Our Forward Line

[Mr Crow!]

I think that the biggest concern that the AFC has, which it needs to address if it becomes a force again in our forward line. Unfortunately, the past few years have been plagued with injuries which has resulted in poor stability in structure. We really haven't had a key forward since Tony Modra left.

Looking out our list, I would have the forward line setup like this:

F Ian Perrie, Scott Welsh, Trent Hentschel
HF Brett Burton, Mark Stevens, Luke Jericho

At the start of this season, Mark Ricciuto said that for the Crows to have a good year, Mark Stevens needed to be injury free and have a return to form. Obviously his words rang true, as Mark Stevens was injured most of the year, and we all know how we went this year.

However, if we do use the above structure, and all players remain injury free, they ALL need to lift their game and goal kicking output. For instance, here are the above players goal kicking average per game:

Ian Perrie 0.95
Scott Welsh 1.57
Trent Hentschel 0.71
Brett Burton 1.31
Mark Stevens 1.02
Luke Jericho 0.53

That is only 6.09 goals per game! A good forward needs to kick at least 3 - 4 goals per game. We don't have a player at the moment who is acheiving this. Scott Welsh injury free can do it in my opinion, as he has shown this year by kicking a few bags of goals. To be fair on Jericho and Hentschel, they have not played many games, so their average may not show a true reflection on their potential. For a forward line to be a success, it needs to kick a minimum of 10 goals in my opinion, and we are drastically behind at 6.09!

The AFC really needs to look to draft young talent that has proven ability in the forward line, or trade for someone who can perform there. Perhaps Brad Ottens?

What are your thoughts? What do you think our ideal forward line setup should be?

 

[Alex99]

Looking out our list, I would have the forward line setup like this:

F Ian Perrie, Scott Welsh, Trent Hentschel
HF Brett Burton, Mark Stevens, Luke Jericho

F Scott Welsh Luke Jericho J Schuback

HF F Watts Ian Perrie M Bode



Luke Jericho- should be played out of the square to utilize his pace. If Mark Stevens stands up he would be a preference at full forward.

Trent Hentschel- l would prefer him to play on the half back flank and run out of defence as Nigel Smart and Benny Hart have done for the last few years.

 

[Blue Red and Gold]

I dont think our forward line is the most crucial thing we need to adress at this years draft.
We have alot of young forwards in Watts, Jericho, Hentschel and Krueger and then you can add Perrie and Welsh. We can also have Burton, Roo and Stiffy pinch hitting.
Although they havent got the runs on the board at the moment I think they will come through.
Our biggest problem, which I have stated before is our lack of quality in and under midfielders this is even more crucial now that Stinger has left.
We need to get some more QUALITY depth in this area to cover the loss of Macca, Roo, Goodwin and Edwards all in the next 3-4 years.

 

[Mr Crow!]

Brent Reilly is a good young midfielder, but is the type of player your describe, ie: in and under the packs, etc...

I really hope that Fegus Watts develops into a great forward.

Nevertheless, whoever is in our forward structure, the group as a whole needs to lift their output AND accuracy.

I wonder who the AFC should appoint as a Forward Coach...

 

[tribey]

I wonder who the AFC should appoint as a Forward Coach...

Someone who can actually coach would be a start, not just someone with a name.

 

[Mr Crow!]

Good point. Any ideas?

 

[Blue Red and Gold]

Someone who can actually coach would be a start.QUOTE]

Yeah I would say that would be the most important pre-requsite (sp?)

 

[spindoctor]

I have my doubts on Fergus after actually seeing him play, and I can definitely understand why he feel to 14 when the likes of Geelong were hungry for key forwards.

He is definitely very 'bottom-heavy' and slow across the ground, yet if he puts on more weight up top, he will be even slower across the ground. His hands also aren't particularly 'sticky'. Sure, he needs some time to get to the pace of the game, but he sorely needs some pace or he will be exposed.

 

[tribey]

I can definitely understand why he fell to 14 when the likes of Geelong were hungry for key forwards.

I never actually looked at it like that...

Geez... what a dampener.

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

I dont think our forward line is the most crucial thing we need to adress at this years draft.
We have alot of young forwards in Watts, Jericho, Hentschel and Krueger and then you can add Perrie and Welsh. We can also have Burton, Roo and Stiffy pinch hitting.
Although they havent got the runs on the board at the moment I think they will come through.
Our biggest problem, which I have stated before is our lack of quality in and under midfielders this is even more crucial now that Stinger has left.
We need to get some more QUALITY depth in this area to cover the loss of Macca, Roo, Goodwin and Edwards all in the next 3-4 years.

Enter Monfries...This kid looks better everytime I see him.

 

[Mr Crow!]

Who?

 

[jmorg1]

Who?

Monfries

 

[jmorg1]

Ian Perrie 0.95
Scott Welsh 1.57
Trent Hentschel 0.71
Brett Burton 1.31
Mark Stevens 1.02
Luke Jericho 0.53

Those stats look wrong. Where did you get them from?

 

[mymansyd]

I have my doubts on Fergus after actually seeing him play, and I can definitely understand why he feel to 14 when the likes of Geelong were hungry for key forwards.

He is definitely very 'bottom-heavy' and slow across the ground, yet if he puts on more weight up top, he will be even slower across the ground. His hands also aren't particularly 'sticky'. Sure, he needs some time to get to the pace of the game, but he sorely needs some pace or he will be exposed.

Fergus (196 cm) was the second tall picked up in the 2003 National Draft. Only Kepler Bradley (198 cm) was selected ahead of him. Troy Chaplin (194 cm) was picked up by Port at 15, Llane Spaanderman (198 cm) by Brisbane at 18, Chad Jones (194 cm) by Roos at 24. It was obviously, in retrospect, not a strong draft for bigfellas.

Time will tell, but I think it's too early to call. I'd like to judge Fergus after a full pre-season and after half-a-season with the Eagles. I've heard suggestions that if Fergus keeps growing, we may be better off turning him into a ruckman.

 

[noddy]

Enter Monfries...This kid looks better everytime I see him.

Have only seen him play twice on TV & he definitely looks the goods.

but would he still be available when we have our 1st pick??

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

I dont think our forward line is the most crucial thing we need to adress at this years draft.
We have alot of young forwards in Watts, Jericho, Hentschel and Krueger and then you can add Perrie and Welsh. We can also have Burton, Roo and Stiffy pinch hitting.
Although they havent got the runs on the board at the moment I think they will come through.
Our biggest problem, which I have stated before is our lack of quality in and under midfielders this is even more crucial now that Stinger has left.
We need to get some more QUALITY depth in this area to cover the loss of Macca, Roo, Goodwin and Edwards all in the next 3-4 years.

I agree BRG that rebuilding our midfield rotations is the key.

I don't think we can bank on M Stevo, but with Perrie, Hentschel, Welsh, Jericho, Burton + midfield rotations we should be OK. Watts & Krueger should only be used in 3rd tall forward roles for now. I would like to see Schuback played as a small forward with an occasional run on the ball. If we could snag White, it would give us some depth & the option of using Trent in defence.

 

[noddy]

Time will tell, but I think it's too early to call. I'd like to judge Fergus after a full pre-season and after half-a-season with the Eagles. I've heard suggestions that if Fergus keeps growing, we may be better off turning him into a ruckman.

What i like to look for in a young player the 1st time i watch them play is their attack on the ball whether on the ground or in the air, maybe Fergus hasn't had a great deal of touches at AFl level but when he does go for the ball he doesn't side step or ask for permission he just goes flat out.

Muscle & build will come with natural growth & another pre-season or 2 & the same can be said for his skills.

 

[Stiffy_18]

F Ian Perrie, Scott Welsh, Trent Hentschel
HF Brett Burton, Mark Stevens, Luke Jericho

I hope we don't throw in all those players into the forward line at once because our crumbing would be extremely limited. You need a couple of zippy crumbers. Maybe a Schuback, Johncock, Edwards or McLeod to balance it up a bit.

 

[Stiffy_18]

What i like to look for in a young player the 1st time i watch them play is their attack on the ball whether on the ground or in the air, maybe Fergus hasn't had a great deal of touches at AFl level but when he does go for the ball he doesn't side step or ask for permission he just goes flat out.

Muscle & build will come with natural growth & another pre-season or 2 & the same can be said for his skills.

Pretty much how I see it too noddy. Fergus does have some issues with mobility BUT so did McGregor when he first came to us and so did Rutten.

He is raw as hell and will need another couple of pre-seasons under his belt to get him AFL ready. Fergus does have sticky hands and if you watched him in games other than AFL you can see that the kid has bucketloads of courage and sticky fingers. He does need to improve his agility but he will. Once he builds up his upper body he will not be pushed out of the marking contest easily and the marks he was "dropping" in his AFL games will begin to stick.

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

Have only seen him play twice on TV & he definitely looks the goods.

but would he still be available when we have our 1st pick??

I hope so..But I think his form in Sturts last 2 finals may push his stocks up.

 

[tztommo]

F Ian Perrie, Scott Welsh, Trent Hentschel
HF Brett Burton, Mark Stevens, Luke Jericho

adelaide forward line from my point of view should be as follows;


F Fergus Watts,Scott Welsh,Trent Hentschel
HFyounger midfielder swapping with an on-baller,Ian Perrie/Mark Stevens,Luke Jericho

brett burton is useless to the adelaide footy club,he may be able to run but he cant kick.adelaide should try and trade burton or delist him.

chris ladhams is another small forwrd who could be used in a rotation system.

jericho still needs to develop as a player and maybe rotated into the midfield.

fergus watts will put on some muscle over the pre season and will improve greatly in the years to come and will become a great player of the AFL.

trent hentschel could also play in the back six and you could slot rhett biglands into a forwrd pocket to stand in the square with welsh leading out and watts playing up at half forward.

ian perrie and mark stevens a both good players and neil craig should play whoever is in best form and fitness.

tommy

 

[Mr Crow!]

jmorg1, I got those stats from the Official AFC website.

I took the players total goals, and divided by total games. That is how I worked that stat out.

 

[MaccasNeighbour]

I would like to see one of either Edwards, Roo or Stiffy always in the forward line, rotating out of the centre. These 3 guys can crumb goals, lead and mark and most importantly, have good goal sense.

 

[Blue Red and Gold]

There is a thread on the drafting/trade board saying that the Crows are going to ask for Brendan Fevola in a 3 way deal with West coast including Daniel Kerr to Carlton, obviously Stinger to West coast with Carltons 2nd rounder.
The bloke reckons he got it from someone involved with Adelaide's recruting.
Personally I think its a load of crap but im bored so I thought I'd pass it on. I wouldnt mind having Fevola but like I have stated previously I would prefer to work on our midfield.

 

[Mr Crow!]

There is no way I can see Carlton getting rid of Fevola, and doesn't Whitnall also want to leave according to current rumour? The Blues would have no forward line if they got rid of those two.

However, on the other hand, Fevola has shown he can play at Football park, so he would be a good pick up!