Our forward line

[Conca Truck]

Looking at our best 22 for next year, the one position I found hard to fill was our last forward spot. I've already got five players locked up forward:
HF: Shane Edwards Ty Vickery
F: Shaun Hampson Jack Riewoldt Resting Mid (Dusty)

The last spot is the other Half-forward flank.

We've already got three talls, so that rules out McBean, Elton and Griffiths.

Then we've got A.Edwards, O'Hanlon, Lennon, King, Knights, McDonough, Lloyd, Banfield (Rookie listed) and Williams (Rookie listed) to pick from, to make up our forward line.

Who gets the nod?

King was a certain starter, but now his spot is in jeopardy.
A.Edwards was impressive last season and even though he isn't tall, he plays like a tall, so I'm not sure our forward line would function well with Azza in the side.
Knights is a good player but injury prone.
Banfield has AFL experience and is ok, but the others are ahead of him atm.
The rest are kids such as O'Hanlon, Lennon, McDonough, Lloyd and Williams.

What do you think?

 

[Stylo]

I sure hope we stick Shane Edwards in a forward pocket and leave him there this year. He could be an excellent small forward given the chance.

As for your question, I think it'll be King, mainly for his defensive pressure. Looking at that line up, without him we'd be smashed on the rebound week in/out. I do hope another younger player can match his intensity and replace him by year's end though. Mcdonough hopefully. Wouldn't be surprised if we started Lennon on a HBF

 

[Conca Truck]

I sure hope we stick Shane Edwards in a forward pocket and leave him there this year. He could be an excellent small forward given the chance.

As for your question, I think it'll be King, mainly for his defensive pressure. Looking at that line up, without him we'd be smashed on the rebound week in/out. I do hope another younger player can match his intensity and replace him by year's end though. Mcdonough hopefully. Wouldn't be surprised if we started Lennon on a HBF

We could have two of those forwards, for example King on HFF and then Knights starting in the bench.
I agree, by the end of the year I feel McDonough will replace King.

 

[RichoLedio]

We need McDonough to come along asap and Knights to stay fit because I'm sick to death of poor conversion and these two could really turn that area around for us

 

[Morro]

I sure hope we stick Shane Edwards in a forward pocket and leave him there this year. He could be an excellent small forward given the chance.

As for your question, I think it'll be King, mainly for his defensive pressure. Looking at that line up, without him we'd be smashed on the rebound week in/out. I do hope another younger player can match his intensity and replace him by year's end though. Mcdonough hopefully. Wouldn't be surprised if we started Lennon on a HBF

I couldnt agree more, has the potential to be one of the best in the game currently IMO.

 

[DrMike]

Edwards Knights King

 

[Morro]

Personally the OP's forward line lacks a defensive forward which means Kingy walks straight in but I would like to see the following,

FF Titch Ty Maric
HF Lids Jack Lennon

Pro's

Serious marking power in every spot
HFL all have elite hands and feet
Titch and Lids can apply manic fwd pressure with pace
Blooding a kid that I believe fills a need and will be ready
Lids and Titch can rotate in the middle when required
Maric rotates in the ruck with Hammer
Jack & Ty can rotate as required for match ups or the resting ruck can be isolated

Has alot of flexibility.

Others to rotate through as required,

Cotch, Dusty, Knights, King, Elli, Hampson

 

[CLFC23]

Out of A.Edwards or Chris Knights I reckon.

 

[CLFC23]

Actually, I think I'll go with Aaron Edwards. He showed he could step up and be apart of our front 6 and could easily come in and have a 30-40 goal season.

 

[El Tigre]

Edwards Knights King

So you mean both edwards would be in? or are they your "smalls"

From the OP, theres the extra spot, plus at least 1 off the bench.
Kingy plus Arnott off the bench. Kingy holds is spot til at at least part of the way thru the year.

 

[Joker91]

Its a exciting problem to have, god its hard to pick a best 22.

 

[DrMike]

So you mean both edwards would be in? or are they your "smalls"

From the OP, theres the extra spot, plus at least 1 off the bench.
Kingy plus Arnott off the bench. Kingy holds is spot til at at least part of the way thru the year.

Shane, Aaron will only play if we're resting a tall or we match up differently

 

[theflea]

Jack is going to be the CHF so ty will play FF, with Maric/Hampson the 3rd tall.

So

Dusty, jack, Resting mid
S. Edwards, Tyrone, Maric

 

[purrrrrrrrrrfect]

Knights, Ty, Edwards
JR\ (A.Edwards\ Lloyd), Maric\Hampson, King

This is how I see it..
Maric & Hampson to rotate between Ruck & FF. I think we will go with a Hawks type strategy where we start with 2 rucks & then sub 1 for a small towards the end of the game (could be Tich, could also be Ty that gets subbed)
JR I see starting fwd pocket but pushing right up the ground (drawing his def out) & playing that link up\get out kick on the wings, the hole then filled by either A Edwards or Lloyd..
So that leave us Ruck\FF, King as the lock down fwd, Azza as lead up fwd, TY at CHF, Knights & maybe 1 other as half fwd that can score outside 50..

OR, I could have NFI idea what I'm on about & just embarrassing myself again with another drunken post.


please let me know which one it is...

 

[AstroboyUK]

there is no way King will not be lining up in forward line and a default selection for most of the year.
He gets his own ball, he's an excellent kick to leading forwards inside 50, he provides such intense physical defensive pressure that the opposition are often shitting themselves from perceived pressure whenever his even in the vicinity. He's also relatively quick. Not one of the alternatives mentioned provide these key ingredients. Hampson is unlikely to walk into the 22 imho week 1.

 

[THE_GUN]

I believe Jake King ,Chris Newman , A.Edwards will be Phased out of the starting 22 by years end
C.Knights will also be under pressure to prove his body will be upto it this year or will be finished off in not
Astbury,Griffiths - Need to take the next level or start dominating the VFL
Batchelor will also need to step things up and has Kamdyn McIntosh / Ben Darrou on his tail

4 players from the above mentioned will not be with the club in 2015 - My Guess would be King,Newman,A.Edwards,C.Knights

 

[GH213]

I believe Jake King ,Chris Newman , A.Edwards will be Phased out of the starting 22 by years end
C.Knights will also be under pressure to prove his body will be upto it this year or will be finished off in not
Astbury,Griffiths - Need to take the next level or start dominating the VFL
Batchelor will also need to step things up and has Kamdyn McIntosh / Ben Darrou on his tail

4 players from the above mentioned will not be with the club in 2015 - My Guess would be King,Newman,A.Edwards,C.Knights

I agree with this except for knights .... there's something about him i like and can see him playing a fair bit of good footy at tigerland, provided his body is managed well and can hold up. He was looking like an excellent pick up before the knee gave way ....

 

[TJTIGER]

I believe Jake King ,Chris Newman , A.Edwards will be Phased out of the starting 22 by years end
C.Knights will also be under pressure to prove his body will be upto it this year or will be finished off in not
Astbury,Griffiths - Need to take the next level or start dominating the VFL
Batchelor will also need to step things up and has Kamdyn McIntosh / Ben Darrou on his tail

4 players from the above mentioned will not be with the club in 2015 - My Guess would be King,Newman,A.Edwards,C.Knights

I don't think I could seriously disagree with this THE_GUN, but if those 4 have been moved on then some players will have stepped up in a big way....which will be very exciting for supporters and the RFC.

 

[Dr Tigris]

Just a comment on this.
We can play a very tall forward line incorporating TV, JR, a resting ruck and maybe Griff. But this only happens if Griff/Astbury/Elton can seriously hold down the CHF spot. The reason I say this is that JR is talented enough to play a floating third forward role, crumbing etc. JR can play like a much smaller player and be super dangerous. If we can have two talls TV + other that need to be closely checked, with a ruck spending time taking a forward spot whilst TV/Griff etc are resting, then we force teams to play to our structure. This means that JR can play one out where ever he wants. I reckon JR could be devestating if he can be made free. This is why, IMHO, they are putting real work into Griff. Our rucks can also be a decent forward in their own right, increasing our flexibility. Both TV and Griff are very fast and mobile so reducing the immobility usually associated with tall forward lines. This structure would mean oppositions would have to play tall defenders on our standard FF and CHF, with the free defender trying to cut off their ability to mark. Then add JR deliberately playing as a non-standard KPF. He can hit targets himself, or draw out the loose man to create one on ones for others, or can come in with a well timed lead into holes created by our standard structure. Or JR can play as a crumbing forward, which he does well. JR is a very flexible player that Dimma and Co are trying to free up.

No Mc Bean as a regular yet. A few games in 2014, more weight and more games 2015, regular 2016.

 

[Tiger71]

I have been watching replays of the 13 season and it strikes me how important Knights was to our forward set up. He really worked himself into some really powerful form. It is funny to say this, due to his height but he actually straightened us up. In his last three games he worked himself from HHF to MID but what was most pleasing he would fill the space about 10 meters on the top of our forward 50 arc. He would then receive the ball and kick it to more often then not our advantage, he also when no leads presented used his powerful kick to go for goal himself.

I would love to know what our score conversion was when he played and compare that to when he was injured.

 

[TJTIGER]

Just a comment on this.
We can play a very tall forward line incorporating TV, JR, a resting ruck and maybe Griff. But this only happens if Griff/Astbury/Elton can seriously hold down the CHF spot. The reason I say this is that JR is talented enough to play a floating third forward role, crumbing etc. JR can play like a much smaller player and be super dangerous. If we can have two talls TV + other that need to be closely checked, with a ruck spending time taking a forward spot whilst TV/Griff etc are resting, then we force teams to play to our structure. This means that JR can play one out where ever he wants. I reckon JR could be devestating if he can be made free. This is why, IMHO, they are putting real work into Griff. Our rucks can also be a decent forward in their own right, increasing our flexibility. Both TV and Griff are very fast and mobile so reducing the immobility usually associated with tall forward lines. This structure would mean oppositions would have to play tall defenders on our standard FF and CHF, with the free defender trying to cut off their ability to mark. Then add JR deliberately playing as a non-standard KPF. He can hit targets himself, or draw out the loose man to create one on ones for others, or can come in with a well timed lead into holes created by our standard structure. Or JR can play as a crumbing forward, which he does well. JR is a very flexible player that Dimma and Co are trying to free up.

No Mc Bean as a regular yet. A few games in 2014, more weight and more games 2015, regular 2016.

Very good points Dr T, and I'm with you but the other forwards have to raise their conversion rates or teams will prioritise our forwards and allow 1 or 2 loose knowing they won't be hurt on the score board, Hampson is probably the one I'm most thinking of as a ruck /forward who can really clunk a mark but lets himself down with his conversion. I don't know his figures but just watching him he seemed to me to have low conversion. Fix this to the right side of the ledger and he could cause most teams some real pain. The potential of our forward line is a bit scary for non Tigers, but potential won't kick a winning score...

 

[DustinsGuns]

HF: S Edwards.. JR........ Knights
FF: King ..........Vickery.. Maric

Edwards and Knights can go into the midfield if required. Can't play anymore then 2 specialist small/medium forwards these days I don't reckon.

 

[TJTIGER]

The whole JR to CHF and TV to FF thing is interesting. Does anyone know the thinking behind it ? Considering the strengths and weaknesses of both those guys ? I'm sure the coaches etc have their reasons and they are sound. All I'm saying is, why not do it the other way around ? Is it because it hasn't worked, JR's footy smarts, learning for TV, just trying something different.....I'm sure there are others who are more in the know than me, just something I was reflecting on....

 

[theflea]

there is no way King will not be lining up in forward line and a default selection for most of the year.
He gets his own ball, he's an excellent kick to leading forwards inside 50, he provides such intense physical defensive pressure that the opposition are often shitting themselves from perceived pressure whenever his even in the vicinity. He's also relatively quick. Not one of the alternatives mentioned provide these key ingredients. Hampson is unlikely to walk into the 22 imho week 1.

Bet he does.

 

[theflea]

The whole JR to CHF and TV to FF thing is interesting. Does anyone know the thinking behind it ? Considering the strengths and weaknesses of both those guys ? I'm sure the coaches etc have their reasons and they are sound. All I'm saying is, why not do it the other way around ? Is it because it hasn't worked, JR's footy smarts, learning for TV, just trying something different.....I'm sure there are others who are more in the know than me, just something I was reflecting on....

JR is a dual sided, thinking footballer and simply is the best man for the job. Remember that CHF these days still can kick 50 goals a season.