Strategy Bartel can replace Chapman forward

[candiehappy]

someone can play in Chappy's position


but no one can replace Chappy

 

[Partridge]

Jimmy as a permanent forward would see him slot 40 goals.
Having Kersten alongside him is a very interesting proposition because both are good in the air but even better on the ground so it would mean matching them up with taller defenders which then helps out Hawkins and Vardy to play one-on-one more often than not.

He's never kicked more than 26 in a season. You know how many times this potentially great goalkicker has kicked more than 20 in a year, in 12 seasons? Twice - in 2008 and 2011. If he can kick 25 goals next year Scott will be doing cartwheels.

In any case, it seems the club still want him in the backline. So the 40 goal prediction might come true, but it will be conceded rather than scored.

 

[Partridge]

Would rather Jimmy either as that medium marking forward or into the midfield as a tagger, a job he can do that we have a need for.

He can't tag now. He's too slow.

 

[Ninty]

None that played last year as far as I can see, who could step up and kick 4 like Chappy did against Power, I suppose a new face like Burbury, but I think replacement, "we're kidding ourselves".

The kids in the last quarter here went okay...

The fact is we made top four without Chapman this year. It's a team sport, and if it's not Chappy kicking goals, it will be someone else.

 

[CatTricks]

has Jimmy ever played as permanent forward though?

2011 Grand Final he played half a game forward, and won a Norm Smith. Imagine he played a season there. He would probably nab himself a Coleman.

 

[candiehappy]

has Jimmy ever played as permanent forward though?

no, and it's really an option worth a lot of thought. We all know he's one of the best overhead marks for his size, and a very reliable shot on goal. Could keep Menzel's spot warm for his return ...

 

[Partridge]

has Jimmy ever played as permanent forward though?

Nope, and that's a terrific point. Just trying to temper expectations somewhat. I do agree that up forward is by far his best, if not his only viable spot from next season onwards. The other good part about it is being a defensive forward isn't as demanding as being an actual tagger or defender. So he could acquit himself well there too.

 

[Partridge]

yep true and managed 16 goals this season while playing most of them lurking across the back half of the ground.

I don't think he would be needed there next year because Thurlow is a beauty, he is very capable at the top level. Very strong overhead, excellent skills but will no doubt make mistakes which costs us crucial goals but that is simply the learning process we must persist with.
I do hope Bartel is asked to stay in one half of the ground from now on, he's a brilliant gut runner and his GPS numbers would be amongst the best at the club (as they have been for decade now) but if he plays forward pocket in most matches, his defender will need to be someone of similar agility and size to that of Gibson, Grundy or Ibbotson because his judgement is so good along with the body strength and aerial strength.

Remember though unless someone is injured Thurlow won't be in the team to start the year off. You've already got Enright, Lonergan, Taylor, Mackie, Guthrie and probably Rivers. There's the back 6. Given who else is already queued up to get a game, and the fact Horlin-Smith and Smedts were both missing from the Prelim final team, he's going to have to really shine to get picked. At least at first.

Either way, I want Bartel up the other end. Agree his nous more than anything else will make him dangerous. His weakness will be opponents running off him.

 

[kicksome]

i bet you a million space bucks that they play him in defense again. Where a shitty small forward can lead him to bogus areas and take him out of the play.
Playing him on the forward flank would be the smart move

 

[catempire]

Love Jimmy forward. He's a real handful.

Conversely, I get exactly the same feeling I used to get seeing #11 in the defensive 50 when I see the #3 - significant unease.

We have quite a few young options for defensive positions - Guthrie, Thurlow, Bews, even Taylor Hunt is worth another serious look back there. I don't see the imperative to have Jimmy back there.

 

[Beanstalk]

None that played last year as far as I can see, who could step up and kick 4 like Chappy did against Power, I suppose a new face like Burbury, but I think replacement, "we're kidding ourselves".

Look what the cats just posted on Facebook...

 

[Daitro]

He can't tag now. He's too slow.

I don't think he should tag but I disagree. Bartel is not slower than Ling. The reason why Bartel doesn't play midfield anymore is more to do with his versatility and the composition of our midfield. He's not slower than GHS or Ling, he's just a victim of being less worse at playing other positions than our other slow midfielders. In recent years our midfield has consisted of players like Ling, Kelly, Corey and sometimes GHS who are all one-paced plus Selwood and SJohnson who aren't that fast either. Having Bartel in there makes the whole group extremely one-paced but other than Johnson up forward none of the others can be moved anywhere with any real effect. Corey and Kelly have been tried for small periods but they end up getting exposed. So Bartel gets moved forward and more recently back, because he's less shit at it than the others, not because he's too terminally slow to play mids. Mclean is slow as dogs balls and once he got a decent run at Carlton he slotted into their midfield just fine, because he's surrounded by some youthful pace.

 

[Turbocat]

Love Jimmy forward. He's a real handful.

Conversely, I get exactly the same feeling I used to get seeing #11 in the defensive 50 when I see the #3 - significant unease.

We have quite a few young options for defensive positions - Guthrie, Thurlow, Bews, even Taylor Hunt is worth another serious look back there. I don't see the imperative to have Jimmy back there.

Defense is where you put the good ordinaries and players not good enough to play mid and forward....NOT.

No matter how good a footballer you are there are some roles that suit better than others. Defense is no job for hacks or space fillers or old champs, its a specific role for those that are best suited. Sure on the odd game but not a regular for Jimmy imo.
Bartel to me is not best suited there , he is better used as an attacking player. If he can find his marking form again , he is a very tough matchup for any side. But he must be able to jump in and mark like has done when at his best.

 

[AM]

Jimmeh finished just 25 votes behind JS in the Carji this year. More than happy for him to play the same roles in 2014. If it ain't broke.................

 

[Sttew]

Checkout Dale Amos review of Bartel on Cats afl site,pretty sure
he said they plan to keep him in backline for next season.
Sigh.

Who the hell is Dale Amos to say that?

Seriously, the only reason I was keen on Shaw coming to Geelong was so Jimmy could play forward

 

[Jimmy Yamazaki]

Never got the argument for running slow as a reason a player can't play mids, we used to have a slow midfield, won us 3 GFs. also Sydney has a slow midfield as do Collingwood and Hawks.... The thing they all have though is the ability to win the ball, which Jimmy could do.

Now he hasn't played there so long, his body probably can't anymore, which is a real shame, because he is a brownlow medalist for playing in the mids and it isn't our strongest area anymore.

Also I don't believe SJ is fast, nor is Kelly for that matter...

So yeah I would go with him up forward, but it seems Geelong will "back" the kids in to get the job done...

 

[catman 71]

He's never kicked more than 26 in a season. You know how many times this potentially great goalkicker has kicked more than 20 in a year, in 12 seasons? Twice - in 2008 and 2011. If he can kick 25 goals next year Scott will be doing cartwheels.

In any case, it seems the club still want him in the backline. So the 40 goal prediction might come true, but it will be conceded rather than scored.

But he has never played full-time up forward, has he?

If he can get 26 in a season being up forward occasionally, then, he can get at least 40 playing permanent forward.

You are just a hater!

 

[GeelongFTW]

But he has never played full-time up forward, has he?

If he can get 26 in a season being up forward occasionally, then, he can get at least 40 playing permanent forward.

You are just a hater!

hater? harsh. doubter

 

[witsend]

None that played last year as far as I can see, who could step up and kick 4 like Chappy did against Power, I suppose a new face like Burbury, but I think replacement, "we're kidding ourselves".

Murder kicked 3 in a quarter...

 

[The rabbi]

But he has never played full-time up forward, has he?

If he can get 26 in a season being up forward occasionally, then, he can get at least 40 playing permanent forward.

You are just a hater!

Dude, back off on the crazy beans.

 

[The rabbi]

I am going out on a limb and will suggest that two younger players may replace Chapman forward.

This kid.

Or this kid.

 

[Jon Douglas]

Bartel is a hard one for me. Good enough for sure to be best 22 but does not really have a best position.

I think it might be a good move to have him play forward and trial it. As it has been said good above his head and not a bad kick either.

If he was a really good mid still he would be played there. GFC went with SJ instead and I agree. SJ, Selwood, Bundy, Kelly and Caddy are the front liners I hope for 2014. That's 5 pretty good mids but there are a few slowing. Could be Kelly's last season.

That is why I reckon GFC will go with a mid pick 16 in a mids draft. You need 5 good mids to be competitive these days and obviously Bartel is not going play as a mid anymore. No Chappy to fill in either.

I can see Bartel doing 2 more years but it would be nice if found a possie up forward and it worked out. But will the club trial that move ??? Maybe / maybe not.

 

[Beanstalk]

I think it might be a good move to have him play forward and trial it.

Agreed. Especially with Thurlow waiting in the wings for a spot in the backline next year... Get Jimmy the hell out of there. Most of our forwards spend a fair amount of time running through the midfield - I don't see why we can't up the amount of time they spend there, and leave Jimmy in a pocket taking great grabs and kicking clutch goals.

 

[Beanstalk]

Most of our forwards spend a fair amount of time running through the midfield - I don't see why we can't up the amount of time they spend there,

Different from me wanting Guthrie to spend time in the midfield, I might add. I like Guthrie in the guts because I think he has the skillset to play there, not because there's someone I'd rather see in his position.

 

[dazbroncos]

Different from me wanting Guthrie to spend time in the midfield, I might add. I like Guthrie in the guts because I think he has the skillset to play there, not because there's someone I'd rather see in his position.

Im all for spreading the love and playing multiple positions - but i'd rather see Guthrie spend the next 2 years eating, sleeping and doing everything Boris while we have him here.

I know he can do the midfield stuff but I feel until I see Boris getting a MF run, Guthrie stays put.

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