Finally! Our Best Forward Line?

[Kades_Dad]

I love that we're playing Waite as a permanent forward over the past few weeks. I think that Ratten has finally stumbled upon a forward structure that will serve us well over the coming years.

I think that these six guys have the potential to be the best forward line that we've had since the mid 90's (not that they have much to beat)

Yarran - Waite - Garlett
Hampson - Henderson - Betts

Three athletic big men who can hold a mark and three quality small forwards.

On any given day those guys are capable of kicking a bag of goals. Ratten just needs to resist the urge to put Waite as a loose man back, picking up garbage possessions. It's bad enough that he wants to waste Gibbs talent playing the same role.

Your thoughts?

 

[as0l0]

Waite to CHB

 

[PooMonkey]

The foward line of the mid 90's was a force...to say they dont have much to beat shows you dont know much about our history!

95 Grand final side -

Rice Spalding Clape
Williams Kernahan Pearce

Kernahan - 63 Goals (17 games)
Pearce - 52 Goals (23 games)
Spalding - 33 Goals (25 games)
Clape - 31 Goals (17 games)
Williams - 29 Goals (17 games)
Kouta - 22 Goals (25 games)
Rice - 21 Goals (18 games)

Add to that another 5 players that scored between 10 and 20 goals for the season.

When we get that type of spread then you can compare current day to the mid 90's!

 

[Alice]

I love that we're playing Waite as a permanent forward over the past few weeks. I think that Ratten has finally stumbled upon a forward structure that will serve us well over the coming years.

I think that these six guys have the potential to be the best forward line that we've had since the mid 90's (not that they have much to beat)

Yarran - Waite - Garlett
Hampson - Henderson - Betts

Three athletic big men who can hold a mark and three quality small forwards.

On any given day those guys are capable of kicking a bag of goals. Ratten just needs to resist the urge to put Waite as a loose man back, picking up garbage possessions. It's bad enough that he wants to waste Gibbs talent playing the same role.

Your thoughts?

Would like to see Betts increase his team focus more, work harder defensively and improve his kicking for goals that are relatively simple. Also, this structure doesn't provide the toughness it needs. Whether Yarran plays wing or rotates through the F50, it needs a fiercer body in there - probably Robbo - who crunches opponents but still kicks a couple.

 

[Kades_Dad]

The foward line of the mid 90's was a force...to say they dont have much to beat shows you dont know much about our history!

95 Grand final side -

Rice Spalding Clape
Williams Kernahan Pearce

Kernahan - 63 Goals (17 games)
Pearce - 52 Goals (23 games)
Spalding - 33 Goals (25 games)
Clape - 31 Goals (17 games)
Williams - 29 Goals (17 games)
Kouta - 22 Goals (25 games)
Rice - 21 Goals (18 games)

Add to that another 5 players that scored between 10 and 20 goals for the season.

When we get that type of spread then you can compare current day to the mid 90's!

Settle down mate. I was saying that our mid 90's forward line was great. What I'm also saying is that since that 95 era we've had a pretty poor forward line.

 

[mediumsizered]

Would like to see Betts increase his team focus more, work harder defensively and improve his kicking for goals that are relatively simple. Also, this structure doesn't provide the toughness it needs. Whether Yarran plays wing or rotates through the F50, it needs a fiercer body in there - probably Robbo - who crunches opponents but still kicks a couple.

I don't think team focus is an issue for Betts. He is currently equal first in the competition for goal assists, having finished equal second last year.

His kicking for goal has fallen away somewhat in the second half of the season, but this is just a confidence thing. His recent body language says a lot about where he is currently at in relation to his confidence/self belief. He just needs to go out & have a 4 or 5 goal game & he will be back on track after that.

 

[Alice]

I don't think team focus is an issue for Betts. He is currently equal first in the competition for goal assists, having finished equal second last year.

His kicking for goal has fallen away somewhat in the second half of the season, but this is just a confidence thing. His recent body language says a lot about where he is currently at in relation to his confidence/self belief. He just needs to go out & have a 4 or 5 goal game & he will be back on track after that.

I think the glaring example of his failure to handball to (Waite??) in the 1st Q is only one of several such instances Ive seen. And I agree with M.Lloyd - I think it's more a matter of technique and alignment than confidence.

 

[krayfesh]

I think the glaring example of his failure to handball to (Waite??) in the 1st Q is only one of several such instances Ive seen. And I agree with M.Lloyd - I think it's more a matter of technique and alignment than confidence.

Ah, 15m out, slight angle. Anybody would have gone for goal.

Miss the goal, hindsight decrees you should have passed it.

Eddie is super team oriented.

 

[GoBlues!]

Ah, 15m out, slight angle. Anybody would have gone for goal.

Miss the goal, hindsight decrees you should have passed it.

Eddie is super team oriented.

Agree. Earlier in the year when Eddie "darting eyes" Betts would look to pass it than have a set shot for goal was criticised.

If he's 15 m out he should kick the goal, that's what he paid for. Handballing that close to goal is what we expect O'hailpin to do.

 

[Kades_Dad]

Eddie is still one of the worst set shots in our team. I'd rather see him running in from 30mts out at a 45 degree angle than see him shoot straight on from 30mts out.

 

[Sin City]

Yarran - Waite - Garlett
Hampson - Henderson - Betts

Yarran/Murphy Waite Robinson/Houlihan
Betts Henderson Garlett

 

[true blue19]

Settle down mate. I was saying that our mid 90's forward line was great. What I'm also saying is that since that 95 era we've had a pretty poor forward line.

Early in the 00's we had a good forward 6

Camporeale whitnall kouta
Hickmott fev lappin

99 gf team

Beaumont whitnall hickmott
Hamill manton lappin

 

[The Grover]

Hendo & Hampson improving gives our forward line a bright future.

Throw in Kreuzer as well & we don't need any more key forwards.

Betts,garlett,robinson,murphy,yarran gives us a good mix.

 

[Quazza]

I'd swap Robinson for Hammer

 

[nully]

It is great to see Henderson hitting his strap heading toward the finals. Glad to see he's repaying the debts he owns to his believers. The fruit is sweet and ripen, ready for September. He and Garlett will push us far into September actions.

 

[goreds]

Houlihan must get back in the side...

 

[Artie Bucco]

I would like to see Houlihan make it back, he adds so much polish and a good shutdown option.

I just noticed Eddie has already had (statistically) his best season to date.

footy wire stats

More disposals, more goals, more marks than ever before with two games remaining.

 

[parrot]

Don't think Eddie's in great form right now. Missing a heap of sitters, and dropping a few simple marks. Garlett's the in-form small. Can't wait till Yarran's back.

 

[Artie Bucco]

Don't think Eddie's in great form right now. Missing a heap of sitters, and dropping a few simple marks. Garlett's the in-form small. Can't wait till Yarran's back.

Agreed, been happening all year. If he gets these things back to what we know he can do should have a brilliant 2011 given that he's as fit as he's ever been and getting to the right places on the ground.

 

[No1Suspect]

Houls needs rocket atm being the seasons end is closing, if he were to have a blinder in the 2's who misses out.. i'd say ellard?

As for our forward line i think late in yesterdays game was proably the best setup with what we have being waite, hammer n hedo with the mozzi fleet minus yarran running around, hammers marking is improving with every game n once he realises his hands are half a foot above everyone elses when he jumps look out!

Having said that when kruez is fit and firing ratts wont play all 3 in the one team, so with hendo and waite being the larger talls i personally think we need a big bodied medium of low 190's thats still fairly tall though!
I've splashed it everywhere & will keep flogging it, but darling would be perfect i think,(if we trade bold enough for him) Good mark, ground work and kick.
We have levi who is a big big boy i just dont know how long its going to take with him?
thoughts on levi?