The big move of 2008 - Rooke as defensive forward

SirRooke

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I remember before the 2007 season in a discussion thread putting Mackie in the backline in my best 22, despite him not having played there. Thompson must have been reading the thread ;) as Mackie went on to have an All Australian standard year playing as a creative backman. Honestly, who would have thought?

My big prediction for next year is Rooke to take on the role of defensive forward, the role that Brynes and Varcoe played this year. I think Rooke is a seriously underrated player (still) and is certainly capable of kicking 30 goals in a year. He really is a gun and is a very big sleeper in this competition. This guy could seriously be anything with a good injury free run. He is Club Champion quality and will be interesting to see how he comes on in 2008 as even though he played in the finals he will be like a new recruit, probably the best AFL recruit of the year.
 

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FoxC

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#2
Courageous, fierce, skilled, modest, member of the leadership group - a champion. Possibly the best ex-rookie listed player going around in the competition at the moment.
 

thejester

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#3
Courageous, fierce, skilled, modest, member of the leadership group - a champion. Possibly the best ex-rookie listed player going around in the competition at the moment.
This bloke called Dean Cox might disagree ;).

SirRooke: an especially bold predicition given he played just such a role on McLeod against Adelaide.
 

The rabbi

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#4
I had previously seen Max as a tough half back. But I think that he is very versatile and can play along all the lines if need be. He has had a habit of kicking a couple of goals when he is up forward, so your suggestion is not at all unrealistic.

But

The forward line will be very competitive for the Geelong players in 08.
There will be Hawkins, Nablett, Stokes, Mooney, Norm Johnson, Chapman, Davenport, Kelly, Varcoe, Byrnes et.al all trying to secure a spot.

Good Luck to 'em.
 

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#5
I would suggest that Rookey may never really have a set position on the field. Not that he's incapable of holding one, but his value to team is such that we'd need him fulfilling various roles when different occasions arise.

As a defender he's shown he can play on just about any type, be it small, mid-sized, or tall oppposition forwards. I think the hope though, is that we'd never really have to depend on swinging him down back to fulfill any of those roles - I'd like to think we have sufficient coverage down back with our mix of talls, mid-range options, and (hopefully soon) smalls.

As a midfielder he's shown the capacity to play as a designated tagger/run-with player, physical enforcer coming off the centre square, or simply another cog in the engine room rotations to provide grunt, physicality, and lift the intensity levels.

And yes, as a forward I suppose you could argue he's shown he can drift forward and kick the odd goal (although to date he hasn't really shown much as a permanent forward - moreso as a midfielder drifting forward, or being in the right spot at the right time outside of the packs). His junior experience as a full-forward shouldn't harm him as well, I'd suspect.
 

SirRooke

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Courageous, fierce, skilled, modest, member of the leadership group - a champion. Possibly the best ex-rookie listed player going around in the competition at the moment.
I agree.

This bloke called Dean Cox might disagree ;).

SirRooke: an especially bold predicition given he played just such a role on McLeod against Adelaide.
True, he did for a few quarters, but I think he will do it most of next year. I just think he will cause havoc for soft possession chasers such as Dal Santo who chase easy kicks across the half-back line. I reckon he would see red when players play that way, given how he earns every possession and will probably physically wreck any of these players if they try to do it in his zone.

He will also hurt them when we go forward because he is so much more skilled and creative than a 'tagger'. He doesn't have the speed of a Byrnes or Varcoe but would be so much more of a lethal target than they are. If Byrnes of Varcoe make the team it will be further up the ground.

Cox ain't got nothin on Rookey, except All Australian selection. 2008 will fix this.

I had previously seen Max as a tough half back. But I think that he is very versatile and can play along all the lines if need be. He has had a habit of kicking a couple of goals when he is up forward, so your suggestion is not at all unrealistic.

But

The forward line will be very competitive for the Geelong players in 08.
There will be Hawkins, Nablett, Stokes, Mooney, Norm Johnson, Chapman, Davenport, Kelly, Varcoe, Byrnes et.al all trying to secure a spot.

Good Luck to 'em.
Maxy is ahead of all of them except for Johno, Chappy and Mooney, with whom he is an equal.
 

winty

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I would suggest that Rookey may never really have a set position on the field. Not that he's incapable of holding one, but his value to team is such that we'd need him fulfilling various roles when different occasions arise.

As a defender he's shown he can play on just about any type, be it small, mid-sized, or tall oppposition forwards. I think the hope though, is that we'd never really have to depend on swinging him down back to fulfill any of those roles - I'd like to think we have sufficient coverage down back with our mix of talls, mid-range options, and (hopefully soon) smalls.

As a midfielder he's shown the capacity to play as a designated tagger/run-with player, physical enforcer coming off the centre square, or simply another cog in the engine room rotations to provide grunt, physicality, and lift the intensity levels.

And yes, as a forward I suppose you could argue he's shown he can drift forward and kick the odd goal (although to date he hasn't really shown much as a permanent forward - moreso as a midfielder drifting forward, or being in the right spot at the right time outside of the packs). His junior experience as a full-forward shouldn't harm him as well, I'd suspect.
Agree with everything you just said GeeCat. I remember the game against Fremantle in 2005 where Rooke was playing on Pavlich and would've kept him goalless for the match if he didn't kick a goal after the final siren. His tackling and general toughness around the ground is crucial. I can still remember Max giving Stewie Loewe a shirtfront in his first season and Loewe came off worse for wear, and he's a big unit. :thumbsu:

I can actually see Geelong using both Max and Milburn as utility players, as both can play at both ends (Milburn has pinch-hit at CHF before, with good effect) and are exactly the same size (189cm and 92kg) and can play on both talls and smalls.
 

sarah.13

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#9
I agree, Rooke is a fantastic player,so tough,couragous and a real team player.
Has been very unlucky injury wise and hopefully will have an uninterrupted season and really make his mark on the competition.
Can see him playing a midfield tagging role rotating through the forward line and kicking plenty of goals.
 
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Dunno about a permanent forward line role. He is at his best when he is disrupting the opposition rather than being the go to man. He doesn't have an abundance of natural talent which can really punish the opposition. Remember his miss from 20 sout straight in front in the GF? Varcoe should step up this year, as should Tommahawk and only Byrnes should drop out from the forward line.
 

Barabbas

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#11
My prediction for the suprise move of 08 - Nathan Ablett to be thrown into the midfield for short bursts. We saw it in the flogging against richmond. Reads the ball in close as good as anyone, and will force him to increase his fitness.

Agree with Jim Boy about Rooke's best role, puts tremendous pressure on the opposition. Might play the defensive forward role occasionally, but will probably not play in a set position for the season.
 

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#12
This bloke called Dean Cox might disagree ;).

SirRooke: an especially bold predicition given he played just such a role on McLeod against Adelaide.
Stokes played on McLeod in the second match of the year.

If you mean the first match over in Adelaide I can't really recall that match other than it was low scoring tough slog in wet conditions
 
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#14
Rooke is a versatile sorta guy, i think hed be great on guys like Dal Santo and Hodge.

Varcoe i hope improves his skill level and take it to the next level. WIth Hawkins around, boy we are gonna be a great attacking team i think.

I reckon one more speedy midfielder would be a great addition.

Egan will be back better than ever, Harley and Scarlett are getting older as is Milburn so i hope we spend the draft looking for quality tall backman.

I think our defensive KPP is one area we need a bit more depth in. Mackie was great this year but he had a lot of support around him, dont think he could carry a defence. Egan is gonna be our next generation Scarlett so we need to build our defence around him.
 

Asty

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#15
This bloke called Dean Cox might disagree ;).

SirRooke: an especially bold predicition given he played just such a role on McLeod against Adelaide.
And some additional competition ...

Ben Rutten
Matt Priddis
Carrazzo
Aaron Davey
Mark Nicoski
Roger Hayden
 

hbk_aus

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#16
Courageous, fierce, skilled, modest, member of the leadership group - a champion. Possibly the best ex-rookie listed player going around in the competition at the moment.
Champion? That word is thrown around far too freely these days. A good player, and very important to our overall make-up, but no champion. Lets not let the blue-and-white tinted glasses override common sense people...:cool:
 

DanA

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#17
I think you are claiming a bit too much credit sir Rooke. Thompson was experimenting with where to play Mackie from half way through 2006 and I am sure I read he was planning on using him as a defender/wingmen well before the preseason and it was discussed extensively during the preseason.

Rooke is already being used as a defensive forward, it has been discussed here countless times that I can recall. I think comparisons to Chick GF 2006 and Rooke playing a similar role may have been made as early as February this year.
 
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