News Back and Forward

[The_Wookie]

Outlet: The Age
Article: Back and Forward
Author: Jake Niall
Date: February 29th

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/back-and-forward-20120225-1tven.html

It's in the 50-metre arcs at each end where the Blues have been shy of the top four. Contrary to what you may hear, Kreuzer is a ruckman/follower, not a key forward. Waite, thus, still represents the best hope of the side in attack.

The state of Waite is one to watch, and everyone should be watching Jamison's back.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/back-and-forward-20120225-1tven.html#ixzz1nhFfzuIb

 

[Juddys_navy_blues]

Thanks for posting that The Wookie. I agree that both Waite and Jamo have to be on the park but in saying that without Kruezer,Gibbs and Waite we only lost to west coast by 3 points, so it shows that we have depth and are good enough, Id be confident against any team this year even without Waite and Jamo, but would be alot more confident with both out on the ground, plus Bower and russell are still to come back into the team that played in the finals. 17 is within our grasp, we just need the lesser highlighted players to stand up and play to there strenghs..GO BLUES..

 

[Blueboys7]

On the money here.

Finally an article with some actual fact to it, couldn't agree more.

 

[Coona Blues]

There is little doubt this article is essentially correct. The effectiveness of our KPF options and the continuing prescence of our 2 gun KPD's will ultimately decide if we can live up to our potential and take flag no. 17.

I am not convinced our options are totally limited. If Jammo and Hendo stand up physically, we can add up to a dozen options in the pockets and on the flanks to form a most effective defence. These are headed by, but not limited to Laidler, Duigan, Tuohy, Yarran, Joseph, Scotland and Russell.
We are however very vulnerable should the injury prone Jamison or young gun Henderson go down. The only other player currently ready to fill a KPD is in fact Jarrad Waite. Thornton and Bower are stop gap measures, with Watson not yet ready for a key role.

I do not believe Watson is as far away as some people think. He is not brimming with natural bravado and confidence, but has the tools to do the job more than adequately. IMO to date he has been poorly managed. 3 games in 2011, 2 of those exposed to arguably the toughest modern day gig for a defender, taking on the 'pies big boys. Not great for the young bloke's development. He need's exposure, to play beside Jammo/Hendo on the 3rd tall. In Adelaide NAB he was subjected to a barrage, given that our mids were ineffective and the ball was coming in effectively to Butcher, Tippett and Walker, none of those are slouches. He did some good things but was exposed on occasion and made a couple of errors for which he has been lambasted in these forums. He definitely is not a legitimate member of our best 22, but given our limited stocks, I feel there is a strong argument to give him the exposure and an opportunity to feel comfortable within our first grade team. It is a judgement call for our MC. Failing that we must be in a position to release Waite if necessary.

Our forward structure is a conundrum. Unlike many I do not believe Jarrad Waite is our best option as long term CHF. Jarrad's best work has been to provide a selective chop out in attack, or indeed anywhere on the ground. This is when he is most dangerous. He is a slightly taller, stronger version of Andrew Walker, most effective when not stuck under the ball as a "power forward" type. Shaun Hampson is currently our best option as a Key forward, although would probably be most effective coming out of the square. We are still to see the attributes of Sam Rowe and injured Luke Mitchell. I agree that while Kreuze can pinch hit up forward he is far more suited and comfortable with a role taking him around the ground.

If Hampson (or Rowe) fills the bill at FF, I believe we are not greatly disadvantaged by not having a hulk at CHF. A cohesive forward group, with Waite, Walker and Thornton (and possibly resting ruck) providing "floating" marking options. Gibbs able to at least provide an aerial contest and displaying his prowess at ground level, along with our pair of opportunists Betts and Garlett, throw in Walker and spelling/floating mids able to shark anything coming to ground complete an imposing and flexible and unpredictable forward structure.

Ratts must be prepared, if necessary, to push Waite in to defence.Failing that Watson must be nurtured and exposed on the backline. He cannot be expected to walk in and assume a KPD role if one or both of our guns go down.

I am obviously displaying my belief that while all players must be committed and do their utmost to perform any role handed to them, the coach has the ultimate responsibility of identifying what makes each young man tick, and what they need to maximise their potential, and ultimately, their value to the team. The great coaches throughout history in all sports have had the ability to communicate with and motivate their entire team, both as individuals and as a group.

 

[Blue since 72]

Have to disagree re Waite CB. I believe he is an essential part of a very 'hard to beat' forward line.

Something like:

Gibbs/Robbo/JR Waite Garlett
Walker/Thornton Hammer/Rowe/Mitchell(later on) Betts

or in some cases another ruckman resting:

Walker/Gibbs/Robbo/JR Waite Garlett
Krueze/Thornton Hammer/Rowe/Mitchell Betts

Has all the attributes: General athleticism, marking power, accurate set shot, applies good defensive pressure.

 

[jonoman89]

Completely agree with the article. Jamison and Waite have to be fit and firing during finals or I can't see us making the big dance.

Jamison and Henderson are a very decent tall defender set up, especially considering they have a very handy bloke in Laidler to play third-tall. If they can stay fit, I can see our back 6 beating most forward lines.

Forward line, even with Waite firing, is fragile. Need another crash and bash contested marker. Kreuzer I think is wasted up forward...he doesn't look natural up there. Hampson, if he can sort his marking out, will go a long way to us being a lot more dangerous up forward. Our little blokes are fantastic on the deck and Walker is very handy as a marking mid-sized player. When the ball is kicked high and long to our forward line (as it often is under pressure) we still need someone with sticky hands to make the most of every opportunity. Rowe will hopefully do a Duigan and give us instant momentum in that regard.

It's not so much we need a big bloke to kick goals. We need a big bloke to mark the ball in our forward half so we can dictate the play and help others get involved.

 

[gbatman]

good article, pretty much spot on.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Finally, someone who has actually looked at our list, understands who is good and who is not yet there, understands how our structure works, understands the damage to our side when Jamo went down against West Coast, understands that we are not just carried by Judd.

 

[Aphrodite]

Finally, someone who has actually looked at our list, understands who is good and who is not yet there, understands how our structure works, understands the damage to our side when Jamo went down against West Coast, understands that we are not just carried by Judd.

That's a 1st for Jake Niall !!!

 

[parrot]

I alway have a big laugh at the self-perpetuating footy media myths. You know, they start off as a falsehood, and then get repeated by everyone until it become a "fact". So lets have a look at the Weagles massive, monstrous, tall forward line. JK (198cm), Lynch (192cm), and Darling (191cm). Mm. Well I guess we could add in the resting rucks to boost the numbers to help support the myth.

 

[Blue since 72]

I alway have a big laugh at the self-perpetuating footy media myths. You know, they start off as a falsehood, and then get repeated by everyone until it become a "fact". So lets have a look at the Weagles massive, monstrous, tall forward line. JK (198cm), Lynch (192cm), and Darling (191cm). Mm. Well I guess we could add in the resting rucks to boost the numbers to help support the myth.

Yep.

Kruezer (200)
Hampson (201)
Walker (190)
Waite (194)

Our very own massive forward line.

 

[The_Wookie]

Yep.

Kruezer (200)
Hampson (201)
Walker (190)
Waite (194)

Our very own massive forward line.

And aided by probably the two of the best crumbing forwards in the game at the minute in Betts and Garlett. Seriously if Hampson/Kreuzer and Waite can play all well this year as forwards then thats our missing link solved, and finals here we come.

Walker, Waite and Hampson are all fliers - which is pretty imposing when you are already 2m tall I might add. Kreuzer is good on the lead and on the ground. Betts and Garlett are bloody quick on the lead and even better off the ground. Hampson seems to have improved his lead and mark capacity.

I like, I like very much. Going to be hard to beat on the ground or in the air.

 

[Blue since 72]

Westcoast were pumped up by the media because of their rapid rise and their forward line become the stuff of legend primarily because of the following:

games played
Kennedy 23
Lynch 24
Darling 23
Nicnat 23
Cox 25

vs

Walker 24
Waite 12
Krueze 12
Hampson 9

Big difference to your chances of winning games when players are available every week.

 

[Blue since 72]

Further to my above post, some other things of note regarding WC's much vaunted tall forward line.

Kennedy was the most prolific goal scorer with 59 but their other two main scorers were Le Cras (47) and Nicoski (41). Hardly big forwards.

Their other 'big' forwards in Lynch and Darling scored 28 and 24 respectively.

Cox knocked up 20 and Nicnat 18.

While their forward line looked impressive with Kennedy, Lynch, Darling and one of the resting ruckmen their main contributers were one tall and two guys shorter than Judd.

Adding a fit Waite alone for a full season for example cannot be underestimated. The likes of Hampson and or Rowe and or Kruezer are just the cream on top.

 

[parrot]

Speaking of footy myths, I could talk about one of the biggest of all "Essendon's Wealth of KPP Talent", but I'll save that one for another day.

 

[Jimthegreat]

And aided by probably the two of the best crumbing forwards in the game at the minute in Betts and Garlett. Seriously if Hampson/Kreuzer and Waite can play all well this year as forwards then thats our missing link solved, and finals here we come.

Walker, Waite and Hampson are all fliers - which is pretty imposing when you are already 2m tall I might add. Kreuzer is good on the lead and on the ground. Betts and Garlett are bloody quick on the lead and even better off the ground. Hampson seems to have improved his lead and mark capacity.

I like, I like very much. Going to be hard to beat on the ground or in the air.

Add Thornton and at this stage hopefully Rowe, one or the other, as well and it looks good. The ruckman then just sit up forward "resting" without the pressure of having to be target, which I prefer as rucks, while great support there, rarely make good KP forwards. Waite is perfect as it allows the ruckman to rest forward without affect the pace, marking, mobility and agility up forward.