Retired #26: Cale Hooker - Has announced his retirement at season's end 🍷

[Runk]

I'd say hes about 33/1 to play round 1 - Isn't even with the main training group yet so will be a long way behind.Besides - he's too important to risk given his versatility and ability to play as a key forward

33/1?

Is that SportsBet or Ladbrokes?

 

[yaco55]

Hooker has got votes in 3 out of 4 games as a forward - Some want to replace him with Mckernan - It's obvious who is the weak link in the forward line.

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

Happy with Hooker forward if Carlise plays permanently down back.

 

[BrunoV]

Hooker has got votes in 3 out of 4 games as a forward - Some want to replace him with Mckernan - It's obvious who is the weak link in the forward line.

The system had changed.

We've played a few other forwards too.

Carlisle was going well.

 

[Zach Package]

Somebody gif the passage in the last where Hombsch shunted Hooker under the ball, Hooker basically dived head first into it but still somehow marked it anyway and then swung around and hit the 9 iron into the pocket where only Daniher could mark it.

He's taking the piss at the moment with some of the things he does, that was Carey in his pomp

 

[Halftimehero]

It's pretty simple, our forward line looks the best it has in years since Hooker has been up there. He is averaging nearly 9 marks and 5 shots on goal in his 4 matches forward, he also seems to have improved his set shots already in such a short space of time. Opposition teams now have to think who they put there best defender on and that can only benefit Daniher and allow him to be freed up a bit more or at least get more one on one opportunities. Hookers ability to compete for the ball even when out of position and win or at least break even in every contest is huge for our whole forward line, it gives other players the confidence to kick to him and also the other forwards know the ball will be kept in the area therfore they can work on making space and getting themselves in dangerous positions. Keep him forward!!!

 

[Whispering_Jack]

With Carlisle out, Hooker forward was the obvious choice and it's paying dividends. Hooker, JD and the L's are a good setup. Ballsy to play our AA CHB forward but the forward line is finally functioning. When Carlisle comes back he needs to continue Hookers good work.

 

[Mercurial89]

With Carlisle out, Hooker forward was the obvious choice and it's paying dividends. Hooker, JD and the L's are a good setup. Ballsy to play our AA CHB forward but the forward line is finally functioning. When Carlisle comes back he needs to continue Hookers good work.

Its obvious Hooker is showing better enthusiasm for the role and maybe a bit more 2nd efforts than Carlisle but Just to throw the question out there, Is it Hooker playing the role better or is he benefitting from the better ball movement that Carlisle wasn't getting? Probably a bit of both but if its more so the better movement id love to see what Jake can do with it.

 

[Yoda_]

Drafted as a fwd

 

[Nasty Penguin]

Drafted as a fwd

Really? That's really interesting. Might explain why his body language is better than Jakes up forward. Just need to fix up his set shots although he does seem to be using that same routine.
Having three 190cm + blokes that can dominate at either end of the ground is pretty special. He could be that positional change that allows Carlisle to stay.

 

[yaco55]

Really? That's really interesting. Might explain why his body language is better than Jakes up forward. Just need to fix up his set shots although he does seem to be using that same routine.
Having three 190cm + blokes that can dominate at either end of the ground is pretty special. He could be that positional change that allows Carlisle to stay.

And played half his first year as a forward at vfl level before he was switched to defence.

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

The thing with Hooker is he fights for the ball if out of position. A fair few of his marks have been taken when the kick is not to his advantage.

If Carlisle is forward and if he doesn't have best position then the ball is pretty much gone.

Love watching this guy play.

 

[Doss]

It's a fair mark of just how far he's come that to ask whether he's the best player at the club is not at all a stretch.

Not saying he definitely is, by the way, but by jove he's in those calculations.

 

[Duckworth]

It's a fair mark of just how far he's come that to ask whether he's the best player at the club is not at all a stretch.

Not saying he definitely is, by the way, but by jove he's in those calculations.

Fair to say he would be part of the discussion.

Really? That's really interesting. Might explain why his body language is better than Jakes up forward. Just need to fix up his set shots although he does seem to be using that same routine.
Having three 190cm + blokes that can dominate at either end of the ground is pretty special. He could be that positional change that allows Carlisle to stay.

Wasn't Carlisle drafted as a forward as well?

 

[PressureCooker]

The thing with Hooker is he fights for the ball if out of position. A fair few of his marks have been taken when the kick is not to his advantage.

If Carlisle is forward and if he doesn't have best position then the ball is pretty much gone.

Love watching this guy play.

Was saying the exact same thing watching the game on Saturday. Always fights like hell at each contest. Carlisle often looks as though he gives up in contests if out of position.

 

[Nasty Penguin]

Wasn't Carlisle drafted as a forward as well?

He was drafted as "a player that could forward and back" from what I recall. It is now obvious what his preference is

 

[Ashton Agar]

Wasn't Carlisle drafted as a forward as well?

I thought the same thing.

 

[Vander18]

I think he plays forward when Carlisle returns. Who would have thought 18 months ago that Hooker forward with Hurley and Carlisle back would be our best set-up???

 

[theboxmike]

Was saying the exact same thing watching the game on Saturday. Always fights like hell at each contest. Carlisle often looks as though he gives up in contests if out of position.

It's awesome to see, even the commentators were picking it up and couldn't believe the second efforts he was putting in. It reminds me why our forward pressure was so awesome in 2013 with Kommer running around like a maniac.

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

I think he plays forward when Carlisle returns. Who would have thought 18 months ago that Hooker forward with Hurley and Carlisle back would be our best set-up???

If it help our chances of keeping Carlilse I'm all for it.

 

[ManWithNoName]

Keep in mind that for how good Hooker looks going for marks, and for how much "better" our structure looks with him there, before the Port game we'd kicked 27 goals in 3 games.

Tl;dr as good as Hooker looks going for marks I don't think he's making that much of a difference. I think our structure looks a hell of a lot better with guys like Langford, Laverde and Edwards out there. But the fact is we're still not really kicking goals besides a shootout against Port.

 

[CBombers17]

It's a fair mark of just how far he's come that to ask whether he's the best player at the club is not at all a stretch.

Not saying he definitely is, by the way, but by jove he's in those calculations.

He's just such an unlikely/ungainly looking character its seems laughable really but the bottom line is he would have to be very, very close.

Saw him in a praccy up here in Canberra and they swung him forward and he looked quite good (nice goal etc).

Going through the list id say Jobe and Heppell are the only 2 that are actually better players - lots of movement to come though.

I was really happy for him when he turned down the West Coast trade and thrilled for him now. Deserves all his success big time.

 

[Towno78]

It's a fair mark of just how far he's come that to ask whether he's the best player at the club is not at all a stretch.

Not saying he definitely is, by the way, but by jove he's in those calculations.

I'm saying he is

 

[ManWithNoName]

Further to my last post

Marks inside 50 per game pre Hooker forward = 9.6
Marks inside 50 per game post Hooker forward = 10.5

Not really that different is it...

 

[Rack Watts]

Best contested mark in the competition.

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

The luxury of having a another gun fullback in Hurley to cover for Hooker while he plays forward makes me all giggedy Also I really hope Carlilse stays and gets put in his rightful spot when he returns.