Tall Forward and their Attributes

[Turbocat]

Thinking about our drafting of youthfull/potential forwards , what is our drafting approach on the talls, what are the attributes we are looking for in key forwards?

Sure hands, speed, talented kick, footy smarts can be seen in the players we have picked but they all seem to lack jump. I am struggling to think of any that has a vertical leap that can pull a specy out of the fire on the long bomb. The Tall forwards we have tend to be customer forwards, players that needs service, the ball put in the right spot etc compared to manufacturer forwards that can make their own opportunities when service is poor. Mackie and Lonergan don’t seem to be high leapers, Kingsley has about as much spring as a second hand mattress, Blake and King don’t seem to be big jumping sort of ruckmen like a White type.The only forward that has any sort of jumping attributes would be McCathy and he's a very late pick in the draft, a spec stock certainly not an early pick with natural football talent.

I think if we go and get a marking option, draft or trade, at years the player should have some verb about his play. A Russell Robertson or Brett Burton or if we get a kid, lets get kid with some serious vertical ompphh. The added advantage is he would be sombody who would get the place buzzzing a bit like the old days,nothing like specys to get people to the ground!!!

 

[rizzo]

Thinking about our drafting of youthfull/potential forwards , what is our drafting approach on the talls, what are the attributes we are looking for in key forwards?

Sure hands, speed, talented kick, footy smarts can be seen in the players we have picked but they all seem to lack jump. I am struggling to think of any that has a vertical leap that can pull a specy out of the fire on the long bomb. The Tall forwards we have tend to be customer forwards, players that needs service, the ball put in the right spot etc compared to manufacturer forwards that can make their own opportunities when service is poor. Mackie and Lonergan don’t seem to be high leapers, Kingsley has about as much spring as a second hand mattress, Blake and King don’t seem to be big jumping sort of ruckmen like a White type.The only forward that has any sort of jumping attributes would be McCathy and he's a very late pick in the draft, a spec stock certainly not an early pick with natural football talent.

I think if we go and get a marking option, draft or trade, at years the player should have some verb about his play. A Russell Robertson or Brett Burton or if we get a kid, lets get kid with some serious vertical ompphh. The added advantage is he would be sombody who would get the place buzzzing a bit like the old days,nothing like specys to get people to the ground!!!

"The Great McCarthy" Has pretty sure hands.
For me we need someone with good Kicking skills and footy smarts. the person doesnt really need to be Athletic. as long as they are quick for the first 10 -15m ie Plugga

 

[nananana catman]

Bar Kinglsey, we dont have a real Goal square of Full forward player (if you want to consider him a FF). We seemed to have recruited Flankers mostly, which has been good as we now have a nice spread of goals. But we also need a player who can stay at home in the goal square take big marks, or at least make a contest. Ive heard Adam Prior mention a little Turbs and he seems to be kicking a lot of goals. Is this becasue he just out muscles the skinny full backs in the TAC, or is he the kind of player we are looking for?

 

[Tweak Talent]

As long as they were an accurate kick at goal i woulddn't care

btw prior is only in the bottom age so to be dominating he must be pretty talented

 

[theorangeapple]

the eagles have ashley hansen who is a great kick and very smart. not brillantly athletic, but isnt a plodder. would u be interested?

 

[Turbocat]

the eagles have ashley hansen who is a great kick and very smart. not brillantly athletic, but isnt a plodder. would u be interested?

I was under the impression that Hansen has resigned with the Coasters for another 2 years, which wold rule him out from trades.From what Ive seen of he seems to be another player of the sort we have only slightlty taller, bar Playfair.Mainly leading upfield rather than contested or high leap marks.Not that I would knock him back but hes not quite what I was thinking about.More of a young Billy Brownless or kid with the leap of Schutz at Richmond sombody that will take a mark that will make the crowd stand as one , clapping and cheering in awe.

 

[Turbocat]

Bar Kinglsey, we dont have a real Goal square of Full forward player (if you want to consider him a FF). We seemed to have recruited Flankers mostly, which has been good as we now have a nice spread of goals. But we also need a player who can stay at home in the goal square take big marks, or at least make a contest. Ive heard Adam Prior mention a little Turbs and he seems to be kicking a lot of goals. Is this becasue he just out muscles the skinny full backs in the TAC, or is he the kind of player we are looking for?

Nana , havent seen a lot of him but but I think you are on the money that he like to use his body.The thing I like about the idea of Prior is he would match an alternative setup that I feel we benifit us and increase the longivity of S King, a two ruckman setup with one as a resting forward complemented by a power leading forward.Kingsley plays like a Power forward without the power.
Im not sure of his stats but as pointed out he is bottom aged, must have some talent , probably be more of natural forward than most on our list.The match when he took around 21 odd marks must have been outstanding.My only question is at his size he would need more athletism than he probably currently needs, so I will be interested in draft camp results for vertical and beep.Hes only around Cam Lings size, Cam was a top FF at juniors too,so you just need something extra at the AFL level.That being said hes also around the same sort of size that Plugger was, who was without doubt the best FF I ever saw.It will be intresting to see where he gos in the draft.

 

[Scarlett Fever]

I reckon forget the leap. The very best of the last 15 years, Ablett, Lockett, Dunstall, Carey and Brown all have a few things in common. A fat ass, a unique body shape and plenty of strength and power. None of them are/were overly tall for there positions and Ablett the only one with a big leap. If a player can take a speccy then that is a bonus not a vital ingredient.
The measure of a good forward is to look at how favourably the ball has to be delivered for them to get it and convert. The above mentioned did not need it delivered lace out and could use their strength and power to get the job done even from second class delivery. This takes an enormous amount of pressure off the midfield and allows for a simpler more direct game plan. The midfield can afford to be less precise when there is a fat assed power forward they can direct the pill towards. In finals and big games when the pressure is on and there is less time for the midfielders to be composed and precise is when these guys become even more valuable.

Cheers

 

[nananana catman]

Nana , havent seen a lot of him but but I think you are on the money that he like to use his body.The thing I like about the idea of Prior is he would match an alternative setup that I feel we benifit us and increase the longivity of S King, a two ruckman setup with one as a resting forward complemented by a power leading forward.Kingsley plays like a Power forward without the power.
Im not sure of his stats but as pointed out he is bottom aged, must have some talent , probably be more of natural forward than most on our list.The match when he took around 21 odd marks must have been outstanding.My only question is at his size he would need more athletism than he probably currently needs, so I will be interested in draft camp results for vertical and beep.Hes only around Cam Lings size, Cam was a top FF at juniors too,so you just need something extra at the AFL level.That being said hes also around the same sort of size that Plugger was, who was without doubt the best FF I ever saw.It will be intresting to see where he gos in the draft.

Do you think hed be a player Geelong will look at? he sounds like a 2nd to 3rd round choice?

 

[holdencaulfield]

The main atribute i would be looking for is a "natural" forward with good goal sense. Like Steve Johnson only taller and stronger.
As i said on another thread i see Lance Whitnal as a good trade option.He certainly fits Scarlet fevers requirements of having a fat ass and unique body shape.

 

[Turbocat]

I reckon forget the leap. The very best of the last 15 years, Ablett, Lockett, Dunstall, Carey and Brown all have a few things in common. A fat ass, a unique body shape and plenty of strength and power. None of them are/were overly tall for there positions and Ablett the only one with a big leap. If a player can take a speccy then that is a bonus not a vital ingredient.
The measure of a good forward is to look at how favourably the ball has to be delivered for them to get it and convert. The above mentioned did not need it delivered lace out and could use their strength and power to get the job done even from second class delivery. This takes an enormous amount of pressure off the midfield and allows for a simpler more direct game plan. The midfield can afford to be less precise when there is a fat assed power forward they can direct the pill towards. In finals and big games when the pressure is on and there is less time for the midfielders to be composed and precise is when these guys become even more valuable.

Cheers

Top summary ScarloF , I would say that Plugger could however get off the ground early in his playing days but you are right he was not a screamer type player , typically. The wombat theory is interesting , go back more than 15 years and some other wombats would have been Hudson and Wade.They could use it too.My point with leap was that offers something we dont have on our list, vertical choice.

 

[Turbocat]

Do you think hed be a player Geelong will look at? he sounds like a 2nd to 3rd round choice?

Not sure , if he shows a good beep, he will get picked. Being bottom aged he may be only 12 months from being a top10 pick so clubs with no immediate need may bank him.

 

[Scarlett Fever]

The main atribute i would be looking for is a "natural" forward with good goal sense. Like Steve Johnson only taller and stronger.
As i said on another thread i see Lance Whitnal as a good trade option.He certainly fits Scarlet fevers requirements of having a fat ass and unique body shape.

The problem with Lance is he has the nous but not the power. He needs the pill delivered very favourably before his neuroligical assets can be utilised. Power is what enables a forward to take a 50:50 or worse forward entry and turn it into 6 points. Lockett & Dunstall could do this by out manouevering 2 defenders in the air, Ablett could do it in the air or when it hit the ground, Carey & Brown could eithor do it by themselves or provide a favourable position for team mates to convert. They all used there power but in different ways.

 

[Turbocat]

The problem with Lance is he has the nous but not the power. He needs the pill delivered very favourably before his neuroligical assets can be utilised. Power is what enables a forward to take a 50:50 or worse forward entry and turn it into 6 points. Lockett & Dunstall could do this by out manouevering 2 defenders in the air, Ablett could do it in the air or when it hit the ground, Carey & Brown could eithor do it by themselves or provide a favourable position for team mates to convert. They all used there power but in different ways.

All true but to get a player of Locket or Abletts tenant is almost impossible. On football skill he would convert 7 shots from ten, KK is a 5 from ten man. He would have to be worth 1 goal a game more.Is one goal a game worth the cost of LW? Would he improve our side, he would if you win or lose games by small margins like Geelong.
Perfect, NO
Better than KK,YES.
Cost (Loss of opportunity and dollars), ???

 

[rickster1]

Sorry for those that have already read this on Cat's Claw:

Cats Father/Sons:

Tom Hawkins
DOB: 7/88
Club: Melbourne Grammar
Height: 195cm
Weight: 85kg
Eligible for draft: 2006

Hawkins is an athletic 195cm key forward who’s barely 16. having moved from Finley to be a boarder at Melbourne Grammar this year, he’s slotted into the senior side with aplomb. He has sure hands, is a strong contested mark, reads the play well, is adept at ground level and works hard in applying solid defensive pressure. Hawkins has played for Sandringham Dragons U16 but school footy is expected to take precedence next year. He is likely to return to Finley on the school holidays and play for the local senior side.

Adam Donohue
DOB: 2/90
Club: Winchelsea
Height: 181cm
Weight: 80kg
Eligible for draft: 2007

Adam is a 14 year old playing for Winchelsea’s U18 side while still managing to fit in a few games in with his U14 mates, where he finished fifth in this year’s best and fairest despite playing just a third of the games. Adam in predominantly a forward who reads the play exceptionally well and his kicking is fairly accurate. His versatility has seen him often moved onto a wing before reverting to half-forward or full forward where he loves to kick a goal. Not yet big enough to hold down a key position post but his body could fill out. Will come into the Falcons U16 program.
____________
WTF? “Not yet big enough”…..name some other 14 yo’s that are 80kg and 181 cm!!!!

Seriously, these boys look great! It’s important we don’t build up the expectations too much though, remember they are still young and a lot can happen between now and draft 2007.