McPhee: Back or Forward?

[RED AND BLACK SOLDIER]

He has been played back most of his career, but has declined and has never got back to the 04 form that got him AA honours. He has looked quite average ever since then and looks as if he is lost down back and has lost his confidence down there which has effected his decision making ect.

He's played forward a few times this season and played a few really good games and seemed to look much more comfortable up forward and seems to handle himself better when forward. He has quite a few good attributes (Strong mark overhead, Nice kick for goal ect) that could make him quite a damaging forward who could really put pressure on other teams backman.

Having said that, what do you chaps think?

 

[fish_bowl]

my ideal backline looks something like this

Nathan Lovett-Murray Mal Michael Henry Slattery
Dustin Fletcher Paddy Ryder Tom Hislop

with players such as Welsh, Mark Johnson and Mcveigh moving back for suitible matchups. with moving mcphee from back to forward we lose some run and a big body but i think NLM can provide the run, and with hislop hopefully devloping he can take a flank.

moving mcphee forward would be a great option as we dont really have a lead up target that moves down the wings ala nick riewoldt. it also allows him to go ball hunting and not worry about a man as much as he does in the backline. the thing we have to do is decide on a position and let him settle there. no use in swapping him forward andback weeek in week out.

 

[B-Bomber]

McPhee is a very attacking footballer -- I think that when our backline is strong enough and has good enough negating players to dover the danger forwards he is great to have attacking off that half back line

However, at the moment he plays his best footy in the forward line where he can cause some headaches and match-up problems for the opposition as he is a great contested mark and has some real attacking flaire (not just for the goals either).

 

[TheDon35]

McPhee along with many others are trade bait.

 

[d4vE]

forward! has a really good kick on him, and can take a mark when needed

 

[J.Hetfield]

FF: Davey Lloyd Lucas
HF:Ramanauskas Gumbleton Jetta
C: Lovett McPhee Winderlich
HB: Hislop Ryder Lovett - Murray
FB: Fletcher Michael Slattery

R: Hille Watson Stanton

Int: Laycock M.Johnson Monfries Nash

 

[RED AND BLACK SOLDIER]

But he hardly ever runs with the ball and plays as a dashing half backer. He always stops with the ball, looks around and tries to find an option instead of find an option whilst he's running it off the half back, he used to be very good good at it, but now....he's just hopeless.
We've got plents of other opions in the half backer area so McPhee moving forward will not be a problem, it will just make the forward line and backline stronger by moving him.

 

[bomberbastic]

He has looked good the few times he went forward toward the end of the season - much better than he did as a backman. Last chance, give him a year to find some motivation. Bradley - Gumby - McPhee is a pretty good HF line, with Mc Veigh adding to the mix nicely.

 

[Merv]

Nowhere, trade him please

 

[mantis]

He has been played back most of his career, but has declined and has never got back to the 04 form that got him AA honours. He has looked quite average ever since then and looks as if he is lost down back and has lost his confidence down there which has effected his decision making ect.

He's played forward a few times this season and played a few really good games and seemed to look much more comfortable up forward and seems to handle himself better when forward. He has quite a few good attributes (Strong mark overhead, Nice kick for goal ect) that could make him quite a damaging forward who could really put pressure on other teams backman.

Having said that, what do you chaps think?

This "chapette" thinks he definitely would do better up forward.

 

[eth-dog]

Forward, for a combo of both defending and attacking. #1 he is a very good overhead mark. #2 He is a good kick. #3 If we use him well enough, he could probably stop the oppositions run off the half back line, which is a pivotal part of Football nowadays, so if he could do that, we would have oppositions destroyed.
so:
HF: McPhee-Lucas-Lovett
FF: Davey-Lloyd-Bradley

 

[Red Black and Blue]

Nowhere, trade him please

I kind of agree but at the same time could be similar to solly (which was a bad idea gave his heart and soul every week) , trade him and he plays nearly career best football.

 

[wazzabp]

Forward, for a combo of both defending and attacking. #1 he is a very good overhead mark. #2 He is a good kick. #3 If we use him well enough, he could probably stop the oppositions run off the half back line, which is a pivotal part of Football nowadays, so if he could do that, we would have oppositions destroyed.
so:
HF: McPhee-Lucas-Lovett
FF: Davey-Lloyd-Bradley

I could go with that forward line. Bradley should be given a licence to roam the forward half, as his height and mobility will be a pain in the arse to match up on. McPhee can take big marks so having him drop into the square when Lloyd leads out is just opening up another avenue to goal when needed.
I wouldn't mind seeing this forward line:

HF:Bradley Gumby Davey
F:Lucas Lloyd M. Johnson.

Lucas and Lloyd out of the square with Gumby and Bradley leading up the ground to open up space.

 

[raskolnikov]

Back

 

[FandangoDingo]

I kind of agree but at the same time could be similar to solly (which was a bad idea gave his heart and soul every week) , trade him and he plays nearly career best football.

Sometimes it takes the trade for the player to realise their potential... the kick in the pants, as well as the new surroundings. Solly was very undisciplined, but I'm very happy for him he's got a renewed career at Fremantle. He wouldn't necessarily have had the same great 2007 season if he'd stayed at Windy Hill though.

 

[monty1104]

I like McPhee forward, because he hasnt had the best season down back. The thing is though, that presents 2 problems.

1. We lose his run. This quality is best accentuated when he is running from defense, through the midfield.

2. We already have enough marking forward without adding a makeshift one.

In reality, McPhee is a true utility. he can be throw in anywhere and play that position. That is how he should be played IMO. Just slot him into positions to give players a rest. Probably not the ideal situation, but he is too good not to be in our starting 22, there just isnt a definite position where you can say "yep, he plays best there".

 

[RED AND BLACK SOLDIER]

I like McPhee forward, because he hasnt had the best season down back. The thing is though, that presents 2 problems.

1. We lose his run. This quality is best accentuated when he is running from defense, through the midfield.

2. We already have enough marking forward without adding a makeshift one.

In reality, McPhee is a true utility. he can be throw in anywhere and play that position. That is how he should be played IMO. Just slot him into positions to give players a rest. Probably not the ideal situation, but he is too good not to be in our starting 22, there just isnt a definite position where you can say "yep, he plays best there".

1.As iv'e mentioned, he used to be very good at this yes, but these days we just don't see it that often because he was stops and looks around for a target instead of looking for one whilst his running off half back.

2. We only really have Lloyd and Lucas, we need that medium forward (O'Keefe, Fisher ect.) that can be a good 3rd tall option that can get goals and assist Lucas and Lloyd in getting their goals aswell.