Ashley Smith -> forward?

[SpaceClef]

This has been suggested before to mixed reviews, but I'm wondering whether or not the long-term plan is for Ash Smith to move into the forward line, or wing, taking into consideration the following points:

• His apparent strengths (acceleration, SwerveAbility™ and long kick) and deficiencies (decision making, defensive lapses) appear to mirror those of Mark Nicoski, whose career flourished when moving forward.
• Worsfold has had a history of making people play in seemingly incompatible positions for long periods to make them more rounded (Masten, Stevenson)
• WCE have a glut of half back flankers (Butler, Brennan, Sheppard, Selwood, et al)
• Smith's long but inconsistently accurate kicking might be better suited going inside 50 compared with out of defense (arguable).
• His hair style and tats look more awesome close up, and the cameras often don't zoom in unless a player kicks a goal.

Please discuss.

 

[Such is life Ben]

Its a fair question, but I think as a small / medium forward playing deeper these days you need to exude a mixture of these qualities:
- strong defensive mindset and ability to pressure / tackle inside forward 50 (including intensity);
- good overhead mark;
- that x factor (speed, ability to get in to the right places, crumbing, footy smarts etc)

Is an okay overhead mark but nothing special and in my view missing on the other 2. Perhaps playing a high HF role aka Masten but I think we have better options there.

I wouldnt put him on the wing for Rosa or Gaff.

My answer is no to both.

 

[Masto]

Your last bullet point sold me. Move him forward.

 

[HoneyBadger35]

It wouldn't be the worst thing ever if we tried to make an Adam Hunter pinch hit role out of him. I don't want him dropped this week for the first time in a long time, but rewatching the game he definitely doesn't seem to chase as hard as some, and when you consider his pace that seems odd.

Stick him up forward for a while, players have more incentive to run hard if there's a goal at the end of it.

 

[paran]

Ash Smith ---> WAFL

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Ash Smith ---> WAFL

I don't get the hate for his game on Sunday; he certainly wasn't the only one not chasing.

Keep him in.

 

[pantskyle]

Please no.

 

[the harry]

One of the only times I've seen him use his pace and carry the ball a bit was when he marked and ran past Palmer (?) to kick the goal.

So yeah, may as well, after all he's not setting the world on fire down back this year

Or just drop him

 

[mHmmm]

• His hair style and tats look more awesome close up, and the cameras often don't zoom in unless a player kicks a goal.

I'm sold. This move has to happen now.

 

[paran]

I don't get the hate for his game on Sunday; he certainly wasn't the only one not chasing.

Keep him in.

3 weeks of mediocre shouldn't be enough to keep a spot, especially with Butler, Wilson, Stevenson and Brennan all working hard in the WAFL. 3 weeks against some pretty poor opponents is long enough and frankly Smith hasn't shown enough. He was a lot better last year and needs to work to get back there, WAFL is the best place for it.

 

[Eastern Rangers]

Smith haters bringing the "Lols".

 

[SpaceClef]

Smith haters bringing the "Lols".

I hope my thread didn't come across as Smith hatred, because it definitely wasn't intended as such.

I rate him, just don't think he's a natural defender.

 

[jaxxon]

Waters is the most likely defender to be moved forward, and has done so on several occaisions already this year.

 

[paran]

Where's the hate EH? Jumping at figments... I believe that Smith would probably be included in the bottom 5 performers for each of the games this season, and with Wilson, Stevenson and Butler at least showing good form in WAFL, gifting Smith games just isn't good enough.

Also, it's "lulz".

 

[SpaceClef]

Where's the hate EH? Jumping at figments... I believe that Smith would probably be included in the bottom 5 performers for each of the games this season, and with Wilson, Stevenson and Butler at least showing good form in WAFL, gifting Smith games just isn't good enough.

Also, it's "lulz".

I imagine Smith would be showing very good form in the WAFL if he were playing there too. I agree he sholdn't be gifted games, but if there were a way to improve his game, why not consider it?

 

[groga]

I'm afraid he needs to play back for his pace. We have no other option that would keep up with the Garletts and the Betts. He is cruicial to are sucess this year, he fustrates me as it seems he doesn't go full tilt.

 

[Patron]

burnt of palmer with ease. That was just about the first time ive ever seen him use his pace. Was slack chasing in defence a few times. Not sure what his problem is. Very pacey, pretty strong and has a big kick with reasonable accuracy. Maybe a move forward would suit him. Sometimes his defensive efforts are sub par.

 

[SpaceClef]

I'm afraid he needs to play back for his pace. We have no other option that would keep up with the Garletts and the Betts. He is cruicial to are sucess this year, he fustrates me as it seems he doesn't go full tilt.

Brennan is quick and better defensively. Not sure either would do that well against Garlett and the Betts though. McGinnity maybe our best option.

 

[groga]

Brennan is quick and better defensively. Not sure either would do that well against Garlett and the Betts though. McGinnity maybe our best option.

Neither is as quick as Smith.

 

[Toshowyouwhy]

As long as he keeps his work rate up, he's a fine defender. Noone had any problem with his effort last year, especially when he was winning us the game against Geelong. Once he backs himself to run and carry a bit more (by flicking the same switch that Schofield has), he will be a fantastic half back.

 

[ROYAL EAGLE]

Brennan is quick and better defensively. Not sure either would do that well against Garlett and the Betts though. McGinnity maybe our best option.

Ash Smith has done very well on Gartlett in the past I remember a great run down tackle of his on Garlett.

Made Garlett think as he found out Smith was quicker than him.

Smiths body work as a defender is good one on one, he has power and strength most dont have.

Tends to play his best footy when given a role though.

 

[paran]

I remember that RE - am a big fan of Smith, but feel he's not producing at last year's level. Maybe it's because h hasn't had that specific role, but I feel that it might be time for others to get a go.

 

[eagles rule]

the back set-up seems to have changed this yr ,last year schofield and smith were used as running outlets from hb have noticed that our mids are running harder down back to help out .So smith isn`t being freed up to attack as much as last yr ,Schofield is making his own luck by taking players on and then attacking with the football ..

so to smith going fwd i would be ok with this if it means a stevenson or brennan get a game .

 

[Hue_Jars]

Ash Smith seems very inconsistent...does some good things (pwned the Freo reject) and bad things. Made quite a lot of hashes on the weekend.

Obvious that Woosha told him to get forward and take on the game. Wont work against quality sides.

Probably not in the best 22.

Back to the WAFL and Maurice Meade.

 

[Eagle87]

All I'll say is it's increasingly obvious that a lot of people on here don't have much idea about football ....

The OP started with negatives about Smiths composure and decision making. This was one of the first things that struck most as strengths when he got in the side last year ... Still is ...

Compare his decisions in deep defence compared with, say, McGInnity.

He also has genuine defensive skills and against quick and medium size players too ...

Unbelievable thread