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Opinion Fasolo experiment

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domin8tors

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so many would say that the Fasolo down back experiment has failed. With that said I wonder if perhaps it hasn't failed. as the Biggest gripe with Fasolo is that he was a down hill skier, no defensive side to his game.

Yes only an Intraclub game but I noticed that he was the leading tackler. so perhaps having now played down back for 12 months he has learnt the defensive type of play that is required to become a regular 22.

we all know that he is good for 1-2 goals per game and is highly skilled but if he can put the hard yards in he is a player that can take us from middle of the road to top 8.
 
Fasolo played 10 full games last year - we won 6 of them. Lost to Cats, Hawks, Brisbane (Disaster missing all our stars) & WCE) - We only won 11 games for the year.

I certainly don't think him running out of defence last season was a fail.

He had a limited pre-season, was injured in round 6 and 12.

Let's get players 100% fit with full preseasons before righting them off.
 
Fasolo is a Natural Forward and that is where he has the most Impact is as up Forward
 

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Interesting. I'd agree Fasolo is a natural forward, willing to take the game on, decent footskills and not naturally defensive. Still in modern footy, at least at the pies they may be good reasons to play him down back. Personally I don't care, we do need improved foot skills in the backline. The most important thing is that he makes it somewhere and I woulda thought if it doesn't happen this year it likely won't happen.
 
I have been a critic of Fasolo in the past but I think he showed a few signs last year that we must persist with him down back. Yes he had a couple of quiet games but dont forget he was coming off an interupted pre season last year and a few other injuries throughout the year. He certianly was lost a couple of times down back in a few matches - his first gave v Geelong was certianly an example of this. But I would much prefer him to be down back than up forward. He improved throughout the year and I think if he had a full year he would have been very solid by years end. Also he would be my first choice to take the kick ins.

#keepfasback
 
We lack forwards, Fasolo plays his best football as a forward, hmm, where should we play him?:drunk:

With Fas I think the move down back did improve the defensive side of his game, and that should actually improve him as a forward too as he can add that defensive pressure you need to add inside 50 to be an AFL class forward these days.
 
I think with Elliott up forward we have no real need for a small marking forward that doesn't put much pressure on. Would rather Karnezis up forward before Fasolo.

As a defender I think he's our best options for the kick ins. Manning up still needs work but remember it was his first year as a defender.
 
Critical year for Fas or questions will be asked.

Needs to consistently play the type of footy we know he can.
He joins a few others in this category: Keefe, Thomas, Williams, Sinclair spring to mind.
 
Leon Davis would be classified as a natural forward, too. I think a more apt term would be that Fasolo is naturally offensive. But I think that would be of more use from the backline, rather than as a small forward.

If we reduce our turn overs in transition, we will be more effective with the press, we will score more (is that 12 words?). Anyway, my point is that having good, skillful users of the ball coming out of the backline is more beneficial to the team than having our good, skillful users ahead of the ball. If we are confident in transition, then we'll swarm and press with menace. It's when we turn the ball over going through the midfield, creating this vacuum where players have to turn and sprint back, that gets us in trouble.
 
I am a big wrap for Fasolo. Doesn't get near enough credit for his 1st 2 years in the system which were top class and put him near the top of his draft year. Last 2 seasons written off with injury essentially. If he had not been injured I believe he would have remained a lock in 2013-4. As he has had a pre season this year and seems injury free I am expecting a great season from him.
 
Gambit78 said:
Leon Davis would be classified as a natural forward, too. I think a more apt term would be that Fasolo is naturally offensive. But I think that would be of more use from the backline, rather than as a small forward.

If we reduce our turn overs in transition, we will be more effective with the press, we will score more (is that 12 words?). Anyway, my point is that having good, skillful users of the ball coming out of the backline is more beneficial to the team than having our good, skillful users ahead of the ball. If we are confident in transition, then we'll swarm and press with menace. It's when we turn the ball over going through the midfield, creating this vacuum where players have to turn and sprint back, that gets us in trouble.
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Maybe not this season after the injuries of 2013-4 but if Fas can get his tank up I want to see him as an attacking midfielder. With his superior kicking and ball use as well as goal sense it would be a natural position for him to excel in. Likewise I can see why his skillset would be of benefit coming off HB
 

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I think I've interpreted the OP differently to most here seem to have. I took it as Fasolos time down back has given him a defensive side to his game which he can now take with him to use in the forward line. Meaning he can be a more complete package up forward.

So in summary, while the team may not have succeeded with him down back, he has succeeded in reshaping the way he plays. In doing so this makes the experiment a success on a personal level even though it seemingly failed on a team level. Therefore a move back into the forward line should bring about some team success.

Does that make sense to anyone else?
 
Finnishpie said:
I think Fasolo down back was a success. Once he got the hang of it, he rebounded well. Didn't he get close to 25 possessions at half-back one game? Anyway, I'd be happy to see him forward or back. Forward he gives us skill - especially kicking for goal - and the same down back.
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He had 32 disposals off half back v North Melbourne in about his 3rd game as a defender. Best on for me that day. People forget about that because he's kicked a few goals at times
 
He had 17, 20 and 32 possessions from a HBF, before his foot issues flared up again. We rushed him back (kicking 4 goals against St Kilda no less) and then he went down again, requiring surgery.

Not sure how anyone can definitely call him a failure as a defender in a Leon type delivery role. He got Brownlow votes in that role FFS!

Either way, he's thus far had no issues with his feet and is fit. I don't think he's as unaccountable as some suggest. I think he's best as a forward and I think he can also deliver his share of forward pressure.
 

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PTpie said:
I agree with TD. Fasolo is a natural forward - but then again so was Leon Davis. I think at this time he is better suited up forward for us.
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IF they want Fasolo down back. Try it in the VFL and not in the AFL.

Though keep him forward now
 
I think with the return of Brown and Reid (when he does) down back and the improvement in Langdon we don't "need" Fasolo down back. What we need is goals and he kicks them better than most.

I've never said that it was a failure to move into defense, in fact, I think it was beneficial to his development as a player and provides us (and him) with some flexibility. His disposal his excellent. He generally has good judgement and he has no shortage of courage to take the game on. Very well suited to a Malceski or Birchall type role. I just feel that the team is better with Fasolo in the forward line either kicking goals or delivering the ball lace out to Cloke and Elliott with 30 - 50 metre bullets.
 
Hagla said:
I think I've interpreted the OP differently to most here seem to have. I took it as Fasolos time down back has given him a defensive side to his game which he can now take with him to use in the forward line. Meaning he can be a more complete package up forward.

So in summary, while the team may not have succeeded with him down back, he has succeeded in reshaping the way he plays. In doing so this makes the experiment a success on a personal level even though it seemingly failed on a team level. Therefore a move back into the forward line should bring about some team success.

Does that make sense to anyone else?
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that is correct, I'm not saying that he can't play back. I created the post to point out that he has now added defensive pressure to his game which will only hold him in good stead.
some players just know where the goals are. AKA Didak. and Fasolo has this skill. I'd rather that he sits wing / HF and get the last kick into the forward entry rather then back pocket. as generally teams concede the first kick or two. it's the next kick that we could use his skills entering into the fwd 50.
 
I actually don't mind that we're starting to recruit these types of players. Players have have a super high ceiling but need the right development.

My issue with it is that our development of talent isn't what it should be.

Fasolo has the talent to be anything. We just need to maximise that talent. I don't feel we are. At all. Injuries don't help.
 
I'll also be disappointed if Fas spends more time in the backline. The goal he kicked in the last game of 2014 against Hawthorn is a prime example of his excellent goal sense. For his height, he is an outstanding mark of the ball. He plays tall, he's nimble and like mentioned can find the goals.

I'm hoping that his stint in the backline was just to learn some accountability and to develop the defensive side of his game. Ideally, he returns to the forward line forcing Jarryd Blair out of the side.
 
Fasolo in the backline as a stepping stone for him playing in the mid imo. We need better kicks running out of the backline and he could be a long term solution to that problem. We don't need lead/mark and not do much else small forwards.
 

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