The NMFC Forward Line

[Zondor]

Right. All in Sunbury know that I’m a fan of Cam Zurhaar but the bottom line is he ain’t in the top 3 forwards at the club.

The top 3 are Larkey, Curtis and Trembath. And we need to build around those 3.

What we need to do is get some decent smaller forwards around these 3. Currently they are not on the list. The Kont chases but with ball in hand he is for the tip. Banch is 4 foot nothing and has no real bag of tricks like Watson. Dovaston is young and the jury is out. River Stevens has just done his ACL and I wouldn’t be surprised that he is delisted at seasons end. Cooper Harvey ain’t his old man and doesn’t have the zip to play this role. Spargo played his best game for a very long time and if he plays like he did against the GWS then he could fill a role. So the truth is that Rawling and co have done a botch job when it comes to recruiting decent small forwards. :stern look

Our current forward line set up is just too tall. Larkey, Trembath, Darling, Zurhaar and Duursma plus Curtis who stands at 185cm are big dudes.

We need guys that hit base of the pack and rove. Can run up the ground and link up. Chase and apply pressure.

It has made me laugh that some have fixated on Zurhaar as if had we moved him out of the forward line then things would click. Check out the stats of the likes of Duursma, Dovaston, The Kont, Banch, Darling and Spargo this season. The issues run far deeper than some of you think with the way our forward line functions.

First things first Rawling should be rissoled. This is his list and it still has holes like a block of Swiss Cheese.

And if anybody wants to defend that idiot I will start a Backline Thread. Because shit, our key defenders as a group in particular are very ordinary. And that’s me not mentioning the 4 foot nothing Daniel defending etc. :stern look

Anyway what do you guys think? :stern look

 

[DuckYeah]

Curtis plays small/medium. Hes been our number 1 pressure forward the last couple of years, he roves, he marks, he plays hybrid. 185 cm is small these days. Its only the palm of ya hand taller than watson.

Darling needs to move out and zane needs the third tall position.

Cam Cow is good depth, thats it.

But yes, i agree with majority. And Brady is 100% a goose

 

[scottywiper]

Since LT it has been a revolving door of sub par small forwards. Turner Spicer Payne Drury Mahoney Banch The Kont Spargo. No doubt I'm forgetting a few. And when we had a chance to grab a very good one we passed it up and went back to the bargain bin again. So many wasted picks and list spots on a problem that could have been solved with one pick.

 

[Arthur Cloke]

I like Duursma

 

[Arthur Cloke]

Imagine you guys had Newcombe AND The Wizard…..then you’d change your tune and want a marble statue of Rawlings at Arden St ala the Statue of David.

 

[Moti]

Perhaps we can start with learning forward craft. We have the dumbest forward line in the comp.

 

[Mighty Storm]

Love them to try and get Curtis one on one more ,he’s a tough matchup

 

[Zondor]

Dovaston 8 touches, Spargo 9 touches, Trembath 9 touches, Larkey 9 touches, Duursma 8 touches but 3 goals. :stern look

And in the last quarter check these stats out.


2 touches, 1 touch, zero touches. FFS. :stern look

This ain’t a Cam Zurhaar issue. This is a Brady Rawling issue. :stern look

 

[ferball]

Nick Larkey

20

Nick Larkey

Age

27

Ht

198cm

Wt

96kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.5

2star

K

4.6

2star

HB

3.9

3star

M

3.3

3star

T

1.5

3star

G

1.4

5star

D

7.0

1star

K

4.0

1star

HB

3.0

2star

M

2.0

2star

T

1.0

2star

G

1.0

4star

D

8.8

3star

K

4.2

2star

HB

4.6

4star

M

3.2

4star

T

1.4

4star

G

0.8

4star

didn't touch the ball in the last quarter, obviously Brady Rawling's fault.

 

[Zondor]

Nick Larkey didn't touch the ball in the last quarter, obviously Brady Rawling's fault.

Now it may be difficult for you to comprehend the following, because by and large you’re a simpleton, with large being the operative word m, but there are gaping holes in our list. Rawling’s responsibility. :stern look

Let’s focus on that final quarter against the Cats. We actually had 13 Inside 50s in the last to the Cats 17. It wasn’t as if we had opportunity to score. We got it in there but it kept coming straight back out. Sadly we struggle to lock the ball in when we have it in the forward line. There are varying reasons why but the biggest IMO is the lack of quality small forwards we have on our list. And that’s Rawling’s fault. :stern look

Conversely you could point the finger at our backline for the last quarter capitulation which struggled to stop the Cats in the 4th. Primarily because we have substandard defenders. Both tall and small. So once again this is a Brady Rawling issue. :stern look

Anyway as you have a tendency to make shit up, why don’t you regale us again with story of how the Lovely Sonja Hood staged a coup to topple old mate Ben Buckley. I won’t mention the Government story because that seems to trigger you. :stern look

 

[justroyal]

Now it may be difficult for you to comprehend the following, because by and large you’re a simpleton, with large being the operative word m, but there are gaping holes in our list. Rawling’s responsibility. :stern look

Let’s focus on that final quarter against the Cats. We actually had 13 Inside 50s in the last to the Cats 17. It wasn’t as if we had opportunity to score. We got it in there but it kept coming straight back out. Sadly we struggle to lock the ball in when we have it in the forward line. There are varying reasons why but the biggest IMO is the lack of quality small forwards we have on our list. And that’s Rawling’s fault. :stern look

Conversely you could point the finger at our backline for the last quarter capitulation which struggled to stop the Cats in the 4th. Primarily because we have substandard defenders. Both tall and small. So once again this is a Brady Rawling issue. :stern look

Anyway as you have a tendency to make shit up, why don’t you regale us again with story of how the Lovely Sonja Hood staged a coup to topple old mate Ben Buckley. I won’t mention the Government story because that seems to trigger you. :stern look

It’s like when the chain eventually makes its way from the back line, through the wing or centre, no one is ready in the forward line and no one is presenting as a genuine option other than from clearances or centre bounces

 

[Moti]

It’s like when the chain eventually makes its way from the back line, through the wing or centre, no one is ready in the forward line and no one is presenting as a genuine option other than from clearances or centre bounces

Yep. Darling had an ok last quarter but the rest of the marking forwards were non-existent. They don't lead and they are unreliable in the contest, particularly Nick who has a very standard contest - position the body in some way, struggle to hold position, contest weakly, rinse and repeat.

 

[ferball]

Now it may be difficult for you to comprehend the following, because by and large you’re a simpleton, with large being the operative word m, but there are gaping holes in our list. Rawling’s responsibility. :stern look

Let’s focus on that final quarter against the Cats. We actually had 13 Inside 50s in the last to the Cats 17. It wasn’t as if we had opportunity to score. We got it in there but it kept coming straight back out. Sadly we struggle to lock the ball in when we have it in the forward line. There are varying reasons why but the biggest IMO is the lack of quality small forwards we have on our list. And that’s Rawling’s fault. :stern look

Conversely you could point the finger at our backline for the last quarter capitulation which struggled to stop the Cats in the 4th. Primarily because we have substandard defenders. Both tall and small. So once again this is a Brady Rawling issue. :stern look

Anyway as you have a tendency to make shit up, why don’t you regale us again with story of how the Lovely Sonja Hood staged a coup to topple old mate Ben Buckley. I won’t mention the Government story because that seems to trigger you. :stern look

We lost in the last quarter because the midfield stopped running.

We had the players who could have kept the ball locked in the forward 50 playing in the VFL.

What government story are you on about?

 

[Zondor]

We lost in the last quarter because the midfield stopped running.

We had the players who could have kept the ball locked in the forward 50 playing in the VFL.

What government story are you on about?

Well firstly apologies for the tardy response. :stern look

Secondly LOL. I’ll give you what Government Story. :stern look

Thirdly double LOL if you think we had or have players that can lock the ball Inside our forward 50 on a consistent level. :stern look

 

[Zondor]

Anyways that forward line of our is functioning as well as Edward Scissorhands trying to have a crank. :stern look

 

[ferball]

Well firstly apologies for the tardy response. :stern look

That's okay, your other apologies can follow later.

Secondly LOL. I’ll give you what Government Story. :stern look

If you're talking about what i think you're talking about I'll bet your account that happened. Dunno what the government has to do with it tho. could this be something else where you don't know what you're talking about and went off half cocked? Most likely.

Thirdly double LOL if you think we had or have players that can lock the ball Inside our forward 50 on a consistent level. :stern look

We are third (well were third) in the comp for score launches from our forward half. We average one less tackle inside 50 than the leading team, three more than the worst team. Three years ago we averaged nearly three less per game.

So you're wrong about that as well.

 

[Zondor]

That's okay, your other apologies can follow later.

No such thing will occur because your following posts are laughable laced with hypocrisy. :stern look

If you're talking about what i think you're talking about I'll bet your account that happened. Dunno what the government has to do with it tho. could this be something else where you don't know what you're talking about and went off half cocked? Most likely.

LOL at you’ll bet my account. What you are is full of shit. From not knowing what Government story I mentioned to suddenly thinking you know what Government story I mentioned your postings are riddled with hypocrisy and horseshit. :stern look

We are third (well were third) in the comp for score launches from our forward half. We average one less tackle inside 50 than the leading team, three more than the worst team. Three years ago we averaged nearly three less per game.

So you're wrong about that as well.

This has more to do with our forward press as a side as opposed to these actual small forwards who were apparently playing in the VFL accomplishing these feats in the AFL. Get your story straight. :stern look

 

[Scallop Industry Thug]

The forward line system is an abomination.

Its default is bombing to the hotspot where we have 4 guys contesting.

we’re always kicking to outnumbers.

There’s hardly anyone presenting to the ball carrier.

We’re kicking lots of points because of the talent of the forwards themselves; in spite of the system.

 

[Zondor]

The forward line system is an abomination.

Its default is bombing to the hotspot where we have 4 guys contesting.

we’re always kicking to outnumbers.

There’s hardly anyone presenting to the ball carrier.

We’re kicking lots of points because of the talent of the forwards themselves; in spite of the system.

Yep. It’s a Dogs Breakfast. A lack of blocking for teammates. A lack of leading towards the ball carrier. An inability to create separation on one’s opponent. Forwards getting in each others way. That all coupled with poor delivery inside 50. :stern look

 

[King Corey]

You can set your watch to a spill from a pack going to an opposition defender crumbing our spill. If we're lucky we then tackle them.

Next to never does our aimless cluster of talls cause a fall to a North small forward who grabs it for an "easy" shot.

It's abysmal.

 

[Scallop Industry Thug]

Trembath has a huge leap and vices for hands.

When has been put in a position to leap for the ball against his just his opponent. Hes having to out mark 6 blokes.

Or Duursma for that matter. Although he’s been used as a decoy/crumber despite his main talent being his ability to take a grab.

**** Clarke off.

 

[scottywiper]

Is Clarke any good as forward line coach? Cos it looks totally bereft of system to me.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Dumpster fire set up.

Scores through individual brilliance.

System is non existent.

 

[Scallop Industry Thug]

The lack of system was covered up by Trembath jumping over 8 blokes.

 

[scottywiper]

The lack of system was covered up by Trembath jumping over 8 blokes.

Which seems to be our tactic. Reminds me of the old lunch time speckie competition at school.