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

[Lore]

Contract Status: Retiring at the end of Season 2021
Last Game Played: Round 19, 2021 (omit)
Injury Status: n/a

 

[Ambrosia]

I’m very much on the Hooker forward band wagon. He’s such a strong mark that he presents a matchup head ache for a lot of sides

 

[Nifft]

I’m very much on the Hooker forward band wagon. He’s such a strong mark that he presents a matchup head ache for a lot of sides

I don't mind him being forward, but what if McKernan and Stewart are fit as well?

 

[MattF185]

I don't mind him being forward, but what if McKernan and Stewart are fit as well?

Hooker deserves a spot over Stewart as a forward. You can play both Hooker and McKernan together.

 

[Ambrosia]

I don't mind him being forward, but what if McKernan and Stewart are fit as well?

I think the backline logjam has much more deserving players to worry about fitting into the side. Even with Hooker and Ambrose out of the back 6 Gleeson wasn’t selected in round 1. Bring those guys and Zerk-Thatcher, Ridley and Francis come under pressure.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Hooker deserves a spot over Stewart as a forward. You can play both Hooker and McKernan together.

Perhaps. McKernan and Hooker are quite similar types up forward (marking targets, not overly agile). If you had both you’d want to surround them with a very small forward line I think. And we have Stringer. I’d probably prefer one beast (McKernan or Hooker) and one agile tall (Stewart or Daniher). Plus Stringer, then the smalls.

 

[Ambrosia]

Perhaps. McKernan and Hooker are quite similar types up forward (marking targets, not overly agile). If you had both you’d want to surround them with a very small forward line I think. And we have Stringer. I’d probably prefer one beast (McKernan or Hooker) and one agile tall (Stewart or Daniher). Plus Stringer, then the smalls.

Our best forward set up in recent years had all of Hooker, Daniher and Stewart in it. Mckernan isn’t any worse defensively than Daniher imo

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Our best forward set up in recent years had all of Hooker, Daniher and Stewart in it. Mckernan isn’t any worse defensively than Daniher imo

And Stringer? You wouldn’t play him?

 

[Bjchan13]

Perhaps. McKernan and Hooker are quite similar types up forward (marking targets, not overly agile). If you had both you’d want to surround them with a very small forward line I think. And we have Stringer. I’d probably prefer one beast (McKernan or Hooker) and one agile tall (Stewart or Daniher). Plus Stringer, then the smalls.

I think McKernan is more agile than beast and picture him playing the agile tall role that you talk about. Hooker as the beast at full forward.

 

[Ambrosia]

And Stringer? You wouldn’t play him?

Sorry was unclear. I was trying to say that Hooker, Mckernan, Stringer isn’t much different in terms of ground level ability Hooker, Daniher and Stewart which was our most successful forward line in recent years.

 

[fishardansin]

If Stewart and Daniher are fit Hooker goes back. If not he goes forward. Our best possible backline would be Hooker as the intercept defender chopping things off with his elite marking. Hurley locking down on the lead up player, but trying to hurt him the other way if Hooker intercepts. I would also have Francis working as an intercept defender. Add McKenna and Saad and it is elite.

If Zerk continues to come on, Hooker's marking forward of the ball is priceless.

I personally think that Hooker should train at both ends of the ground this year and play where he fits in best with availability. I'd also look to manage him as he must be on the dark side of 30 now and there will be a bunch of games close together.

 

[yodellinhank]

Y'all talking like there aren't any question marks on what level of performance Hooker is going to bring.

 

[DapperJong]

Y'all talking like there aren't any question marks on what level of performance Hooker is going to bring.

You know that won't affect selection.

 

[ghostdog]

Y'all talking like there aren't any question marks on what level of performance Hooker is going to bring.

Kicking. Bloody. Goals.

 

[yodellinhank]

You know that won't affect selection.

Kicking. Bloody. Goals.

I'm not too sold on Zerk, and if Rutten and Caracella are setting the style you'd probably think we try to go a more mobile forward set up. Personally I think there's still room for a player who can mark it inside 50. It's going to be real interesting to see what transpires with Hooker.

 

[ghostdog]

I'm not too sold on Zerk, and if Rutten and Caracella are setting the style you'd probably think we try to go a more mobile forward set up. Personally I think there's still room for a player who can mark it inside 50. It's going to be real interesting to see what transpires with Hooker.

I know I'm being parochial. I'm just getting very toey about football returning and I'd like to see Hooker forward.

 

[fishardansin]

Doubts on Hooker? He's been consistently a gun for more than a few years now.

 

[yodellinhank]

Doubts on Hooker? He's been consistently a gun for more than a few years now.

Kind of makes you wonder why we dropped Fletcher.

 

[juggers]

Hooker just looks a shadow of himself and can barely keep up with the slowest of key forwards... Even inside the back 50 he was woeful. Would rather BZT/Ambrose and just throw hooker forward, at least he's a target.

 

[yodellinhank]

Others just don't have the runs on the board

 

[BrunoV]

Others just don't have the runs on the board

It takes experience to consistently play bad football.

 

[Ambrosia]

Needs to play forward or not at all

 

[Bombers36]

Needs to play forward or not at all

This is so true - why on earth when we have a glut of key position defenders we dont play him forward is beyond me...
At least until Daniher is back as an interim measure - we really need a tall contested marking target up there and Cale is the man!

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Brilliant tonight. That’s his go. Play on the big blokes and reads the ball very well.

 

[Schnitzengruben]

Had a very good game but I want to see him do it again, against someone who isn't terrible (Cox).

 

[Beerfish]

Building.