The Forward Line

[Spartans FC]

How hard is it going to be for oppositions to find match ups.

At least two of our best four forwards, should be better than their defensive counterparts against a majority of teams.

The problem i think we will have with lovett gone especially will be trying to get the ball in their quickly to give them the best opportunity to beat their opponents. Our midfield besides jobe is not really great and getting the ball out of the middle and in quick will be pretty tough. However I think if Hille gets back to what he was last year then getting the ball to our midfielders will give us a better shot.

 

[Grinners89]

The problem i think we will have with lovett gone especially will be trying to get the ball in their quickly to give them the best opportunity to beat their opponents. Our midfield besides jobe is not really great and getting the ball out of the middle and in quick will be pretty tough. However I think if Hille gets back to what he was last year then getting the ball to our midfielders will give us a better shot.

I think Prismall will step up this season and fill the void. Not in terms of his physical pace, but his ability to win the ball and hit targets successfully in the forward line. He has settled in now, and had a good season back from a knee injury. Now, with a good pre-season, im expecting the foursome of Watson, Prismall, Hille and Ryder to make a big impact on this competition.

 

[Yoda_]

Dont think we will see Williams and Monfries in the same forward line:

Can see something like this happening.

HF: Riemers - Gumbleton - Davey

F: Williams - Neagle - Hille/Ryder

 

[beev]

HF: Monfries - Gumbleton - Reimers

F: Davey - Neagle - Williams

With Ryder and Hille rotating through.

 

[essendon2008]

Dont think we will see Williams and Monfries in the same forward line:

Can see something like this happening.

HF: Riemers - Gumbleton - Davey

F: Williams - Neagle - Hille/Ryder

Where would you have Monfries then? He's (IMO) too good a player to not be playing.

 

[centrelink1]

Dont think we will see Williams and Monfries in the same forward line:

Can see something like this happening.

HF: Riemers - Gumbleton - Davey

F: Williams - Neagle - Hille/Ryder

I dont really like the idea of Ryder in the forward line. Hille can easily go down there, weve seen that.

And Monfries and Williams will start together. When any of these 6 are off we can throw Hille down. Also, with Hille playing, Ryder can play defense and allow Hurley move up the field.

Players these days hardly stick to set positions, and for that reason, this isn't of great importance. HOWEVER... our STARTING forward line could be...

HF : Reimers - Gumbleton - Davey

F: Williams - Neagle - Monfries

With Hille and Hurley occasionly venturing down. Hille is starting ruckman ahead of Ryder and starting Ryder in a forward pocket is crazy

 

[essendon2008]

I dont really like the idea of Ryder in the forward line. Hille can easily go down there, weve seen that.

And Monfries and Williams will start together. When any of these 6 are off we can throw Hille down. Also, with Hille playing, Ryder can play defense and allow Hurley move up the field.

Players these days hardly stick to set positions, and for that reason, this isn't of great importance. HOWEVER... our STARTING forward line could be...

HF : Reimers - Gumbleton - Davey

F: Williams - Neagle - Monfries

With Hille and Hurley occasionly venturing down. Hille is starting ruckman ahead of Ryder and starting Ryder in a forward pocket is crazy

I agree about not starting Ryder or Hille in a pocket but i like the idea of them doing maybe a 3 way rotation through a pocket throughout the game. Ryder is pretty fit so i think he should stay on the ground as much as possible. I would also swap Davey and Monfries in your lineup. Just my opinion though.

 

[centrelink1]

I agree about not starting Ryder or Hille in a pocket but i like the idea of them doing maybe a 3 way rotation through a pocket throughout the game. Ryder is pretty fit so i think he should stay on the ground as much as possible. I would also swap Davey and Monfries in your lineup. Just my opinion though.

My idea with a 3 way rotation would be to rotate Ryder and Hille on and off the ruck, with Hille venturing down forward when not on the ball and Ryder down back. This gives Hurley a chance to head up to the forward line.

Its kind of a 3-way rotation...

Ryder on the ball, Hille forward, Hurley back

Hille on the ball, Hurley forward, Ryder back

Hurley on the ball, we must be playing Adelaide.

 

[The Donners]

Though I have given Neagle a spot in my best 22, I'm having second thoughts. If this guy doesn't shape up in 2010 he should be shipped out!

 

[essendon2008]

Though I have given Neagle a spot in my best 22, I'm having second thoughts. If this guy doesn't shape up in 2010 he should be shipped out!

True.
I really like Neagle, however he will have to really impress now to get a game. He is behind Monfries and you would think Gumbleton and Williams would get a game before him. With Hurley and a resting ruck possibly playing forward aswell, this leaves no room for Neagle without being a very tall forwardline.

 

[ghostdog]

True.
I really like Neagle, however he will have to really impress now to get a game. He is behind Monfries and you would think Gumbleton and Williams would get a game before him. With Hurley and a resting ruck possibly playing forward aswell, this leaves no room for Neagle without being a very tall forwardline.

Isn't Knights still committed to playing Hurley back? ...and I thought Williams had been delisted. If so, that ought to make it a bit easier for Neagle to get a run. You're right though: resting ruck + Gumby forward = less need for another tall target.

...if that ruckman is Ryder and he goes back for Hurley to go forward... next year's going to be very exciting. I'm excited!

I'd still like to see Neagle have a massive pre-season and get right, just so we have the choice.

The Brown-Bradshaw-Fevola forward line may set a trend if it works... Neagle could be handy.

 

[Slattery_20]

Though I have given Neagle a spot in my best 22, I'm having second thoughts. If this guy doesn't shape up in 2010 he should be shipped out!

I don't think that's a bad thing though
He could go either way now - there should be enough supply without Lloyducas there to have a much better idea.
If he still does nothing, we'll be able to make a call for certain.
It's kind of hard to be sure about a bloke playing 3rd or 4th banana

 

[teak]

...and I thought Williams had been delisted.
The Brown-Bradshaw-Fevola forward line may set a trend if it works... Neagle could be handy.

I think he meant Mark Williams [the one we traded for from the Hawks] as opposed to John Williams [the one we delisted]

that combo with Bradshaw we will never see to fruition - announced retirement, so I guess it won't be catching on...

 

[ghostdog]

I think he meant Mark Williams [the one we traded for from the Hawks] as opposed to John Williams [the one we delisted]

that combo with Bradshaw we will never see to fruition - announced retirement, so I guess it won't be catching on...

Yes he did, of course *face palms self*
Shame we won't see Brownshawola. I was looking forward to seeing how it works.

 

[centrelink1]

...if that ruckman is Ryder and he goes back for Hurley to go forward... next year's going to be very exciting. I'm excited!

.

Thats what i said on the previous page in my "3 way rotation"

 

[yaco55]

It seems that the plan is to have Gumbleton and Neagle as the key forwards with support from Hille and Ryder.

The recruitment of Williams should benefit Gumbleton and Neagle - because he is a smart footballer who will create space in the forward line.

But of course this could change because of form and injury.

 

[gO_bOmBeRz]

If Neagle goes down with an injury, could Michael Still come in as his replacement ? or would Hurley be put at full forward with Hooker playing his role in the backline ?

 

[Bombers 2014]

I hope it means we Monfries sets himself up to have a massive pre season so he's ready to spend more time in the middle.

This

 

[Mad Bomber Sean]

Jay Neagle & a comparison with other power forwards that played in 2009.



Note a Power forward to me is a guy that is at least 190cm & weighs over 95Kg

Player Ave Goals kicked over first 20 games *
Richardson 2.7
Lloyd 1.8
Fevola 1.8
Bradshaw 1.8
Neagle 1.5
Franklin 1.05
Brown 0.9
Lucas 0.9
Q Lynch 0.85
Hall 0.8
A Rocca 0.5
Roughead 0.35
Riewoldt 0.6

80's ( again 1st 20 games)
Salmon 3.95
Dunstall 2.45
Ablett 2.00
Lockett 2.75


Jay Neagle has played only 20 / 89 games or approximentally 1 in every 5 he should have played. Yet his goal kicking for the games he has played has been very good considering how much footy he has actually played.

Legend LLoyd played in a team comprised of the largest ever assembly of the Champions of Essendon - the Hirds, Longs, Thompsons, Wanganeens Harveys and also included a few guns like ya Mercuris, Misitis, Bewicks, Wellmans, Lucas'. He would specify which tit the ball should be delivered to. The delivery was pretty good. The team often won & rarely missed the finals.

Comparing Lloyd's development to Neagle, and Neagle looks pretty damn good. He has often competeted for supply ( or a spot in the team ) with Lloyd & Lucas. The team he plays for has a very young midfield group that lacks the polish, class and excellence to provide high level supply to Neagle the type often received by Lloyd. The team he plays for often loses and only managed to scrap into the finals. Yet Neagle has still managed to kick the 30 goals.

It seems many aren't aware of the serious ankle problems he has had across the four seasons he has been at the club. Because of the depth & location of these injuries Neagles tank has been seriously under developed.

I reckon that with a massive preseason & some luck with injury, he will become a very very respectable target at full forward. Give this guy some respect & a treadmill...


Jay Neagle will be a Gun

* all stats from http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/stats_idx.html

 

[Kong]

Great post.

There only seem to be a few posters around BigFooty (james_omahoney, from memory) that are aware of Neagle's very respectable goal returns from limited games and game time, in comparison to the other gun forwards.

He's right up there at an early stage of his career, and I can't seem to recall a game he's been able to 'run out' in its entirety. If this kid can stay injury-free and push himself to a point of Lloyd-like fitness, or even Pears, he could tear games apart.

 

[Skeeta Olly]

Considering he is only effective for about half a game, returns of 3 goals is pretty good. Imagine a return of a full game!

11 games (not including final)

3 goals - 4 times
2 goals - 2 times
1 goal - 3 times
0 goals - 2 times

I have faith.

 

[zen dice man]

Jay Neagle & a comparison with other power forwards that played in 2009.



Note a Power forward to me is a guy that is at least 190cm & weighs over 95Kg

Player Ave Goals kicked over first 20 games *
Richardson 2.7
Lloyd 1.8
Fevola 1.8
Bradshaw 1.8
Neagle 1.5
Franklin 1.05
Brown 0.9
Lucas 0.9
Q Lynch 0.85
Hall 0.8
A Rocca 0.5
Roughead 0.35
Riewoldt 0.6

80's ( again 1st 20 games)
Salmon 3.95
Dunstall 2.45
Ablett 2.00
Lockett 2.75


Jay Neagle has played only 20 / 89 games or approximentally 1 in every 5 he should have played. Yet his goal kicking for the games he has played has been very good considering how much footy he has actually played.

Legend LLoyd played in a team comprised of the largest ever assembly of the Champions of Essendon - the Hirds, Longs, Thompsons, Wanganeens Harveys and also included a few guns like ya Mercuris, Misitis, Bewicks, Wellmans, Lucas'. He would specify which tit the ball should be delivered to. The delivery was pretty good. The team often won & rarely missed the finals.

Comparing Lloyd's development to Neagle, and Neagle looks pretty damn good. He has often competeted for supply ( or a spot in the team ) with Lloyd & Lucas. The team he plays for has a very young midfield group that lacks the polish, class and excellence to provide high level supply to Neagle the type often received by Lloyd. The team he plays for often loses and only managed to scrap into the finals. Yet Neagle has still managed to kick the 30 goals.

It seems many aren't aware of the serious ankle problems he has had across the four seasons he has been at the club. Because of the depth & location of these injuries Neagles tank has been seriously under developed.

I reckon that with a massive preseason & some luck with injury, he will become a very very respectable target at full forward. Give this guy some respect & a treadmill...


Jay Neagle will be a Gun

* all stats from http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/stats_idx.html

+2 Great post

Bulky Neagle's possess the widest shoulders in the AFL & very hard to out mark once in position, strikes me as being a smart footballer who knows how to use the footy very well. His games against the Saints & Hawks were very good. I loved it when he pushed around C slapper Brown- Sure he lacks endurance. But look this will change.

This kid will be very good once he builds up that tank trust me. There is a lot to like about him.

Based soley on reputation some people in this thread have him behind Gumby for selection and dont see a spot for him. Pfffffffft! Neagle will probably become the centre of our fwd line. Hurley will play switch back & fwd aka Bradshaw/Lucas. Gumby will need to prove himself able to handle a game at Afl level without breaking down before we can really consider him. Hillie, his knee needs to hold up before we can depend on him.

Beware the hungry Neagle - such a large man will bite a hole out of many a defense next year.

 

[Yoda_]

Where would you have Monfries then? He's (IMO) too good a player to not be playing.

As a lockdown forward, who takes the space of the leading FF.

I would not have monfries in the starting 22.

In fact I would like him to develop into a midfielder, or even as a small defender, because with the inclusion of Williams he is now an unrequired source, although Knights and the coaching staff seem to love him.

 

[Red Black and Blue]

Williams and Monfries play different roles.

 

[eth-dog]

exactly, Gus plays a RO'K role, Willo plays a Brad Johnson role