Toast Lachlan Keeffe

[TheGreatGrundy]

I am well aware of the trade details, with pick 8 giving us Ben Reid. I thought I remembered Tarrant falling away as a forward in his last year or two with the Pies, but am more than happy to be corrected by those with better memories than mine. Given that we got him back cheaply, we did extremely well out of the deal with Freo.

 

[jonbe54]

I am well aware of the trade details, with pick 8 giving us Ben Reid. I thought I remembered Tarrant falling away as a forward in his last year or two with the Pies, but am more than happy to be corrected by those with better memories than mine. Given that we got him back cheaply, we did extremely well out of the deal with Freo.

He did drop away in productivity in front of goal but that had more to do with the most tremendous case of the yips that I think I have ever seen. It's not as if he wasn't capable of kicking them, previous years on top of our goalkicking list proves that, but something was doing his head in. He was getting the ball alright but simply couldn't finish. I'm reminded of a story I heard of an opening batsman for Australia who lost form big time and of course got flooded with well meant and conflicting advice, of course the batsman ended up totally f@cked in the head and lost his place. This is what Taz's last couple of years reminded me strongly of.

 

[Jelly Bean]

People say that Reid was a terrible forward, but he has never been given another chance up forward since he was sent back in the VFL. The last game he played up forward, opposed to Waite, he was going well till severely injured in that game.

But what we do know is that Tarrant was (at one point) exceptional as a forward. So you are arguing that Tarrant should stay back because that is where his recent form is (despite having excellent and long history as a forward), but then arguing that we should send Reid forward, who is a better key defender than Tarrant, and has no history of being a good forward.

Sure, he hasn't been given another chance up forward since he struggled the first time, but neither was Simon Prestigiacomo... I suggest that is is for a reason.

To be honest, I like the look of having 2 or 3 of our key backs able to go forward as match-ups allow. My opinion is that it is mostly Brown and Reid that should stay back week to week, but I am aware others differ. The more who can go forward the better.

 

[Thommo 42]

Reid showed plenty as a forward imo, he just had the stuttering yips when having a shot at goal.

He has proven himself to be an elite kick since then, so perhaps the new confidence AA selection and a Premiership brings will eliminate that flaw?

Taz did fall away in 2006, but he suffered horrendous injuries and just kept on playing.

 

[Temploar]

Reid showed plenty as a forward imo, he just had the stuttering yips when having a shot at goal.

He has proven himself to be an elite kick since then, so perhaps the new confidence AA selection and a Premiership brings will eliminate that flaw?

Taz did fall away in 2006, but he suffered horrendous injuries and just kept on playing.

Kicked an amazing goal here just last year:

[youtube]Dg8etylxagg[/youtube]

But i agree the yips during a set shot was a problem.

 

[Kirby]

He did it during one set shot once in his life and people just will never forget it.

I find that amazing!

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

He did it during one set shot once in his life and people just will never forget it.

I find that amazing!

Exactly! Because of one stuttering run up he is scarred for life as a forward.

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

Sure, he hasn't been given another chance up forward since he struggled the first time, but neither was Simon Prestigiacomo... I suggest that is is for a reason.

To be honest, I like the look of having 2 or 3 of our key backs able to go forward as match-ups allow. My opinion is that it is mostly Brown and Reid that should stay back week to week, but I am aware others differ. The more who can go forward the better.

If Keefe takes over Reid's role then Reid would be freed up to go forward. You draw a long bow comparing Presti, who was drafted as a forward, with Reid. Presti was a shut down defender who got few disposals, whereas Reid is a beautiful kick and collects numerous disposals.

 

[Quicky]

I am well aware of the trade details, with pick 8 giving us Ben Reid. I thought I remembered Tarrant falling away as a forward in his last year or two with the Pies, but am more than happy to be corrected by those with better memories than mine. Given that we got him back cheaply, we did extremely well out of the deal with Freo.

What it boils down to me is would Tarrant do a better job at full forward than Dawes? I think at worst he would kick as many goals as Dawes, offer a more difficult match up and he has the potential to be a 50 goal + forward. Thats a simple take on it.

I think Tarrant would also add to our forward balance, give us more speed and mobility up there. He would allow Dawes to play a higher role which suits him better on a less talented defender. And it wouldn't stuff up our forward structure every time Dawes needs to go in the ruck. Assuming we continue with him there. But I think its going to be hard not to simply because you can't carry two inflexible rucks now the sub rule has been introduced - which rules out Jolly Wood in my opinion.

 

[jackcass]

Re: Lachlan Keefe

I don't see how supporters were able to overlook what a talented player Keefe has always been. Like KPP's of any size come in and dominate straight away. Him being 204cm just adds to the likelyhood of him taking the usual few years KPP's usually take to settle in at AFL level.

I have no doubts he'd win a foot race against anyone his height in the AFL, and the vast majority of players over 200cm. He's quick enough, intelligent, a good reader of the play and a great user. He looked outstanding to me two years ago in the NAB Cup. Last year people were writing him off for almost the exact same reasons people were writing Reid off when he debuted as a forward. Baffling to me. 204cm backmen with decent pace, good footy smarts and good disposal don't grow on trees.

Stanley at St Kilda is the only one I can think of who'd be quicker, there is the rookie olympian at Geelong but don't think he's quite 200cm.

 

[jackcass]

Re: Lachlan Keefe

Its good to see some of the early calls for few players have proven to be a bit harsh.
Ben Ried copped a bit, Keefe, Toovey also .. I am very hopeful that a similar thread will appear for Wood

But yes Go Keefe you good thing

& Sinclair, and Young, and there are probably others.

I can't believe the amount of ridicule some of our kids get from our own supporters. More than happy to give them every opportunity to make the grade and know the club is better placed than me to make the proper assessment.

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

I see your point Quicky, but I guess what I am afraid of with Tarrant in the forward line is that he will be less effective forward than back. He is 30/31 and his best days are behind him. He is able to see the play unfold infront of him and use his pace and guile to outwit forwards. In his brief trips forward with the Pies, I recall him once kicking goals, otherwise not making much impression in an offensive role.

By all means try him forward, but he is more useful at full back. The problem of Brown competing for his spot allows for flexibility, such as playing Brown against the gorillas and Tarrant against Buddy. As it looks increasingly likely that Dawes will play a Lee Brown style role, some experimentation up forward is both wise and necessary.

So yes Quicky, I agree there may be a role for Tarrant at CHF, but wonder if the constraints of an aging body might take the edge off his game. Reid forward with Keefe able to play much of his defensive role seems a more interesting prospect.

 

[jackcass]

I see your point Quicky, but I guess what I am afraid of with Tarrant in the forward line is that he will be less effective forward than back. He is 30/31 and his best days are behind him. He is able to see the play unfold infront of him and use his pace and guile to outwit forwards. In his brief trips forward with the Pies, I recall him once kicking goals, otherwise not making much impression in an offensive role.

By all means try him forward, but he is more useful at full back. The problem of Brown competing for his spot allows for flexibility, such as playing Brown against the gorillas and Tarrant against Buddy. As it looks increasingly likely that Dawes will play a Lee Brown style role, some experimentation up forward is both wise and necessary.

So yes Quicky, I agree there may be a role for Tarrant at CHF, but wonder if the constraints of an aging body might take the edge off his game. Reid forward with Keefe able to play much of his defensive role seems a more interesting prospect.

If they're thinking of playing Taz anywhere other than defence then I hope it's wing or high HFF. Some of his best work as a forward before heading to Freo was his lead up work. Would create some very difficult matchup concerns for other clubs.

 

[Quicky]

I see your point Quicky, but I guess what I am afraid of with Tarrant in the forward line is that he will be less effective forward than back. He is 30/31 and his best days are behind him. He is able to see the play unfold infront of him and use his pace and guile to outwit forwards. In his brief trips forward with the Pies, I recall him once kicking goals, otherwise not making much impression in an offensive role.

By all means try him forward, but he is more useful at full back. The problem of Brown competing for his spot allows for flexibility, such as playing Brown against the gorillas and Tarrant against Buddy. As it looks increasingly likely that Dawes will play a Lee Brown style role, some experimentation up forward is both wise and necessary.

So yes Quicky, I agree there may be a role for Tarrant at CHF, but wonder if the constraints of an aging body might take the edge off his game. Reid forward with Keefe able to play much of his defensive role seems a more interesting prospect.

I was thinking full forward for Tarrant with Dawes doing a lot of the high lead up work. Cloke is also good at this.

I wouldn't mind seeing the bolded either.

I think our combination of talls with Cloke, Dawes, Keeffe, Reid, Tarrant and Brown is our biggest list strength right now. I think if we can manage those players to collectively get the best out of themselves for the team, that with our setbacks this season, this could well be the key to a premiership. It's potentially our biggest wild card.

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

Think you are correct regarding our tall man strength. With everyone available, the problem becomes to fit them all in, though Buckley won't view it that way. Maybe the big guys can compensate for our lack of class rucks.

 

[Old Spice]

He did it during one set shot once in his life and people just will never forget it.

I find that amazing!

Ditto

People love to make the early crow. But one thing I know about Buckley is that he is no fuddy-duddy reactive conservative.

He stated in his book that he liked some of Tony Shaws interesting moves which were cut short by his limited tenure. Bucks has also shown a propensity to ride out criticism to play young players.

Partly that's a result of injuries, but he's also committed to replicating Geelong's pratice of playing each senior player 4 times a season - a necessary move post the club emptying out around 26 players in the last two seasons. He's dealing with what he's inherited.

I'd love to see what Buck's does with 4 fit key defenders. It may be a play off for defensive positions, but hopefully it involves Goldsack and some switches to the forward line according to match-ups.

 

[Tbone McGraw]

I think this will be taz's last year due to his age/injuries, our cap squeeze and the development of Reid, Keefe and brown. It's a pity with our injuries, it is looking unlikely we will get him a flag.

However for the rest of this year and looking into the future, i would like to see either Keefe or Reid playing a roving wing role. Both have good pace and a great kick. Then we can also switch either of them back or forward depending on matchups. How hard would we be to match up on with that flexibility.

Would be great if Keefe could also play the 2nd ruck role.

 

[Didak Wine]

We didnt try taz at full back while he wad at collingwood and look at the impact he had. Of all the key backs, ben reids marking and reading of the game stand out. Why not try him up forward with the array of talls we have to throw back. Worth a try with the incompetent dawes dropping everything

 

[handy point]

Like a fine wine...

 

[Pera]

whadddddddaplayer!

 

[Number 10]

Who needs a 2nd ruckman to go with an opposition ruckman who is moved forward when you have .... Keeffeeeeyyy the ruck killer.

 

[Number 10]

In all honesty though. He has allowed jolly to maximise rucking Minutes while taking the resting ruckman. What a different he is making to this team at the moment.

 

[4#Didak#4]

Who needs a 2nd ruckman to go with an opposition ruckman who is moved forward when you have .... Keeffeeeeyyy the ruck killer.

He is proving perfect for that role - yesterday a perfect example against a very strong ruck/fwd team.

The versatility he is going to provide to our team has been unexpected and brilliant. Th emore flexible & versatile the better I say. I am starting to think we can have a structure that will keep the opposition coaches mind boggled - similar to when our mids were rotating forward the last two years.

I see no reason why Dawes & Keefe can't eventually share the second ruck duties (will redue the stress this will cause on Dawes body) with Reid covering their respective positions when they are going into the ruck.

 

[rand corp]

I just love the way this kid has stood up when called on

 

[Buena]

I couldn't be happier with Keefe. Round 5, and he has beaten his opponent every week. I'm at the point that when I see the ball going towards him, I'm full of confidence. He even takes the odd kick in, which is a credit to his foot skills. Well done Lachie, coming along brilliantly.