Our forward line

[Cosmic Starchild]

I reckon a huge key to our performance this year will be finding the right forward line combination.

As I see it, we have 5-6 talls capable of playing forward in Gardiner, McDougall, Seaby, Staker, Hansen and Lynch. Obviously there's not room for all of them, and 1 or 2 will be required at CHB throughout the season.

I'm curious as to how people think our key forwards will line up throughout the season.

For mine, I'd expect to see Gardiner at CHF with Hansen on a flank.

McDougall to start at FF.

Lynch or Staker will play at CHB, with the other one starting on the bench, before switching with Seaby in a FP.

 

[West Coast Fan 123]

Gardiner McDougall Matera

Embley Hansen Sampi

I like Hansen roaming around the CHF line and I think Doogs will start the season at FF. If Gardy's last quater in the Wizard Cup is any indication Id be playing him at CHF but he should ease into the season (dont want a repeat of 2004). You could also swap Doogs to CHF and Hansen to FF. Embley and Sampi wont both start in the midfeild.

 

[Streaker]

Knowing us Phil Matera will line up at Full Forward.

McDougall and Hansen are both really good prospects for CHF and both are really mobile. I would prefer Gardiner in the square with Matera and Sampi nearby for crumbs/taps etc.

FF: Sampi - Gardiner - Matera
HF: ?????? - Hansen - McDougall

 

[The Passenger]

I would have our strengoest team something along these lines
Forwds: Matera - MacDougall - Seaby
H-Fwds: Kerr - Gardiner - Sampi
Centres: Fletcher - Cousins - Embley
H-Bcks: Chick - Lynch - Hunter
Backs: Banfield - Glass - Wirrpunda
Rucks: Cox - Steinglein - Judd
Bench: Staker - Waters - Braun - R Jones

Just outside; Butler, B Jones, Nicoski, Hansen, Gaspar, Wooden
The rest; Adkins, Beeck, Green, Humm, LeCras, McConnell, Morton, Rosa, Selwood, Smith
Rookies; Edwards, Embley, Graham, Sharp, Thornton, Wilkes

At least something along those lines.




So in the forward line, I'd keep Gardiner based at CHF pretty much the entire game with maybe 5 mins rest here and there. MacDougall to station himself as a leading FF and pretty much player 3-quarters of a game in there with a bit of time on the bench. I'd have Cox rucking 2 to 3 quarters of the game with Seaby in the ruck the rest of the time. Outside of that I'd like to see Seabs stationed pretty much in the goal square as our pack marker when going forward, while Cox would be off the ground the rest of the time. Staker would start on the bench and take over from McDougall at FF, Gardiner at CHF and Seaby as a third tall forward when required.

So as a bit of a guideline, if a match last 80 minutes of actual playing time;
- MacDougall to spend 70 minutes at FF, 10 minutes on the bench.
- Gardiner to spend 75 minutes at CHF, 5 minutes on the bench.
- Cox to spend 55 minutes in the ruck, 25 minutes on the bench.
- Seaby to spend 45 minutes as a third tall, 25 minutes in the ruck, 10 minutes on the bench.
- Staker to spend 30 minutes on the bench, 35 minutes as a third tall, 10 minutes at FF, 5 minutes at CHF.

That's obviousbly a little too structured for a game of footy and things change depending on the flow of a game, but that's the general guideline to what i think the structure of our forward line should look like.

 

[Mead]

Agree with more or less everything BT said.

I think Hansen made a pretty good case for himself during the wizard cup, and went a long way to convincing some of his doubters that he might have a pretty bright future. Some of the things (ability to read the play well and find space, very accurate goal kicking) that seemed like they may have been flukes last year are still evident this year to the point where I think he's pushing for a 22 spot.

Having said that, I think the most unhealthy thing about our forward line at the moment is that it lacks stability- thanks to the injuries to our first and second choice FFs, and Gardiner still being on the comeback trail, we were forced to chop and change far too much through the wizard cup. Its not healthy for Hansen and Gardiner to be both in our best 22 and both splitting CHF duties between them- at this stage what we are badly in need of is a first choice, no questions asked FF/CHF combination that the forward line can settle around and the team can get used to. Put a fully fit Gardiner at true CHF for four quarters, and include McDougall in the kind of form he was in late last year, and I think the team which went down to Carlton would look a damn sight better- I just hate the instability we had for the first part of last year, where you'd have Staker at FF for a quarter, then ten minutes of McDougall, then 5 minutes of Gaspar, then Lynch pushed forward- etc etc. We need a spearhead, at this stage the best bets are Gardiner and McDougall, we need to lock them into the FF/CHF line and leave them there.

Because of that, I'm a little skeptical about Hansen playing much football unless he can prove he can adapt to a flanking role for now. He may get an opportunity a bit later down the track if McDougall fails to find form, or if the unthinkable happens with Gardie, but unless he is putting his hand up to play 4 quarters at CHF or FF, to the point where he displaces one of the above permanently, I just don't think we should be fooling around, switching CHFs three times a game.

 

[Streaker]

I think that Gardiner is best suited to the Full Forward position because of his bulk and the fact that he can take a contested mark. He still has the mobility to lead from Full Forward if needed but isn't mobile enough yet to play CHF for a whole match.

Hansen is a one grab player which makes him ideal for the CHF position. He knows when to lead and he leads strong. If a player is running from Half Back they don't want to look up and see a player stopping and starting and changing from this direction to that direction on his leads. With Hansen you know if you honour his lead he will be there when the ball comes to him.

Having a player as mobile and tall as McDougall running around the forward 50 has to be seen as a positive, whether he be leading from a pocket or flank doesn't really matter. With 3 tall marking options and the smaller options of Matera and Sampi running around we should be able to create some severe headaches for opposition defences.

 

[crazy_big_al]

how is gasper going???

 

[The Passenger]

streaker,

i think it's Gardy's kicking (especially at goal) that's the main reason why i wouldn't want him at FF. CHF and FF are quite similar positions, but the main different being the FF has to be able to kick at goal, while the CHF should be a little stronger capable of taking pack marks.

I agree that we have to settle on a combination though. Woosha has to look at what we have and say for the first five weeks "player x will be our CHF, played y will be our FF, player c will be a pinch hitter off the bench" etc,. and stick with that. If it works, keep going with it. If it doesn't, then try something else.

as for Gaspar,

he's currently got another injury and is expected to be out for anywhere between 4 and 8 weeks apparentaly. Even when back, given the developement of McDougall and Hansen, while Gardy's injection into the forward line along with the mobility of Staker - would a fit Gaspar be in the best 22 anymore??

 

[coasting]

Cousins says McDougall will play in the WAFL this week so he won't be playing against Adelaide. I guess that means Lynch will be lining up at FF.

 

[The Passenger]

Cousins says McDougall will play in the WAFL this week so he won't be playing against Adelaide. I guess that means Lynch will be lining up at FF.

if that's the case then i'd like to start Lynch at FF, Staker at CHB with Hansen playing the role i had set aside for Staker in the above post.

 

[Mead]

Cousins says McDougall will play in the WAFL this week so he won't be playing against Adelaide. I guess that means Lynch will be lining up at FF.

If you're referring to the Sportal article posted on the wce.com.au official site-
"It will be touch and go whether Phil Matera is available," Cousins said.

"I think Andrew McDougall will play a game for the WAFL this week, so they're the two concerns for round one."

Its a bit ambiguous as to whether its referring to him playing WAFL last weekend or this coming weekend, because it isn't clear when the interview was conducted.

The article was posted on sunday afternoon, and presumably the interview was done with Cousins the day before or so?

If that's the case, they all its saying is that McDougall would play WAFL (the West Perth intra) 'this week' (ie, last week)?

 

[shirls]

My forward line would be:

matera mcdougall gardy
embley hansen sampi

Depending on the CHF for the oposition, I would have either Staker or Lynch at CHB (i.e. running CHF you would have Staker but a more string and less mobile you would have Lynch).

The one that isnt CHB would obviously start on the bench and could go forward (more for Lynch) to get a uneven match up.

As Gardy is one of the best marks and very mobile I would have him roaming between FF and CHF basically doing what he likes.

 

[Mead]

I think against the blues it was pretty glaring that Gardiner just has to play at true chf. When he was deep in the forward line, he had bugger all impact when he started actually patrolling the 50m line in the second half, he started to dominate the game. he's far too good a player to be hidden in the forward pocket.

 

[Debaser]

Its a bit ambiguous as to whether its referring to him playing WAFL last weekend or this coming weekend, because it isn't clear when the interview was conducted.

The article was posted on sunday afternoon, and presumably the interview was done with Cousins the day before or so?

If that's the case, they all its saying is that McDougall would play WAFL (the West Perth intra) 'this week' (ie, last week)?

Taking that into consideration, it does seem like he was referring to last weekend. So, it's possible that both could play.

 

[theorangeapple]

I just hate the instability we had for the first part of last year, where you'd have Staker at FF for a quarter, then ten minutes of McDougall, then 5 minutes of Gaspar, then Lynch pushed forward- etc etc. We need a spearhead, at this stage the best bets are Gardiner and McDougall, we need to lock them into the FF/CHF line and leave them there.

i agree with that. its a problem connelly has manufactored at the dockers. he was in love with the idea of having players who can play anywhere but in doing that after 3yrs none of the players are settled and know the role they are going to perform. he has basically stalled polak's career and to a lesser extent pavlich's.

the only difference is that he chose to do that, we have had to because of injury.

i think mcdougall is still our best tall forward. whether we try him up on the half forward line (riewoldt type role) or the FF line i dont mind. many of us have been wondering whether doogs could play that roaming half forward role but for some reason woosh hasnt tried him at CHF. i think it suits him much better than being confined to the lead-mark-goal role of the FF. the only thing i can think of is that doogs might not have the wind tank to play CHF, that is an area where riewoldt is elite. they both move very similar and doogs would loose little in agility and pace over the ground.

my best forward line;

HF: Sampi McDougall (would like to see him get a shot) Embley
FF: Matera Lynch Gardiner

the problem with ash hansen is that he doesnt have the flexibility to play many other positions than CHF. he isnt quick enough off the mark for FF and he will never be a backman but i think his work in the wizard wok is deserving of a run in the side somewhere.

 

[Jimmy_the_Gent]

My forward line would be:

matera mcdougall gardy
embley hansen sampi

Mine too.

In my perfect world Hansen would roam around, as he does, and Gardiner would move up to the traditional CHF position.

 

[southjoy]

I'd be very suprised if McDougal plys at all. One risk(matera is oft enough). Lynch has also played as a key forward all preseason so I think that is a clear indication of the early rounds.
So its either Hansen, or a key defendrer in Jones or Jaymie Graham. As Staker and Hunter are flexible options at either end.
Waters out opens other doors and other discussions.

 

[kidstyler]

do you guys have a foward line?!?!?!?!?!

 

[daddy_4_eyes]

do you guys have a foward line?!?!?!?!?!

Who needs a forward line when we have matera? Leads from FF, and crumbs his own spills

 

[Ruddiger]

do you guys have a foward line?!?!?!?!?!

Yes, that's why we've finished above you all but two seasons.

 

[Frodo]

looks like no Dougs in the equation for quite a few weeks!!!!!

 

[Debaser]

Lynch really does need to step up now.

 

[Cosmic Starchild]

do you guys have a foward line?!?!?!?!?!

Medhurst and Farmer are awesome!

Polak is the next Peter Mann!