D
Deestroy
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Yep another footy thread by me, weird isn’t it??
This time it’s the forward line, which has been talked about greatly in the off-season. With the departure of Farmer supporters questioned weather the Demons where capable of kicking a winning score. After all in 2000 the Wiz kicked 60 odd and was equal 2nd goal-kicker in the league. In ’01 with Farmer injured (and not having much of an impact when he wasn’t) Melbourne did struggle, but in my opinion this year we should be OK, if the ball is up the right end of the ground enough!
Neitz: I thought I would start with Neitz because in my opinion he should not be in the forward line. He cannot play CHF, his kicking just isn’t good enough. ND uses him at FF most of the time, which is really wasting his ability in defense, his kicking over the last few years has been mediocre at best, all too often kicking behinds from set shots. Neitz should therefore be in the back line, where he could be used effectively as a CHB. And if Melbourne are really struggling for marking power up forward (providing the ball is getting down there) he could be moved accordingly.
Schwarz: A key member of the Demon forward line at 195cm he is a tall “tank” CHF. He has the strength to match most players in the game, and also does extremely well controlling the boundary throw-ins. If it hadn’t been for his dodgy knee’s he could have been one of the great CHF's in the league, and he was sorely missed in the years after recovering from his 3!! knee reconstructions. He is nearing the end of his career (29 this year) but he should be around for a few years yet.
Robertson: Lacks the consistency needed for a forward, can do everything when he’s “on” and looks shocking when he’s not. Melbourne’s leading goal-scorer last year from FF/FP, the Dee’s will need a similar performance from him this year to have an impact on the 8. If only he could trade some of his marking ability for some consistency....
Green: Great pickup in 2000 for Melbourne, he was the hero of the final against Carlton that year, and is one of Melbourne’s leading small forwards (184cm). In his 41 games so far he has kicked 65 goals, which is a fair effort considering he was needed as a goal-kicker from his first game. It has been suggested that he should be moved to the midfield, but you win games by kicking goals, and with Melbourne so full of midfielders he should remain on a flank or in a pocket.
Bruce: Debut the same time as Green, playing the same number of games for less return (he has kicked 53 goals). Another member of the forward line who has been tried in another position, the back-line, and although the Dee’s defense could use some more height, Bruce is better used in the forward line. He has lacked consistency like so many of the other Melbourne forwards, but needs to be persevered with.
Vardy: The newest member of the Dee’s forward-line, he has come from Adelaide, where he tasted premiership success. Has been injured in recent times, but still has years left in him at 26. Vardy is still recovering from groin surgery he had at the completion of last season, but he is set for a round 1 return. Needs to kick goals to prove the trade was worth while.
Bizzel: Even though this former Geelong forward seems to be playing primarily in defense, he can be swung forward if needed. Bizz has a strong mark, but in-consistency and poor kicking at times has let him down. I hope he can prove himself as a HBF/BP player for the Dee’s who has the occasional stint in the forward line.
Wheatley: Many believe he is Melbourne’s next Center Half Back, I would prefer to see him as our next Center Half Forward. The main problem with Wheatley is that his is so versatile, which is a problem because ND doesn’t seem to know what to do with him. He has what is probably Melbourne’s best kick, being able to boot 50-60 meters with relative ease. This and the fact he is strong make him the perfect candidate for CHF. The only problem is his height at 189 he isn’t short.. But if only he had another few inch’s on him…
White/Jolly: The other FF option is to rotate either White or Jolly out of the ruck. We all know White can take a huge grab, and he has been moved forward for an average of half a goal a game (61 goals from 121 games) However White will be needed primarily in the ruck this year, so Jolly is the other option. Jolly’s skills from what I have seen aren’t fantastic, but he is a much better key position prospect than Simmonds ever was. Jolly should play plenty of senior footy this year, and I hope that for some of it he will get his chance in the forward line.
That about wraps it up. I’m sure there are other’s I haven’t mentioned capable of playing up forward, but these are the main prospects... Unless of course one of the draftees can step up this year, we can only hope. Yet even if one doesn’t, with the likes of Schwartz, Vardy, Green, Bruce and Wheatley up forward, the Dees should (key word should) be more than capable of kicking a winning score.
This time it’s the forward line, which has been talked about greatly in the off-season. With the departure of Farmer supporters questioned weather the Demons where capable of kicking a winning score. After all in 2000 the Wiz kicked 60 odd and was equal 2nd goal-kicker in the league. In ’01 with Farmer injured (and not having much of an impact when he wasn’t) Melbourne did struggle, but in my opinion this year we should be OK, if the ball is up the right end of the ground enough!
Neitz: I thought I would start with Neitz because in my opinion he should not be in the forward line. He cannot play CHF, his kicking just isn’t good enough. ND uses him at FF most of the time, which is really wasting his ability in defense, his kicking over the last few years has been mediocre at best, all too often kicking behinds from set shots. Neitz should therefore be in the back line, where he could be used effectively as a CHB. And if Melbourne are really struggling for marking power up forward (providing the ball is getting down there) he could be moved accordingly.
Schwarz: A key member of the Demon forward line at 195cm he is a tall “tank” CHF. He has the strength to match most players in the game, and also does extremely well controlling the boundary throw-ins. If it hadn’t been for his dodgy knee’s he could have been one of the great CHF's in the league, and he was sorely missed in the years after recovering from his 3!! knee reconstructions. He is nearing the end of his career (29 this year) but he should be around for a few years yet.
Robertson: Lacks the consistency needed for a forward, can do everything when he’s “on” and looks shocking when he’s not. Melbourne’s leading goal-scorer last year from FF/FP, the Dee’s will need a similar performance from him this year to have an impact on the 8. If only he could trade some of his marking ability for some consistency....
Green: Great pickup in 2000 for Melbourne, he was the hero of the final against Carlton that year, and is one of Melbourne’s leading small forwards (184cm). In his 41 games so far he has kicked 65 goals, which is a fair effort considering he was needed as a goal-kicker from his first game. It has been suggested that he should be moved to the midfield, but you win games by kicking goals, and with Melbourne so full of midfielders he should remain on a flank or in a pocket.
Bruce: Debut the same time as Green, playing the same number of games for less return (he has kicked 53 goals). Another member of the forward line who has been tried in another position, the back-line, and although the Dee’s defense could use some more height, Bruce is better used in the forward line. He has lacked consistency like so many of the other Melbourne forwards, but needs to be persevered with.
Vardy: The newest member of the Dee’s forward-line, he has come from Adelaide, where he tasted premiership success. Has been injured in recent times, but still has years left in him at 26. Vardy is still recovering from groin surgery he had at the completion of last season, but he is set for a round 1 return. Needs to kick goals to prove the trade was worth while.
Bizzel: Even though this former Geelong forward seems to be playing primarily in defense, he can be swung forward if needed. Bizz has a strong mark, but in-consistency and poor kicking at times has let him down. I hope he can prove himself as a HBF/BP player for the Dee’s who has the occasional stint in the forward line.
Wheatley: Many believe he is Melbourne’s next Center Half Back, I would prefer to see him as our next Center Half Forward. The main problem with Wheatley is that his is so versatile, which is a problem because ND doesn’t seem to know what to do with him. He has what is probably Melbourne’s best kick, being able to boot 50-60 meters with relative ease. This and the fact he is strong make him the perfect candidate for CHF. The only problem is his height at 189 he isn’t short.. But if only he had another few inch’s on him…
White/Jolly: The other FF option is to rotate either White or Jolly out of the ruck. We all know White can take a huge grab, and he has been moved forward for an average of half a goal a game (61 goals from 121 games) However White will be needed primarily in the ruck this year, so Jolly is the other option. Jolly’s skills from what I have seen aren’t fantastic, but he is a much better key position prospect than Simmonds ever was. Jolly should play plenty of senior footy this year, and I hope that for some of it he will get his chance in the forward line.
That about wraps it up. I’m sure there are other’s I haven’t mentioned capable of playing up forward, but these are the main prospects... Unless of course one of the draftees can step up this year, we can only hope. Yet even if one doesn’t, with the likes of Schwartz, Vardy, Green, Bruce and Wheatley up forward, the Dees should (key word should) be more than capable of kicking a winning score.
