Strategy Big Cats

[Jef Costello]

What's the best set up for our multitude of talls?

l think it's an issue all over the ground, not just up forward or in the rucks. For example we looked well balanced yesterday with Lonergan, Taylor and Rivers. Where does Medium Mackie fit back in? Not at the expense of Thurlow, Bews or Enright.

l quite like the promise of the mobile variety that Kersten offers. There did seem to be better chemistry with Walker and, perhaps most importantly, more room inside 50 for Hawk? Can Clark run out a game as first ruck and we move on from Simpson and H-Mac permanently? Where does the (wonderful) Blicavs fit in? What happens when you throw Vardy and Menzel* back in the mix?

 

[Whit3y]

What happens when you throw Vardy and Menzel* back in the mix?

im sorry japa but realistically they wont be coming back

and thats a shame

 

[CatsDoItBetter]

The talls down back looked very good I really liked rivers game, the tigers don't really have any small forwards of quality and so it wasn't a problem being tall. I don't know where Mackie fits in down there as I think we really need Bews, Thurlow and at times Guthrie down there. Enright has got himself into some better form and the talls played well, but how will that setup go against better forward lines? Time will tell but if they are getting back into form it'll dramatically help the rest of the team.

Clark and Hawkins are the most talented tall forwards we have but they can't play next to each other. Clark has to work further up the ground but not sure if he has the match fitness to do so yet. Certainly wouldn't be playing him as first ruck a couple of games back from so long out.
Thought kersten did some ok things yesterday but still has a lot to work on, Walker provides a lot more in my opinion. Crashes packs, puts on pressure, tackles, can ruck (a little) and has huge fitness to run up the ground.

It's a challenge to get enough games into the younger talls to keep them Interested and keen while maintaining the best side. Hawkins, Clark and Stanley have only just come together so will take time to gel but I think they are our best ruck/forward players. Although would still be handy to have a number 1 ruck with those guys and although Dawson wasn't great. It was very pleasing to see him run put the game.

 

[CatsDoItBetter]

I should add I do have a lot of time for both Walker and Kersten which is why I say we need to balance giving them games. While also letting the other guys gel together and play. Which is more or less what happened on the weekend.

 

[goodoldcats]

stanley, walker, hawkins, clarke, kerstan

stanley and clarke rotate between ruck and forwardline. hawkins and walker permanent forwards, kerstan forward flank. The big issue is the lack of small forwards. Might be a little tall and slow against some teams. This issue is both hawkins and clark play as number one talls and will get in each others way.

dont know where Blicavs, vardy fit in. I would be preparing Blicavs as a defender. More specifically as a tall mobile defender for the franklins, reiwoldt type forwards who cover a lot of ground.

I like the look of read as the developing ruck. I believe we have used our rookie list poorly over the last 5 years. I would be looking to fill it with highly talented small forwards (a lot seem to come from the rookie list) and midfielders who accumulate a lot of the footy (but may have other deficiencies in their game ie height, tank/endurance, lack of x-factor).

Sick of carrying players with LTI. Clean them out (yes that means menzel)

 

[catempire]

It's going to change, week-to-week by the looks of it.

First choice will be: Stanley (ruck); Lonergan, Taylor, Rivers (defence); Hawkins, Clark, Kersten (forward).

Walker extremely unlucky. Simpson/McIntosh to play from time to time when Stanley needs a break.

Vardy too speculative to consider at this stage but he would have to push Stanley out of the side.

 

[bulletproof]

I think our structure looks better with walker and one of the two stars, Clark or Hawkins. I think Walker works harder off the ball and is more likely to be selfless.

I think it is a big problem actually, because Walker is a young key forward and he needs to be playing. In today's environment he will not stay if he is back up.

I am not suggesting he is better than the other two but he has to play.

I don't have a solution. Maybe Clark has to play ruck/spare parts.

Walker is the future. Sign him to 4 year deal this week and work it out later (I remember us offering Lonergan a long deal at similar stage of his career and it paid off big time).

 

[CatsDoItBetter]

I think our structure looks better with walker and one of the two stars, Clark or Hawkins. I think Walker works harder off the ball and is more likely to be selfless.

I think it is a big problem actually, because Walker is a young key forward and he needs to be playing. In today's environment he will not stay if he is back up.

I am not suggesting he is better than the other two but he has to play.

I don't have a solution. Maybe Clark has to play ruck/spare parts.

Walker is the future. Sign him to 4 year deal this week and work it out later (I remember us offering Lonergan a long deal at similar stage of his career and it paid off big time).

I agree that Geelong need to be proactive in signing up a number of the younger talent to be better placed in the future. Hopefully they make it and consolidate a place in that senior team but if not having them contracted puts us in a far better position to negotiate a trade if need be.

 

[Catatonic Shock]

I still hold the opinion our best ruck setup is Clark and Stanley with the Hawk and Walker/Kersten up forward (I prefer Walker).
Clark could still be a top quality ruck, I just question if his body is up to it or not.

 

[CatTricks]

I still hold the opinion our best ruck setup is Clark and Stanley with the Hawk and Walker/Kersten up forward (I prefer Walker).
Clark could still be a top quality ruck, I just question if his body is up to it or not.

I agree.
Throw Clark into the ruck for a decent period and see if he is up to it.

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

In terms of the Forwardline I agree it's about getting the balance right with regard to the talls.
Hawkins is the keystone.
Depending on who we play I think the talls should be :
Hawkins / Clark / Walker or Hawkins/ Clark or Walker/ and Kersten.

Hawkins /Walker and Kersten could have had 10 between them on Saturday. Kerstens kicking is a weapon ready made for September. I loved him as an option 50-55 from goal , it's easier to find space there and he makes the distance easily should he have a shot . Otherwise his field kicking looks good to spot up a target from there. If he finds it 10-15 times a game he could be a very valuable asset - 2-3 per game should be possible

I love Walker aggression and he looks to have come on brilliantly , would not want to lose him.
Stanley is a Ruck for mine and Clark a forward who may play Ruck occasionally as he builds fitness.
Some good assets - just need to put them in the right order

 

[Bobby_]

Kersten, Walker, Hawkins does appear to give us a little extra mobility. Keep saying it over and over, and understandable how some may disagree, but more exposure these guys can get now, the more they will begin to impress us sporadically as the season progresses. Kersten could be such a weapon in a couple of years time. Walker similar. They may never become super stars like Hawkins, but neither was Mooney and he did mighty fine for himself.
Walker & Kersten took 13 marks between them on the weekend. That's a lot of presenting and demanding of the football.

Was always going to be a dilemma when we signed up Clark. I'm struggling to think how even Vardy gets back into the team again. We may have the largest crop of 'talls' in the competition at the moment.

 

[dazbroncos]

Kersten, Walker, Hawkins does appear to give us a little extra mobility. Keep saying it over and over, and understandable how some may disagree, but more exposure these guys can get now, the more they will begin to impress us sporadically as the season progresses. Kersten could be such a weapon in a couple of years time. Walker similar. They may never become super stars like Hawkins, but neither was Mooney and he did mighty fine for himself.
Walker & Kersten took 13 marks between them on the weekend. That's a lot of presenting and demanding of the football.

Was always going to be a dilemma when we signed up Clark. I'm struggling to think how even Vardy gets back into the team again. We may have the largest crop of 'talls' in the competition at the moment.

Agree with this totally. What is it, not even 30 games between them? There is a LOT to work with here. 13 marks and got 4 goals. Could have been 6.
They, in isolation, may not be the power forward that Hawkins and Clark are but what they add as the sum of the part makes it a good combo that will only get better.

GO Catters

 

[Footy Smarts]

It's a bit crap but I don't see how Stanley, Clark, Hawkins and Walker all play in the same team without one of them being in defence. And apart from perhaps Stanley I don't see how any of them can play in defence.

The other problem is that they're also all clearly AFL quality. Since Clark has been training throughout preseason to play up forward it's hard to see how he could move to the ruck so realistically it's Walker who misses out in our best 22. I'd like to see plenty of rotation throughout the year to give Walker plenty of games. I know it's a long way out but given the amount of quality we've got in our key forwards and the depth we've got too (Stanley and Kersten can play there and perhaps Vardy and Read) I struggle to see how Walker stays on our list after this year. Someone will come along with a good offer to him and I reckon he'd be silly not to take it. If we can get something nice for him it could be a win-win.