a good forward line, you should get the footy in quickly.

If you have a bad forward line, you should get the footy in quicker." - S. Newman

Exactly - not a fan of Sam but he is spot on here - its one reason why Ling has got to change his game next year. His short sideways kicking has got to stop. With a better pre-season he should be busting his guts to create the loose man and kicking long into the forward line. He has the engine to do this.

[Pillman]

Ling has got to change his game next year. His short sideways kicking has got to stop. With a better pre-season he should be busting his guts to create the loose man and kicking long into the forward line. He has the engine to do this.

I agree. LING HAS TO CHANGE, or be traded.

[grantyc77]

I agree. LING HAS TO CHANGE, or be traded.

But the league has caught on to him, i dont think we would get much for him in a trade. I agree if he changes his style of game, he has the motor. It will be interesting to see if he can change