News Krakouer settles forward

[TradeDraft]

COLLINGWOOD’S recruitment of born-again AFL rover Andrew Krakouer has triggered early warnings of more career twilight pain for one-time flashy forward Leon Davis.

• Leon Davis (pictured) is under siege from newcomer Andrew Krakouer to play forward-pocket
  Getty Images

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Krakouer, 27, was plucked from the AFL wilderness way out west by the reigning premiers during unique trading regulations to assist settlement of new club Gold Coast in October.
As a previously AFL-listed player Krakouer was taken by Gold Coast and then on-traded to Collingwood for a draft selection the Suns can use into future recruitment.
The former Richmond on-baller and clever opportunist forward had dominated WAFL ranks and led his adopted local side Swan Districts to a pulsating one-point premiership win in what was duly described as one of the most stunning individual grand final performances in WA history.
His arrival for a second AFL tilt after his 102 games and 102 goals with the Tigers has distinct early signs of pressure on Davis for his permanent small forward’s duties.
Davis, 29, was overlooked for the Magpies successful grand final replay after a poor first premiership shootout with St Kilda when he managed just six possessions.
Krakouer has been heavily utilised as a creative and go-to small forward in Collingwood match assimilation sessions since the Pies settled back into normal pre-season routines since returning from their annual US training camp in Arizona.

Do you Agree that Krakouer is ahead of Davis?

http://www.***************.com.au/articles/2010/12/20/krakouer-settles-forward/

 

[Swooop]

If Leon plays next year, like he did this year, then barring injury, he'll struggle to play many games at all i reckon.

Dick and Krakouer would be ahead of him, and if Rounds comes on, he'll possibly be in front by year's end.

But he will get some games, just to see where's he's at, but, unless he was injured last year and he has now shaken the injury regaining his former dash, he's pretty much finished as I see it.

He'll be the Lockyer/O'bree of 2011.

Very good career coming to it's conclusion

 

[Quicky]

I don't see us playing Krakouer as a small forward.

He'll be used in a similar way as Didak. Mainly midfield but floating forward.

He's best footy is in the middle, I think thats where he will largely play.

 

[Ed D]

I think it really depends on how Davis plays and if he remains injury free. There's no reason if he stays fit he can't return to 2009 form, but if he can't do that, he'll be on very shakey ground.

 

[Histrionics]

Argree with Quicky.

I think it will be Dick the keeps Davis out.

 

[Swooop]

Argree with Quicky.

I think it will be Dick the keeps Davis out.

Agree Dick is in front of Davis now in the pecking order, but I think the only thing that Dick will keep out this year is his shoulder.

Sorry to be a pessimist here...it's just the nature of repaired shoulders.

Hope he proves me wrong

 

[Knightmare]

Do you Agree that Krakouer is ahead of Davis?

The question is hardly whether Krakouer should play ahead of Davis (he should anyway). But rather as Quicky pointed out that he should be playing the majority of his minutes in the midfield rather than forward.

His production averages in the WAFL were stunning, his finals efforts were startlingly good. There is no way you can't play him in the midfield when he can dominate like that consistantly.

Now that he has built up his endurance playing in the WAFL in 2010, we should use his inside skills to advantage (which are frightningly good) and play him primarily as a midfielder.

As a forward, sure he is an upgrade on Davis, but it's a waste of talent. I do have Sidebottom and Beams in the same basket, but Krakouer is already an accomplished midfielder and really needs that regular midfield time to play his best footy.

Davis also should be playing HFF/midfield rather than forward pocket, but unlike the others mentioned at VFL level until he forces his way past Blair/Goldsack/Johnson or whoever else happens to be in his way because like Krakouer that is where he can play at his best most consistantly.


Would like: Dick, Macaffer, Rounds, Fasolo, Farmer, Reed, Hunter, Ugle and possibly even Young to be played as our forwards. It is always going to be our relative area of weakness and Sidebottom, Beams, Davis, Didak and Krakouer should all train perminantly with the midfield group and in practise games be used for the majority to games in the midfield or on a forward flank at worst for parts.

 

[mattys123]

Whether Leon Davis plays the majority of games next year comes down to one thing, and one thing only, his fitness.

You can not tell me that Leon wasn't injured for most of the 2010 season, he just had to be.

He went from being an All-Australian midfielder/forward in 09, to being a player not worthy of playing in a premiership side in 2010.

If Leon is fit, and that's a big if after his 2010 season, he plays, of that I have no doubt.

Krakouer will spend very little time as a permanent forward, so the only real threat to Leon being the "no.1." small forward is Brad Dick, and we all know about Dicky's shoulder.

In a perfect world, I would have all 3 of Dick, Davis and Krakouer in this side for round 1, I really believe adding that "x factor" to the premiership side may be the "factor" that improves us further and takes us to yet another level.

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

Krakouer remains a largely unknown quantity until he actually plays a couple of games. A fit Dick is a certaint to play in the 22. Krakouer may be able to worm his way in ahead of someone else e.g. Blair. It is going to be an interesting and entertaining scenario if they all do pre-seasons and demand a spot.

My money is on Davis losing his spot. Every year he seems to be playing with injury and he does not impress in big games.

 

[Thommo 42]

Krakouer will play the role Davis played in 09, hopefully just as well too.

Davis clearly was not fit in 2010, not jsut taking into account his fom - just look at his body shape late in the season, compared to the ripped 2009 version.

 

[Zahki]

Krakouer will play the role Davis played in 09, hopefully just as well too.

No! No! Noooooooooooo! Krakouer is not a forward pocket. I expect him to rotate through the forward line of course, but our side will be made so much better if he goes into the midfield, he's a clearance machine and will really add another string to an already class midfield. The thought of Krakouer spending all game up in the 'Davis pocket' is enough to make you tear your hair out just thinking about it.

edit: Oh wait you said 09, not '10. Disregard that. I agree with you, as for Davis being injured this year, hah, keep dreaming.

 

[Quicky]

No! No! Noooooooooooo! Krakouer is not a forward pocket. I expect him to rotate through the forward line of course, but our side will be made so much better if he goes into the midfield, he's a clearance machine and will really add another string to an already class midfield. The thought of Krakouer spending all game up in the 'Davis pocket' is enough to make you tear your hair out just thinking about it.

edit: Oh wait you said 09, not '10. Disregard that. I agree with you, as for Davis being injured this year, hah, keep dreaming.

I was about to point out Davis played midfield in 09. I think that role comparison is pretty close to what we will see for Krakouer. Krakouer though will be better inside and less explosive with his pace away from packs.

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

Between Krakouer, an uninjured Dick (hopefully), restricted interchanges meaning many of our elite mids spend time forward, I'll be legitimately shocked if Leon sees game time next year.

 

[shawthing09]

Argree with Quicky.

I think it will be Dick the keeps Davis out.

I agree with this, that said even if Dick was not fit with Krakour and the other abundance of fleet footed mids who can be dangerous foward would mean there is no excuse to play a "specialist small foward for foward pressure" because there should be enough guys to share the workload. In fact with the new substitute rule you can't afford to play a "specialist small foward for foward pressure" IMO.

 

[Histrionics]

You would think Krak would take Blairs spot.

 

[daics_35]

Krakouer will struggle to get a game, I rekon he will get less then 6 games in 2011. Dick is now ahead of Leon but thats only as a forward, he has the spark and he is great to watch but that doesnt mean he will force Leon out of the side. In 2009 Leon won AA, and played the majority of the games in the midfield and he was brilliant to watch. He was injured this year so he spent alot of time up forward and looked lazy with his hands on his hip a fair bit, thats becuase the bloke is injured not becuase he is shit. I really want to see a fit Leon in the midfield next year becuase at best he is pure class and great to watch.

 

[didaka]

I don't see us playing Krakouer as a small forward.

He'll be used in a similar way as Didak. Mainly midfield but floating forward.

He's best footy is in the middle, I think thats where he will largely play.

Hopefully he's playing high half forward or midfield.

Krakouer is a very good clearance player and possesses a lot of skills that would be best used up the ground and not wasted deep in the forward line.

Dick has shown he has the ability to play deep and kick goals as well as stay in the game. Not a lot of players can do that as a deep small forward, so if Dick is available, surely he'll be that option, while Andrew can get around the footy.

He could potentially be a 18+ disposal a game player as a midfielder, and his possessions are damaging, where as a forward I don't think he'd be anywhere near as damaging.

I hopefully see him as a Shaun Burgoyne type for us, taking the footy away from the congestion.

 

[Dammit]

neon is washed up. he had his chances to play well in a gf, 3 chances in fact, and failed every time. 3 strikes and you're out.

 

[Slattery_20]

I find it hilarious it took prison to get him fit & get his best footy out of him.

 

[MarkT2]

Good to see some pressure for spots, especially on Davis who has been an ordinary player when it has mattered most. As it stands Krakour doesn't fit in Davis's spot. Davis has to actually win one himself from someone else.

I'd say at this point McCaffer and Blair are the most vulnerable players of the 22 that played in the premiership but as incumbents someone has to push them aside. Tarrant, Krakour, Didak and Davis will be the most likely players to force selection come round 1 with McCarthy at head of the rest, but hopefully there are others as the year progresses that put pressure of the premiership payers to continue to produce.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

I find it hilarious it took prison to get him fit & get his best footy out of him.

Prison was the only way he could get away from Terry Wallace.

 

[shawthing09]

Good to see some pressure for spots, especially on Davis who has been an ordinary player when it has mattered most. As it stands Krakour doesn't fit in Davis's spot. Davis has to actually win one himself from someone else.

I'd say at this point McCaffer and Blair are the most vulnerable players of the 22 that played in the premiership but as incumbents someone has to push them aside. Tarrant, Krakour, Didak and Davis will be the most likely players to force selection come round 1 with McCarthy at head of the rest, but hopefully there are others as the year progresses that put pressure of the premiership payers to continue to produce.

I think you have been really unfair on LeCafe there. His importance to our side in the later half of the year has been hugely understated IMO. I think our foward structure has looked a lot stronger with him in the line up. Was hugely important to us being able to beat Geelong at the end of the H&A season and was probably the best player on the ground in the first half of GF2

 

[Breakthelines]

Krakouer will struggle to get a game, I rekon he will get less then 6 games in 2011. Dick is now ahead of Leon but thats only as a forward, he has the spark and he is great to watch but that doesnt mean he will force Leon out of the side. In 2009 Leon won AA, and played the majority of the games in the midfield and he was brilliant to watch. He was injured this year so he spent alot of time up forward and looked lazy with his hands on his hip a fair bit, thats becuase the bloke is injured not becuase he is shit. I really want to see a fit Leon in the midfield next year becuase at best he is pure class and great to watch.

Are you joking?

Did you happen to see any of Krakouer's games this year?

Leon was lucky to make AA in 2009 (I love Leon) but it's true. Krakouer and dick will be ahead of Leon IMO, should have never gotten a finals game and it was annoying watching Medhurst dominate the VFL and to see Leon doing bugger all in the AFL week in and week out.

With Dick fully fit and Krakouer reproducing his WAFL for for the pies Leon is in big trouble and this could spell the end for Neon Leon...

 

[Aliago]

With one less interchange, players will have to play multiple possies. Hopefully Krak will play midfield and rest on HFF.

 

[Old Spice]

Prison was the only way he could get away from Terry Wallace.

Yeah, Krakouer hit rock-bottom. Then he went to jail and now is with the Pies.