Is 'small forward' the hardest position to play?

[jackess]

Re: Sam Sheldon

I think they've had a look at this forum. They lost me when they said the forward pocket was the hardest position to play.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Re: Sam Sheldon

They lost me when they said the forward pocket was the hardest position to play.

A lot of people say that it is.

It certainly is one of the positions where it is hard to be consistent week-to-week in.

 

[jackess]

Re: Sam Sheldon

A lot of people say that it is.

It certainly is one of the positions where it is hard to be consistent week-to-week in.

I think Chris Judd and Gary Ablett would be quite consistent if they played solely in the forward pocket.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Re: Sam Sheldon

I think Chris Judd and Gary Ablett would be quite consistent if they played solely in the forward pocket.

Yeah but if we are benchmarking players on their ability to match up to Judd or Ablett - how many do you think will make the grade?

 

[jackess]

Re: Sam Sheldon

Yeah but if we are benchmarking players on their ability to match up to Judd or Ablett - how many do you think will make the grade?

I was just saying that it's not the hardest position to play. In fact it's a lot simpler than playing midfield and that most decent midfielders could play forward pocket well. What does a forward pocket do that a midfielder can't?

 

[chopperduck]

Re: Sam Sheldon

I'd argue that there are less genuine top talent forward pockets than there are midfielders. The cream of midfielders can player just about any position simply because they are elite footballers.

I'd argue that while it might not be the hardest position to play, i think it's the hardest position to really master.

 

[Antman78]

By small forward do you mean crumbing or playing forward with regards to the players height, because to me they are different roles, I assume Banfield / Milne compared to the Ebert / LeCras roles. Would ask HF or deep Forward aswell.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Well as a crumbing forward it would be tough because the ball never goes to the same spot. Bottom line is if a small forward is keeping pressure on his opponent, making tackles and being option they are doing there job.

 

[Grimreepah]

By small forward do you mean crumbing or playing forward with regards to the players height, because to me they are different roles, I assume Banfield / Milne compared to the Ebert / LeCras roles. Would ask HF or deep Forward aswell.

The conversation was in reference to Sam Sheldon.

 

[The Golfing Lion]

The small forward position I think has become easier to play. You used to be judged solely on goals scored however now if you tackle and chase and create ' forward line pressure', goals are now only a bonus.

 

[Snuka]

Not sure whether it's the hardest but perhaps they are judged more harshly then others.

Probably there performance depends on the game state more than any other position. Mids have a chance to make an impact no matter what sort of game it is because even while the opposition is scoring goals they still get a chance at the centre bounce and in the middle of the ground in general. The crumbers a lot of times are at the mercy of those up the ground as well as their tall target mates. Defenders can really show their wares when ghthe ball is coming down their a heap but can also look deceptively good when their mids are pressuring the delivery of the opposition.

Do agree with you though Golfing Lion, the coaches have been looking at more than just goal output for a while now (Craig Mcrea was never a massive goal scorer but his position in the team was hardly questioned) and taken a little while for the media to catch on.

 

[lionshine]

During my playing days I was always the small fella on my team and I always got stuck in the forward pocket with stints in the midfield. I always found it a lot easier to play there than the midfield and I kicked a solid bag of three week in week out. I understand what people are saying about it being hard to read the ball drop and crumb goals, however after being coached on it and playing that position for about 10 games these things become easier. Now I don't want to try and talk my self up but this is in no amateur league either, this was Division 1 footy in Under 16's and Under 18's and sometimes reserves if I was lucky

Yes I sound like I am showing off but the point I am trying to make is IMO the hardest positions to play in AFL are CHF and the two Half Forward Flanks. I haven't played CHF but I have played on the Half Forward flank and it is hard to constantly lead up the ground, go back and than lead again all game and it is extremely hard to read the play from there. Obviously CHF forward is pretty much the same(very different actually, but similar in the reading of the play and the leading up the field) however I could only imagine harder!!!

Cheers LS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[western royboy]

I think it is a position that is more reliant on other players in your team being successful than any other.

 

[POBT]

I think it is a position that is more reliant on other players in your team being successful than any other.

Good point.

 

[3KZ is Football]

I terms of the opposition focus and the likelihood of having anything up to 3 opponents in contested marking situations, I would have said that Centre Half Forward would have to be the most difficult position. The position is the toughest because players are not only required to stand up to a physical hammering each week, they are also required to be able to cover plenty of ground, leading long to the wing area to take marks. There is also a heightened sense of expectation on the part of supporters that centre half forwards will be regular match winners. This is why most teams will have their most capable big man in that position and why some of the games greatest champions have been centre half forwards.

 

[mickeyblueeyes37]

Found playing in the back line the hardest, you don't know which way your opposition is going to go.Sometimes when you they are going for the ball and you go there, they drift the other way and you left standing there going FK or going lucky I went the ball.You also have to be quick on your toes and have good agility, especially when the ball hits the deck behind you to stop those crumbers from getting a quick snap on goal and run then into the ground.So I would say the opposite to the thread, cause some are all tall or all small it changes each week.When you a forward you just have to know where to run and no when to sit back and wait for the ball to hit the deck.Since you train week in and week out with your other forwards, so you learn where they run and what they do very quickly an know what you mean't to and can do it.