Play McGrath down back on a permanent basis.

[SpecialBruce]

McGrath plays his best football down back so I think it's time now that Scott is back, that we play Scott forward and play McGrath back.

McGrath has been playing up forward a lot recently and hasn't done anything that flash, so lets put him back down back permanently where arguably he plays his best football.

 

[Denno]

Nope.

Play him where it's needed.

If I had the time, I'd go back to late last year - I'll bet you were singing McGrath's praises as a forward after Round 22 and his final against Sydney.

He isn't in our best 6 down back at the moment, and really should be used to plug holes at the moment (which he is).

It ain't broke - don't fix it.

 

[cjwalkley]

With McRae and Hart both out, we need McGrath as the tackling small forward. Goals are a bonus from these guys, their mandate is to chase and harrass the defenders and not along clean break aways.

Chris Scott isn't quick enough for this role, so McGrath is doing a fine job at the moment.

 

[OldLion]

Ash just needs to calm down a tad when he's in the contest. He was slipping over constantly and snatching at opportunities. He is the McRae understudy as he can close down players quickly but hasn't yet got Fly's 'cool' when going for goal. He could eventually get an on ball role as he is creative and his field kicking is generally good. I reckon Corrie showed him how to play that role AND punish the opposition on the scoreboard.

 

[xplo]

Yep, I think he's worth persisting with in the forward line while the 'Fly' is out. Our midfield kicks goals, and even winger-types like Notta, but genuine small forwards are a bit thin on the ground.

When a Medhurst/Didak type is getting away, he's handy to throw back, but we can probably afford the 'apprenticeship' time at the moment.

Small forwards are at the furthest end of the food chain so they always look like they are struggling before anyone else does. Example:

• if the midfield is down they don't get many opportunities
• if the midfield is winning but the big forwards are catching everything they lack opportunities
• if the midfield is winning but the forwards aren't bringing the ball to ground they lack opportunities

The only thing they can do is try to lock the ball in, but that doesn't show on many stat sheets.

It can be a tenuous existence as Stevey Milne will attest to. I think that's why Luke got out of that caper

I think Ash is one of the only truly natural (read: hungry - loves a goal) forwards we have. Witness Dylan's willingness to handball to Braddy from 11 metres to know lots of our blokes prefer to setup the shot rather than take it.

(Possible exceptions are probably Aka, Notting and the Fly. Bushy doesn't mind a ping either if he's close enough.)

 

[SpecialBruce]

Looking at the past few weeks, particularly at the Geelong game, I can see no value for him up forward for us. I'd prefer him in the back pocket or off the back flank where he plays his best football.