Forward Line Structure

[snowycats]

It will be very interesting to see how Geelong sets up forward if they are able to get all players on the park.

I always thought the 3 smalls - Varcoe Stokes and Byrnes along with the stars Chapman and Johnson may have been one too many. But they are playing so well and create so much forward defensive running pressure it would be very difficult to leave any out. Varcoe is a now a given - almost a top 8 player. Stokesy has been great for the team since his return - love his toughness and running and Byrnes is a goalkicker and very valuable.

The 3 talls Pods Mooney and Hawkins also worked well. It may a be a while before it is an issue but certainly a good position to be in.

The new players this year - T Hunt Duncan Simpson all have shown promise too with perhaps Duncan the one for thew future.

If at full strength there will be some unlucky players

 

[i_need_a_pencil]

Tricky times ahead for the coaches...

In the end, considering we have some serious selection questions, and going with one decent player over another could be a deciding factor in important games..

I think, especially with the smalls, having them all there is one to many. Hopefully then, coming into the end of the season, either Byrnes or Stokes (which is where the decision will prop come down to) will be in really good form, and then the decision is easy... But right now I'de go with Byrnes, he offers more run - just look at the 09 grand finale!

 

[Poetic Justice]

Couldn't you get away with playing Hawk in the centre somewhere?

 

[Brasil2007]

It's kind of difficult because our smalls are pretty good in marking contests for the most part - they're not just traditional crumbing/harassing forwards. They've all got pretty big tanks too so they spend a lot of time motoring up and down the ground. So thinking of them just as small forwards might underplay a little the role they fulfil in the side.

I really have no idea what the coaching staff will do, I'm glad I don't have to make the decision!

 

[DanA]

I think it's fairly straight forward.

Mooney, Podsiadly, Johnson, Varcoe and Byrnes pick themselves. Chapman, Ablett, Bartel are also all good options up forward if not in the middle.

There is probably one more spot which Stokes, Hawkins, Rooke and Duncan are fighting for with possibly Christenson & Menzel putting their hands up as well.

I'm undecided who is the best option at this stage but we've got another 10 weeks to decide.

 

[thrillhouse]

Tricky times ahead for the coaches...

In the end, considering we have some serious selection questions, and going with one decent player over another could be a deciding factor in important games..

I think, especially with the smalls, having them all there is one to many. Hopefully then, coming into the end of the season, either Byrnes or Stokes (which is where the decision will prop come down to) will be in really good form, and then the decision is easy... But right now I'de go with Byrnes, he offers more run - just look at the 09 grand finale!

I prefer Byrnes to Stokes at this point in time, probably because Byrnes is giving us more fire power up forward, however Stokesy's 1%'ers are getting under the radar

Couldn't you get away with playing Hawk in the centre somewhere?

I reckon we could. A few weeks ago I would have thought maybe an Ottens/Hawkins ruck combo and both experienced forwards, but now having watch Blake show some serious improvement over the past few weeks, with his aggression, hard running and ball usage it's making it a lot harder for the selectors to pick our best 22.

How can you fit 28 men into a 22 side? It's bloody impossible! Thank god for injuries!