Joel Smith Fullback anyone?

[Alex_au]

Just saw on AFL.com.au that Joel Smith has put his hand up for the vacant fullback position. Could be an interesting move as he has the pace but he will in my mind struggle against the likes of Hall, Neitz, Tredrea, Brown who will all use their strength advantages in the goal square.

I guess a lot of the clubs are playing shorter forwards these days so a Smith/Roughead/Croad combo at fullback during the season could work out for us.

Your thoughts?

 

[Bennycoff]

We need him off the half back flank and through the middle, we need Croad up at CHF and we need Roughie at CHB and we need Jacobs floating across and setting up play. Perhaps give Brennan a crack, seems ok in the backline, maybe Dawson but he seems a little light on, it was always going to be a problem when Jono Hay left, thats why they went hard for Ferguson. What ever happened to Watts from the Roos, surely he could have been ok for us?

 

[Alex_au]

Ben Dixon anyone ?

 

[RustyHawk]

No way. @ 185cm even the likes of Fevola & a Tarrant would have a field day.

I think he has realised father time has caught up. Being @ 29yo in 2006 in a team with a youth policy means he has to become invaluable or he's out.

Hodge has effectively taken over his role as sweeper out of the backline and does it better.

Personally I would like to see him move down to the forward line. He started as a half forward, made his name as a half back, but now its time to move on and use his knowledge & football brain to kick goals down forward. We have such an inexperienced forward group, his knowledge & leadership should be most welcome.

 

[Gary Shadforth]

I would go with 195cm Zac Dawson. Light-skinny in 2005 means bulking up in the right body proportions for 2006 and beyond. Just hope he is the type who will develop well.

I liked his trial runs in the last couple of games, to me he showed plenty of g & d, speed and agility. Simply, we need to find a new-full back with a consistent spoiling style and can take a strong grab - Zac should be trained to develop as such. Someone should be given an opportunity to settle into the position.

Agree with Bennycoff, Joel, when he is on song, is an attacking runner from HBF. And leave Hodgey to be just what he is, Hodgey!

 

[cs61]

I think if Barker plays next year (very big if) we'll be able to just play Croad on the opposition's best forward, whether that means he plays fullback or chb doesn't matter, as long as croad can take the number 1 forward. Then we can get Boyle, Roughead Jaccobs Thurgood Brown Osborne Smith to look after whoever suits the matchup, and it doesn't look too bad.

We should be ok against most sides, but teams like St Kilda will probably stretch us a far bit I reckon.

 

[worthy]

He's actually played FB on a number of occasions and performed quite well, seem to recall him doing an excellent job shutting down Tarrant, as others have said he would struggle on the bigger forwards but this is where Croad, Boyle or Roughy might come in.

 

[TheHawthornWay]

Joel smith is more of a player who just dashes through the center and bombs the ball into the forward line..his a running player and thats what he should be next year..while were in the redevelopment stage..why dont we put the youngsters in that position..and turn them into a FB or CHB..examples of future FB Dawson or Boyle!Or if that doesnt work..jus play Jacobs asa loose man in the backline!Smith is too small and he isnt big enough to play on Brown or Richardson or lloyd!

Try the youngsters!

 

[swift24]

Tim Boyle was ment 2 replace hay if he left but then he badly broke his leg, now that hay IS gone, i dont see why Boyle wont get the role he was supposed to get, he's 193cm and 92kg, just 3cm shorter and 4 kg less than hay.

 

[spurs]

Jon Hay >>>>>>>>>>>Hawthorn backline

 

[cs61]

Jon Hay >>>>>>>>>>>Hawthorn backline

From the look of the picture in the herald the other day with his gut hanging out, I'd say Hay had eaten the Hawthorn backline.

 

[spurs]

From the look of the picture in the herald the other day with his gut hanging out, I'd say Hay had eaten the Hawthorn backline.

Well according to Smith he has his body right, although it did look like he had a few pies before the photo.

"He's had a tough couple of years in the last few and by the looks of it, he's finally got his body right and as we've seen in the past, a change of clubs can do a guy the world of good," Smith said.

 

[Mr.Likeable]

I would have guessed the obvious full-backs are all youngsters, and can be offered the role from week to week, based on opponent types - to build experience. The A-list (for experience-building) would be Thurgood, Roughead, Dawson, Brennan and Boyle. Throw Franklin in too now and then.

Joel Smith and Trent Croad are there - always there - and ready to take the task if it's too big a responsibility for the kids. Croad takes the Tredrea types; Smith takes the smaller ones. With this kind of back up, the youngsters can enter a new season with confidence.

Nice statement from the vice-captain.

 

[cs61]

I'd say I'd prefer Brown to play the role you have ear-marked for Smith, and use Smith further up the ground in the midfield. IMO he looked most dangerous when kicking forward of centre, than clearing from defence. He's such a smart player and could be damaging close to goals I reckon.

 

[Grendel]

More horses/courses stuff.

For the leading smaller f/f's (Tarrant, Kingsley, Welsh), yea, Smith is probably the best option at f/b that we have.

For bigger bodies, that's when we see if it's Croad or one of the youngsters who may be given a shot at them though Smith has actually done servicable jobs at times when looking to be physically outmatched.

Thing is, with very few 'true' f/f's about nowdays anyway (probably Lloyd, Gehrig and Fevola) a 'true' f/b becomes less a vital part of the side as well.

Yea, be nice to have a good one. Also be nice to have a good f/f as well.

Smith at f/b at times next year? It'll happen.

 

[superstar]

More horses/courses stuff.

For the leading smaller f/f's (Tarrant, Kingsley, Welsh), yea, Smith is probably the best option at f/b that we have.

For bigger bodies, that's when we see if it's Croad or one of the youngsters who may be given a shot at them though Smith has actually done servicable jobs at times when looking to be physically outmatched.

Thing is, with very few 'true' f/f's about nowdays anyway (probably Lloyd, Gehrig and Fevola) a 'true' f/b becomes less a vital part of the side as well.

Yea, be nice to have a good one. Also be nice to have a good f/f as well.

Smith at f/b at times next year? It'll happen.

Correct. Some of the best games of Smith's career have been played at full back on the likes of Tarrant. On the leading forward he'll certainly be an option.

Thing is, with very few 'true' f/f's about nowdays anyway (probably Lloyd, Gehrig and Fevola) a 'true' f/b becomes less a vital part of the side as we

An excellent point and the reason why trading Hay was necessary. Hay is a reasonable full back. Not good, but reasonable at stopping an opponent. He is, to put it simply, abysmal at every other aspect of modern football. These types of players no longer have a place in good footy sides. They cannot be carried.