Our Forward Line - WTF??

[MISFITS]

I remember telling a Carlton friend about Collingwood signing Matty Lappin as our new forwards coach for 2011...
He fell to the ground a a fit of laughter...
How does a Carlton reject forward coach(dont forget he got the ass from the Carton) get the Collingwood gig?
Results are starting to show progress too.. Yes the forward line is going backwards.!

 

[greening22]

I have been overseas for much of this year but it appears to me that both Dawes and Cloke have maintained pretty much the form that they displayed in the 2011 Grand Final; and especially after half-time in that match.

To me it seems that one or both should have been dropped some time ago but now it is too late into the 2012 season;especially as we do not have any replacement candidates to consider apart from young Paine. Moreover I wonder how he would go against the match-hardened and big-bodies Swans players. Alternatively in the case oif Cloke why doesn't the coaching panel ever consider putting him onto the ball during the game so that least he is where the action is and so hopefully he could regain some form. Or even try him at center-half back for some part of the game so that again he can get his hands on the ball. What have we got to lose? I often think that Buckley like Malthouse is far too reticent to take risks and make changes duing a game. That was particularly the case against Hawthorn; as it was in the 2011 Grand Final afainst Geelong when nothing outside of the square was tried and particularly after half-time.

As I was composing this I was thinking that how would we be faring if we had someone like Drew Petrie in front of goals compared to the current occupants? God if we only had drafted Matthew Pavlich rather than Danny Roach back in 1999 when we had the chance!

Also when I saw the Collingwood v St Kilda game as opposed to the Hawthorn v Geelong, I came to one very clear conclusion our KICKING SKILLS UNDER PRESSURE for many of our players are deficient. Hnce Krakouer and Didak may be both useful in that regard if they can regain and maintain match fitness over the next 4 weeks or so.

In addition, I often wonder why Heath Shaw has these occasional brain fades when it comes to disposal either by foot but also of late those cute handballs along the ground which on Saturday night lead to turnovers at least twice. Maybe I am being a bit tough on hime but it has been a habit that has been creeping into his game of late.

Finally, I believe that this week is our Grand Final. If we cannot beat Sydney at the Olympic Stadium then I can see us going out in straight sets come September!

It is a tough one. In reality, we have no fit player to put in our forward line bar Paine who is ripping it up in VFL. Ugle is just fading behind and the others are returning from injury. I wouldn't put Didak on the spot and make him come back, yet. We know what happened last time. Caff and Kraks, let's be honest it would be a miracle for one of them to return. They may have done alright yesterday, but its the followup games/recovery that counts.

We have a young brigade of smalls here now, all played under 25 games and are 19/20 years old. We can't blame it on them, but only our experience in Dawes/Cloke/Goldsack to a lesser extent. It's harder for our players to be front and center when the key forwards just stand there and wrestle with multiple opponents. They would just bring their opponent to the group and there would be an easier get away for them.

Whereas if our key forwards go on a lead, it frees the space where generally their only opponent will be behind and there is a more even amount at the contest.

The only reason the mids are bombing it in there is because the keys aren't leading. They are trying to make the forwards run for the ball to give them a better chance to mark.

So really, it is just self inflicted pain by Cloke and Dawes.

 

[blaze036]

krak and didak will be a huge boost for our forward line.

If that happens, and cloke gets back to 2011 form we will have one of the best forward lines in the league

 

[cleomenes]

It is essential that Didak come in this week. On past performances, he takes a few weeks to work up to form, and he will need every game up to the finals.
If Ben Johnson can recover in time, he can come in as late as one week before the finals, because he has been able to resume at full steam a number of times in the past. There is not much time left though.
Anything Krakouer can do is a bonus. McCaffer is unlikely to be there. He also takes time to run into form, and it is not available.
Didak is, therefore the only return we can count on. We have to build the forwards with that in mind.
One thing that is possible is that the senior players could show more confidence in Elliott and actually look for him. He is losing confidence.
The bombing to Cloke allows too much time for extra defenders to gather during the flight of the ball. If the bombs were of the kind that Reid can deliver (very fast and flat) things would be different, but we do not have any other linking players that can do this. Shorter kicks forward are required then. The Saints game saw a suggestion that this may be in the planning, but whether it can be properly set up in time I don't know.
Goldsack is a worry. He has everything but is fumbly. Does he need gloves or more grip wax on his hands?
Sinclair is doing a great job, but nobody looks for him either.
Fasolo is becoming a top player.

 

[jmac70]

The ball is rebounding out of our forward line faster than Usain Bolt at the moment. Where has our forward pressure gone?

 

[September Action]

The ball is rebounding out of our forward line faster than Usain Bolt at the moment. Where has our forward pressure gone?

Usain was in our forward half??

(Drools)...6'5''', lightning quick leads...hmmmm, that's what I'm talkin about!

 

[jmac70]

Usain was in our forward half??

(Drools)...6'5''', lightning quick leads...hmmmm, that's what I'm talkin about!

I heard he wants to play for Man U. We will have to come up with a sweet deal to change his mind.

 

[TheFreshBanana]

Davis was a good defender. I remember because we were all shocked at how good he was, we knew he had a good kick and good offense for a defender but there were many queries onto his defending.

 

[Copeland]

Don't know if I would risk Didak after he wrapped his training session early after briefly touching his left hamstring

 

[jmac70]

Maybe he had an itch.

 

[Copeland]

Can only hope mate.

 

[daics_35]

We are gonna bring the press in the finals and in a big way. The club is saving it until then so we don't burn out before the finals. I hope.