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Well its long but see what you think. Hang in there. Probably one for the footy purists or students of the game only.
I wouldnt mind seeing the following structure up forward at some stage next year. Most of our players in the forward line barring Walker can play in other positions.
We are a tall side so I'm gonna try find a forward structure that uses height to our strength but doesnt sacrifice mobility/speed.
On paper it looks very tall but the way I'd use them/structure them up should distribute the height enough imo.
CHF Gunston Walker Henderson
FF Knights Tippett Porps/Danger
Now like I said it looks very unusual on paper but they wont actually be structured like that.
Gunston and Hendo are both 190-191cm with athleticsm, speed, good leap and strong hands. Both have good skills who dont have to be hidden close to goals and can kick reasonably accurate to a lead. Both are comfortable either forward or even on a wing (and even in defense). So with all these strengths in mind (as long as their engine is big enough next year) I'd play Hendo and Gunston both as high half forwards.
Now they would both lead up from the true CHF position to the wing on either side of ground. They both provide a leading target depending on which side of the ground we've switched it to (one on each side). The reason I have them leading towards the wing is two fold. 1st we dont really like to kick to a target in the centre of the ground in case of a turnover (70% of goals this year come from turnovers) so along the halfway mark of the ground (ie centre line) it is safer to kick wide then bring it into the corridor with the next kick. Gunston and Hendo on either side of ground give us coverage and confidence to attack on either side of ground. How often do we switch the ball in defense then look up and see we have no lead up target on the wing so we then switch the ball again in defense to the other side only to look up and see the same problem. As a snow ball effect our CHF has to then lead up to the wing to provide that target but before long we've "emptied out our forward line" because all our forwards have pushed up the ground. If we use Gunna or Hendo as a target it allows our 4 main forwards to hold their structure rather than emptying out our forward line. Plus rather than our CHF (ie Walker) marking it on the wing, Gunna and Hendo wont be exposed up around the wing when the ball hits the ground.
Plus Gunna and Hendo would more than likely have a height advantage over their direct opponents because no defence have enough talls to cover Hendo, Gunna, Walker, Tippett plus Porps who usually demands a defender who is taller than him.
If we dont choose to use them (Gunna & Hendo) and instead run through the corridor with run and carry they would have at least created space for the other forwards and hopefully their direct opponents with them (ie Knights last year). AND even if we go long to Tippett/Porps deep in our forward line and the defenders win and it comes out again. We have Gunna and Hendo holding their structure out wide on wing which would tempt the oppostion to run it out of our forward line through the corridor thus avoiding Gunna and Hendo who would have a height on their opponents. We then employ our usual midfield press with our midifelders and true wingers thus clogging the corridor. This would hopefully cause a turnover and we'd have then attack with an open forward line. WIN/WIN.
If we attack down left side wing we have Gunna available if we attack down right side wing we have Hendo available or if we attack through corridor we have space in the forward line and a greater chance of one on ones in the forward 50 because G & H have created space dragging their opponents with them. This would be awesome as the 4 designated main forwards are all highly dangerous one on one players (Walker, Porps, Knights and esp Tippett).
Having Gunna and Hendo spending a lot of time out of the forward 50 and as far up to the wing our true wingers would actually then be able to push further back defensively to play behind the ball. Having more players behind the ball then stimulates a lot more run and carry with hands as there is more options available running past for a handball receive (huge problem for us this year). We saw this a lot last year. By allowing our wingers to push back further into defence also makes our opposition forward line much more crowded.
Now Walker and Knights both play between 40-60m using their long booming kicks to either score goals or pass to Tippett and Porps who are deaper between 10-30m from goal. We then have a tall and a small along side each other in the forward 50.
Knights Walker (40-60m from goal)
Tippett Porps/Dangerfield (10-30m from goal)
When Gunna or Hendo are used as lead up targets pushing up to the wing, Walker and knights then become the next option in the corridor straighting us up. When we choose to run and carry through corridor we can go long and strong to Tippett and Porps.
Now as much as we want Dangerfield to be our midfield saviour I cant deny he plays his best footy at the moment up forward. I would play him 60/40 in midfield/forward. For the 40% that Danger is up forward Porps can spend 30% in midfield and 10% on bench. I'm hoping we draft as many midfielders as we can this coming draft. Btw I'm not closed to option of Danger playing HBF or full time midfield. But gee he a great forward as well. I suppose it depends on how much our midfield struggles.
I'd then have Davis as the swingman (in place of Stevens). Davis can spend some time in Walker's spot when he needs a rest or deep in Tippett's role when he needs a rest or when/if Walker or Tippett arent doing much. Plus Davis will be used at times in defence with great effect.
Hopefully we also recruit a small forward/midfielder who can rotate in the positions of Knights and Porps and hopefully provide defensive pressure and allowing Knights and Porps to have a rest and even stints in midfield. We also have Douglas for this purpose.
Well please Mr Noble read with interest and come up with a plan to use our many talls to a strength without compromising our mobility. Mr Noble I believe this structure provides positives both offensively and defensively as well as causing some real concerns for the opposition.
Thoughts? Sorry it was so long and detailed.
I wouldnt mind seeing the following structure up forward at some stage next year. Most of our players in the forward line barring Walker can play in other positions.
We are a tall side so I'm gonna try find a forward structure that uses height to our strength but doesnt sacrifice mobility/speed.
On paper it looks very tall but the way I'd use them/structure them up should distribute the height enough imo.
CHF Gunston Walker Henderson
FF Knights Tippett Porps/Danger
Now like I said it looks very unusual on paper but they wont actually be structured like that.
Gunston and Hendo are both 190-191cm with athleticsm, speed, good leap and strong hands. Both have good skills who dont have to be hidden close to goals and can kick reasonably accurate to a lead. Both are comfortable either forward or even on a wing (and even in defense). So with all these strengths in mind (as long as their engine is big enough next year) I'd play Hendo and Gunston both as high half forwards.
Now they would both lead up from the true CHF position to the wing on either side of ground. They both provide a leading target depending on which side of the ground we've switched it to (one on each side). The reason I have them leading towards the wing is two fold. 1st we dont really like to kick to a target in the centre of the ground in case of a turnover (70% of goals this year come from turnovers) so along the halfway mark of the ground (ie centre line) it is safer to kick wide then bring it into the corridor with the next kick. Gunston and Hendo on either side of ground give us coverage and confidence to attack on either side of ground. How often do we switch the ball in defense then look up and see we have no lead up target on the wing so we then switch the ball again in defense to the other side only to look up and see the same problem. As a snow ball effect our CHF has to then lead up to the wing to provide that target but before long we've "emptied out our forward line" because all our forwards have pushed up the ground. If we use Gunna or Hendo as a target it allows our 4 main forwards to hold their structure rather than emptying out our forward line. Plus rather than our CHF (ie Walker) marking it on the wing, Gunna and Hendo wont be exposed up around the wing when the ball hits the ground.
Plus Gunna and Hendo would more than likely have a height advantage over their direct opponents because no defence have enough talls to cover Hendo, Gunna, Walker, Tippett plus Porps who usually demands a defender who is taller than him.
If we dont choose to use them (Gunna & Hendo) and instead run through the corridor with run and carry they would have at least created space for the other forwards and hopefully their direct opponents with them (ie Knights last year). AND even if we go long to Tippett/Porps deep in our forward line and the defenders win and it comes out again. We have Gunna and Hendo holding their structure out wide on wing which would tempt the oppostion to run it out of our forward line through the corridor thus avoiding Gunna and Hendo who would have a height on their opponents. We then employ our usual midfield press with our midifelders and true wingers thus clogging the corridor. This would hopefully cause a turnover and we'd have then attack with an open forward line. WIN/WIN.
If we attack down left side wing we have Gunna available if we attack down right side wing we have Hendo available or if we attack through corridor we have space in the forward line and a greater chance of one on ones in the forward 50 because G & H have created space dragging their opponents with them. This would be awesome as the 4 designated main forwards are all highly dangerous one on one players (Walker, Porps, Knights and esp Tippett).
Having Gunna and Hendo spending a lot of time out of the forward 50 and as far up to the wing our true wingers would actually then be able to push further back defensively to play behind the ball. Having more players behind the ball then stimulates a lot more run and carry with hands as there is more options available running past for a handball receive (huge problem for us this year). We saw this a lot last year. By allowing our wingers to push back further into defence also makes our opposition forward line much more crowded.
Now Walker and Knights both play between 40-60m using their long booming kicks to either score goals or pass to Tippett and Porps who are deaper between 10-30m from goal. We then have a tall and a small along side each other in the forward 50.
Knights Walker (40-60m from goal)
Tippett Porps/Dangerfield (10-30m from goal)
When Gunna or Hendo are used as lead up targets pushing up to the wing, Walker and knights then become the next option in the corridor straighting us up. When we choose to run and carry through corridor we can go long and strong to Tippett and Porps.
Now as much as we want Dangerfield to be our midfield saviour I cant deny he plays his best footy at the moment up forward. I would play him 60/40 in midfield/forward. For the 40% that Danger is up forward Porps can spend 30% in midfield and 10% on bench. I'm hoping we draft as many midfielders as we can this coming draft. Btw I'm not closed to option of Danger playing HBF or full time midfield. But gee he a great forward as well. I suppose it depends on how much our midfield struggles.
I'd then have Davis as the swingman (in place of Stevens). Davis can spend some time in Walker's spot when he needs a rest or deep in Tippett's role when he needs a rest or when/if Walker or Tippett arent doing much. Plus Davis will be used at times in defence with great effect.
Hopefully we also recruit a small forward/midfielder who can rotate in the positions of Knights and Porps and hopefully provide defensive pressure and allowing Knights and Porps to have a rest and even stints in midfield. We also have Douglas for this purpose.
Well please Mr Noble read with interest and come up with a plan to use our many talls to a strength without compromising our mobility. Mr Noble I believe this structure provides positives both offensively and defensively as well as causing some real concerns for the opposition.
Thoughts? Sorry it was so long and detailed.

