
Bunk Moreland
Hall of Famer
Had threads in previous years but they all seem closed, so...
While the midfield seems to have been all the focus of recruiting and improvement, I think this is the area we really need to bed down heading into 2021.
Due largely to injury it hasn't functioned consistently since 2017. That's three years now. It surely needs some attention. We've relied on injury-prone players since 2017 and it's let us down, time and time again.
Stringer: no-brainer and our best forward.
Hooker: think the time has come to return him forward permanently. His lack of agility is a bit of a problem - so he needs to be surrounded by quicker teammates - but he more than makes up for it with presence and marking. Given we have Hurley, BZT, Ambrose, Ridley and Francis, it's tough to argue that he's not now better utilised forward.
Tipungwuti: super-dangerous small forward.
Langford: I'm one that wishes we'd play him largely as a permanent forward. He had great hands, seems to position well and is a great kick for goal. I think he has the potential to be a solid Jack Gunston-type, rather than a hit-and-miss "midfielder".
Daniher: the big one. I really don't know what to say about him? He gets fit or he doesn't, he stays or he goes. Obviously he's either a permanent fixture, or we look for a repalcement.
Fantasia: great when 'on'... but the injuries. Doing calves now, which isn't a great sign.
Laverde: don't mind him, but will we ever see him get a run at it?
Stewart: yet another injury-prone forward. Spending basically three years out of the game is going to hurt anybody. Who knows whether he can get back?
McKernan: reckon he looked good in 2018 and 2019, but seems to have regressed a little this year. Needs help. Even of he's not a best-22 selection, I wouldn't be against keep him around. His size and ability to play in the ruck makes him good depth.
Smith: effective mid / half forward, though doesn't quite seem fit... or something.
Snelling: good nuisance value, I don't mind him.
Townsend: can be effective but a bit of a blunt instrument.
Cahill: worth persisting with for a bit, I think. Knows where the goals are.
Begley: personally, I hope to see more on him in the midfield. But I guess we'll see.
Plus we have the young blokes who haven't played yet.
So what?
Well, firstly, I don't think we can spend another year "hoping" for our best forward line to get fit. It's just not going to happen with so many long-term, injury prone players.
I'd look to rebuild the core of the forward line. And it'd revolve around Hooker, Stringer, Langford and Tipungwuti.
The injured: I don't think we can carry all of Daniher, Fantasia, Stewart and Laverde any longer. It's four spots on our list dedicated to forwards who barely get on the park. Obviously you can keep 1-2 around, but having this many is becoming a huge burden and impacting our planning. Revolves around Daniher, obviously... if he happens to stay, then I don't think we can keep both of Stewart and Laverde - both of whom are out of contract. How many perennially injured forwards can we have on the list?
I'd be happy to shop Fantasia - again he's just too injury prone. No idea what we'd fetch. Perhaps a mid-late second-rounder.
End of ramble. Shoot it down.
While the midfield seems to have been all the focus of recruiting and improvement, I think this is the area we really need to bed down heading into 2021.
Due largely to injury it hasn't functioned consistently since 2017. That's three years now. It surely needs some attention. We've relied on injury-prone players since 2017 and it's let us down, time and time again.
Stringer: no-brainer and our best forward.
Hooker: think the time has come to return him forward permanently. His lack of agility is a bit of a problem - so he needs to be surrounded by quicker teammates - but he more than makes up for it with presence and marking. Given we have Hurley, BZT, Ambrose, Ridley and Francis, it's tough to argue that he's not now better utilised forward.
Tipungwuti: super-dangerous small forward.
Langford: I'm one that wishes we'd play him largely as a permanent forward. He had great hands, seems to position well and is a great kick for goal. I think he has the potential to be a solid Jack Gunston-type, rather than a hit-and-miss "midfielder".
Daniher: the big one. I really don't know what to say about him? He gets fit or he doesn't, he stays or he goes. Obviously he's either a permanent fixture, or we look for a repalcement.
Fantasia: great when 'on'... but the injuries. Doing calves now, which isn't a great sign.
Laverde: don't mind him, but will we ever see him get a run at it?
Stewart: yet another injury-prone forward. Spending basically three years out of the game is going to hurt anybody. Who knows whether he can get back?
McKernan: reckon he looked good in 2018 and 2019, but seems to have regressed a little this year. Needs help. Even of he's not a best-22 selection, I wouldn't be against keep him around. His size and ability to play in the ruck makes him good depth.
Smith: effective mid / half forward, though doesn't quite seem fit... or something.
Snelling: good nuisance value, I don't mind him.
Townsend: can be effective but a bit of a blunt instrument.
Cahill: worth persisting with for a bit, I think. Knows where the goals are.
Begley: personally, I hope to see more on him in the midfield. But I guess we'll see.
Plus we have the young blokes who haven't played yet.
So what?
Well, firstly, I don't think we can spend another year "hoping" for our best forward line to get fit. It's just not going to happen with so many long-term, injury prone players.
I'd look to rebuild the core of the forward line. And it'd revolve around Hooker, Stringer, Langford and Tipungwuti.
The injured: I don't think we can carry all of Daniher, Fantasia, Stewart and Laverde any longer. It's four spots on our list dedicated to forwards who barely get on the park. Obviously you can keep 1-2 around, but having this many is becoming a huge burden and impacting our planning. Revolves around Daniher, obviously... if he happens to stay, then I don't think we can keep both of Stewart and Laverde - both of whom are out of contract. How many perennially injured forwards can we have on the list?
I'd be happy to shop Fantasia - again he's just too injury prone. No idea what we'd fetch. Perhaps a mid-late second-rounder.
End of ramble. Shoot it down.
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