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West Coast's unlikely spearhead
Mic Cullen
afl.com.au
9:57:27 PM Mon 12 May, 2003
David Haynes is an unlikely full-forward, but West Coast is currently fielding an unlikely forward line.
Haynes stands just 188 centimetres tall and weighs 90 kilograms, and while nobody is claiming that he’s small, he’s hardly in the mould of your classic full-forward of yesteryear.
Be that as it may, the West Coast Eagles have been the most prolific scorers in the AFL this year, with 776 points at an average of 111 points - or nearly 19 goals - per game.
Haynes said the unusual forward structure was working well because everyone was helping out and working hard.
“It’s been working good – we’ve had an even contribution there across the forward line - apart from Phil Matera, he’s kicked the goals obviously - but we’ve got blokes popping up like Ashley Sampi, and our midfielders are kicking a lot of goals, so we’re going alright,” he said.
While Haynes is yet to kick a bag himself, he’s not worried, because coach John Worsfold is satisfied.
“He’s just been happy that I’m making a contest and giving them a good option to kick to.
“He’s just told me to go down there and lead hard, and hit the contest as hard as I can and make sure that we get the ball to the front for people like Ashley Sampi and Phil, and our midfielders running through.”
The 21-year-old said West Coast’s current game plan traded height for speed, an ideal plan on today’s fast, hard surfaces.
"I think that seeing as there’s no real tall people down in the forward line we’ve got a lot of legspeed, and when the ball gets kicked out into space, I’m sure that our legspeed makes us a bit better when it’s out in the open, so it’s been good.”
i'm not overly sold on haynes but the club seems keen to back him at this stage. my biggest critism of him would be that as a full foward he doesn't kick straight but then again niether does Wilson.
Mic Cullen
afl.com.au
9:57:27 PM Mon 12 May, 2003
David Haynes is an unlikely full-forward, but West Coast is currently fielding an unlikely forward line.
Haynes stands just 188 centimetres tall and weighs 90 kilograms, and while nobody is claiming that he’s small, he’s hardly in the mould of your classic full-forward of yesteryear.
Be that as it may, the West Coast Eagles have been the most prolific scorers in the AFL this year, with 776 points at an average of 111 points - or nearly 19 goals - per game.
Haynes said the unusual forward structure was working well because everyone was helping out and working hard.
“It’s been working good – we’ve had an even contribution there across the forward line - apart from Phil Matera, he’s kicked the goals obviously - but we’ve got blokes popping up like Ashley Sampi, and our midfielders are kicking a lot of goals, so we’re going alright,” he said.
While Haynes is yet to kick a bag himself, he’s not worried, because coach John Worsfold is satisfied.
“He’s just been happy that I’m making a contest and giving them a good option to kick to.
“He’s just told me to go down there and lead hard, and hit the contest as hard as I can and make sure that we get the ball to the front for people like Ashley Sampi and Phil, and our midfielders running through.”
The 21-year-old said West Coast’s current game plan traded height for speed, an ideal plan on today’s fast, hard surfaces.
"I think that seeing as there’s no real tall people down in the forward line we’ve got a lot of legspeed, and when the ball gets kicked out into space, I’m sure that our legspeed makes us a bit better when it’s out in the open, so it’s been good.”
i'm not overly sold on haynes but the club seems keen to back him at this stage. my biggest critism of him would be that as a full foward he doesn't kick straight but then again niether does Wilson.

