Outside the box

[Ogrebait]

2/3 of the season are now gone, including any chance of finals and some of the respect the FFC has built over the last 6 years.

This year we have been plagued by injury and hence have played the majority of the players on our list, yet we are left with more questions than answers as to the state of our squad.

There are obvious deficiencies in our team; the need for another 'shut down' key defender, a crumbing forward to replace Farmer and the lack of a break away clearance winner is just the start of our midfield problems. Although the return of Hasleby and (hopefully) Headland next year will alleviate some of the areas of concern in the middle of the ground, these players are recovering from serious long term injuries and cannot be expected to shoulder the majority of the burden.

Although the draft will be used to target these specific positions, not every 1st year player will be ready to step up and perform as admirably as Palmer and Mayne have this year.

Are there any one of our current players that can be groomed to perform these roles? If you think that Tarrant could best serve our team as a hard running CHB, let's hear it. If you believe the FP is just the position where Peake can put his speed to good use without the inconvenience of having to hit a moving target, tell us all about it. Gilmore as a line breaking, long kicking midfielder? Josh Carr as lock down BP, enabling Hayden to move further up the ground? Heath Black as Farmer's anger management counsellor? Well maybe not but you get the idea.

Personally I would like to see Murphy given a run at full back. If he could buddy up with Grover in the gym and put some bulk on his frame, he has some key attributes that could be very handy in the last line of defence. Good size, speed and a beautiful long kick that would be an invaluable asset in turning defence into attack.

Cameron Ling was a promising junior FF before establishing himself as arguably the AFL's best tagger. David Neitz had taken over from Jakovich as the league's premier CHB before being shifted to the forward line, where he went on to become Melbourne's all-time leading goal scorer. Matthew Pavlich has won All-Australian selection as a defender, midfielder and a forward.

The magnetic board is yours, what moves would you make?

 

[Memories]

I'd take any KPP forward we have that isn't pavlich or tarrant and try to make a backman out of them. Murphy, Campbell, Bradley, spring to mind. Any other position is useless to us, so try and get them to play that position and bulk up a bit. Realistically every draft pick we have should go to a midfielder, pick up some backmen or KPP in the PSD unless cousins is there.

 

[Ysaye]

(1) 'Shut down' key defender
(2) a crumbing forward and
(3) break away clearance winner

You have named 3 positions so these are what I think should be done for each:

(1) I don't think any of the current bunch of KP backups would make a good fullback - none of them have the combination of reading the play and the speed of the mark required. I would rather they all should be played forward positions in their best positions and gave the team (and themselves) the best chance to be traded to another club for a player with the potential to be a FB. Trades could be for potential FBs could include guys like MacKenzie at the Eagles (High potential prospect - good reader and decent speed) through to Benjamin (Low prospect - super speed, super mark, needs more footy brain) at Carlton.

(2) I think short term, Josh Carr might be re-invented in a role as a crumbing forward, at least while we wait for the draft. Longer term I think the crumbing forward position is one that can be addressed through our later picks in the draft, as there will be a number of mature age WAFL goalsneaks like Richardson and Ballantyne out there.

(3) I think Andrew Browne and Brock O'Brien should be given time in the middle off the bench till the end of the year if they perform well enough in the WAFL to see what they can produce. Both are hard players with speed, and Brock is a good size and has a long kick. I know a lot of people have given up on these guys, but there is still potential there and we might as well see what they have. Ultimately this position is likely to have to be addressed on draft day, but we can't cull everyone, and it is going to be easier if we know who wants to be out there.

 

[Lach72]

Brock and Browne>>>>>>>>>>>>>Peake.

I saw Browne do a 40 meter spear pass on his left yesterday that Peake would do once every ten on his right.

I'd love to see Brock given the wing position

 

[chook2734]

Brock and Browne>>>>>>>>>>>>>Peake.

I saw Browne do a 40 meter spear pass on his left yesterday that Peake would do once every ten on his right.

I'd love to see Brock given the wing position

I was quite impressed with Browne's disposal yesterday - it's always been the biggest question mark over his game for me (behind his injuries of course).

 

[Ogrebait]

I'd take any KPP forward we have that isn't pavlich or tarrant and try to make a backman out of them. Murphy, Campbell, Bradley, spring to mind.

Campbell would get found out on quick leads and Bradley's decision making under pressure has proven to be hazardous in defence. I'd try Murphy. Even petmax thinks it's a good idea.

 

[Pav for AA]

Id put Browne on the ball for the rest of the year.

Play farmer soley on a wing, dont let him enter the foward fifty.

Let Schammer play as the crumbing foward.

Toss Mayne in the middle and let Crowley and Carr do what they do best, tag.

 

[Ogrebait]

Interesting but I'm not sure if Farmer can ping 'em from outside 50.

The idea of going the rest of the season without a Purple Jesus is kind of depressing.

 

[Pav for AA]

Interesting but I'm not sure if Farmer can ping 'em from outside 50.

The idea of going the rest of the season without a Purple Jesus is kind of depressing.

I dont want him to kick goals.

I want him to use his pace and creativity to set them up. Take the focus of his goalkicking and make him work in the middle and see what goes into a goal.

Rather than have him salute himself at the end of the final product.

 

[pistol17]

1) For the defender I would look to draft someone in. No trades for the position, I think we can fill some holes with the list we have.

2) I would try and get Hayden Ballantyne into the club. Has stepped up this year to be the best small forward in the WAFL. He has the ability to kick bags of goals even in a side of Peel Thunders ability. Or if we cant get Ballantyne, I would put Des Headland in the role. Paul sort of a Dale Thomas/Medurst/Robert Murphy role or possibly Peter Bell if he continues next year.

3) Clearance winner - The hase is back so that should sort the problem out a little bit. We should look to recruit a clearance winner in the draft as well. Also Webster may be able to fill a role somewhere

 

[Memories]

Campbell would get found out on quick leads and Bradley's decision making under pressure has proven to be hazardous in defence. I'd try Murphy. Even petmax thinks it's a good idea.

Just get chopsMUST down there to show the boy how to squat half a truck and I'm sure his leg speed will improve. Whenever I see someone slow I just see someone not eeking out their potential. Campbell certainly hasn't slimmed down (lost much fat) or bulked up (gained muscle) over his time at freo, he's tredding water. Needs a firecracker up him, like Crowley when we dropped him and rerecruited him.

 

[Memories]

I don't think we need any PERMANENT forwards other than Pavlich and Tarrant. Every other "forward" player should be a midfield capable person also in my opinion. This will give us more run than most other teams. When you have a Pavlich in your team you don't need the usual line up of forwards. As Pavlich has become more and more dominant Jeffrey and Medhurst became more and more useless. Meanwhile Jeff can't regularly go through the midfield, but on a game when he did we won against a top 8 side. Replace Jeff with a midfielder who likes to score goals occassionally and we will get a lot more run in our team. Mayne who plays forward a lot also can run through the middle, so we are already stepping in this direction.

We don't live in the 90s anymore where you need 4 tall, strong marking options up the ground as you slowly chip the ball up the boundary line to your goal. Nowadays the best teams run for 40m from the backline and deliver it to a forward 30-40m out.