Team Mgmt. Talk about the makeup of our list - midfield balance, height profile, endurance runners

[Bunk Moreland]

As much as I'd love Joe to return and commit his future to the team, this makes sense.

Hooker going forward is the only way to get KPD reps into BZT/Francis which is critical while Hurley is still around to guide them. Langford looks a natural up there and Stringer and Tippa need no explanation.

I'd trade Fantasia too. Between him and Joe we could have a reasonable draft hand and some cap space.

Only worries are:

1. Would it be too tall to add one of Stewart/Jones/McKernan? Even Laverde? There's an argument for loading up on smaller types around Hooker, who you can be pretty confident won't be outmarked, and using him as a bit of an anchor within 30m of goal to base forward pressure around. But I'd like to see Jones get some senior footy.
2. Do either Smith or Cahill have the legs to be genuine pressure forwards? Is Mozzie up to it? Should we even have specialists for this role or could you get by with rotating midfielders through here?

Ideally Stewart can use the remaining rounds to show he's up to standard as depth at a minimum. I'm guessing McKernan hangs around if Bellchambers is no longer at the club, though I wouldn't mind a hard decision being made on him.

I like Laverde but would prefer him given a shot further afield if his body can handle it (could he not playing Cutler's role? We could do with someone who can take a grab on the wing). Same with Begley.

I’m not super concerned about being “too tall” because it’s often not the whole story with a taller player. What I wouldn’t want is another slower beast alongside Hooker. Fit, 2017-era Daniher or Stewart would be fine. They’re both tall but they’re mobile. As long as it’s somebody who can get up the ground a bit, it’s fine imo.

I just don’t think we can hold Daniher, Stewart and Laverde - plus Fantasia - and hope one or two of them works their way back to regular footy. We’ve done it for three seasons now and been burnt. I don’t know how much longer we can keep doing the same thing and expect a different result.

Daniher - probably gone. If he stays, we’ll nurse him.

Stewart - I think he basically has to play out the rest of this year and not show a sign of further injury. If he gets hurt again, I think he’s done.

Laverde - from here, I think he’ll struggle. He just does not get on the park. The fitness staff would want to have major confidence to keep him from here I think. The only thing he really has going for him is this latest injury isn’t an “injury prone” one... it was just an impact.

Fantasia - as I’ve said, I’d cut our losses and get what we can. We’re not short on small forwards. A significant calf injury for a bloke with his history is bad news.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

No to Hooker forward. He’d be similar to Lloyd’s final year but with 1/4 of the goals. That’s not progression.

It’s probably a one-year solution but, aside from us finding one via trade, we probably don’t have many other options.

 

[DapperJong]

It’s probably a one-year solution but, aside from us finding one via trade, we probably don’t have many other options.

It depends if you think we are in contention any time soon, I think. Our great white Hope in Daniher was meant to be our 5 year development into our big, great forward but obviously it just hasn’t worked out. I think you need to start again and focus on Jones/Crauford etc

 

[Zach Package]

It depends if you think we are in contention any time soon, I think. Our great white Hope in Daniher was meant to be our 5 year development into our big, great forward but obviously it just hasn’t worked out. I think you need to start again and focus on Jones/Crauford etc

Devil’s advocate would be that Hooker would command the best defender and would in theory make it easier for Jones or Crauford or Bryan or whoever else.

Would also mean that more favourable match ups for a Townsend/Stringer/Laverde type player.

An enormous shame that that 2017 forward line essentially blew up, they were so dangerous and fun to watch, they just never got the chance to build on the gains they made.

 

[Lore]

Is Mosi out of the picture forward now? I must have missed why we are developing him as a bavk flanker?

I thought he was a 'classic small forward'?

Same thing as Fantasia, McKenna and Walla. They have all played both positions in their career as either a creative forward with midfield rotations or attacking off the HBF. No one has said he's permanently anywhere, but his last scratch match player review said:

"He pretty much played the whole game on the half-back flank. He's learning to attack and get back to find his man as quick as he can, because he's such an attacking and aggressive half-back. He wins his own ball and gets in great positions to be used. It was another good learning game for him."

It is also worth noting that scratch matches are 12/14/16 a side with top-ups from other clubs, so players are necessarily playing out of position at times just to get a run.

 

[CBombers17]

Same thing as Fantasia, McKenna and Walla. They have all played both positions in their career as either a creative forward with midfield rotations or attacking off the HBF. No one has said he's permanently anywhere, but his last scratch match player review said:

"He pretty much played the whole game on the half-back flank. He's learning to attack and get back to find his man as quick as he can, because he's such an attacking and aggressive half-back. He wins his own ball and gets in great positions to be used. It was another good learning game for him."

It is also worth noting that scratch matches are 12/14/16 a side with top-ups from other clubs, so players are necessarily playing out of position at times just to get a run.

Oh ok. Him not being mentioned in the OP and also the way he's spoke about as a half back (i'd read that scratch match review) made me wonder had i had missed his transition to a defender somewhere.

 

[DapperJong]

Devil’s advocate would be that Hooker would command the best defender and would in theory make it easier for Jones or Crauford or Bryan or whoever else.

Would also mean that more favourable match ups for a Townsend/Stringer/Laverde type player.

An enormous shame that that 2017 forward line essentially blew up, they were so dangerous and fun to watch, they just never got the chance to build on the gains they made.

Why wouldn’t you want a Jones learning on the best defender?

 

[IggypopsTshirt]

 

[Zach Package]

Why wouldn’t you want a Jones learning on the best defender?

Because traditionally best means biggest, I think playing on second or third tall (maybe someone similar in age or build) would allow him to find his feet quicker and get a bit of confidence.

I wouldn’t want to throw him to the wolves if we don’t have to.

 

[DapperJong]

Because traditionally best means biggest, I think playing on second or third tall (maybe someone similar in age or build) would allow him to find his feet quicker and get a bit of confidence.

I wouldn’t want to throw him to the wolves if we don’t have to.

I dunno, I feel like given proper tutelage this shouldn’t be an issue.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

It depends if you think we are in contention any time soon, I think. Our great white Hope in Daniher was meant to be our 5 year development into our big, great forward but obviously it just hasn’t worked out. I think you need to start again and focus on Jones/Crauford etc

No probs playing one of them beside him. But Hooker is here next year and I think that’s how he’ll be best used.

 

[CBombers17]

It depends if you think we are in contention any time soon, I think. Our great white Hope in Daniher was meant to be our 5 year development into our big, great forward but obviously it just hasn’t worked out. I think you need to start again and focus on Jones/Crauford etc

I agree. Give whichever one is most developed/closest a run soon. Sounds like Crauford from what little I've read on here.

 

[DapperJong]

No probs playing one of them beside him. But Hooker is here next year and I think that’s how he’ll be best used.

Yep I suppose if he’s here

 

[eth-dog]

It's a shambles. We have a near 30 year old who averages less than 1 goal/game in his career as the focal point, who hasn't kicked a goal in over 2 months, our star tall is perenially injured and our star small is also perenially injured.

It's time to try something else. Stewart needs to kick goals in the next couple of games or else we need to drop him and delist him, depending on what happens with Daniher.

 

[Schnitzengruben]

How much of the blame lies on Dan Jordan?

 

[Howard Moon]

How much of the blame lies on Dan Jordan?

So we are done blaming crow?

 

[Zach Package]

I dunno, I feel like given proper tutelage this shouldn’t be an issue.

Even so, my philosophy is if you can make life easier for someone, why wouldn’t you?

I’ve been calling for Hooker forward because in theory it makes life easier for the other 5 forwards and the man with the ball, until I see otherwise I think it’s the perfect short term solution for us.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

It's a shambles. We have a near 30 year old who averages less than 1 goal/game in his career as the focal point, who hasn't kicked a goal in over 2 months, our star tall is perenially injured and our star small is also perenially injured.

It's time to try something else. Stewart needs to kick goals in the next couple of games or else we need to drop him and delist him, depending on what happens with Daniher.

Daniher either leaves or he’s basically a highly paid project player for the next year or two.

I’d get rid of Fantasia for what we can get, which probably isn’t much.

Hooker forward to help out say, Jones. Stringer and Tipungwuti are dangerous. All is not lost.

 

[eth-dog]

Daniher either leaves or he’s basically a highly paid project player for the next year or two.

I’d get rid of Fantasia for what we can get, which probably isn’t much.

Hooker forward to help out say, Jones. Stringer and Tipungwuti are dangerous. All is not lost.

I think Fantasia is worth more to what we can produce than what we'll get.

Hooker as the focal point has to be the plan from whenever he's fit. Zerk just needs to play, I'd give him the job on King this week, and we have plenty of other key defenders.

Plan round something like:

Fantasia - Stewart/Laverde/Jones/Gown/Daniher - Smith
Walla - Hooker - Stringer

Langford is very useful up the ground which everybody who says "our Gunston" doesn't want to admit. Yes, he's effective inside 50, everyone agrees about that, but some don't want to admit that on Friday him playing near 100% forward hurt us actually getting into 50. Snelling I think needs to have a permanent trial as a winger and just tell him to make his kick:handball ratio 2:1 instead of 1:2. He's a great kick of the ball, so let him use that kicking.

 

[DapperJong]

Even so, my philosophy is if you can make life easier for someone, why wouldn’t you?

Yeah I think we are fundamentally disagreeing. My thinking is if you’re making it easy, you won’t develop as much as you could.

 

[Schnitzengruben]

So we are done blaming crow?

Never.

 

[eDPS]

As much as the forward line is an issue the biggest issue is how we move the ball to our forwards, far too often we dont kick to a teammates advantage or just bomb the ball in hope. It’s predictable to opposition defenders which makes it even harder for our forwards. We showed in a short period in the game that we can lower our eyes and move the ball quickly and accurately to our forwards but as i said in the game day thread i was shocked to see it done twice in a row which is sad when it should be expected far more often.

 

[SherbertLemon]

There’s always once or twice a game when I shout at the tv ‘use the space... USE THE SPACE!!!’

It’s usually followed up with a nonsensical chain of handballs or a kick which is not to our forwards advantage

I don’t know how culpable our midfield is in the impotency of our forwardline.
But either way nobody can take a contested mark and this is a problem

 

[fairbump_playon]

Why wouldn’t you want a Jones learning on the best defender?

Needs more weight I reckon. You don’t learn a lot getting ragdolled and dominated.. you just lose confidence.

Tall defender number 2 is still a pretty strong player for most clubs.. plenty to learn competing against them, but with some successes to bolster him.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

I think Fantasia is worth more to what we can produce than what we'll get.

Hooker as the focal point has to be the plan from whenever he's fit. Zerk just needs to play, I'd give him the job on King this week, and we have plenty of other key defenders.

Plan round something like:

Fantasia - Stewart/Laverde/Jones/Gown/Daniher - Smith
Walla - Hooker - Stringer

Langford is very useful up the ground which everybody who says "our Gunston" doesn't want to admit. Yes, he's effective inside 50, everyone agrees about that, but some don't want to admit that on Friday him playing near 100% forward hurt us actually getting into 50. Snelling I think needs to have a permanent trial as a winger and just tell him to make his kick:handball ratio 2:1 instead of 1:2. He's a great kick of the ball, so let him use that kicking.

Reckon Langford could potentially give us a smaller marking option and two goals a game. I’ll take that over his 15 touches up the ground, as nice as some of them might look.