Ling up forward

[CarnTheCatters]

It gets talked about all the time, and to me seems a logical way for Ling to manage the final years of his career. The reasons he makes sense as a forward to me are:

- Strong overhead mark
- Accurate kick
- Takes a good defender AND makes them accountable
- If it wasn't for a rubbish free kick against the Saints in the final last year that would have been one of the great captain's goals

So why don't they stop talking about it and do it? Has Scott given any indication of whether he'll go down this path?

 

[Turbocat]

It gets talked about all the time, and to me seems a logical way for Ling to manage the final years of his career. The reasons he makes sense as a forward to me are:

- Strong overhead mark
- Accurate kick
- Takes a good defender AND makes them accountable
- If it wasn't for a rubbish free kick against the Saints in the final last year that would have been one of the great captain's goals

So why don't they stop talking about it and do it? Has Scott given any indication of whether he'll go down this path?

Maybe cause he's injured! The free kick thing is irrelevant , the question is if he can play up their as a permanent forward when other players are trying stop him rather than him trying stop others.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Because Ling is injured, that's why.

Given where his body is at, in 2010 and now early this year, I have to question whether Ling forward we'll work though, if we're planning to press high and put increased pressure on the ball carrier, having really slow guys in our forward line will just make that harder to do.

But since he's stayed on as captain it's probably what we're stuck with so we'll need to make it work as best we can.

 

[kanyewest]

I don't mind this idea. However, it is worth seeing how Ling comes back from his injury and whether he can go again in the midfield with his tagging role. Just like Joel Corey, who looked a few steps too slow last year, these guys need to be given a chance early to see how they respond.

On the other hand, one thing that Ling would bring to the defensive forward role would be discipline. I actually think this is one of the most important things, and that's why the likes of Byrnes and Stokes have never been very good at this type of role. It requires the forward sacrifice his own game and forget about the stats. Max epitomised this, and Ling has certainly shown this commitment in the midfield.

 

[Rustin' Man]

Not sure how I feel about Linga in a permanent forward role, like the idea of him spending time there though. On forward pressure this was a very noticeable lack on Saturday night against the Saints. They were able to set up from the backline without hindrance from our forward line, we surely missed Travis and Moons and Stevie J because he was playing up field to harass the opposition back men - still it may have been a ploy

 

[Scottland2007]

Same starting 22 as last year except:

Ling and Varcoe swap. (Ling forward, Varcoe to midfield).
Corey to back line, Kelly to midfiled.
Duncan gets Abletts position.
Blake gone to vfl and Dawson to be spare ruck on bench, subbed with Otto at some stage during game.

 

[Vdubs]

Same starting 22 as last year except:

Ling and Varcoe swap. (Ling forward, Varcoe to midfield).
Corey to back line, Kelly to midfiled.
Duncan gets Abletts position.
Blake gone to vfl and Dawson to be spare ruck on bench, subbed with Otto at some stage during game.

Last game Blake was already out. But agree Simpson in.
Ling will not play- injured. Varcoe may be a little delayed as a mid given recovery from shoulder reconstruction, tackling could be a real issue for a while.
Would hate to see Corey in backline. Kicking too erratic, and he is a great in and under player.
Agree Duncan for Ablett.

 

[maxy87]

I think Ling is still good for a few midfield rotations where he can hit hard and hold things up. Probably not for the whole game though.

Mark Riccuito would often go to a forward pocket and cause a few headaches with his strong hands and brick outhouse physiche. Ling could do a role similar to this and as mentioned earlier, is very disciplined so will lead by example and hopefully if fit, provide some consistency. Obviously he's not going to be running circles around people and crashing like our mate Rooke but he's still a reliable kick and solid option

 

[vinum coupe]

You'd think he'll play 25% forward, 50% mid, 25% bench.

If he spends too much time forward they will just keep running off him.

 

[Topper]

I'd love to see Ling play permanent forward, as well as Milburn.

Both great over head, both can play tall and small so when ball hits the ground they'll crumb as good as a genuine small.

Both are naturally defensive so that will suit the new game plan


HF: Milburn, Moons, SJ/Chappy
FF: Ling, Pods, Hawk

 

[kellykellykelly]

You'd think he'll play 25% forward, 50% mid, 25% bench.

If he spends too much time forward they will just keep running off him.

He has been tagging the prime mover in opposition midfields for a number of years, I'd back him in to have the speed/endurance to follow his mid-sized defender out of defence.

 

[vinum coupe]

He has been tagging the prime mover in opposition midfields for a number of years, I'd back him in to have the speed/endurance to follow his mid-sized defender out of defence.

I wouldn't

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I wouldn't

Agree.

 

[kanyewest]

I wouldn't

Disagree. KellyKellyKelly is right.

Ling's slowness is nothing new. It's not as if there was some golden age when he was winning grand final sprints. So he has managed to be the best tagger in the game for sometime despite this shortcoming. Anyway, the guys he would play on as a defensive forward are not guns themselves. Take Maxwell or Fisher or Hodge for instance. He can easily keep up with those players. And even if they do choose to run off him, I would back Ling to hurt them the other way.

Ultimately, if he is too slow for the forward line, he is too slow for the midfield.

 

[kellykellykelly]

Agree.

Agree to disagree. But I guarantee you he'll take some big scalps this year. Some of whom, dare I say, will have much more "pace" as it looks on paper.

Smart footballer, has a place in the midfield or forwardline.

 

[David the Cat]

Disagree. KellyKellyKelly is right.

Ling's slowness is nothing new. It's not as if there was some golden age when he was winning grand final sprints. So he has managed to be the best tagger in the game for sometime despite this shortcoming. Anyway, the guys he would play on as a defensive forward are not guns themselves. Take Maxwell or Fisher or Hodge for instance. He can easily keep up with those players. And even if they do choose to run off him, I would back Ling to hurt them the other way.

Ultimately, if he is too slow for the forward line, he is too slow for the midfield.

I agree with your disagreement of the former disagreement and also with your agreement of what the former disagreer disagreed with.

In other words...Ling in the forward line is worth a try IMO

 

[you pick one]

I agree with your disagreement of the former disagreement and also with your agreement of what the former disagreer disagreed with.

In other words...Ling in the forward line is worth a try IMO

Do you sell insurance in Switzerland DtC

 

[David the Cat]

Do you sell insurance in Switzerland DtC

For you, YPO, special price

 

[vinum coupe]

Agree to disagree. But I guarantee you he'll take some big scalps this year. Some of whom, dare I say, will have much more "pace" as it looks on paper.

Smart footballer, has a place in the midfield or forwardline.

We disagree only on him as a permanent forward.
He can play 25% there. Any longer than that and they will play off his opponent.

I still think he has a midfield job to do.


Completely disagree with someones comment earlier about him almost winning a QF for us. total rubbish. He almost fluked it.

 

[AM]

I agree with your disagreement of the former disagreement and also with your agreement of what the former disagreer disagreed with.

In other words...Ling in the forward line is worth a try IMO

He came to us as a rather tubby forward so it's a role not new to him. He's also a more accurate kick for goal than anyone else who presently plays in the forward half. And he's more than capable overhead.

Playing him as a mobile CHF if Moons is ruled out has some appeal.

 

[meto]

He came to us as a rather tubby forward so it's a role not new to him. He's also a more accurate kick for goal than anyone else who presently plays in the forward half. And he's more than capable overhead.

Playing him as a mobile CHF if Moons is ruled out has some appeal.

Flank or pocket, there his only genuine options.
He could play elsewhere but in his twilight years that is really his only option, IMO.

 

[Archangel]

Ling should have been moved up forward LAST year and played Ablett's forward role; he was a full-forward in juniors....

He needs to use his defensive pressure in our forward line and leave the midfield to the quicker blokes.

I can see him kicking 50 goals, I can't see him tagging the opposition's best midfielder anymore

 

[maxy87]

Ling should have been moved up forward LAST year and played Ablett's forward role; he was a full-forward in juniors....

He needs to use his defensive pressure in our forward line and leave the midfield to the quicker blokes.

I can see him kicking 50 goals, I can't see him tagging the opposition's best midfielder anymore

I concur with the Archangel.

In 2011 we will likely see Menzel, Brown, Vardy, Duncan and some others spend time in our forward line. Having Lingy around will be a positive influence and provide some consistency to cover for the ephemeral types like Stokes, Byrnes.

He might not keep up with running players all of the time but when the ball is in dispute he'll hit you bloody hard with his mature body and can hold a contested mark. Is also very disciplined defensively and is a reliable kick. Can see him being a Tom Harley like figure just in the forward half. He could still, as I've said before, come into the middle for a bit to hit hard and hold things up

 

[krisholio14]

I don't think he'd be run off as much as you'd think.

He's a great mark, an excellent set shot, and a smart player to boot. Teams might try to zone off him, but I think it would come back and bite them on the arse given our ability to rebound quickly from turnovers.

 

[you pick one]

I concur with the Archangel.

In 2011 we will likely see Menzel, Brown, Vardy, Duncan and some others spend time in our forward line. Having Lingy around will be a positive influence and provide some consistency to cover for the ephemeral types like Stokes, Byrnes.

He might not keep up with running players all of the time but when the ball is in dispute he'll hit you bloody hard with his mature body and can hold a contested mark. Is also very disciplined defensively and is a reliable kick. Can see him being a Tom Harley like figure just in the forward half. He could still, as I've said before, come into the middle for a bit to hit hard and hold things up

Doubt even Kevin knife in the back Rudd could trot that out at midnight