Forward Problems

[i_luv_westcoast]

Im really worried about West Coast this year. Who is going to kick goals for us? Wilson may suffer second year blues and he can't kick straight anyway. I think Woosha made a mistake releasing Cummings. Our only decent forward is Phil Matera, who will no doubt kick many goals due to Wilson breaking open the packs.

Sampi is another small forward who will need to stand up in his first season. It is time for Embley to begin playing consistently also, as he has the talent to succeed at this level in my opinion.

Siera will need to hold down CHF as no one else as West Coast can really lay claim to the position. There are obviously still question marks over McDougall and the new kid Hansen as to whether they have the ability or the maturity to hold down a key position. in the forward line.

Due to the uncertainty in the forward line our midfielders will have to increase the goal output to compete with many of the teams.

In saying all this however in one or two years this could be one of the most devastating forward lines in the competition. If McDougall comes along as we all hope he does, Embley plays consistently, Hansen develops into a decent player, and Sampi becomes another Phil Matera it could be great times again. The only pronblem however is that there is a lot of "ifs".

 

[daddy_4_eyes]

It all depends how other players play. If Cox can hold down the ruck it will release Gardi to play CHF, thats 30goals there atleast. If Carroll, COllica, Glass, etc can hold their own in defence it would release McIntosh into the forward line, another 30 goals. If Wilson performs how he's expected to perform we'll have another 45 goals here. If Fido can avoid anymore niggling injuries he should be worth 40 goals. If some of our midfielders take the workload off Cousins shoulders, it will allow Cousins to be more attacking, another 20 goals here.

Add to that forwards like Williams, Embley, Fletcher and some goals from our other players and we should be alright for 6-10 wins.

 

[eagleskickass]

Your also forgetting David Haynes, who will play Half Forward this year, and i think will step up.
I don't think McIntish will kick 30 goals however.
Also, one of our problems last year wasn't just kicking goals, but our midfield getting it forward to give them the opportunity to kick goals.
So a lot of our hopes for this season REALLY depend on the availability of our best midfield to create goal kicking opportunities.

 

[TheRealBuzz]

For the Eagles to succeed next year, they need to have a real spread of goal kickers.

Wilson 50+
Fido 50+

If Ph.Matera stays injury free, and finds that missing spark, then he's definitely worth 50+ goals this season.

I have doubts about Willow, but he did kick over 50 goals last year. So we can probably count on the same again, or even a few more.

Gardiner 30+
Merenda 30 +

Whether he plays entirely in the ruck, or at CHF, Gardiner must kick over 30 goals next year. Gardy was fantastic in 2001, but still didn't kick enough goals in my opinion.

Merenda is gaining match fitness, and I rate him very highly. I think he'll definitely kick over 30 goals this season.

Embly 25+
Haynes 20+
Siera 20+

I agree fully with ILW. Embly is very talented, and just needs to find consistentcy. He's tall, very mobile, and physical when at his best.

Haynes is an up and comer. If he plays every game this year (and I think he might) then he is capable of 20+ goals next year.

Siera has major question marks, but should be able to rotate through CHF and the ruck with Gardiner. 20+ would be a good result for him.

Then there's the midfiielders.
Cousins should try and average a goal a game next year.
Chad Fletcher can kick a goal or two also.
Wirrpunda is dangerous when up foward.

Also Gaspar will play a role. Either up forward himself, or realeasing a Jako or Milli to go forward.

But yeah, a lot of 'ifs'

 

[eagleskickass]

Our whole year is a lot of IFS, but we only need a few IFS to become true and we will do ok, nothing special, but we can't expect to much from a side that is rebuilding.
I knew i forgot someone that ILW forgot, merenda, he is definately worth a fair few goals, the sort of ones that can lift a team.
Matera Wilson Sampi
Merenda Seira/Gards Haynes

Not the best forward line YET, but has some promise with likely inclusions of say Hansen, McDougal in a couple of years.

 

[jod23]

I think were all doubting Wilson a little. There is no doubt that he would be working on his kicking all offseason and if he comes back and kicks pretty straight then he will be an asset to the side. With Cousins leading the midfield and guys like Morrison, Banfield and Braun back from injury, Wirrpunda with a bigger role in the midfield, add Kerr, Judd, Fletcher etc and i dont think our midfield is half bad. With that midfield and Wilson on the lead, last year i saw not one full back keep up with Wilson on the lead then i expect him to kick near 70. Again IFS...but it could happen and i wouldnt be surprised if it did. Fido can kick 60 with Cummings, WIlson breaks packs wide open, more so that Cummings ever did so i expect him to have a good year.

However after those two it falls away...Merenda is good, Haynes is a project, Seira?? Embley is inconsistent although i like Williams. But our forward line will struggle. Hopefully our half decent midfield can give the forwards ample opportunity to score.

 

[Frodo]

I think there are a few more that will figure in a more versatile attacking formation.
Look out for more midfield goals and contributions from Jones, Hunter and Sierra along with haynes who has a 60+ metre kick.

I mention Jones because he showed good forward ability at times last season but played as a tagger mostly because of Banfields Injury, This season may see him play more in a pocket, rotating on the ball to give Banners a rest. Hunter could be a good Jason Ball like option and Munro will in time be another Brett Heady. If Milli plays defence then look out for Gaspar to make a good contribution up front and we can't discount McDougal turning the corner. Ithink Sampi will be used as a midfielder or possibly a back pocket to learn the game unless Joey is injured. Also consider Judd having a go up front at times, he's certainly tall enough.

Someone mentionef 'Ifs' and the are right, but they are all pretty reasonable 'could bes'. Not long now and we'll see what's been cookin' in the Wooshapot

 

[TheRealBuzz]

Carlton's forward line is a good example of what the Eagles should aim for.

Last year Matty Lappin was their leading goalkicker with 44 majors.
Phil Matera can equal that, or even better that next year.

Whittnall was their next best with 34.
Willow can do that, in fact if he kicks straight, he could probably double that number.

But then they've got guys like Houlihan, Fevola and Hickmott (who's a severely under-rated player) who chipped in with 25-30.

Their midfielders also contributed well.
Ratten kicked 21, Camporeale kicked 20 and even Dusty Hulme bagged 14.

They finished the season in fifth position because of a big spread of goalkickers.

We've got two guys who can kick 50+, but it's up to guys like Merenda, Gardiner, Embly, Siera, Haynes, Cuzz, Wirra, Fletcher and Jones to be regular contributers and finish the year with 20+ goals next to their name.

 

[iceman]

i agree with Frodo in regards to Jones. In some of the games last season when thrust into the forward line, he was a definite target and looks the goods there. Maybe with Banfield back he can be used in a more attacking role???
And about Wilson, he's super fast on the lead and very strong one on one, so i have no doubt he could break the 50+ goals this season (if he's learnt how to kick)

 

[kuepper]

The way I see it, you have no forwards, so you have no forward problems!

Easy!

 

[eagleskickass]

Originally posted by kuepper
The way I see it, you have no forwards, so you have no forward problems!

Easy!

yes kuep

Seriously, we have some young forward talent that will take a couple of year to emerge.
While willow will never be the best ff ever, he is servicable, and creates opportunities for fido and merenda, and David Haynes will be no hack

 

[sabre_ac]

Originally posted by kuepper
The way I see it, you have no forwards, so you have no forward problems!

Easy!

My thoughts exactly.

Comparing your forward line to that of Carltons is a little rich.
Sure matera is in the league of lappin but you hardly have anyone the quality of whitenall.
And please dont say Gardiner because its obvious you need him in the ruck.
Not to mention the Blues had Porter along with a midfield that had the calibre of Kouta,Ratten,Camporeale and Bradley.

 

[TheRealBuzz]

Originally posted by sabre_ac
Comparing your forward line to that of Carltons is a little rich.

I was simply using Carlton as an example of a team who shares the workload well.

And Sabre, let's not forget that our forward line managed to outscore yours twice last season.

Not that that means much.

 

[iceman]

Originally posted by TheRealBuzz
I was simply using Carlton as an example of a team who shares the workload well.

And Sabre, let's not forget that our forward line managed to outscore yours twice last season.

Not that that means much.

comparing wins against Freo and vica versa are embarrasing nowadays....

however, i agree in regards to your comments about carlton but i believe that their midfield contributes very heavily to the goalscoring and thats why they dont need a powerful forward line structure

 

[Frodo]

Originally posted by sabre_ac

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kuepper

The way I see it, you have no forwards, so you have no forward problems!

Easy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My thoughts exactly.

Comparing your forward line to that of Carltons is a little rich.
Sure matera is in the league of lappin but you hardly have anyone the quality of whitenall.
And please dont say Gardiner because its obvious you need him in the ruck.
Not to mention the Blues had Porter along with a midfield that had the calibre of Kouta,Ratten,Camporeale and Bradley.

Five rounds in and we are the most potent scoring side in the AFL with Wilson topping the goalscoring chart..................didn't get it quite right methinks Sabre

 

[sabre_ac]

Originally posted by Frodo


Five rounds in and we are the most potent scoring side in the AFL with Wilson topping the goalscoring chart..................didn't get it quite right methinks Sabre

Exactly 5 rounds in....

 

[jod23]

Anybody see my comments...predicted Wilson to kick 70....i think im right on the money

 

[carlyp]

I dont know why your all so worried!!!! Our forwards have been doing great this year!! As someone earlier on stated...we have the most potent forward line in the comp! Its not a thing we have to worry about! Our midfield are the area that we have to watch although theyve been quite good this season too....
Guys relax..our team is alright, we've got a lot more depth than we had and our second tier players are standing up. The only way is up!

 

[noodle]

thanks for that frodo. it is nice to be reminded that freo supporters are generally full of sh*t.

 

[i_luv_westcoast]

LOL looks like I got it very wrong as well

 

[kuepper]

Yes noodle, thats right - I see the started of this therad is a west coast supporter, and I see your prophetic post about the potency of your forwardline in there as well.

Oh no, hang on, no I dont.

I just see you sniping after the fact, my bad.

 

[Mr Eagle]

Originally posted by kuepper
I just see you sniping after the fact, my bad.

Isn't after the fact the only appropriate time for anyone to prove or disprove a claim?

 

[kuepper]

Originally posted by Mr Eagle
Isn't after the fact the only appropriate time for anyone to prove or disprove a claim?

No doubt.

Is this:

"thanks for that frodo. it is nice to be reminded that freo supporters are generally full of sh*t."

Doing that?

No my good man, that is sniping - take it from one who knows.

 

[daddy_4_eyes]

Originally posted by jod23
Anybody see my comments...predicted Wilson to kick 70....i think im right on the money

Check the 2nd post of this thread. So far I'm spot on

 

[Mr Eagle]

Originally posted by kuepper
No my good man, that is sniping - take it from one who knows.

While naturally I don't doubt the position of experience from which you speak, Kuep he IS emphasising proof of a claim. A claim very near and dear to many of our hearts (I'd blame sabre if I were you )

And you'll notice that noodle did say 'generally'. Rest assured we all take notice of your one sensible post a month. Really!