Centre Half Forward - Options for 2008

[snowycats]

Given that Nathan Ablett will not play at least until 2009, if at all, the club will need to look at various options for Centre Half Forward for next year.

In order I see them as:

Tom Hawkins - clearly favourite but some doubt about mobility and endurance for that position - probably be better at full forward

Cam Mooney - probably end up there more than he did this year but I prefer him in the goal square and providing a presence and leading option

Tom Lonergan - doubt if quite ready yet

Matt Egan - a bit of a wild card but is big and strong and may be worth a look

Harry Taylor - not yet

Steve Johnson - plays the flank beautifully so no need to move him

With no Henry and Charlie, that may be it.

Not really many options.

 

[rizzo]

Who is to say nathan won't play next year?

 

[SirJimi05]

Surely the Tom-a-hawk is being groomed for that role?

He was always going to be the prefered option over Ablett anyway wasn't he?

 

[thejester]

Who is to say nathan won't play next year?

Even if he were to recommit, surely he wouldn't have the fitness to hold down CHF.

 

[doggiesin08]

Given that Nathan Ablett will not play at least until 2009, if at all, the club will need to look at various options for Centre Half Forward for next year.

In order I see them as:

Tom Hawkins - clearly favourite but some doubt about mobility and endurance for that position - probably be better at full forward

Cam Mooney - probably end up there more than he did this year but I prefer him in the goal square and providing a presence and leading option

Tom Lonergan - doubt if quite ready yet

Matt Egan - a bit of a wild card but is big and strong and may be worth a look

Harry Taylor - not yet

Steve Johnson - plays the flank beautifully so no need to move him

With no Henry and Charlie, that may be it.

Not really many options.

why is Harry Taylor a 'not yet'. Out of all the draftees this year he is the most ready (other than recycled). He is 21 I think so a lot older and physically ready.

 

[thegerman]

Given that Nathan Ablett will not play at least until 2009, if at all, the club will need to look at various options for Centre Half Forward for next year.

In order I see them as:

Tom Hawkins - clearly favourite but some doubt about mobility and endurance for that position - probably be better at full forward

Cam Mooney - probably end up there more than he did this year but I prefer him in the goal square and providing a presence and leading option

Tom Lonergan - doubt if quite ready yet

Matt Egan - a bit of a wild card but is big and strong and may be worth a look

Harry Taylor - not yet

Steve Johnson - plays the flank beautifully so no need to move him

With no Henry and Charlie, that may be it.

Not really many options.

Way too early to have a decision on Nathan just yet. He has the fitness so would pop straight back in if he decides to continue.

The answer is easy though if he does in fact decide to stop playing, move Moons to CHF, and lead out Hawkins at FF.

 

[SirJimi05]

Way too early to have a decision on Nathan just yet. He has the fitness so would pop straight back in if he decides to continue.

The answer is easy though if he does in fact decide to stop playing, move Moons to CHF, and lead out Hawkins at FF.

No player has the fitness if they miss a full pre season, Ablett isn't doing pre season training with the club is he?

I don't think bush walking will give him sufficient fitness levels to walk straight back into the team.

 

[AFKAJR]

Milburn has shown a bit there in the past.

 

[Asty]

With no Henry and Charlie, that may be it.

I dont think Charlie would ever have been a CHF for us more often a flanker.

Lonergan is a chance.

But one that might be out of the blue, when moons and hawkins aren't covering the key posts, what about harley to CHF and Lonergan to play as our 3rd tall down back. Harls takes a good mark and is pretty smart with the ball. Would have to be better than henry or charlie.
Lonergan may also get a chance there now that he has had a bit of a run in the VFL and a full pre-season to get back to size. (he did kick a bag in the VFL GF)

 

[cat in sydney]

I dont think Charlie would ever have been a CHF for us more often a flanker.

Lonergan is a chance.

But one that might be out of the blue, when moons and hawkins aren't covering the key posts, what about harley to CHF and Lonergan to play as our 3rd tall down back. Harls takes a good mark and is pretty smart with the ball. Would have to be better than henry or charlie.
Lonergan may also get a chance there now that he has had a bit of a run in the VFL and a full pre-season to get back to size. (he did kick a bag in the VFL GF)

Harls would do well in the contested marking situation, but his kicking for goal has always been average.

 

[Asty]

Harls would do well in the contested marking situation, but his kicking for goal has always been average.

Yeah but that might be just a matter of practice and confidence since he has always played down back. His reading of the play might be of benefit as well.

I hope we have an injury free year though and Moons and Hawkins cover it with some help from Otto and the small forwards.

 

[gocats88]

tom lornegan is mobile enough to play chf all he needs to do is put some more bulk on.

 

[catswhiskers]

I see Ryan Gamble as a key player now. He showed great promise in 2006. He has flair and can take a grab. Injury slowed him in 2007 but his efforts in the VFL finals were very very good even though he was underdone. He is not the big key position player but with Johnson, offers enough in the air to give an attack some extra bite. As good as Nablett was he relied more on leading and finesse than pack crunching marks - Gamble will offer this too.

So Its Mooney and Hawkins mainly as permanent big forwards with some time from Ottens. Then Johnson and then Gamble ( doing the lead up - a much more polished Gardiner) with a mob of high quality small forwards.

Nablett will be missed but there are good options.

But there's more - for an outside chance I have always liked the look of Egan up forward!!! If the defence doesn't need him why not try him at some stage?

 

[And_ROOS]

Milburn has shown a bit there in the past.

I agree, we have alot of class coming through in our defence, we would still have a dominant defence if we pushed Milburn forward as Wojak, Mackie, Hunt, Egan, Scarlo and Harley were in great form last time we saw them out. Milburn can be used mainly up forward and pushed back if we have injuries.

Plus im sure he would appreciate being played up forward.

Out of all those options, i would think Lonergan or Mooney for CHF and Hawkins at FF would be the way to go. Mooney was successful at CHF in the past few seasons when played there.

 

[cats2rise]

Playfair woulda got it next season.

 

[The Casey Cat]

Um, maybe the same guy who was CHF (mainly) in 07. His name is Cam Mooney. Yeah he dropped back to the square at times but he was very much our CHF and did bloody well at it. Tom Hawkins to come in and play deep.

 

[Copernicus]

Moons at CHF, as he was in 2007, as previously mentioned. Nath was more of a FF last year, though there was a bit of rotation.

You'd think if Nath doesn't come back then Hawkins would be playing in the square, with Moons filling in with Otto whenever Tom went off for a rest.

Of course, this is all conjecture until we know whether Nath is coming or going.

 

[Cat for Life]

Gary Lyon did say that Matt Scarlett was a natural forward when he was coaching the inernational rules team...

 

[FoxC]

Gary Lyon did say that Matt Scarlett was a natural forward when he was coaching the inernational rules team...

He must improve his kicking if that's the case. Remember the miss in the first quarter of the GF? In the words of Huddo, " ... and he kicked it like a defender".

 

[carn_the_cattas]

Gary Lyon did say that Matt Scarlett was a natural forward when he was coaching the inernational rules team...

Garry Lyon is a great coach!

 

[rizzo]

Um, maybe the same guy who was CHF (mainly) in 07. His name is Cam Mooney. Yeah he dropped back to the square at times but he was very much our CHF and did bloody well at it. Tom Hawkins to come in and play deep.

Bingo!

people suggesting Harley Scarlett and Milburn as options? Why take away from the best defensive unit in the land when we have proven players already there.

Also i suspect if we see Tomma get much fitter he will play a JB style CHF position.

(Everytime ive seen hawkins at training he has been running)

 

[thejester]

Um, maybe the same guy who was CHF (mainly) in 07. His name is Cam Mooney. Yeah he dropped back to the square at times but he was very much our CHF and did bloody well at it. Tom Hawkins to come in and play deep.

Yeah get me on that bandwagon. In some ways I think talking about CHF is somewhat redundant, we played two tall forwards and two/three smalls generally. In some games you would have a tall leading up as a linkman, in others a small. I don't see any reason why Mooney can't lead up and Hawkins sits back, and we don't know how fit Hawkins will be anyway.

 

[martyk]

I went to training today and checked out the boys... There was a young bloke working one on one with Ottens.. a tall light haired guy?? I'm too lazy to look at the rookies, anyone know who he is?? He looked very skillful, tall and had a well developed body for a younger guy... CHF prospect??

 

[Rosso]

Mooney, SJ, Nath & Otto virtually rotated through the key forward posts throughout the year. If Nath doesn't play, then Hawkins will slot in nicely.

The game has changed my friends. No longer does a big bloke start on the line of the square. Look at Brown, Hall, Lucas & Co, they all stand 30m out from goal and lead up from there. That way they are still in range when they get the pill. This is what Moons provided this year and this is what he'll deliver in 08 on the way to back to back flags.

Memo to Gary Lyon - see M Scarlett, round 21 & 22 in 2006. Played at CHF and looked lost at sea.

Why take arguably the best defender in the land away from defence???

 

[Rosso]

I went to training today and checked out the boys... There was a young bloke working one on one with Ottens.. a tall light haired guy?? I'm too lazy to look at the rookies, anyone know who he is?? He looked very skillful, tall and had a well developed body for a younger guy... CHF prospect??

Sounds like Dawson Simpson. Has a fair build for a big fella and has light hair.