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CARLTON was left seeing red after losing to the Brisbane Lions at Maroochydore yesterday - not because of some perceived infraction, but because of the constant sight of Daniel Merrett's ginger head popping up in front of goal.
Merrett's previous game in the forward line, in the Lions' round-seven loss to the Gold Coast Suns last season, was a minor disaster.
He looked strong yesterday, however, kicking three goals in front of 5147 fans at Fishermans Road Oval.
"It's definitely an option for us and we're looking at a few options at the moment," Voss said about the possibility of moving Merrett forward on a permanent basis.
"That's the good thing about the pre-season - you get to try people in different spots, try different things about your game plan and see what works, see whether guys can step up."
For a bloke who doesn't fancy himself as a forward, Daniel Merrett sure looked like one during the Brisbane Lions' 64-point thrashing of Carlton in their AFL pre-season clash on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. So convincing was regular fullback Merrett in his three-goal display that Lions coach Michael Voss reckoned he had found the man to fill the shoes of his greatest forward.
Asked if he fancied himself as a forward, Merrett said: "Not really. I am just filling in the gaps before the big fella is back.
"Being my first game back I could ease myself in, run around and do as I please - it was good fun (against Carlton)."
But he added: "I love playing in the backline and the blokes down there.
"I think in a couple of weeks I should be back there."
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Queenslander Daniel Merrett was at that stage a relative newcomer to the seniors but he could feel the buzz at Lions training when Brown, Power, Charman and Daniel Bradshaw were picked for their respective teams. He has watched with interest as the NRL's showpieces - State of Origin and the Indigenous All Stars match - continue to grow in appeal.
"I'd have to get picked first. But I'd be happy enough just watching it," Merrett said when asked if he would be keen to play representative footy.
"It's all about when to fit it in and what the mindset of the players would be. I'd hate to see it played half-hearted, with no one worried about defence.
"The (NRL All Stars) put on a show and you could see they were serious.
"But I'd be happy to be involved"
"Moving to the forward line on the weekend... turning back the time a little bit. I was drafted as a forward. I really enjoyed my time down there and had a bit of fun. It's almost a little freshen up before the season starts. It's a long year and playing in the backline you're constantly under pressure, it's nice to go forward, release the shackles a little bit, and try to kick a few snags.
The body pulled up really well. I was cramping a little bit, being my first game back and I think that was just from the excessive heat that was there on the day. I wasn't the only one cramping. But I pulled up really well and had a couple of really strong sessions on the park this week, and I'm looking forward to the weekend against Essendon."
Vice-captain Daniel Merrett is set to continue his makeshift role as a key forward alongside Matthew Leuenberger or rookie ruckman Billy Longer.
"It definitely can help (coming from defence)" the 27-year-old said."As you get older and more experienced, you play from the front and anticipate where the ball's going.
"You're reading the cues of the kickers upfield, the same as a forward."
Even the smallest details, such as knowing whether the ball carrier is a left or right-footer, is equally applicable to forwards and defenders.
"You can react to that," Merrett said. "It helps being able to read those cues.
"That's helped me maybe get a jump on my defender."
Then there are the dark arts that he understands from a defender's perspective.
Body positioning and gamesmanship can provide an edge, so all the tactics that annoy him as a stopper will be assist him as a scorer.
"There's a lot of little tricks that you hate being used on you," he said.
"I hate when my forward keeps moving and doesn't let me get settled."
"It (Merrett as a forward) is temporary at the moment. We will see how the big fella (Brown) is going when he comes back and look at the balance of the side," Voss said. "But it (Merrett) is a genuine option.
"For most of the pre-season we have been throwing players in different positions because during the season we are going to need them to do it during games - we need that flexibility."
"They've certainly given Merrett plenty of time up in the forward line during the practice games so you would have to think they weren't doing that for fun," he said.
"Merrett is an excellent player, a tremendous defender. But you are robbing Peter to pay Paul by switching him from defence to the forward line.
"I would have thought with three ruckman in Matthew Leuenberger, Ben Hudson and Billy Longer, who looks to be pretty impressive, that you would have played one of them as your deep forward."
Are you looking at playing Daniel Merrett forward this weekend to accommodate the loss of Browny?
Most likely. We've been playing him there as a temporary solution. No doubt our structure looks better with him back, but it happens to be of our areas... we've got some younger players, and having some leadership capability down there is going to help us.
Merrett said there was no way he would be trying to play like Brown.
"I definitely couldn't do what Browny does, so I'll just try to stick to what I'm good at and play my game," he said.
"I still feel like I'm just doing a role for the team so I don't see it as a long-term thing, but you never know. Fraser Gehrig went forward and kicked 100.
"But I'm just doing my role for the team, and where they need me most is up forward so I'll try my hardest to play that position and wait for the skipper to come back."
B: McKeever (40) [U]Merrett[/U] (21) McGrath (9)
HB: Golby (41) Maguire (36) Rich (10)
C: Rockliff (38) Adcock (7) Hanley (11)
HF: Polec (4) Patfull (24) Banfield (18)
F: Polkinghorne (31) Leuenberger (23) Lester (35)
Foll: Hudson (22) Black (20) Redden (30)
Int: Beams (17) Bewick (43)
Stiller (32) Sheldon (3)
Emer: Harwood (2) Longer (5) O’Brien (34)
I have to disagree - he looked all at sea and did NOT lead up in the first half. The amount of ball raining down gave him opportunties after half time and he was able to create contests. He must return to the backline. I would prefer to see Longer up forward as he is a better kick ( saw him v Bombers and he knocked off Fletcher for a quarter ) and run with JB so he won't get the best backman. Hudson was a revelation at clearances and allows Luey to also go forward .. where he will cause match up issues. Now for s few small forwards - if only Banfield could keep his feet ( or we draft a Rioli ).
Daniel Merrett in attack was a successful surprise in a rare win without Jonathan Brown.
