Jeff White - Why not go forward?

[CaptainDavey]

I think I've brought this up before in a thread aaaagggggeeees ago but I've always, always wondered why doesn't Jeff play up forward more often. He seems to have a fantastic kicking action and can take a good grab, so why don't we rest him or play him up forward? He's by far my favourite player and I'd love for him to add some more flashyness per se to his game. Possibly he'll play in the forward 50 more often now that he's getting older and can't do as much as he used to.

I'd appreciate your thoughts guys

 

[Bartram_Class]

Jamar and PJ arent good enough yet, we'd get killed in the ruck.

Hopefully PJ can come on, he has it in him, and then White can be released a bit more. As Whitey gets older, he'll lose his spring and will be beaten quite regularly in the ruck so its paramount either PJ or the Russian come on in 2007.

 

[CaptainDavey]

Jamar and PJ arent good enough yet, we'd get killed in the ruck.

Hopefully PJ can come on, he has it in him, and then White can be released a bit more. As Whitey gets older, he'll lose his spring and will be beaten quite regularly in the ruck so its paramount either PJ or the Russian come on in 2007.

For obvious reasons, you'd think it'd be Russian who takes a big step in 07 yeah?

 

[Bartram_Class]

For obvious reasons, you'd think it'd be Russian who takes a big step in 07 yeah?

No, not particularly, he had a whole year in the seniors in 2006 and didnt show all that much.

I hate to say it, but saw more in PJ in his 1 game than I saw in the Russian's 23. PJ can kick goals and is great below his knees when the ball hits the deck while the Russian is a one trick card, if he doesnt mark it, hes not much use.

If PJ can show he is capable in the ruck next year, he will leapfrog the Russian and be our no. 1 ruckman by 2008.

 

[davey_magik]

PJ's problem is he isn't that good a tap ruckman at all YET.
If he improves this part of his game he'll be a great player for the MFC. He already has the mobility of a player a foot shorter than him, has excellent foot skills and a good work ethic.
Ideally we'd like PJ to improve as a tap ruckman and the Russian stays our second ruck.
And on the topic, I'm not sure because we've tried that before and Whitey is very average on the lead and isn't really a pack marking player, moreso he takes the odd speckie and as his leap goes down he'll be less useful especially up forward. I'd let him keep rucking and just tell him to run as hard as he can around the ground because that's one thing he still has over all ruckman except Cox.

 

[Theseventhhamster]

We planned for White to play forward a few pre-seasons ago with Jolly to take over the rucking. Unfortunately Everitt killed Jolly in round one and we got smashed so the plan was immediately ditched.

 

[Deestroy]

All the times I have seen White forward he has not looked up to it, he can take a hanger but never looked much chop in a contest.

 

[Bartram_Class]

Jamar looked alright in the air at times but not consistently enough for me.

 

[rick James]

guys white sucks up forward - it's been tried before with Jolly and Simmonds, he sucks up forward.

 

[Bring-Back-Powell]

I've actually seen White play a decent game as an exclusive foward....back in 2000 where he kicked 4 sausage rolls against the Dogs at Telstra Dome (colonial back then)

Nicholson played most of the game in the ruck , while White played about 75% as the leading full forward and handled the job with aplomb.

PS - We also lost that game.

 

[Marc Shmurf 3]

Because he is quite simply a ruckman. Silly comment.

 

[purple sneakers]

He has never ever looked like being a forward - he can take the occaisonal grab if he gets a run at the ball and takes a specca but we really have robbo for that. When he is in a contested pack situation he look soft as butter. Better off in the midfield resting on the bench when needed. Jamar is a better option up forward he showed glimpses of promise towards the end of last year in that position when pinch hitting.

 

[Yze_13]

He Should Go Back He's Tall And He Can Mark Great He Can Over Mark Anyone Since He Is Now Like 3rd Or 4th Best Ruckman Now.