Analysis Battle's position

[pebblesofsand]

I dont see why his height is an issue. 193cm with a big frame is fine for a key forward, especially when there is a 200cm guy next to him.

Doesn't seem to an be issue for Gunstan (193cm) or Darling (191cm) because they have natural forward craft just like Battle has.

Being 193 cm isn't an issue for a KPP IF you have other tricks to cover it. Unfortunately Battle isn't Nick or Jack Riewoldt.

And I think you'll find Gunstan and Darling probably play their best football when they are the 3rd tall.

 

[Ducky Tie]

Being 193 cm isn't an issue for a KPP IF you have other tricks to cover it. Unfortunately Battle isn't Nick or Jack Riewoldt.

And I think you'll find Gunstan and Darling probably play their best football when they are the 3rd tall.

Gunston hasn't been a third tall since 2013 and Darling has been a second tall pretty much his whole career. Battle wouldn't be a number one tall forward anyway with King there. His height isn't going to stop him being a key position player.

 

[pebblesofsand]

Gunston hasn't been a third tall since 2013 and Darling has been a second tall pretty much his whole career. Battle wouldn't be a number one tall forward anyway with King there. His height isn't going to stop him being a key position player.

No not quite right - David Hale was still playing forward and kicking 20+ goals alongside Roughie and Gunston, then Clarko decided he'd turn Gunston into a swingman.

Agree that Darling has played more as a genuine 2nd tall but he had his best season last year (av 2.5 goals a game) when he played alongside Kennedy and Oscar Allen. Doesn't change the fact that Battle would be rated well behind those two as forwards, so to expect him to play as a genuine CHF 2nd tall at the moment is an ask.

But here's a thought - how about we can put a few kg's on Max King, play him at CHF, Membrey on the flank and Battle at FF.

 

[Ducky Tie]

No not quite right - David Hale was still playing forward and kicking 20+ goals alongside Roughie and Gunston, then Clarko decided he'd turn Gunston into a swingman.

Agree that Darling has played more as a genuine 2nd tall but he had his best season last year (av 2.5 goals a game) when he played alongside Kennedy and Oscar Allen. Doesn't change the fact that Battle would be rated well behind those two as forwards, so to expect him to play as a genuine CHF 2nd tall at the moment is an ask.

But here's a thought - how about we can put a few kg's on Max King, play him at CHF, Membrey on the flank and Battle at FF.

It doesn't even really matter what the label is. Battle is quality and can take contested marks. Moves well and reads the play well. I agree that King, Membrey and a permanently forward Battle could work well.

 

[BrutThough]

Being 193 cm isn't an issue for a KPP IF you have other tricks to cover it. Unfortunately Battle isn't Nick or Jack Riewoldt.

And I think you'll find Gunstan and Darling probably play their best football when they are the 3rd tall.

Of course he isnt Nick Riewoldt. Nick was a once in a generation player. And he doesnt need to be a coleman medalist like Jack either.

But he can be like Darling who plays as the 2nd forward alongside Kennedy, or Gunstan who has been the Hawks main forward target for a few years. There is still room in football for someone Battle's sized to be a key forward and get good goal returns yearly.

King, Battle, Membrey. It is a good trio.

 

[scotteydog]

If he could put on another 4kgs, then he becomes more of a key-position player. Although he has already played C.H.B well, because of his superior reading of the play.

 

[pebblesofsand]

Of course he isnt Nick Riewoldt. Nick was a once in a generation player. And he doesnt need to be a coleman medalist like Jack either.

But he can be like Darling who plays as the 2nd forward alongside Kennedy, or Gunstan who has been the Hawks main forward target for a few years. There is still room in football for someone Battle's sized to be a key forward and get good goal returns yearly.

King, Battle, Membrey. It is a good trio.

True but the thing about the Riewoldts is that despite also being 193 cm they have other traits that allowed them to be high performance 2nd talls.

I'm simply saying that despite being 193 cm (which is potential kpp player size) he simply doesn't have the other special traits that would allow him to be a dominant 2nd tall - he's got a great tank but his mobility his hardly elite, he marks well but is not a dominant marking player.

 

[Sully111]

Of course he isnt Nick Riewoldt. Nick was a once in a generation player. And he doesnt need to be a coleman medalist like Jack either.

But he can be like Darling who plays as the 2nd forward alongside Kennedy, or Gunstan who has been the Hawks main forward target for a few years. There is still room in football for someone Battle's sized to be a key forward and get good goal returns yearly.

King, Battle, Membrey. It is a good trio.

Agreed. I think he'd surprise a few given consistent time in that position.

 

[The Punter]

I'm not really bothered at which end. I just think he'll benefit from being put at one end and left there.

 

[bird_man]

Given his height, he doesn't have enough "tricks" to hold down a KP permanently so swingman might be his job.

If he's being picked as a permanent 3rd tall forward then its between him and Membrey, playing back it would be between him and Wilkie.

What tricks does he need to have?

 

[LJC05]

What are everyone’s thoughts on trying to develop him into the big bodied mid that we’ve been trying to find?

Granted, his ability to play forward and back is great but I wonder if we’re trying to get another swing type player (Mihocek?) to fill that role and try Battle in the middle?