Our Forward Line - WTF??

[September Action]

It used to be great. Now we get the ball up there, and nothing happens. I think our midfield is all that is keeping us in the finals race.

So, is it the forwards, the forward coaching, or delivery, which is failing us?

 

[Rustin Cohle]

The delivery is the main problem. Bomb, bomb, bomb to Cloke and Dawes who have four players to contend with. Compounding the issue is our lack of crumbers so the opposition half backs just run off with the ball.

Krakouer, even at half fitness, has to play in the finals. Also, possibly Macaffer.

 

[September Action]

Delivery has not been great but I think you are right about the crumbers...who is supposed to be front and square??

 

[HFF]

No crumbers front and square, EVER! I can't recall any crumbing goals of late.

Delivery is poor. Bombs galore and we expect miracles from Cloke and Dawes. There's never any free space inside 50.

The only time there's space is when Swan of Thomas play out of the goal square.

Elliott and SInclair have shown promise but they must know that their primary role is to be at the feet of the big blokes. It just rebounds out of our forward line too easy.

Krak, Caff and Didak must return. All can kick goals, plenty of x factor and great ball use.

 

[danielnajdek]

So I gather Cloke continued on from his great peformance against GWS last week....

Didn't see much of the match as I had a Birthday Party I went to.

 

[Smoky]

Cloke doesn't work for Collingwood anymore.

 

[September Action]

Who is our forward coach?

 

[loki04]

The delivery is the main problem. Bomb, bomb, bomb to Cloke and Dawes who have four players to contend with. Compounding the issue is our lack of crumbers so the opposition half backs just run off with the ball.

Krakouer, even at half fitness, has to play in the finals. Also, possibly Macaffer.

Along with what you said I'll add :

Our forwards don't move enough and don't block/create space for each other, they often lead to the same spots dragging another defender with them.

 

[Drizt]

Who is our forward coach?

Lappin?

 

[golazo]

Who is our forward coach?

 

[Smoky]

You can't blame Lappin for Cloke turning into a pathetic excuse for a target.

 

[September Action]

It's not just Cloke. Our whole forward structure is dysfunctional.

I suspect the rabbit's a breadstick!

 

[Swooop]

There is just so much bombing into the 50.

a) the guys going inside 50 need to spot up targets way better
b) the forwards need to provide leads much more

Was thinking during the game tonight we should actually be called the Collingwood Bombers.

 

[rustyg70]

We definately need to lower our eyes when going into the forward fifty.
Bombing it long to a 2 on 1 contest is never going to be to our advantage.

But what you guys need to realise is that we are playing 3 to 4 first or second year player every week.
Plus we are asking Goldsack to play in a different position than he is use to, which means he is still learning the forward game also.

You bring back the precise delivery and X factor of Didak, and he will deliver it to an open man more often than not. He also demands a decent defender
And we can only dream about Krakouer. He is sooooo dangerous and damaging in the forward line with his awareness and creativity. Another that demands a quality defender.

 

[mattys123]

We lack accurate kicks once the ball gets to the wing or half forward, and also as shown tonight once we actually get shots on goal.

We need Didak and Krakouer so bad it's no funny, Dids is that link man who hits his target inside 50 more often then anyone we have, while Krak is the finisher, the man who when he has a shot from inside 40 metres, he goals.

Cloke is a problem, but there's not a lot we can do about it other then resting him for one game to freshen him up before the finals.

 

[Mateyman]

You can't blame Lappin for Cloke turning into a pathetic excuse for a target.

How the hell is he meant to consistently beat 3 players?

 

[bucksisbest]

We lack natural small crumbers. Sinclair needs to re-discover where he got to around mid-season before injury, where he was handy.
Elliott I don't think is up to it yet. Lacking poise and touch at important times.

Cloke's not playing well, but more players should be getting off the chain considering he seems to attract 2 to him if he's deep.

I also think the effect of the midfield is being overrated some of the sidewards nothing shit that we carried on with tonight and we have for chunks this season is enough for you to tear your hair out.
Having 30 doesn't mean you played effectively.

 

[Smoky]

How the hell is he meant to consistently beat 3 players?

Lead to space....

Not round and round in circles so your opponent/s know where to stand

 

[rose jam]

It's the kick when we've got the ball aroud the centre that sux. It's an auto bomb kick, just as we were doing last year. But this year teams are defending back more and less press so it isn't working.
We're not doing the short kick to break it up.

But what I don't get, is at centre bounces our backline is completely open when they get a clearance, but we we get a clearance from the square our forward line is outnumbered by 2. WTF is going on with this set-up?

 

[Son of Skeletor]

Plenty of times in the second half tonight our small-forward set-up was Young-Elliott-Sinclair

Our 2010 premiership small forward set-up was Didak-Macaffer-L. Davis

In 2011 we had Krakouer. We also obviously used Leroy Brown a lot up forward.

Leroy and Leon's (earlier than expected?) retirements, coupled with the horror injury run for Krak, Caff and Dids, have almost completely decimated our forward line. Teams can put an extra defender back to sit in front of Cloke and Dawes, and are seldom made to pay the price if the ball hits the deck. We don't look confident when we go inside 50- far too many handballs looking to invent a goal.

I'm of the opinion that our form would pick up considerably if/when we regain some semblance of potency up forward. It would ease the load on our midfield, who are carrying us this season.

 

[gibba23]

the one time it worked tonight (and one only) was when blair (or could have been fasolo, was on the far side) lowered the eyes and hit dawes 40 out slight angle, 1 example in a whole game...

 

[TheFreshBanana]

Didn't anyone else see that we were trying to kick to leads a lot more tonight? At least we were at the start of the game.

Thing is, you've got to be smart about where everyone leads. No point leading into another player, bringing a 2 on 2 or a 3 on 2.

I liked that Bucks finally started trying out a leading forward structure, but we're all over the place with it probably due to lack of actually doing anything.

At this point might be a little too late, but hey, better late than never I guess.

 

[Mateyman]

Didn't anyone else see that we were trying to kick to leads a lot more tonight? At least we were at the start of the game.

I did.

 

[sr36]

It's Lappin's fault? Are we the only supporters who blame assistant coaches when something isn't working? Where do the Bucks stop?

 

[obleex]

I see it week after week after week. Dawes, Goldsack, Elliot etc all bring their opponents with them and just hover around Cloke meaning a) the midfielders have no one to kick to, and b) Cloke can't mark it because instead of it being a 1 on 1, it's 3 on 3 or 4 on 4.

Need Didak and Krak back ASAP.