Genuine forwards. Not failed midfielders/defenders.Or Cameron, Rayner, Lohman, Achee and MxCarthy.
Or worse still…Papley, Hayward, Heeney, Parker and McInerney.
Make good position, win the ball in their area, get to the right spots a lot. Tackle, are physical. good overhead. smart players.
I don't think our recruiters have ever known what they are looking for when recruiting small forwards.
It's a bit like onballers. We look for strong bodies and possession numbers. What about agility, speed of the mark, tackling and pressure numbers? I think Lord is the first midfielder we have recruited ever where we have considered pressure and tackling.
We have recruited quicker mids who get the ball and don't do the other things. That's why all the quicker mids recruited the last 10 years bar Walsh have been dumped off the list.
Regardless of the head, SOS or Austin, our recruiting department has two very clear weaknesses. Fast onballers and small forwards. Too many traits not recognised and selected for.
Teams like Sydney, Collingwood, Hawthorn and Brisbane have done this pretty well and are being rewarded for it.







"Goddess"