Opinion How to Build a Forward Line

[theGav56]

My strategy for building ourselves a functional forward line;

Coaching; Hale can cop some of the stick here, but I’d share it with the midfield and head coach. It looks like an area of our game plan that is simply left on the back burner. They can have a small amount of leeway due to injury, but that’s all they get. Taberner looked like he had no idea what he was supposed to do, Fyfe forward was a wasted resource, Hail Mary moves like Acres as a defensive stopper are symptomatic of a plan in tatters.

We really need much better coaching and development of our forward line if this is going anywhere. Record opposition intercept marks are a telling KPI, and a familiar one. The fable of improved connection between midfield and forward needs a foundation.

List Management; Quite simply, we have no idea how to stockpile quality forwards. We have failed to trade them in, we have failed to draft them in, and we have failed to develop them. The core focus should revolve around drafting yet we simply refuse to draft any, especially KPFs, but it is a general failing for smalls as well, with Sturt the singular shining hope, albeit rarely available. We have a significant number of eggs in the Lobb basket which has left us totally exposed due to his duel position and zero depth to cover with both Taberner and Acres doing minor stints in the ruck. Frightening. In other seasons it has seen Fyfe doing this.

This coming draft period another promising local KPF prospect looms on the horizon. Two if Bazzo can continue to play in that position having impressed as a defender.

The Core; The approach to our forward line seems lacking clarity as it is reliant on injury prone players and afterthought recruiting, and yesterday we saw the reinforcements come in the form of Pearce, one of our most injury prone players. Below is my preferred forward line with my priorities in recruiting bolded.

I’m also not swayed by injuries or a suspended Treacy as excuses. Treacy was grabbed as a last gasp selection and cannot be seriously considered to be a planned part of our 2021 campaign. He is accidentally on our list, with kudos for at least identifying him as an option. Lobb and Taberner both tiptoe down the injury line, and have done their entire careers. And while Sturt projects well, how he will actually shape up is a mystery. If we don’t give Chapman an opportunity in the third tall forward position, as we should have in round 1 and the entire preseason, I think we are missing an opportunity.

Switkowski Treacy Lobb forward/ruck

Sturt Taberner Walters KPF, Small forward

My round 2 variant given our existing circumstances looks like this;

Switkowski Taberner Mundy

Chapman Darcy Schultz

Fyfe should be a goal kicking mid with Mundy forward/rotating. Regardless I would lock Chapman into being a forward leaning player, using his mobility, smarts and fitness to move between their and the midfield. It seems clear at this early stage that he can develop into a terrific defender, but in the end that would serve the team only marginally, and enhances the strongest part of our side.

 

[Lach72]

I don’t agree with Chapman.

our stagnant movement from the backline and the poor disposal from there is a massive issue. I’d prefer he plays there.

I see guys like Conca, Hughes and Watson with the ball in hand as a major factor in our complete lack of connection with the forwards

they cannot make quick decisions, cannot break the lines and their disposal is a train wreck

 

[Lach72]

Acres needs to go and Freddy or Wilson slot onto the wing.

 

[FreoRicci]

Checklist
Number 1: Have no injuries/suspensions
Lobb
Frederick
Walters
Treacy

Years gone by : Hogan

Number 2: Pass character test
McCarthy, Hogan, Matera didn’t pass therefore delist. Must have clean record and no off field drama

As much as it is Hale, the cattle he had yesterday surely would be the nightmare trumping everything.
Alex Pearce

25

Alex Pearce

Age

30

Ht

201cm

Wt

98kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.6

3star

K

5.2

2star

HB

5.4

4star

M

3.4

3star

T

1.8

4star

MG

106.3

2star

No current season stats available

D

11.0

3star

K

5.0

2star

HB

6.0

4star

M

4.4

4star

T

0.8

3star

MG

103.2

2star

, Colyer, Henry, Acres at one stage. What is any top coach meant to do there? Add Lobb, Walters, even Sturt and Fredrick and suddenly it’s workable.

 

[Rob]

Checklist
Number 1: Have no injuries/suspensions
Lobb
Frederick
Walters
Treacy

Years gone by : Hogan

Number 2: Pass character test
McCarthy, Hogan, Matera didn’t pass therefore delist. Must have clean record and no off field drama

As much as it is Hale, the cattle he had yesterday surely would be the nightmare trumping everything.
Alex Pearce, Colyer, Henry, Acres at one stage. What is any top coach meant to do there? Add Lobb, Walters, even Sturt and Fredrick and suddenly it’s workable.

Character test is overrated. Just about every club baulked at Dusty for that reason when he was shopping himself around many years ago.

Sometimes having a bit of dickhead in you isn't a bad thing on the footy field.

 

[Demons09]

Character test is overrated. Just about every club baulked at Dusty for that reason when he was shopping himself around many years ago.

Sometimes having a bit of dickhead in you isn't a bad thing on the footy field.

Yes Ballas fit that muld.

 

[wayToGo_]

Think there are two major problems we have to overcome (mostly to do with unavailable personnel).

First, the wingers were shit yesterday. It's one thing if the inside mids coming out of congestion can't see a good option and bomb it forward, it's another altogether when your wingers in space can't execute a simple kick to advantage for the forwards. Similarly when your half backs panic and kick it straight to an intercept defender or kick it straight into the man in front of them. Get the skills and speed mix right from half back through wing through half forward and you're going to move the ball better but also put yourself in better positions to kick to the advantage of our deeper forwards. All three lines need to be better on the outside.

Secondly, we are very light on for competent deep forwards. You look at the best teams and when the ball gets inside 50 you expect them to score because it's not just one dangerous forward, it's a bunch of them. That 'danger' makes defenders commit, which then gives the half forwards and mids more space to work into and compounds the 'danger' factor (and that then gets the opposition to second guess itself and panic, like ours did yesterday). Most of our small forwards are ok across half forward but then they look up and they have Tabs deep being double teamed, and Schultz (or Henry at times) with a guy twice their size manning them. There just aren't enough suitable options atm. Tabs has improved his work at full forward but he still looks more comfortable at CHF. We need guys like Sturt and Treacy into the team. Both those guys seem great on a lead out of the goal square and good aerially whilst still being able to apply pressure. I'm not even sure Walters is great playing deep forward these days - we seem to get far more out of him with link up and he's not nearly as dangerous 1-on-1 i50 as he used to be. We need a dangerous crumbing small to cause havoc deep i50. Jesse Motlop come on down (please!!!). And another tall forward on the list that can play deep and at least bring the ball to ground would help (assume Darcy/Meek will share this role next week).

 

[Lach72]

I’m also wondering if Cerra wants to go to a club with a rope 5 pick plus change we facilitate it

 

[kingswood71]

Character test is overrated. Just about every club baulked at Dusty for that reason when he was shopping himself around many years ago.

Sometimes having a bit of dickhead in you isn't a bad thing on the footy field.

Pity Richmond didnt baulk...We could have had him with our pick 4

 

[eastfreo75]

I have weird idea to drafting.

If you don't get you want with a certain pick then trade it for future picks.

Teams will overpay for current picks.

If we want to target our forward line and outside midfielders , and all we get is inside midfields or tall defenders then trade it out for future picks.

Richmond currently have Geelong's first round pick, Saints second round pick and Gold Coasts third round pick.

They have their own first, second and third picks plus future picks.

Tigers have 9 picks to trade or draft this year. Massive flexibility to target players they want and need.

Currently we have first and second round picks.

If a player slides then go for it or they meet a need (not a massive reach) then use the pick. If we don't get a quality player we want then either trade down the pick or trade for future picks.

Teams overrated their future ladder position and ability to spot talent, and I think that you can use that improve your assets.

From a fellow Docker posters Phantom draft

1. Jason Horne (Inside Midfielder/South Australia)
2. Josh Rachele (General Forward/Vic Country)
3. Tyler Sonsie (General Forward/Vic Metro)
4. Ben Hobbs (Inside Midfielder/Vic Country)
5. Josh Sinn (Utility/Vic Metro)
6. Sam Banks (Balanced Midfielder/Tasmania)
7. Jacob van Rooyen (Tall Forward/Western Australia)
8. Matthew Johnson (Inside Midfielder/Western Australia)
9. Josh Fahey (General Defence/Queensland)
10. Arlo Draper (General Forward/South Australia)

11. Rhett Bazzo (Tall Defender/Western Australia)
12. Matthew Roberts (Inside Midfielder/South Australia)
13. Campbell Chesser (Balanced Midfielder/Vic Country)
14. Cooper Murley (Outside Midfielder/South Australia)
15. Jase Burgoyne (Outside Midfielder/South Australia) ​

(Port Adelaide F/S)​

16. Lewis Rayson (General Defence/South Australia)
17. Alex Lukic (Tall Forward/Vic Metro)
18. Charlie Molan (General Defence/Vic Country)
19. Joshua Browne (Balanced Midfielder/Western Australia)
20. Corey Warner (Outside Midfielder/Western Australia)

Depending on pick we can either:

Keep the pick​

Upgrade like the Serong trade.

Trade for a future pick - Hello Roos

Downgrade our pick for two picks - Hello Tigers

Looking at list I would pass on due to face value (don't know a lot of players)
Molan
Rayson
Fahey (not sure if he in a Northern Academy)
Roberts

​

 

[Square Peg]

Yeah we delisted McCarthy and may s well have delisted Hogan in the last 12 months. Maybe you build a forward line by keeping genuine forwards on your list instead of delisting them and keeping detritus like Banfield. Who honestly gives a shit that McCarthy didn't want to bust a gut tackling in the forward line?

 

[Square Peg]

I'll tell you the two players who didn't want to chase hard yesterday, Mundy and Henry. Which one do you reckon is going to be under pressure to chase harder?

 

[wayToGo_]

Yeah we delisted McCarthy and may s well have delisted Hogan in the last 12 months. Maybe you build a forward line by keeping genuine forwards on your list instead of delisting them and keeping detritus like Banfield. Who honestly gives a sh*t that McCarthy didn't want to bust a gut tackling in the forward line?

Think the better solution would have been not to trade for those guys in the first place and instead go to the draft and build a bunch of KPFS and FWD/Rucks like we've done pretty well with our young midfield and back line. We panicked and took a chance on a quick fix but it back-fired big time. Don't repeat the mistakes - invest in the draft and only trade in when it is cheap.

 

[Scham]

Yeah we delisted McCarthy and may s well have delisted Hogan in the last 12 months. Maybe you build a forward line by keeping genuine forwards on your list instead of delisting them and keeping detritus like Banfield. Who honestly gives a sh*t that McCarthy didn't want to bust a gut tackling in the forward line?

Surely that wasn’t the reason McCarthy was delisted, or did he retire?

 

[BettercallSaul]

Left field thought. Meek as a power forward. Charlie Dixon

22

Charlie Dixon

Age

35

Ht

200cm

Wt

110kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.7

3star

K

6.9

3star

HB

4.7

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

2.2

4star

G

1.6

5star

D

10.5

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

3.5

2star

M

5.0

5star

T

1.5

2star

G

2.5

5star

D

8.2

2star

K

4.4

2star

HB

3.8

3star

M

2.0

3star

T

1.8

4star

G

0.8

4star

is 200cm & 107. Meek 203cm & 111kg. I would judge they are similar in terms of agility? Now I know at the moment we need him in the ruck and for all I know he has never played forward. There are probably 20 reasons why it won’t happen But..............

 

[Taylor]

Looks pretty average when arguably our three choices for second forward in Lobb, Darcy and Treacy aren't there and instead we have a key back with one session practice.

Not to mention the primary small forward missing, the two pressure and creative forwards in Frederick and Crowden who have held those spots since last year missing.

Cohesion will be rubbish

 

[Square Peg]

Think the better solution would have been not to trade for those guys in the first place and instead go to the draft and build a bunch of KPFS and FWD/Rucks like we've done pretty well with our young midfield and back line. We panicked and took a chance on a quick fix but it back-fired big time. Don't repeat the mistakes - invest in the draft and only trade in when it is cheap.

Nup, not buying this simplicity. Virtually every successful club trades in top end talent as well as uses the draft

 

[DragoDelph]

Character test is overrated. Just about every club baulked at Dusty for that reason when he was shopping himself around many years ago.

Sometimes having a bit of dickhead in you isn't a bad thing on the footy field.

There's a difference between having a bit of mongrel / d*head, and not having the drive or work ethic to make it.
Dusty had the work ethic.

 

[dropbear101]

i think we need one more goal kicker. You need at least 4 dangerous players in forward 50 i think.
tabs 1.5 goals a game
walters 2 goals a game
sturt 2 goals a game

we need one more i think.

complementary palyers;
i think switkowski is a great pressure forward
i like crowden as a role player
henry and fredricks are wingmen who may have the capacity to go forward and kick goals.
lobb is a good forward ruck.

 

[Square Peg]

Looks pretty average when arguably our three choices for second forward in Lobb, Darcy and Treacy aren't there and instead we have a key back with one session practice.

Not to mention the primary small forward missing, the two pressure and creative forwards in Frederick and Crowden who have held those spots since last year missing.

Cohesion will be rubbish

To be sure Walters is going to make a considerable difference down there, as long as he doesn't get surly at the umpires

 

[wayToGo_]

Nup, not buying this simplicity. Virtually every successful club trades in top end talent as well as uses the draft

I agree but we haven't used the draft. We haven't invested in forwards. I like who we have drafted in most years but I think our professional list managers have dropped the ball in the past decade. Our current KPF options are both off the rookie list.

I don't think the club did proper due diligence on either Hogan or McCarthy. I trusted their judgement and feel let down as it has become pretty obvious neither were up to it. It was a short term fix to satisfy the supporters crying out for a KPF. It was a low percentage play, something you'd drop a player for doing out on the field.

 

[A New Hope]

I think a good start would be some training kicking at goal and then teaching the team how to dispose of the ball to each other not the opposition.

Even with the injuries it was an OK team on paper but the team played less than OK yesterday.
I think across the field we were outsized, out muscled, and out played. We need to draft or trade some bigger grittyer players.
Melbourne missed just as many shots on goal as us.

 

[Square Peg]

I agree but we haven't used the draft. We haven't invested in forwards. I like who we have drafted in most years but I think our professional list managers have dropped the ball in the past decade. Our current KPF options are both off the rookie list.

I don't think the club did proper due diligence on either Hogan or McCarthy. I trusted their judgement and feel let down as it has become pretty obvious neither were up to it. It was a short term fix to satisfy the supporters crying out for a KPF. It was a low percentage play, something you'd drop a player for doing out on the field.

The McCarthy trade was one of the best trades we've ever done. The problem was lack of management once these guys got into the club. Bell and his little man complex hasn't helped, maybe the way to build a forward line is get a new football manager that spends less time networking the board to shore up his power base, and more time managing difficult but talented players.

 

[Rob]

Nup, not buying this simplicity. Virtually every successful club trades in top end talent as well as uses the draft

Trades in top end talent? Only if you can get them for peanuts. If you trade away a lot then it can backfire spectacularly.

Any Freo fan from 20 years ago can attest to that. We traded the farm for Bell, Headland and Josh Carr and had a massive hole in our list as a result.

 

[wayToGo_]

The McCarthy trade was one of the best trades we've ever done.

The trade in full itself was great. He was effectively steak knives but that doesn't necessarily mean he was a good trade in though. Acres was also steak knives. Maybe we get a late pick instead of McCarthy as part of that trade and use it to draft a young KPF or dangerous small forward like Himmelberg from Adelaide, Ratugolea from Geelong, Cameron from Sydney, Rioli, Narkle etc? Similarly with not trading in Kersten.

Of course it's easy to criticise retrospectively but I am just highlighting it because I hope we don't get lured in to short term bandaids in the future, and instead go to the draft. We aren't Richmond having a Tom Lynch nominating to come home to us as a free agent.