Our forward curse opens opportunity

[Heater39]

Assuming Macaffer is out for the year and Krak and Dids will miss round one at least, I see the changes to our GF side of last year as follows.

Out- Brown, Davis, Krakouer, Didak
In- Wood, Beams, Goldsack, Clarke

B: Toovey Tarrant O'Brien
HB: Maxwell Reid Shaw
C: Thomas Ball Sidebottom
HF: Beams Cloke Clarke
FF: Fasolo Dawes Blair
R: Jolly Pendlebury Swan
I: Wellingham Johnson Wood Goldsack

E: Brown Buckley Rounds

Our depth is a real concern this year imo.

 

[magpiewarrior]

There is a bloke about 6 foot 10 (in the old language) with a decent size body, that could take the goal square. Their going to have to chop his arms to out mark him. This allows Trav to travel up the ground (creating havoc) and Dawes to prowl out around CHF (and coming back to negate the 3rd man up option against our giant). Blair , Fasolo & Sidebottom/Beams round out the forward-line nicely until Dids and/or Krak find their way back in.
Not bad for a side lacking depth, eh?

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Talls - Cloke, Dawes, occasional resting Jolly/Wood
Smalls - Didak, Beams, Sidebottom, Blair, Krakouer, Fasolo
+ Resting Pendlebury/Swan/D.Thomas


That doesn't even count Ugle, Elliott, Paine, etc

Millions of options.

Agree totally. Zillions of options. Buckley/Clarke can come it too, freeing up Shaw to spend some time in the middle, and that in turn will allow Swan/Thomas to spend more time up forward.

Nothing to panic about just yet.

Goldsack might be a wildcard third tall forward too.

 

[soreplums]

I'd go Goldy. He should have played against Geelong in the GF ahead of Fasolo IMO. Would be happy to see Marty have a crack aswell. I think that he would be able to adjust to a half forward role. I don't think that it would take too long either.

 

[THATSGOLD]

Assuming Macaffer is out for the year and Krak and Dids will miss round one at least, I see the changes to our GF side of last year as follows.

Out- Brown, Davis, Krakouer, Didak
In- Wood, Beams, Goldsack, Clarke

B: Toovey Tarrant O'Brien
HB: Maxwell Reid Shaw
C: Thomas Ball Sidebottom
HF: Beams Cloke Clarke
FF: Fasolo Dawes Blair
R: Jolly Pendlebury Swan
I: Wellingham Johnson Wood Goldsack

E: Brown Buckley Rounds

Our depth is a real concern this year imo.

Still question marks on Reid and Johnson obviously and the way we are going with injuries you're a brave man naming a side nearly a month out. Also Rounds won't even get a nab cup berth, still injured!

 

[Ed D]

Does it really matter how Elliott has played in the TAC Cup anyway? The coaching staff rate him. If they think he's been training well and is good enough to play in the seniors then he will!

 

[TradeDraft]

Does it really matter how Elliott has played in the TAC Cup anyway? The coaching staff rate him. If they think he's been training well and is good enough to play in the seniors then he will!

Very True what we think and say means F**k All really

 

[Dogs_Playing_Poker]

Tazza up forward

 

[Nicco_jj]

So the equivalent of 2 goals per game at AFL level is 10 goals a game at TAC level?

Don't see too many people kicking 180 goals a year at TAC level...

TAC Cup is all about preparation for the next level, playing all positions, learning structures, etc, etc. Not many players average 2 goals a game at that level.

Hahaha.... Yer, good point.

I was more meaning that we can't expect him to come in to AFL and be kicking 2 goals a game and being in the best every other week.

That being said, i Would be stoked if he did!

 

[THATSGOLD]

Does it really matter how Elliott has played in the TAC Cup anyway? The coaching staff rate him. If they think he's been training well and is good enough to play in the seniors then he will!

Probably because people are trying to understand and get an indication why he is so talked about on this board considering thats all you can judge off at the moment! If thats your attitude why speculate or talk about any player that hasn't debuted?

 

[Ed D]

Probably because people are trying to understand and get an indication why he is so talked about on this board considering thats all you can judge off at the moment! If thats your attitude why speculate or talk about any player that hasn't debuted?

Don't take me the wrong way, people can talk and discuss what they think about players on here, but when the coaches have already said that a player is ready to debut, it's a little pointless to argue about TAC stats and whether the player is good enough to play seniors!

 

[Quicky]

And now Krakouer is done and dusted for the year. What rotten luck before a shot has been fired in anger! We lacked crumbing smalls last year and with Macaffer, Krakouer and Davis out of the equation our quality in this area is has really been smashed. Sidebottom and Didak will become very important because they are our next most talented goal sneaks/crumbers.

 

[Ed D]

Beams will also be used up forward and has a good snap. It does bring Elliott and Ugle into contention if the club wants a true small crumbing forward. I expect them both to feature as the sub a bit this season.

 

[Knightmare]

And now Krakouer is done and dusted for the year. What rotten luck before a shot has been fired in anger! We lacked crumbing smalls last year and with Macaffer, Krakouer and Davis out of the equation our quality in this area is has really been smashed. Sidebottom and Didak will become very important because they are our next most talented goal sneaks/crumbers.

It seems like someone is out to get us with all these injuries.

Interestingly we have some ok depth type forwards: Elliott and Ugle are both good enough to play if required then Fasolo and Blair are both AFL quality. So while we are losing best 22 players, fortunately so far they are among the more replaceable with satisfactory depth to cover any issues.

 

[Ed D]

Interestingly we have some ok depth type forwards: Elliott and Ugle are both good enough to play if required then Fasolo and Blair are both AFL quality. So while we are losing best 22 players, fortunately so far they are among the more replaceable with satisfactory depth to cover any issues.

Very true. It's nothing aginst Krakouer as he was an important player last year and gave the team a real spark, but as long as the spine is fit and healthy then things aren't too bad. I'd be more worried if the KPPs were getting season ending injuries because as you said, the depth isn't quite there. It's easier for a young player to come in and play a crumbing/outside role than a position that gets a lot of attention and important plays through it.

 

[HFF]

Fasolo is now going to be looked upon as a senior player- not a fringe youngster but a senior player. His opportunity to stamp himself on the side has come.

Jamie Elliot is the other option who should see some game time in the seniors this year.

Krak is a blow, Macaffer too (although he was out al of 2011 too) but still these injuries have not upset the apple cart yet.

 

[vjknight]

Krak is a blow, Macaffer too (although he was out al of 2011 too) but still these injuries have not upset the apple cart yet.

absolutely agree - some of the options might be young, but will be well supported.

maybe even your namesake makes a return forward, as the small go to man. got plenty of quality mids at present.

 

[OniAu]

not to be harsh , be bigger problems if the injured were , pendles swan and thomas.

Blair will be a permanant forward fixture now, our better mids will probably rest up forward a lot more , also gives some of the younger kids with potential to make that spot their own.

Not panic stations yet , like most of the media and other clubs are predicting

 

[Breakthelines]

So we will be missing Krakouer & Macaffer come round 1?

Macaffer was very ordinary last year when he played!

Krakouer is a 15 plus Possie and 30 plus goal a year loss but it means that Fasolo and now the young guns in Elliot and Yagmoor need to be given every chance to fill the void.

 

[Pera]

I think the injuries give Fasolo a permanent position in our side with Beams on the flank.

Blair (Rotating through the middle) - Dawes - Resting Ruckman
Beams - Cloke - Fasolo

We also have Sidebottom, little Sinlcair, Didak, Goldsack etc so there are plenty of ready made replacements for our forward line. I think we'll be fine, and our structures wont have changed at all. Think we are still well on course for a tilt at a premiership, no doubt at all.

 

[Tarkyn_24]

So we will be missing Krakouer & Macaffer come round 1?

Macaffer was very ordinary last year when he played!

Krakouer is a 15 plus Possie and 30 plus goal a year loss but it means that Fasolo and now the young guns in Elliot and Yagmoor need to be given every chance to fill the void.

Are you referring to the game where he came on as a sub in the fourth quarter and had immediate impact with seven touches and a goal against Port, a solid game against North in which he injured himself or the games against the Lions and someone else (can't remember who off the top of my head) who he was returning against after ten weeks out?

 

[TheBigH]

Does anyone know where Josh Thomas is at? With these forward line opportunities this may be his chance... He has the ability just needs to get on the park..

 

[Ed D]

Does anyone know where Josh Thomas is at? With these forward line opportunities this may be his chance... He has the ability just needs to get on the park..

He's back in training but he hasn't played a practice game yet (didn't play today either where a lot of the rookies who missed out in the NAB Cup game played). It's likely he'll start the year in the VFL before being considered.

 

[TheBigH]

Thanks Ed. I doubt he will be considered for a while yet considering his limited preseason. But does anyone else think J.Thomas has got what it takes to fill a role in our side this year?

 

[mattys123]

Thanks Ed. I doubt he will be considered for a while yet considering his limited preseason. But does anyone else think J.Thomas has got what it takes to fill a role in our side this year?

JT isn't skilful enough to be a small forward IMO, he's a pure extractor, in fact many here think his weakness is getting the ball outside of the packs.

The loss of Krak and Caff sets us back because now we have to stick with Jarryd Blair, who is really a Leon Davis type when it comes to finals, that being almost useless.

I love the little fella, but his finals record is poor.

I'd like to see Ugle, or even Yagmoor given a shot there, even though Yagmoor seems like a half back, his silky skills could be used off half forward or out of the forward pocket.

One a little from left field for me might be Wellingham, if Beams and Sidey push up into the midfield, we could play Sharrod as an almost permanent small forward.