Player Watch #26: Cale Hooker - Back against Brisbane! - 11/4

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Darealrath

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Steinberg out, Hooker back, McKernan forward in Daniher's place, Daniher into Hooker's place.
You're underrating how much Hooker is holding the whole forward line together. One of Hooker, Carlisle or Hurley needs to play forward.
 

yaco55

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Disagree. He's shown he can mark on the lead as well in pack situations and has shown quite a bit at ground level. Just about the ideal key forward to play with Daniher, Langford and Laverde because he demands so much attention from the opposition and is a far, far better get out of jail long bomb option because he has the strength and will to compete.

If he doesn't play forward last night we fall down at half forward and lose by 7-8 goals IMO.
The most important thing is that if Hooker continues in this vein of form, he will consistently get the number one defender, which gives JD a better match up. Hooker is more comfortable than Carlisle playing deep forward which allows JD to spend more time as a high forward which suits JD's game.
 

Zach Package

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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

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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

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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.
 

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Mercurial89

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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.
 
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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

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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

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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.
 

Duckworth

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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?
 
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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.
 

Vander18

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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

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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.
 
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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.
 
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