Fullbacks

[shawthing09]

I was thinking about the pies first round draft pick this year N. Brown (pick 10) Who we hope will take over the reins at full back after presti is done and something occured to me

How many current and recent long term full backs where drafted/started their careers as fullbacks, and then fulfilled that role at the specific club for majority of the career????? What I am getting at is the most full backs where excess or fringe fowards, Or went to another club before being succesful.

Collingwood-Presti, Recruited as a center half foward, could not break into the team due to Sav Rocca's form and ended up playing as a back

Sydney- Leo Barry, Again started as a high flying foward.

Brisbane. Merret, started as a foward and started doing some defensive work with J Brown and showed something so was tried down back for the lions.

Port- Toby Thurstans, Fringe ruck/Foward

Hawthorn- Hard to say who plays full back for them but Croad started as a foward went to Freo and back. Gilham started his career at port. Dawson who was recruited to be there full back is still yet to rebreak into the side.

Bulldogs- Actually unsure on who really plays as a full back at the doggies.

Richmond- More often then not in recent times Joel Bowden has been given the role, who started as a mid/running half back

West Coast, Adeliade and Geelong- Glass, Rutten and Scarlett 3 of the best full backs in the comp and i have no idea on there history, may well be natural full backs hence doing the job so well.

Freo- Mcpharlin, from hawthorn started his career as a foward if my memory serves me correctly

Saints- Hudghton i guess is there full back not sure on his role early days. Luke Penny was a high pick full back (for the bulldogs) who did not make an impact on the AFL till later in his career.

North-Firrito and Petrie, Both uttilites originally. Pettrie ruck/foward, Firrito Foward/wing

Carlton- Who cares??? O'Halpin/Saddington/Thornton

Essendon- Fletcher and Mal, may well be natural fullbacks

Melbourne- unsue bout chopper but Ben Holland Clint Bizzle and Miller all started as fowards.

It's hard to see to many Full backs who where succesful drafted and turned into full backs which is an intresting trend.

 

[NikkiNoo]

Rutten was a forward when rookied at Adelaide. He played his first game as a forward and his first three kicks were goals. He had played as a junior mostly at chf, with some occasional stints in the backlines. In the SA u18 team he was the captain and played at chf during the carnival.

 

[PADJUAN]

Dawson played as a ruckmen at U18 level for calder.. initially played as a versatile KPP before settling down back. IIRC josh thurgood started at box hill playing at FB under the tution of Gavin Crossisca but was never able to bulk up..

 

[Mancey]

Glass has always been a backman IIRC. Albeit a rather raw and underweight one in the early days.

The fact he kicked 2 goals in his first 50 games, and only 8 in a 140 odd game career is probably proof enough he hasn't gone forward too much.

 

[Butane]

Bulldogs- Actually unsure on who really plays as a full back at the doggies.

Maybe you should watch a Bulldogs game. He's a gun and a traditional full back. He's the only reason we haven't been losing by 30 goals. And its obvious who it is if you'd ever seen a dogs game.

 

[Vinnie Vegas]

Yep, Glass and Scarlett are two who were always backmen and Glass was drafted at #11, while Scarlett probably would have been taken quite high if he wasn't F/S to Geelong.

 

[Lady Lawrence]

Brisbane. Merret, started as a foward and started doing some defensive work with J Brown and showed something so was tried down back for the lions.

Seems to be a bit of a trend at Brisbane. Justin Leppitsch started as a forward and I wouldn't be surprised to see Daniel Bradshaw down back next year.

 

[mwalker]

Maybe you should watch a Bulldogs game. He's a gun and a traditional full back. He's the only reason we haven't been losing by 30 goals. And its obvious who it is if you'd ever seen a dogs game.

Maybe you could add something to the thread by naming said player.....not all of us have detailed knowledge of all 16 teams. Atleast he didn't make someone up....posing as someone who knows all, as some would have.

 

[4#Didak#4]

Maybe you should watch a Bulldogs game. He's a gun and a traditional full back. He's the only reason we haven't been losing by 30 goals. And its obvious who it is if you'd ever seen a dogs game.

Yes, but I don't think Chris Grant played that well this year.

 

[fish_bowl]

it does seem interesting that alot of forwards end up as fullbacks. i think if courntney johns is to play at a decent level in the afl it will be as abackman. sheedy has had matty knights play him back for bendigo to further develop him in that area. i know that mal was recruited as a forward for the pies aswell

 

[Underdog]

it does seem interesting that alot of forwards end up as fullbacks. i think if courntney johns is to play at a decent level in the afl it will be as abackman. sheedy has had matty knights play him back for bendigo to further develop him in that area. i know that mal was recruited as a forward for the pies aswell

I think it's more of a case that as young kids at a lower side they would be dominating. Do you want you most dominating player at FB or CHF? Most definitely CHF. At AFL level they may not be at the required level for a CHF but that isn't to say they're not also a very good backman. It's just that they are essentially untried there as they were pushed into more important roles when younger.

 

[PADJUAN]

Does Brian Harris ring a bell??

 

[wotdoiput]

To those wondering you the not bad full back at the Bulldogs is. Its Brian Harris. Fairly good full back. Hasnt had a great deal of chance to stop opposition forwards this season, given the very bad form of the Bullies. Especially the second half of the season.

 

[4#Didak#4]

Brian who? Isn't it Brian Gilbee?

 

[rocklovelive]

Bulldogs- Actually unsure on who really plays as a full back at the doggies.
Brian Harris
Richmond- More often then not in recent times Joel Bowden has been given the role, who started as a mid/running half back
Will Thursfield
Saints- Hudghton i guess is there full back not sure on his role early days. Luke Penny was a high pick full back (for the bulldogs) who did not make an impact on the AFL till later in his career.
Max Hudgton
North-Firrito and Petrie, Both uttilites originally. Pettrie ruck/foward, Firrito Foward/wing
Michael Firrito
Carlton- Who cares??? O'Halpin/Saddington/Thornton
Santa O'Hopeless
Melbourne- unsue bout chopper but Ben Holland Clint Bizzle and Miller all started as fowards.
Nathan Carrol