Josh Fraser on a Wing

[TheClokes]

If by some miracle Guy Richards finally stands up in the ruck, and receives adequate support from Chris Bryan. How great would it be, playing Josh Fraser on the wing? Just imagine it! Malthouse telling Josh to simply run and create havoc! He would cause mismatch after mismatch; and with his superb reading of the play, you'd finally see the real Josh Fraser.

 

[zorbadunde]

so true mate. i dont see why malthouse dosnt bring in bryan now, he could definatley cut the mustard so to speak. With his size and speed he could be a hug impact player

 

[Vinnie Vegas]

That's basically what Josh does when playing in the ruck anyway - What would be the major difference?

 

[doppleganger]

Dont understand the fascination with playing Josh in all of these strange roles

people want him to be a key forward, yet he is a poor contested mark
people want him to be a wingman, yet he isn't quick enough

his best position is as a ruck, he can exploit the oppo ruckman by running them into the ground, getting clearances, and getting into dangerous spots around the ground........against a normal wingman he would be exploited for pace

Josh main problem is the contested situations against big strong opponents, but he is getting better, he has looked out of sorts this year and only played prob two good quarters of footy....the last against the kangas and the last against the tiggers, and they were in the ruck!!

 

[daics cousin]

The reason why Bryan isn't playing with Josh is that he has an injured thumb and has been suspended for a week.Although i think that mm loves richards,and will perservere with both richards and josh as the ruck duo at the moment.
Should play byran he is much better value than Richards.
Josh is a better floating ruckaman than a forward.He is invaluable in the packs and stoppages.He's got more finnese than most other ruckmen,just that he hasn't got the bulk to bullock ,crash and bash as some other counterparts have.

 

[Frederlick]

Need at least 3 who can play genuine ruck, just to cover injuries. I don't know if repeated rotations really help Fraser as he seems to play better when he has been on for a while, although having said that there is a feeling that MM likes to keep him fresh for the second half when he usually plays his best footy and can use his fitness to really run oppo players into the ground. Leave him in the ruck, at a minimum he keeps the oppo honest and always makes a contribution.

 

[Jimbeam]

Start in ruck float around ground, mainly wing area and become a link player. Thats about what josh does, problem is i think he is injured and cannot work over his opponents to the degree we are all hoping for at the moment.

 

[Lonie_from_50]

Yeah, Josh takes control as a wingmen when playing in the middle anyway. His tank though is still limited, and I personally think Guy Richards has taken the next step already, especially after a disappointing round one game, but will be interesting to see how he goes against the best ruckman (both AA and best TTA) in the league last year.

 

[OneEyedPie7]

No thanks to this one, ruck or full forward

 

[Lestat]

Keep him in the ruck. He's a ruckman, and even though he might not be the best tap ruckmen in the league (far from it), his tap work will get better, as he is still relatively young for a ruckmen.

Josh's greatest strength is his mobility around the ground, and his link work through the centre. And he's almost a 4th small in the centre square, as he can often follow up his ruck work and help us get the ball out of the centre.

Not many ruckmen in the league can keep up with him, and he can quite often drift forward and steal a goal or two.

I reckon Josh sometimes suffers from 'first draft pick' syndrome, the fact that every expected him to be a superstar. It didn't help that we've played him in the ruck since he was 19. And we all forget that he had a disrupted pre-season...technically he's still building up his match fitness.

I reckon we'll be seeing his best football this season in the second half of the season, hopefully during the finals when we make them.

 

[AsianWithAFro]

We don't want to bring to may talls in as we'll be run over by teams like the Bullies or the bombers. We need pace we're already got tree trunks ie: Rocca, Fraser, Richards, Cloke etc

 

[WakeUpPies]

how about we let josh play in the ruck and do what ever he likes, no point wasting a wing when some better kick or better runner can fill it

 

[Paul.]

Ruckmen are good for 2-3 things:

Playing in the ruck
Dropping back in the space in the opposition's F50, and moving forward with the play.
Resting up forward.

 

[turned over a new leaf]

Yeah, Josh takes control as a wingmen when playing in the middle anyway. His tank though is still limited, and I personally think Guy Richards has taken the next step already, especially after a disappointing round one game, but will be interesting to see how he goes against the best ruckman (both AA and best TTA) in the league last year.

Yes undoubtedly after a stellar three minutes of football Guy has clearly taken the next step.

Josh needs to have some impact and play more in the corridor. I could see though young Ben Reid being trialled out wide. That might work