Forward line costing us games

[Smyth94]

Apart from the fact that our delivery to our forwards was spasmodic at best last night, how in the world can you lose a game by 48 points with having just as many scoring shots and more I50 entries?

First things first - Lucas needs to make way. He is simply not taking enough marks forward of the centre. His job is to take marks and kick goals - he's not doing that, champion player Scotty is, getting cheap kicks off the wing/HB isn't going to cut the mustard. (It hurt saying that)

The above is forcing Lloyd up the field to provide a link between HB and HF - There were a number of times last night where we looked good with Lloyd at CHF but we fell down massively on that kick from HF to FF. We've basically got an underperforming Lucas and a host of small forwards who cannot take a contested mark (although Winderlich was doing well).

I don't think Neagle is going to be a better option than Scotty - in essence we're just swapping an underperforming 31 yr old to an underperforming 21 year old. What we do need is to get one of McPhee, Hurley or Daniher in the forward line to provide that link between CHF and HB so that when we do go deep, we've got Lloyd who is always a genuine chance to take a grab or at least make a contest so that our smalls are not having to play the role of KPP and can primarily focus on crumbing.

Hurley needs to be brought back immediately now that Fletcher is gone.

 

[resurrector]

agreed our fwds are costing us games, don't know the exact stat but our accuracy rate is deplorable this year - am pretty sure it'd be in the bottom 2...so many easy set shots are being missed.

don't know that bringing hurley straight back into the side is the answer, give him a run in the twos and bring t-bell in which should give us more flexility with talls, freeing up paddy and mcphee.

IMO the forward strcuture should have lucas/lloyd as dual FFs (lloyd leading, lucas stay-at-home ) with mcphee as the hit up, with guys like winderlich, monfries and NLM floating thru to provide medium sized targets. then you have davey/jetta to do the crumbing and fwd hustle.

sounds great in theory but of course we've got to get on top of the hawks mids and secondly CONVERT to be of any threat up front.

 

[Hawkers Hero]

Apart from the fact that our delivery to our forwards was spasmodic at best last night, how in the world can you lose a game by 48 points with having just as many scoring shots and more I50 entries?

First things first - Lucas needs to make way. He is simply not taking enough marks forward of the centre. His job is to take marks and kick goals - he's not doing that, champion player Scotty is, getting cheap kicks off the wing/HB isn't going to cut the mustard. (It hurt saying that)

The above is forcing Lloyd up the field to provide a link between HB and HF - There were a number of times last night where we looked good with Lloyd at CHF but we fell down massively on that kick from HF to FF. We've basically got an underperforming Lucas and a host of small forwards who cannot take a contested mark (although Winderlich was doing well).

I don't think Neagle is going to be a better option than Scotty - in essence we're just swapping an underperforming 31 yr old to an underperforming 21 year old. What we do need is to get one of McPhee, Hurley or Daniher in the forward line to provide that link between CHF and HB so that when we do go deep, we've got Lloyd who is always a genuine chance to take a grab or at least make a contest so that our smalls are not having to play the role of KPP and can primarily focus on crumbing.

Hurley needs to be brought back immediately now that Fletcher is gone.

Hope you dont mind me posting but personally I think youd be better off dropping Lucas and playing Neagle for an extended period. Lucas is horribly out of form and not really looking like he is going to turn it around so you may as well give a young kid a run - with the extra confidence of a string of games he may start performing closer to his talent levels.

Having said that, playing the Hawks defence right now is the perfect way to get yourself bck in form - he would probably only have Murphy to contend with this week

 

[Bombertastic]

I'm not as critical of Scotty. When I watched the ANZAC game for the third time and then last night it was clear that a lot of his problem is delivery into the forward line. It just isn't up to standard. We make plenty of entries but a lot of them miss the target and Scotty has probably suffered more then anyone from poor delivery.

When he has got his chances he hasn't taken them but this may say more about the pressure he's under knowing that at the moment with our bad delivery chances are too few.

Persist with Scotty and I think with his 900 out of the way Lloyd will settle down a lot better. We have some really good small players that compliment then well in Winderlich, Monfries and Jetta.

In the end our game play is great and really plays into our strengths of speed and running the lines through the middle. Improvement in general skills is something that will take time with this team and when players like NLM learn to kick to targets I think we'll turn the corner. What may be the missing link is the players still to come into the side like Spike and Prismall.

Once we get the balance and skills improve we're going to be very dangerous. I'm more encouraged after watching us play this season then I have been for a long time.

 

[Smyth94]

Hope you dont mind me posting but personally I think youd be better off dropping Lucas and playing Neagle for an extended period. Lucas is horribly out of form and not really looking like he is going to turn it around so you may as well give a young kid a run - with the extra confidence of a string of games he may start performing closer to his talent levels.

Having said that, playing the Hawks defence right now is the perfect way to get yourself bck in form - he would probably only have Murphy to contend with this week

Have you seen Neagle play? He simply doesn't get enough of the ball - his last senior game resulted in 2 disposals, 1 goal - not good enough for a player of his talent. He needs to earn games through the VFL.

 

[LeeARM]

If Neagle keeps playing crap we could have a backline of Hurley/Pears/Hooker and a forward line of Lloyd/Daniher with Ryder/Bellchambers resting in the forward line and McPhee/NLM going to help out on either side. We could even put Hurley in the forward line if we needed to.
Although, the best thing would be if Lucas or Neagle started playing good.

 

[Sigmund]

I must say that I do not like the idea of Hurley in the forward line... Sheedy had a penchant for moving players around in the mid 90's (and prob most of his career) which I never really liked much. For his development, let's settle him in the backline. Kicking goals as a KP at TAC cup level is an entirely different prospect than doing it at AFL level

 

[The Dustbin]

The last 3 weeks has seen Lloyd and Lucas kick 5 goals between them. Lloyd kicking all 5.

Lucas gets smashed on the lead now, which is robbing us of a hit up forward.
At a guess, we'd have to be ranked 16th for marks inside 50.

 

[warney7]

It's very nearly time for Lucas to be dropped.

I haven't called for his head so far this season, but he is a forward and he is not kicking goals.

The question is, does Neagle deserve a recall? Has he been showing that he could be doing better than Lucas?

He is still trying hard, running all around the ground, and he took a couple of strong marks last night.

But it is absolutely clear that he is playing in some sort of pain. And if his bursitis on his elbow isn't causing it, then he has another injury which he just can't afford to be carrying.

I'd give Lucas one more week and if he can't perform, he has to have a rest.

 

[Duckworth]

It's very nearly time for Lucas to be dropped.

I haven't called for his head so far this season, but he is a forward and he is not kicking goals.

The question is, does Neagle deserve a recall? Has he been showing that he could be doing better than Lucas?

He is still trying hard, running all around the ground, and he took a couple of strong marks last night.

But it is absolutely clear that he is playing in some sort of pain. And if his bursitis on his elbow isn't causing it, then he has another injury which he just can't afford to be carrying.

I'd give Lucas one more week and if he can't perform, he has to have a rest.

I agree with this. He doesn't have a noticable injury (well not to me) but something is wrong when you consistently drop chest marks.

 

[daffo]

It has been stated that Lucas doesn't have an injury, it's just confidence. I believe that if he kicks a bag of four then he'll be back, but it is coming up to that stage where he has had enough chances.