Opinion Hooker: Back or Forward?

[eth-dog]

I contend that you are incorrect and Hooker kicked very few goals (and behinds) from general play and his set set shot stats would be closer to 17.14 (or something like that)

Well you'd be absolutely incorrect. From general play he'd have kicked 2/3 of his goals and 1/3 of his behinds, and vice-versa. His set shots were terrible.

 

[bombadeer]

I like the look of Hooker in the forward line - if our midfield is more competitive in 2016, and our backline is therefore under less pressure that it was towards the end of this year, he could be a revelation in the forward half.

 

[Marley10]

Hooker and Hurley would be the best defensive pair (or just about) in the competition.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Hooker back for me.

 

[bombadeer]

Hooker and Hurley would be the best defensive pair (or just about) in the competition.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Hooker back for me.

Our forward line is broke. Let's fix it.

 

[Old Campaigner]

Moving gun defenders into attack isn't a sustainable solution for our forward line. Why not just draft or trade for the depth we need instead of trying to fit square pegs into round holes?

Unless Hartley is really really good, I think Hooker should stay in defense.

 

[Jade]

Back. Bloke is an AA level defender.

 

[Beerfish]

Back. Bloke is an AA level defender.

Would be an AA level forward given the chance. Guy is just that good.

 

[Jade]

Would be an AA level forward given the chance. Guy is just that good.

You're probably not far wrong either.

Is still one of the most awkward looking footballers I've ever seen, but **** me he can play.

 

[Beerfish]

Would karaoke with too just quietly..

 

[Jobe is King]

I contend that you are incorrect and Hooker kicked very few goals (and behinds) from general play and his set set shot stats would be closer to 17.14 (or something like that)

Well you'd be absolutely incorrect. From general play he'd have kicked 2/3 of his goals and 1/3 of his behinds, and vice-versa. His set shots were terrible.

So, I got bored and looked back at Hooker's scores for the year:

• Hooker kicked 21 goals and 21 behinds in 2015 (50/50 chance when he chucks it on the boot)
• Average of 0.91 goals and 0.91 behinds per game.
• From general play, he scored 8.6 (accuracy of 57.14%)
• From set shots, he scored 13.15 (accuracy of 46.43%)

Looking at Round 14 and after when he was a forward:

• Hooker kicked 20 goals and 19 behinds
• Average of 2 goals and 1.9 behinds per game.
• From general play, he scored 7.5 (accuracy of 58.33%)
• From set shots, he scored 13.14 (accuracy of 48.15%)

Side note: He is actually pretty handy at making something out of nothing.

Anyway, wasn't sure what else to do with this information so I made a graph:

Fun fact: Geoff Ablett played 229 games between 1973-85 and kicked 153 goals and 234 behinds at 39.53%

 

[MAAAATTDAAAAMON]

Prefer Hooker in backline but it is totally dependent on others.

If Brown and Daniher foward works, then perfect = Hooker backline.

If Bellchambers or McKernan with Daniher works forward = Hooker backline.

So basically if anyone else can step in and help Joe = Hooker backline.

But if not, Hooker forward seems necessary, any feasible, particularly with the inclusions of Brown and Hartley. You'd think 1-2 of Brown, Hartley or Gwilt could support Hurley enough back there.

 

[Big Fresh]

So, I got bored and looked back at Hooker's scores for the year:

• Hooker kicked 21 goals and 21 behinds in 2015 (50/50 chance when he chucks it on the boot)
• Average of 0.91 goals and 0.91 behinds per game.
• From general play, he scored 8.6 (accuracy of 57.14%)
• From set shots, he scored 13.15 (accuracy of 46.43%)

Looking at Round 14 and after when he was a forward:

• Hooker kicked 20 goals and 19 behinds
• Average of 2 goals and 1.9 behinds per game.
• From general play, he scored 7.5 (accuracy of 58.33%)
• From set shots, he scored 13.14 (accuracy of 48.15%)

Side note: He is actually pretty handy at making something out of nothing.

Anyway, wasn't sure what else to do with this information so I made a graph:

Fun fact: Geoff Ablett played 229 games between 1973-85 and kicked 153 goals and 234 behinds at 39.53%

Slightly more useful than people just guessing statistics.

 

[ManWithNoName]

Running half back. We need more of those.

 

[calyam]

If we are serious about making finals then we will play him in backline. We potentially have a backline that you can build a finals team around but that falls apart if Hooker is played forward of centre. Our midfield simply isn't dominant enough to take exceptional talent out of our backline.

 

[Marley10]

Our forward line is broke. Let's fix it.

Not at the expense of our backline. Leaked a lot when Hooker went forward and it didn't fix our forwardline that much.

Brown, McKernan and Bellchambers all options to play forward.

 

[Marley10]

So, I got bored and looked back at Hooker's scores for the year:

• Hooker kicked 21 goals and 21 behinds in 2015 (50/50 chance when he chucks it on the boot)
• Average of 0.91 goals and 0.91 behinds per game.
• From general play, he scored 8.6 (accuracy of 57.14%)
• From set shots, he scored 13.15 (accuracy of 46.43%)

Looking at Round 14 and after when he was a forward:

• Hooker kicked 20 goals and 19 behinds
• Average of 2 goals and 1.9 behinds per game.
• From general play, he scored 7.5 (accuracy of 58.33%)
• From set shots, he scored 13.14 (accuracy of 48.15%)

Side note: He is actually pretty handy at making something out of nothing.

Anyway, wasn't sure what else to do with this information so I made a graph:

Fun fact: Geoff Ablett played 229 games between 1973-85 and kicked 153 goals and 234 behinds at 39.53%

What about the shots that were out on the full or didn't make the journey?
I just think that he is too valuable down back and won't improve our forwardline as much as some people are hoping

 

[fishardansin]

Forward. I'd like to see him play deep forward which allows us to push Daniher up high. McKernan can also push up a fair bit as he has the tank to play on ball. Luenberger to play a kick behind the play and Hurley, Hartley and Brown as KPDs. Gwilt and Pears as VFL KPDs and Bellchambers/Gach ruck forwards, just need another KPF and I think there's a VFL listed bloke for that role.

Hooker works bloody hard in the forward line. He continually presents and gives 110% in each contest. He also offers plenty defensively and is no slouch when it comes to chasing and tackling. Furthermore, it was reported he wants to play forward, and being the year his big contract is up that has to be taken into consideration.

When you look at the depth we have: Hurley and Brown capable of playing forward; Bellchambers as Depth; Daniher potentially played deep forward; some cover from Gwilt, it won't hurt us to start with Hooker forward but potentially change it if it's not working out or he needs to used to plug a gap somewhere else.

McKernan and Daniher getting on their bikes allows us to play through them or run and carry off half back for quick transition. I'd like to see that with a marking beast like Hooker deep in our forward line. Hurley struggled to mark up forward and had a terrible run with injury and Carlisle hated it there. We now have one of the best marks to play at our club standing at 196cm desperate to play there. Lets give it a go and if it doesn't work out then we can settle him down back again and then go for a FA KPF next year.

Hooker could kick 60 goals next year, based on the terrible midfield we had last year. What could he do with an actual ruckman and Watson, Heppell, Myers, Hocking, Merrett and Colyer all out there at once? If Daniher could kick 40 and then McKernan, Laverde and Cooney all kick 20 each then we're in good shape. Brown to some extent, but certainly Hartley can make Hooker superfluous down back in 2016. However, not only could he be a centre piece to a forwardline as described above, he will also draw a lot of attention away from Daniher who remains 5-10kg shy of being "the man", as well as letting McKernan be a genuine support player.

I hope that settles it for everyone. You know I'm right.

 

[Marley10]

Forward. I'd like to see him play deep forward which allows us to push Daniher up high. McKernan can also push up a fair bit as he has the tank to play on ball. Luenberger to play a kick behind the play and Hurley, Hartley and Brown as KPDs. Gwilt and Pears as VFL KPDs and Bellchambers/Gach ruck forwards, just need another KPF and I think there's a VFL listed bloke for that role.

Hooker works bloody hard in the forward line. He continually presents and gives 110% in each contest. He also offers plenty defensively and is no slouch when it comes to chasing and tackling. Furthermore, it was reported he wants to play forward, and being the year his big contract is up that has to be taken into consideration.

When you look at the depth we have: Hurley and Brown capable of playing forward; Bellchambers as Depth; Daniher potentially played deep forward; some cover from Gwilt, it won't hurt us to start with Hooker forward but potentially change it if it's not working out or he needs to used to plug a gap somewhere else.

McKernan and Daniher getting on their bikes allows us to play through them or run and carry off half back for quick transition. I'd like to see that with a marking beast like Hooker deep in our forward line. Hurley struggled to mark up forward and had a terrible run with injury and Carlisle hated it there. We now have one of the best marks to play at our club standing at 196cm desperate to play there. Lets give it a go and if it doesn't work out then we can settle him down back again and then go for a FA KPF next year.

Hooker could kick 60 goals next year, based on the terrible midfield we had last year. What could he do with an actual ruckman and Watson, Heppell, Myers, Hocking, Merrett and Colyer all out there at once? If Daniher could kick 40 and then McKernan, Laverde and Cooney all kick 20 each then we're in good shape. Brown to some extent, but certainly Hartley can make Hooker superfluous down back in 2016. However, not only could he be a centre piece to a forwardline as described above, he will also draw a lot of attention away from Daniher who remains 5-10kg shy of being "the man", as well as letting McKernan be a genuine support player.

I hope that settles it for everyone. You know I'm right.

Wouldn't we be too tall with Bellchambers, McKernan, Hooker and Daniher in the one forwardline?

I'd go with Daniher, Brown, Langford as the 3rd tall and McKernan as the Mobile tall. If Hartley plays VFL and Brown back, then Daniher, Bellchambers, McKernan and Langford.

Then we'd have a serviceable forwardline with an excellent backline.

 

[fishardansin]

Wouldn't we be too tall with Bellchambers, McKernan, Hooker and Daniher in the one forwardline?

I'd go with Daniher, Brown, Langford as the 3rd tall and McKernan as the Mobile tall. If Hartley plays VFL and Brown back, then Daniher, Bellchambers, McKernan and Langford.

Then we'd have a serviceable forwardline with an excellent backline.

Bellchambers in the VFL.

 

[Bombermania]

Hooker kicked 20 goals in 9 games with an average of 2.2 goals per game with zero training as a forward. Going off this average it's a 50 goal season, we haven't had a forward who could kick over 40 goals since Lloyd. Also imagine how he'll go with a preseason trained as a forward?

IMO we need a 50+ goal forward more then an elite KPD especially since we've already got Hurley whose a beast in his own right as a KPD.

Nice set of stats, I didn't realise he had been that solid in his time up forward.

My preference would be for him to be mostly down back with occasional visits forward, but if the above stats can be maintained or improved upon then maybe he can stay forward instead of Bellchambers.

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

Training with the forwards group atm but that just to improve his forward craft will become the best swing man in the game imo.

 

[Shane Hird]

hes too clunky to be a genuine forward

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

hes too clunky to be a genuine forward

Woosha wants another Ashley Hansen.

 

[Shane Hird]

Woosha wants another Ashley Hansen.

Ewww...what a horrendous thought.

Hanson. Hands like a trampoline.

Hooker could play forward and be the clunky Lucas type but he is a really, really good defender and we need 7 really good defenders.

They're hard to get. Tall defenders.

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

Ewww...what a horrendous thought.

Hanson. Hands like a trampoline.

Hooker could play forward and be the clunky Lucas type but he is a really, really good defender and we need 7 really good defenders.

They're hard to get. Tall defenders.

If it helps his goal kicking when he swings forward I'm all for it him training as a forward this pre season.