Play ablett up forward more

[geelong_crazy26]

i know that ablett is the best midfielder in the competition but i beleive that he could cause alot of headaches for a few clubs playing up forward , in paticular the hawthorn football club.

even with ablett out we still have a better midfield than they do, think back to rnd 17 as soon as chapman went off the whole game changed in their favour.If chapman can cause them so much trouble what will gazza do ?

most of his time should be in the middle but he should spend more time up forward especialy against hawthorn who dont handle good small forwards well.

 

[alfy!]

I don't agree. He is the best midfielder in the game, most players can't lay a hand on him. Why change anything?

 

[hamG]

Yeah we'll put him alongside Kent Kingsley and Cam Thurley.

 

[geelong_crazy26]

I don't agree. He is the best midfielder in the game, most players can't lay a hand on him. Why change anything?

just to clarify i still think the majority of his time should be in the middle.

The reality is that our major opponet for this years flag is most likely to be hawthorn and I think that he could cause them alot of trouble up forward, more than he would in the middle.You can still take ablett out of our midfield and it will still be the best in the comp.

think back to rnd 17 , they couldnt stop chapman and as soon as he went of they got on top.Small forwards are their weakness and i think ablett would make a mess of them up forward.

 

[nowhereneargeelong]

Ease up!

Be patient.

In 7 years that's exactly what he'll be doing. Full time and in a BIG way.

 

[Asty]

Nope until he is too old to run in the midfield full time (resting bench) he should only pinch hit up forward.
It is too much fun watching him tear every tagger a new one and putting the ball to our forwards advantage or breaking the lines and kicking them himself.

Johnson, chappy, gamble will be our small/mid forwards with stokes, varcoe, kelly etc also rotating through there as chappy hits the midfield at times.

 

[Gazzajr is god]

Well it worked against Freo 3 years ago. (7 goals i think) 1 out most of the game. But they left Troy Cook on him the whole game.

I wouldnt mind seeing him rest in the pocket instead of the bench but bomber knows he wouldnt be resting much as he would still be going 110%. Atleast on the pine, he would get a rest.

Wonder how in 5 years, if he decided to really bulk up and get some meat on him, how he would go as a permanent forward. Height is his one weakness in a one on one match up in the forward line.

 

[bulletproof]

I'd definitely like to see the team be more flexible in 09. I think our lack of flexibility exposed us in both the Bulldogs and obviously against Hawthorn.

Ablett should definitely spend more time resting in the forward line - or on the bench. The preservation of him is crucial to our long term success. He does not have a body to play 300 games in the midfield, that is obvious, he is a power athlete and injuries will hit if he is used as a battering ram year in year out.

Mackie is the other who should be swung forward on occasion. He is a smart forward, who could cause problems and I would have like to have him as a back up if its not working.

Given we are likely to dominate a large majority of games, we should use that to increase the options available to us, not grind teams pointlessly into the ground.

 

[LotsofCuddles9]

I would like to see Ling more in the Forward Line - I know he is the best tagger in the league - when he is not tagging to give him a break and throw him forward and use Rooke as the tagger.

Also I would like Mooney to play similar to Matthew Richardson - Play him off the wing occassionally particular if he is not getting his hands on the ball. Then switch back to the forward line, His best year when he had to go in the ruck for us.

Imagine him and rooke coming off the centre scare scarying the living life out of any mid field in the competition.

I feel Bomber doesn't make enough tactical moves. In the Grand Final I would have had Milburn on Hodge. The reason being he would be physical but could also kick a goal. I still cant beleive in the GF know one tested out hodges ribs. I am sure is Gazza had gone into the GF with sore ribs he would have been belted relentlessly. Also when Gazza got bowled over very few players came into remistrate. I feel we try and be to clinical at times - We need to show a bit of passion. Footbal is an emotional game - sometime abit of emotion helps fire up the team.

Yes we were the best team for the year but we were when it matters.

Congratulations Hawthorn but look out the Cats are hungry.

Go you Mighty CATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTERRRRRRRRRRSSSSSSSSSSSSS

 

[Pivo]

I think there is some merit in the idea, after all, if you can keep you best player on the ground the majority of the time why wouldn't you?

Resting Ablett in the goal square and clearing out the 50 would have to work in the Cats favour and it isn't like the side doesn't have options to roatate through the middle if Ablett comes out - Corey, Selwood, Ling, Kelly, Chapman, Stokes, Enright, Rooke. Even Mackie, Milburn and Hunt could have short stints in there.

However I agree more with LoC9 - I'd love to see Ling go to Full Forward or a forward pocket a bit more this year. Great over head, hard to move off the ball, will apply some defensive pressure (in an age where attacks are set up from the back line the importance of forward pressure can be seen in the way clubs draft now) and Ling is a super kick at goal.

Also, having played as a forward in juniors he will know how to play the position. Again, rather than rotating through the interchange why not look to move midfielders down forward if they can play the position?

 

[Simon_Nesbit]

Please no. I want us to win again.

Ling, Bartel, Milburn can all go forward and be a marking target. Ablett I feel would need someone to 'play off' - so he can crumb, and produce all his wizadry in an area where he can score.

Agree with the Mooney comments, if you had any good KPP, it's one of the first moves I'd make. Just see how much Leigh Brown contributes when he plays wing - he's an absolute spud IMO, but can be very good around the contests with his big body and intent. Mooney would be downright dangerous.

 

[ripitup27]

Well it worked against Freo 3 years ago. (7 goals i think) 1 out most of the game. But they left Troy Cook on him the whole game.

I wouldnt mind seeing him rest in the pocket instead of the bench but bomber knows he wouldnt be resting much as he would still be going 110%. Atleast on the pine, he would get a rest.

Wonder how in 5 years, if he decided to really bulk up and get some meat on him, how he would go as a permanent forward. Height is his one weakness in a one on one match up in the forward line.

Six goals.

It would not be a stupid idea if Ablett wasn't so bloody good. We have the midfield depth to cause some headaches, especially with Selwood and Chapman playing the midfield more, but I think it would be a waste to take Gary out of the middle that much.

 

[Claude Balls]

Once Ablett has reached the age of 27, having played another three years in the middle and winning a brownlow and a few more MVPs, he can then move to the full forward line and kick 80 goals a year until the age of 32.

In all seriousness, I would be happy to see him spend 20% of his time on the half forward line this year, and perhaps 10% of his time deeper still if a definitive tacticle move to that effect was required at any given time.

Afterall, when Ablett is not on the ball, we will still have Selwood, Corey, Bartel, Ling and even Chapman to fill in. Probably still the best group in the comp.

 

[DanA]

I'd like to see him move to the forwardline as a way to rest his body. Around midseason if he could play 2-3 games up forward to let his body recover a bit that would be great.

 

[CF]

can't see it happening. Maybe on the odd occaision. But he is our No 1 midfielder and that he shall remain in 2009.

 

[meto]

Please no. I want us to win again.

Ling, Bartel, Milburn can all go forward and be a marking target. Ablett I feel would need someone to 'play off' - so he can crumb, and produce all his wizadry in an area where he can score.

Agree with the Mooney comments, if you had any good KPP, it's one of the first moves I'd make. Just see how much Leigh Brown contributes when he plays wing - he's an absolute spud IMO, but can be very good around the contests with his big body and intent. Mooney would be downright dangerous.

Think Mooney could have been used more creatively at times, 08.
Assisting with his physical presence around the mid-field is one way, he's big but got the athletic build, tailor made for the job I would think.
One of the new big forwards (including Hawkins) should allow bomber the option as required. Rest Gazza forward when not benched, sounds good!

Meto.

 

[tigertiger]

i think its a great idea get him out of the midfield, actually i think ablett would be better rested on the bench for large portions of the game

 

[Shockdown]

i think its a great idea get him out of the midfield, actually i think ablett would be better rested on the bench for large portions of the game

agree with this ^ also believe more switching from the bench with shannon byrnes so we can see the true superstar unleashed in the midfield

 

[The rabbi]

I wish that there were two Gazza's because I am convinced that we lack a small crumbing forward and I think a player like Gazza would be ideal for the job. He will certainly play up there in a few years and with his low centre of gravity and strength he would be a Leigh Matthews type of forward. If Hawkins can get himself on the park I could see him creating oportunities for small crumbing forwards. I'm just not sure that we have anyone who is up to the job.

 

[geelong_crazy26]

mooney up the ground sounds like I good idea as he would intimidate alot of sides.

mackie dosent have the build to play much up forward and ling dosent have the pace to cause much trouble.

in rnd 4 07 and the gf as well as the last half of rnd 17 our forward line just seemed to be slow and stagnant.In fact it was the same in the 07 and 08 prelim, its like their was no spark in forward 50.

In the first half of rnd 17 we troubled hawthorn alot with a bit of run and flare in our forward 50, dont forget we won that game without ablett full stop .

 

[Barabbas]

Think Mooney could have been used more creatively at times, 08.
Assisting with his physical presence around the mid-field is one way, he's big but got the athletic build, tailor made for the job I would think.
One of the new big forwards (including Hawkins) should allow bomber the option as required. Rest Gazza forward when not benched, sounds good!

Meto.

I'd love to see Mooney thrown up the ground occasionally if for no other reason then to get him in the game. We've all seen how damaging he can be once he gets his hooks in a game, and conversely how he can become frustrated and drift out if he doesn't. I know he's not the best ruckman, but I'd love to throw him in there every now and in support then to contribute the physicality that Blake lacks.

 

[Copernicus]

I can see the merit in resting him up forward and playing as maybe a crumber, which he's shown that he's very good at. But until he slows down a bit and becomes less dominant in the midfield, that is where he should play the vast majority of the time. He's just too good of a rover to not play in that position.

It would be very interesting to see how he goes up forward in a few years time. Remember that his father was only a couple of centimetres taller!

 

[witsend]

mooney up the ground sounds like I good idea as he would intimidate alot of sides.

mackie dosent have the build to play much up forward and ling dosent have the pace to cause much trouble.

in rnd 4 07 and the gf as well as the last half of rnd 17 our forward line just seemed to be slow and stagnant.In fact it was the same in the 07 and 08 prelim, its like their was no spark in forward 50.

In the first half of rnd 17 we troubled hawthorn alot with a bit of run and flare in our forward 50, dont forget we won that game without ablett full stop .

There were 2 major issues on GF day...all our crumbing and defensive forwards were pretty much under injury clouds or just back from injury and not in peak form..and the pre-determined plan by Hawthorn to rush behinds at the slightest hint of forward pressure.
If the AFL uses the rushed behind rule in the season proper, which it appears they might, Hawthorn will struggle to cope as they have no history of coping with pressure on the last line of defense.
Things will be fine...just wait and see! Our defense is still superior to anyone elses, our MF is the best in the competition by miles and our forward line WILL improve significantly on last year with the natural progression of Hawkins, Gamble and Varcoe/Djerkurra/Stokes. Add Mooney who always presents, Johnno and a fit Chapman and you have a frighteningly solid Forward line...

 

[hamG]

Forgive me for spinning this but I heard plenty about pre '07 Mooney grabbing a deck of smokes and a case of beer every weekend down on the coast (from posters on this very forum ... who saw him do it).

I cannot see him ever having a better impact than our current list of midfielders on ball ... I doubt he will be lucky enough to throw a shoulder round and break Brad Johnsons shoulder again, and if we want to try him in the ruck like the old days - we have a Mumford who will do a better job of occasional tapwork with a lot of weight thrown round.

Mooney is a goddamn forward with bustle and already has enough to prove as a forward after that last shit we saw.

 

[Big Nasty]

So you wanna take our creative & most destructive midfielder, and turn him into a crumbing small forward.