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Analysis Do we have a forward line yet?

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therubbernub said:
Well with the trade period done and dusted, and with it has gone a lot of our draft picks, leaving our prized #1 pick and some shrapnel . For all intents and purposes we have our list, except for one elite player. IMO that will either be Walsh or Rankine.

I am very torn about which we should take, because I see both as quite exceptional players . However one player stands out as being the logical choice- Rankine. Why? because he can help fill two holes in our list- he can be an elite forward with great evasive skills and elite goal sense, and simply, he has already shown that he can do things that other players cannot. But his skills can also translate very well into the midfield, and so he can also help fill that hole as well.

Walsh on the other hand is the super professional , consistent , high effort/commitment mid that any club needs. He is not irreplaceable as there are many midfielders that tick this box, but he is probably the least risky pick to get an elite player.

That said I always believe in the glass half full theory. In this case I believe that Rankine will deliver on his promise as a junior and become an amazing AFL player.

Which gets me to my point. IF we take Rankine , is our forward line just about complete? Consider the excitement of a half forward line consisting of -

RANKINE CHARLIE MITCH M

That is an elite half forward line in anybodies language. Even Rankine is capable of taking a decent overhead mark. I dont think too many people would argue, that this Half forward line up would be equal to any other teams.

Which leaves a Full forward line up of

FASOLO HARRY RESTING MID/ MURPHY

Now on his day Fasolo can be a real handful and Harry has shown heaps of potential

So just considering the forward line, Taking Rankine instead of Walsh , appears to have completed our future forward line. But as the saying goes, are we robbing Peter to pay Paul? Without Walsh, how does our midfield shape up? Well IMO there is some real depth developing there. I leave you with a proposed line up, where we have moved Docherty into the centre where he can play midfield and direct play and he is replaced with Newman.
I have LOB and Willow on the 2 wings, which I believe will allow them to utilize their elite disposal skills. The back 6 is similar to the past 2 years except for the addition of Newman, and hopefully with AR's help, they can all stay on the park. View attachment 578954
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That is an brilliant graphic trn, how did you prepare that?
 
Those who put Pickett in our forward line are removing his most damaging quality which is speed and he needs to be used up the ground on the wing to run and carry and break up the defensive structures.

I do feel that Rankine could be the best player in this draft long term but hes got chips on himself and talent can only take you so far and to get there he will need to apply himself 100%.

I dont think you can have enough honest citizens that you can set your watch to and for that reason I think Walsh is a certainty. I dont even care if Rankine becomes a jet just as long as Walsh is in the top 5 from his draft year long term. Cripps went 13, Fyfe went 20. Top 5 long term is a win. Doesn't have to be the best.

Is our forward line there? Almost. Curnow, McKay, McGovern make up the talls with Casboult as our depth. Fasolo is the small/medium, Silvagni the medium... we are just short on crumbers. Polson is unproven, LeBois hasnt played a game and outside of that we are relying upon our mids to rest up forward to do that job.
 

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skadoosh said:
What's everyone's predictions for goals assuming all games played?
Charlie 35
McKay 30
McGovern 25
Fasolo 20
Is this an unreasonable prediction?

On 2nd thoughts maybe it's too conservative for at least Charlie and Harry given their goal tally last season. How about 40 and 35 respectively?
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Mckay kicked 20 this year in maybe 10-12 games....
would expect at least double if he plays every game, especially if we actually are winning in a few games....
 
MileHigh said:
Those who put Pickett in our forward line are removing his most damaging quality which is speed and he needs to be used up the ground on the wing to run and carry and break up the defensive structures.
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I agree with you here. That said I dont think hes really been played as a forward as such. Its just that he ends up in a pocket after a run with the ball and some assume thats where hes playing. The few occasions when he has stood in a pocket hes looked lost. Definately wing to half forward and with speed that cant be matched. I dont think however that speed is his only asset. He has tricks this lad. Instinctive and creative.
 

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Further to the above. It becomes quickly obvious that we have a lot of talent in the list. Theres no way to play them all at once. A lot of depth and options. Barring injuries and bad luck theres a very decent team there about to fire. Interestingly, making a forward line is now easier than the back line and despite the talk of no midfield its not the case at all when one starts trying to select a team. Some will miss out on every line. Real depth. For the first time in a long long time.
 
katmanblue said:
So he couldn't train AT ALL during that stretch?

Not even walking laps of the pool? Couldn't use a recumbent exercise bike?

Also knowing his caloric requirements would be lower due to time off training, perhaps a more restrictive diet may have been in order.

On [device_name] using BigFooty.com mobile app
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Higher calorie diets are actually beneficial when healing broken bones.

Bit of a cruel irony I’d say.


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app
 
MileHigh said:
Those who put Pickett in our forward line are removing his most damaging quality which is speed and he needs to be used up the ground on the wing to run and carry and break up the defensive structures.
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Needs to get focussed and fit. Simple as that. If he does he will be a weapon off HB or on a wing and will make us a much better side. Has the talent and X factor. Up to him and hopefully Russell will help get the best out of him.
 

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If our midfield allows it, I'd like to see Dow spend more time forward. Looked dangerous in the preseason games in that role. He's probably the closest thing we have on our list to Collingwood's explosive medium forwards (in De Goey, Stephenson and Hoskin-Elliott). Guys who can take a grab, but are always dangerous at ground level.

Cuningham's probably the other way with some of those traits. If he's never going to become a high possession player, I'd prefer him to be developed into a high impact (and tackling) medium forward.
 
Stefchook said:
If our midfield allows it, I'd like to see Dow spend more time forward. Looked dangerous in the preseason games in that role. He's probably the closest thing we have on our list to Collingwood's explosive medium forwards (in De Goey, Stephenson and Hoskin-Elliott). Guys who can take a grab, but are always dangerous at ground level.

Cuningham's probably the other way with some of those traits. If he's never going to become a high possession player, I'd prefer him to be developed into a high impact (and tackling) medium forward.
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I've got a Big Kev feeling about our forward line this year, but let's keep Dow in the middle. We need the ball going forward.
 
Soapy V said:
Hope so. Be a good back up for LeBois & Polson then Murphy. Should kick 30 plus goals for the Northern Blues :)
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Charlie/Harry/Fasolo/McGovern will kick 30 goals each this year...
Defensive six will concede less than 100 points against every side we play.
Midfield will even out center bounces and contested ball.

too much talent not to make middling sides accountable - no cheapy easy wins against Carlton in 2019.

I reviewed start of season games last year - the boys were primed for a big year- injury ****** everything up.
 
JustaBattler said:
Charlie/Harry/Fasolo/McGovern will kick 30 goals each this year...
Defensive six will concede less than 100 points against every side we play.
Midfield will even out center bounces and contested ball.

too much talent not to make middling sides accountable - no cheapy easy wins against Carlton in 2019.

I reviewed start of season games last year - the boys were primed for a big year- injury ****** everything up.
Click to expand...

Totally agree. :thumbsu:

I see a lot of goals coming from our mids as well. Cripps Kennedy Setterfield SPS Dow Fisher can all kick multiples
 

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Analysis Do we have a forward line yet?

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