Possible Forward Line 2009

[TheBigCat]

Gamble - Hawkins - Lonergan/Simpson

Chapman - Mooney - Johnson

With the Hawks game in mind should we try a different format by playing 3 talls with Hawks struggling for quality talls in the backline particularly with Croad out till mid season. Gamble can also play tall as well as being a good ground player. The Varcoes and Stokes can rotate through the midfield as well as cover up forward if we need to mix it up a bit. I can't remember when we last played 3 talls up forward but I think this could work against the Hawks.

Simpson/Loners can also rotate throught CHB if required. I think it gives us lots of flexibility as well as a possible winning edge.
What do you think guys?

 

[Pettas]

Id prefer to play Hawkins and Simpson/Lonergan out of the goalsquare, while having Mooney at CHF

 

[TheBigCat]

That was my intention as well!!

 

[witsend]

Swap Lonergan/Simpson for Stokes/Varcoe (whichever has the best form) and rotate the talls off the bench.

 

[hamG]

To me we cannot play 3 talls if one of them is Lonergan. If he is not marking on the lead he is just keeping an extra opponent in the forward 50 to zone off and double up on one of the other 2.

If we want to exploit height - on paper Ottens is the answer and we then let Mumford get extra time in the ruck ... whoops or did i mean Blake.

 

[cats2rise]

CHF: Gamble - Mooney - Chapman
FF: Lonergon/Stokes/Ottens resting - Hawkins - SJ

- Depending on weather, matchups etc Lonergon and Stokes will swap.
- Hawkins to sit in the square, mark it, kick it through big sticks.
- SJ to stay in the god damn forward line as his disposalis shit down the ground and turns the ball over. Stay deep and snag goals steve ffs.

 

[Big Nasty]

CHF: Gamble - Mooney - Chapman
FF: Lonergon/Stokes/Ottens resting - Hawkins - SJ

- Depending on weather, matchups etc Lonergon and Stokes will swap.
- Hawkins to sit in the square, mark it, kick it through big sticks.
- SJ to stay in the god damn forward line as his disposalis shit down the ground and turns the ball over. Stay deep and snag goals steve ffs.

Ohh hell yeah... What the hell was bomber thinking letting our most creative goalkicker play away from the goals.

 

[winty]

Ohh hell yeah... What the hell was bomber thinking letting our most creative goalkicker play away from the goals.

Should've dropped Stokes for the grand final instead of Wojcinski. Wojcinski could've then played HB/midfield, and SJ would've spent more time in the forward line, possibly on Hodge.

Hindsight's a wonderful thing though....

 

[cats2rise]

Not sure if WOjac would have been the answer. A player bombing it wildly (thats what he does) to break the Hawks 'zone' wouldnt have fixed the problem.

 

[The rabbi]

It seems to me that all the emphasis is on talls. Geelong still lack a genuine crummer in the forward line.

No. I don't think that Stokes or Varcoe are crummer types.!!!

 

[SriLankanCat]

Hawkins!!!!!!!

 

[Redemptionin09]

Hawkins!!!!!!!

LOL has anyone claimed him as their "man" yet?

Because I was thinking of doing so, seeing as I've seen him play for a couple of years (including school games) and I also have 26 on my footy jumper and have had it there ever since he came to the club.

 

[Hood007]

CHF: Chapman Mooney SJohnson
FF: Stokes Hawkins Gamble

With Varcoe, SJ, Stokes & Chappy all pushing up into the middle at times. there'll be plenty of room for Varcoe to come in. I think Varcoe showed some really good signs at times. Still has a long way to go though...

Unfortunately the GF (and most of the season in my opinion) exposed Lonergan as not much of a contested mark. Whatever happens, Hawkins and Gamble have to get as much game time as possible...

 

[kicksome]

CHF: Chapman Mooney SJohnson
FF: Stokes Hawkins Gamble

With Varcoe, SJ, Stokes & Chappy all pushing up into the middle at times. there'll be plenty of room for Varcoe to come in. I think Varcoe showed some really good signs at times. Still has a long way to go though...

Unfortunately the GF (and most of the season in my opinion) exposed Lonergan as not much of a contested mark. Whatever happens, Hawkins and Gamble have to get as much game time as possible...

amen to that!
if both of them are out i would be inclined to not watch, i seriously can not stand that lonergan; He's not a footballers arseh*le
get the clown to sell packets of peanuts out the front of skilled on gameday

 

[TheOutsider]

I agree with most I think this is their best lineup

CHF: Chapman Mooney SJohnson
FF: Stokes Hawkins Gamble

I just hope they can get Chapman fit becuase when fit I think he is the hardest match up.

I have hugh respect for Lonergon but IMO he is not an AFL forward.

I really hope with more game time Hawkins and Gamble can take the next step. I still believe Hawkins will become the power forward pack marker that has been missing for a long time.

I also think there is every chance that Motlop will force his way into this side overtime as the main crumming forward

 

[winty]

I have hugh respect for Lonergon but IMO he is not an AFL forward.

Agree wholeheartedly. His best football IMO was when he was playing in defence, and with it being highly unlikely that Egan will play again, Scarlett and Harley getting on in age, and the likes of Mitch Brown, Scott Simpson and the Tomahawk waiting in the wings, a move down back would be a better long term option.

 

[themuddy#3]

Varcoe CANNOT be allowed to rotate through the midfield.

If he is going to play he needs to be tucked away in a pocket at best.

IMO he is not a realistic prospect and game time is wasted on him. I'd like to see a forward line of:

CHF: Chapman Mooney SJohnson
FF: Stokes Hawkins Gamble*

All though it isnt a dramatic change from the forward line that imploded in the granny (out lonners in hawkins) it is a forward line that seems to have the right formula. Looks allright on paper...
However i would very much like to see some Harry Taylor left foot specials and he could be a forward prospect.

So I would love to see him up forward but without Egan, its not going to happen.

*thank you Outsider

 

[Vdubs]

Varcoe CANNOT be allowed to rotate through the midfield.

If he is going to play he needs to be tucked away in a pocket at best.

IMO he is not a realistic prospect and game time is wasted on him. I'd like to see a forward line of:

CHF: Chapman Mooney SJohnson
FF: Stokes Hawkins Gamble*

All though it isnt a dramatic change from the forward line that imploded in the granny (out lonners in hawkins) it is a forward line that seems to have the right formula. Looks allright on paper...
However i would very much like to see some Harry Taylor left foot specials and he could be a forward prospect.

So I would love to see him up forward but without Egan, its not going to happen.

*thank you Outsider

Agree with you about Harry up forward, but what about Lonergan CHB.? Disagree about T Varcoe. He showed a lot agst Bulldogs in Prelim. & check out the highlights package of 2007- he features strongly. He has huge upside and was injured in the lead up to the 08 GF. Sure he's not Cyril Rioli, but who is? He is young essential to our future. IMO we have seen the best of Stokes already but TV will surpass him, much as I love Stokesy

 

[Gazzajr is god]

IMO we have seen the best of Stokes already but TV will surpass him, much as I love Stokesy

Agree. When you draft players who are over 20 they tend not to improve very much. He will still be in our best side for a couple more years but I tend to think that once Varcoe can improve his disposal and hopefully Motlop, Ranga and co turn out to be the players we hope they will be then Stokes may be battling to stay in the side. His upside is that he is not bad on the lead and tackles well and tends to get himself in the right position.
But what we need is someone who is quick, who will swoop on the ball with blistering pace and bag 2-3 goals a game. Varcoe has shown he can do that. Not often enough and will usually then miss the goal. I so hope Varcoe will work on his kicking.
He could easily play midfield as shown in the PF. Only problem was his disposal.

 

[Vegas.]

Varcoe Motlop Stokes
Djerrkura D Simpson Varcoe

Gameplan: Bomb it long to D-Simp who parks his tall arse in the goal square all day and let the boys do their thing.

 

[TheOutsider]

I am a fan of Varcoe hopefully he can find more consistency because there is currently a pretty big gap between his good and bad. I am still not sure there is room in the forward line for both Stokes and Varcoe and think Gamble is the better option in one of the pockets.

 

[Asty]

I wouldnt' have varcoe in the middle yet but I think he is worth a decent run on the wing.

B: Milburn, Scarlett, Harley
HB: Mackie, Taylor, Woj
C: Varcoe, Ling, J.Corey
HF:Kelly, Mooney, Chapman
F: Johnson, Hawkins, Gamble

R: Ottens, Ablett, Bartell

INT: Blake, Rooke, Enright, Selwood
EMG: Hunt, Lonergan, Mumford

If he doesn't work on the wing then there are plenty of options to rotate him forward or to the bench.

 

[witsend]

I wouldnt' have varcoe in the middle yet but I think he is worth a decent run on the wing.

B: Milburn, Scarlett, Harley
HB: Mackie, Taylor, Enright
C: Selwood, Ling, J.Corey
HF:Kelly, Mooney, Chapman
F: Johnson, Hawkins, Gamble

R: Ottens, Ablett, Bartell

INT: Blake, Rooke, Wojo, Varcoe
EMG: Hunt, Lonergan, Mumford

If he doesn't work on the wing then there are plenty of options to rotate him forward or to the bench.

This line up works for me..with Ottens spending more time as a pinch hit FF. NB You gotta start Selwood & Enright on the ground!!

 

[Asty]

This line up works for me..with Ottens spending more time as a pinch hit FF. NB You gotta start Selwood & Enright on the ground!!

Yeah there is plenty of flexibility in the smaller players that can play 1/2 back or wing and by putting varcoe there at some stage we are not really risking a lot but may start seeing more out of him.

Probably forgot to mention that the team I selected probably isn't what I consider the best 22 but something I would like to see.

The only reason I benched Selwood was as he was going into the midfied at 1st rest from GA or JB. Enright i would have had at 1/2 back over woj but with varcoe up the ground I thought what the hell lets go with woj on the other side at 1/2 back and see how much run and quick movement that can get us especially with gaz in the middle.
If it was finals I think your team with selwood and enright on the ground might be more like a starting team.

 

[costanza23]

B: J. Hunt, Scarlett, Harley
HB: Enright, Taylor, Mackie
C: Bartel, Selwood, Corey
HF: Stokes, Mooney, S. Johnson
F: Chapman, Hawkins, T. Varcoe

R: Ottens, Ablett, Ling

Int: Blake, Milburn, Wojcinski, Kelly

Emg: Lonergan, Rooke and Gamble


Hopefully Hawkins can be fully fit for most of the year, if not, I'd like to see S. Simpson played at CHF and Mooney at the goalsquare for a couple of games.
Also, with Chapman's shot hamstrings, he should be a permanent crumbing forward, with less time up the ground. Leave him at the point post to snap his goals.
Do a Riccardi with Milburn and start him on the bench. He can play on talls and smalls, so see where he is needed for match-ups - even the occasional forward foray.
Varcoe needs to stay in the team as well. Everyone keeps talking about his game in the PF, which was good, and hopefully he can reproduce more of those kind of games.