Bock the Forward

[conVINCEd]

Alright, lets get some footy discussion going.

IMHO, Nathan Bock's best position in 2007 is CHF.

The form he showed in the latter stages of '06 up forward, combined with the rapid improvement of Scott Stevens at CHB, in addition to Hentschel's injury, mean that that Bock will be of greatest use to us at CHF.

All pre-season reports have him training as a forward, and photo's show he has built up his upper body and looks as fit as a fiddle. Add to this his new found confidence in his own ability, as well as a more commanding voice on the training track (and hopefully gameday).

I can see a dominant forward line in a couple of years with Bock, Hentschel, Sellar and Tippett ruling as the leading tall forwards in the comp.

I wanna hear (or read) some opinions regarding Bock in 2007...

 

[Mad Dog]

Alright, lets get some footy discussion going.

IMHO, Nathan Bock's best position in 2007 is CHF.

The form he showed in the latter stages of '06 up forward, combined with the rapid improvement of Scott Stevens at CHB, in addition to Hentschel's injury, mean that that Bock will be of greatest use to us at CHF.

All pre-season reports have him training as a forward, and photo's show he has built up his upper body and looks as fit as a fiddle. Add to this his new found confidence in his own ability, as well as a more commanding voice on the training track (and hopefully gameday).

I can see a dominant forward line in a couple of years with Bock, Hentschel, Sellar and Tippett ruling as the leading tall forwards in the comp.

I wanna hear (or read) some opinions regarding Bock in 2007...

I hate to disappoint you - but I agree with everything you've said.....no argument from me......

Bock is very very elusive and has a pretty handy turning circle for a big man - I'd start him at CHF in 2007 as long as Stevens can hold down CHB or Kenny can get some youth back into that youngish body and go down back.

Bode - Roo - Sellar
Hentschel - Bock - Thompson

is a handy fwd line for 2008

....but definately The Chicken Man @ CHF for 2007......

 

[betterthanu]

ill be very dissapointed if he dosesnt play there most of the year

 

[Alex99]

2007-

I would like to see Ben Rutten and Nathan Bock used as the two key defensive post FB and CHB (but no problem with him being played at CHF) to stabilize the back Six.

Adding Nathan Bassett, Graham Johncock and Andrew McLeod to that back half of the ground is then looking very promising and as it has a very strong defensive feel about it.

For future development I would also love to see Richard Douglas given an opportunity to start his AFL career as a back pocket and this combination of players would be the back bone for a lot of victories (I hope).

HB: McLeod Bock Johncock
FB: Bassett Rutten Douglas

Forward line-

Unlike some I have confidence in Ian Perrie, Scott Welsh and Ken McGregor ability to play as competent forwards and do the job required.

I would start with Scott Welsh as a leading forward and Ken McGregor as that stay at home marking key forward (he is only to stay in the main corridor of the ground). Mathew Bode, Simon Goodwin, Mark Ricciuto and Tyson Edwards would all spend periods of time located in the forward pocket as either a crumbing option or a leading secondary forward (and rotating on the ball).

Brett Burton and Ian Perrie (and one of the extra rovers) should be the focal points across the half forward line with the ball directed towards them.

FF: Bode McGregor Welsh
HF: Burton Perrie Edwards

James Sellar and Kurt Tippett should be looked at sometime during the season as they are the future for this football club, Nick Gill would be an option as a forward if form or injury struck.

In 2008 – After Trent Hentschel has fully rehabilitated his knee his only real position is at CHB or a third tall defender. I doubt he will have the required lateral movement or dexterity in his knee joint to be used as a forward. He needs to be able to quickly change direction (especially going towards the ball and then having to double back) as a CHF or FF. This is when I would either move Nathan Bock forward if the development of Kurt Tippett or James Sellar was still being restricted.

Defence win championships but offence wins awards.

 

[CrowMagnum]

Never thought I would say this but I can see Bock (the new Hentschell) being the go to forward this year, his improvement has been dramatic from the rubber chested bit player of 2 years ago.

With Bock, Roo, possibly Gill and hopefully Sellar (don't know enough about Tippett) in the forward line I can see Perrie, McGregor and Welsh being increasingly marginalised as the season goes on and would predict at least 2 of these not being at the club in 2008 (hey someone has to go, who would have predicted ben Hart this time last year?) as they all have deficiencies as forwards and are unlikely to reinvent themselves anywhere else in the lineup. Hentschell I fear will not play much meaningful football again (damn).

 

[Crow-mo]

I don't see a huge difference for a mobile marking tall like Bock, whether they play forward or back.

with the right conditioning, a bit of confidence, and a license to back themselves, they're going to be valuable contributors either way.

I see Bock a bit like that, his development is very encouraging: and as Ayres always said, as did Jeans, Matthews, kennedy etc. all you have to do is beat your opponent.

Bock strikes me as a guy with all the tools to be a matchup headache, so he should be able to go where we need him.

 

[crowsarethebest]

Bock should play forward. He looked a very good leading CHF. He's very mobile which is good... I remember when we used to bag him big time. Things have changed. He looks good down back as well but I reckon he could be a real weapon up forward. I reckon he is a very similar player to Riewoldt but of course he doesn't have as much ability. I'm happy we have Bock though.

 

[- PC -]

I hate to disappoint you - but I agree with everything you've said.....no argument from me......

Thats what I was thinking as well. CHF is his.

 

[- PC -]

He finally believes in himself and his position in the side. That more than anything is how a footballer becomes a better player

 

[neil butt]

He finally believes in himself and his position in the side. That more than anything is how a footballer becomes a better player

Cannot remember of anytime in the past that he hasnt believed in himself.

 

[- PC -]

Cannot remember of anytime in the past that he hasnt believed in himself.

I recall saying when watching his first games in 2004 that he looked unfit and that maybe he was training to SANFL level because he didnt believe in himself as an AFL footballer. I still stand by that

 

[neil butt]

I recall saying when watching his first games in 2004 that he looked unfit and that maybe he was training to SANFL level because he didnt believe in himself as an AFL footballer. I still stand by that

fair enough. I would attribute lack of belief or confidence to sum1 like jericho personally. Bock has got more coc-key as he has developed but this is only natural.

 

[NSWCROW]

Kenny Mcgregor has to stay as close to the goalsqure as possible in 07 !
I Cant see him in defence anymore.
Welsh and Roo in the pockets
Bocky at CHF
Perrie and Bode on the flanks

 

[-CG-]

After Bock's performance last year in the forward lines, you'd think he had cemented his spot there. He's strong, fairly adgile, doesn't miss too often, I can't see why we wouldn't play him there. The only reason would be his 2005 season at CHB, but that was two years ago now.

 

[lacrow]

I don't like to toot my own horn, but being an American, I will (ha ha).

I've been saying for at least 2 years now that I would not be surprised to see Nathan Bock turn out to be better than Hentschel. I still stand by that statement, even though we'll really never know due to Trent's injury.

 

[Vader]

The real question is this... who plays CHB?

With Trentschell gone for 18 months, Bock is clearly our best option for both CHB and CHF.

Following his heroics during the 2006 finals series, most of us would prefer to see him playing at CHF. But this leaves the question of CHB unresolved.

IF Stevens can continue to hold down CHB, as he did for most of 2006, then the answer is easy. Play Bock in the forward line, no questions asked.

IF, on the other hand, Stevens fails to back up his 2006 performances, then we face a quandry. My suggestion would be to move KMac to CHB instead of Bock - either way, you're robbing Peter to pay Paul, but IMHO moving KMac means losing less in the forward line.

 

[afc9798]

Alright, lets get some footy discussion going.

IMHO, Nathan Bock's best position in 2007 is CHF.

The form he showed in the latter stages of '06 up forward, combined with the rapid improvement of Scott Stevens at CHB, in addition to Hentschel's injury, mean that that Bock will be of greatest use to us at CHF.

All pre-season reports have him training as a forward, and photo's show he has built up his upper body and looks as fit as a fiddle. Add to this his new found confidence in his own ability, as well as a more commanding voice on the training track (and hopefully gameday).

I can see a dominant forward line in a couple of years with Bock, Hentschel, Sellar and Tippett ruling as the leading tall forwards in the comp.

I wanna hear (or read) some opinions regarding Bock in 2007...

All things going well I don't disagree, however:
1. Bock's workrate needs to improve considerably in the way he covers the territory at CHF. it's probably more of a case of him getting used to the correct positioning, but among the positive signs he has showed at CHF, his positioning was also awful on a lot of occasions.

2. Sellar is an unknown quantity. Like most I want to believe we got a bargain, but I can't help feeling that any club would have picked up a key forward as a preference if he was really that good. I want to be wrong on this and hopefully time will prove me wrong.

3. Hentschell was coming into career best form and was proving a major handful to opposition sides, but his injury now makes him an unknown quantity. How will his lateral movement be? How will his pace be?

4. Tippett looks like a prospect, but again is an unknown quantity. He has shown his willingness to go in for the hard ball which is a great sign, but again only time will tell.

I know these views can be perceived as negative, but I've also learnt that rose coloured glasses do not suit my complexion. I prefer to be pleasantly surprised, than outright disappointed.

 

[Crow-mo]

2. Sellar is an unknown quantity. Like most I want to believe we got a bargain, but I can't help feeling that any club would have picked up a key forward as a preference if he was really that good. I want to be wrong on this and hopefully time will prove me wrong.

ya gotta remember how inexact this all is. who knows?

Gardiner, Ottens, J Longmuir, Fraser, Polak, Walsh... all top 4 picks, KPP, who have greatly disappointed - given they were virtually can't miss prospects.

Whereas you have Cox, C Cornes, Goodes, Maguire, Rivers, Rutten etc. among bigs who were apparently "not that good".

that he slipped to us, will have no bearing on whether Sellar turns out to be any good or not.

 

[afc9798]

ya gotta remember how inexact this all is. who knows?

Gardiner, Ottens, J Longmuir, Fraser, Polak, Walsh... all top 4 picks, KPP, who have greatly disappointed - given they were virtually can't miss prospects.

Whereas you have Cox, C Cornes, Goodes, Maguire, Rivers, Rutten etc. among bigs who were apparently "not that good".

that he slipped to us, will have no bearing on whether Sellar turns out to be any good or not.

Good point and I hope you're right. The only thing that concerned me was that in a draft short on quality KPP's, that Sellar was overlooked by many clubs. This could be due to the other clubs requiring midfielders or ruckmen etc, but it has been fairly standard recruiting fare to take the best KPP if he's available.

As I said, I'm more than happy to have my doubts quelled and be surprised by our 'bargain' and I cannot fault what I have seen of Sellar at training to date.

 

[GoSarge]

ya gotta remember how inexact this all is. who knows?

Gardiner, Ottens, J Longmuir, Fraser, Polak, Walsh... all top 4 picks, KPP, who have greatly disappointed - given they were virtually can't miss prospects.

Whereas you have Cox, C Cornes, Goodes, Maguire, Rivers, Rutten etc. among bigs who were apparently "not that good".

that he slipped to us, will have no bearing on whether Sellar turns out to be any good or not.

I think we've given ourselves a fantastic chance by selecting a 195cm athlete with good pedigree at pick 14.

Like you said, he could be an Adam Goodes (who also slipped to pick 30+) or he could be a Polak who 'never quite got there'.

 

[Jars458]

Happy for Bock to duel it out with Perrie for CHF or they could even play together.

Stevens or McGregor could play centre half back. Kenny was an excellent centre half back and can be so again if he can find some good match fitness.

Some interesting choices for the match committee and I think we are in for another good year.

 

[Eggzoi]

Sellar is more than an athlete, he is a footballer with very good athletic qualities. Why he fell to us I feel has more to do with how he represented himself to the other clubs than his ability. Based on what the many people that pay very close attention to the underage footballers say he is a very good prospect. We've heard that both Terry Wallace and Choco were unimpressed with him in an interview but the Crows were, I'm pretty sure this was all out before the draft. Also he trained with the Crows for a week last year for the AIS, we probably had the best idea out of all clubs about what he can be. I'm confident it's going to be pretty good.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Good point and I hope you're right. The only thing that concerned me was that in a draft short on quality KPP's, that Sellar was overlooked by many clubs. This could be due to the other clubs requiring midfielders or ruckmen etc, but it has been fairly standard recruiting fare to take the best KPP if he's available.

As I said, I'm more than happy to have my doubts quelled and be surprised by our 'bargain' and I cannot fault what I have seen of Sellar at training to date.

I think you'll find it was quite the opposite .....Think you'll find the 8 of picks in the first round were KPP ....now it can be argued that players like Reidwoldt and Reid are not KPP but they have been selected primarily to be developed into KPP ....and after all isn't that what we have done in believing Sellar can make the transition from Ruckman to KPP.

I think also it's interesting that several clubs (in fact all clubs) selected on the basis of need not best available (yes best in the area of greatest need by club) ......several clubs were looking for KP defenders and it was this selection on the basis of need that saw Sellar drop to us.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Happy for Bock to duel it out with Perrie for CHF or they could even play together.

Stevens or McGregor could play centre half back. Kenny was an excellent centre half back and can be so again if he can find some good match fitness.

Some interesting choices for the match committee and I think we are in for another good year.

He was under Ayres but Craig wants an attacking CHB and McGregor ain't it.
At Least Stevens was able to provide run off HB and kicked a few goals ...exactly the way Bock plays and for that fact Caven under Blight.

Can't remember McGregor running of HB and kicking too many goals ...yeas at a real pinch but IMO he's well down the list of options for CHB.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Sellar is more than an athlete, he is a footballer with very good athletic qualities. Why he fell to us I feel has more to do with how he represented himself to the other clubs than his ability. Based on what the many people that pay very close attention to the underage footballers say he is a very good prospect. We've heard that both Terry Wallace and Choco were unimpressed with him in an interview but the Crows were, I'm pretty sure this was all out before the draft. Also he trained with the Crows for a week last year for the AIS, we probably had the best idea out of all clubs about what he can be. I'm confident it's going to be pretty good.

Really don't think that was the case ....Port wanted a midfielder otherwise there was an array of KP otions.

Wallace looks as if he wants a pacy side similar to Bulldogs rather than the power forward that Sellar will turn out to be.
Bulldogs selection of Everitt (defender) is very similar in terms of player type to Reidwoldt (forward).

Again I repeat IMO was more about club needs and player type more than one 10 minute interview impacting on several years viewing of these players by recruiters.

If you were a recruiter and you had hours and hours of tapes on players and yet because of a bad interview with the coach that work is discounted ....I think not.