- Joined
- Jun 13, 2005
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- Norwood, Red Wings
Everywhere I look I see people saying Meesen will be our key forward next year, and we need to play him in the square. Well let me get one thing straight, he is not the answer to our forward woes and he is not a natural forward so you’re all expecting far too much.
I’ve seen more of him than anyone and I honestly don’t know what you’re expecting from him because you’re all way off the mark. Sure he may be given an opportunity up forward next year, but it wouldn’t be too wise. He was drafted as a ruckman, he has played all his footy as a ruckman, and in his two years for the Redlegs he’s been a ruckman for the majority of the time. He is developing extremely well in the ruck and this season the improvement was clearly visible. He’s a smart player who learns from every outing, has exceptional skills and moves incredibly well for someone his size.
Seeing him play up forward last week for the reserves was interesting, because it became increasingly evident that he is a long way off becoming a key forward. He kicked three goals while playing from the square but still looked a little uncomfortable. When he moved into the ruck in the last 15 minutes, he dominated. Won all the hitouts, fed the on-ballers brilliantly and had half a dozen possessions. He became a massive target around the ground, and in the dying seconds he pushed forward and kicked a goal. You could see in only 15 minutes the difference in his play, he is comfortable as a ruckman and this is where he must be played.
Next year in the absence of Hentshel he will more than likely get a shot as a key forward. However judging by the posters on this board the expectations are that he’ll step up and be the key forward we’re missing. He is a ruckman, that’s where he is comfortable; he is good enough to be the 2nd ruckman next year and we should be looking at him to fill the void of Clarke, not Hentschel.
I’ve seen more of him than anyone and I honestly don’t know what you’re expecting from him because you’re all way off the mark. Sure he may be given an opportunity up forward next year, but it wouldn’t be too wise. He was drafted as a ruckman, he has played all his footy as a ruckman, and in his two years for the Redlegs he’s been a ruckman for the majority of the time. He is developing extremely well in the ruck and this season the improvement was clearly visible. He’s a smart player who learns from every outing, has exceptional skills and moves incredibly well for someone his size.
Seeing him play up forward last week for the reserves was interesting, because it became increasingly evident that he is a long way off becoming a key forward. He kicked three goals while playing from the square but still looked a little uncomfortable. When he moved into the ruck in the last 15 minutes, he dominated. Won all the hitouts, fed the on-ballers brilliantly and had half a dozen possessions. He became a massive target around the ground, and in the dying seconds he pushed forward and kicked a goal. You could see in only 15 minutes the difference in his play, he is comfortable as a ruckman and this is where he must be played.
Next year in the absence of Hentshel he will more than likely get a shot as a key forward. However judging by the posters on this board the expectations are that he’ll step up and be the key forward we’re missing. He is a ruckman, that’s where he is comfortable; he is good enough to be the 2nd ruckman next year and we should be looking at him to fill the void of Clarke, not Hentschel.
but played fairly well. He is a ruckman though not a key forward, although he has been working on his goalkicking. 
