Roughead - Forward or Back?

[superstar]

Good post, Schreuders.

I don't know where the idea that we drafted Dowler as a pure FF came from?!

From what I can gather, he played predominantly as a CHF, spending sometime at CHB during his TAC days.

Depending on where we finish this season, I can't see us overlooking one of the big five talls on offer.

The development rate of other talls (along with the usual injury issues) may well determine who plays where in future.

What I like about Roughead, Croad & Dowler is that they all have the capacity to play across the park, which is fantastic from a flexibility standpoint. This is the key point that is usually lost in the take KPP high or get by taking them low debate.

Almost invariably, if you want KPP to be able to play well forward and back, you have to get the elite young talls in the draft. If you're happy enough with just trying to mold a young tall into a key defender, you may be able to make a fist of it with your second rounder.

Excellent post. I'd look to develop a Sydney-like forward structure, with guys playing similar roles to...

Roughead = Hall
Williams = Davis
Franklin = O'Loughlin

I actually like Campbell Brown up forward too. His defensive pressure and presence up there was crucial early in the season.

 

[CyberKev]

Excellent post. I'd look to develop a Sydney-like forward structure, with guys playing similar roles to...

Roughead = Hall
Williams = Davis
Franklin = O'Loughlin

I actually like Campbell Brown up forward too. His defensive pressure and presence up there was crucial early in the season.

Cheers SS,

The push for quality KPP goes on for us, and while it tends to stagnate short-to-medium term side development somewhat, I'm confident it will reap big dividends at some point.

I also like the look of Campbell Brown up forward, even if his poor discipline on night's like last Friday, does tend to grate. He adds grit and physicality and can be good at ground level.

I'm thinking of a 2007 forward line that looks something like this...

Bateman, Roughead, Williams

Franklin, Dowler, Brown

Hopefully Ellis & Muston will come on and free the need to be running with Bateman out wide. Bateman's skills can let him down at times, but I think he might just be an answer for us as a crumbing forward pocket, particularly as he can find a goal.

Mind you, I'd like to see Matthew Little get a run across half forward (sooner rather than later) to see whether he could be part of the bigger picture.

I'm very disappointed with Boyle to this point (although he may still have a life as a back-up tall) and would rather see little get a go at this point off a HFF.

 

[cs61]

Its still early days for Boyle, and he is playing one of the toughest positions, and he's struggling.

I'm not sure we are doing the right thing by him. He's either not playing, or playing CHF. We need to ease him in as a third tall down back or up forward IMO, not throw him straight to CHF. Roughead has struggled when asked to do it. Unfortunately we can't ease him in when there aren't any other options.

I'm still a bit each way on him, and we need to give him an opportunity first, but there are some worrying signs I spose at this early stage (when the ball hits the ground for example).