The Scarlett Experiment

[TGTOA]

Matty Scarlett at FF? How do people think that went?

For mine, it was pretty hard to judge. He made a few good leads, but everything kicked to him was dropping short. However, thought our backline really suffered from his absence, Melbourne looked very dangerous when they went forward and he probably would have been better value back there when we were getting towelled up early in the game.

Didn't mind seeing it tried, and Bomber seemed to suggest it was just to see if it could work if we got desperate in the future. But I think the clear answer is NO - leave him in the backline and let him do what he does best, and sneak forward when it's appropriate. He doesn't seem to provide anything much more than our other forwards.

 

[Zeroman]

If it gives other players in defence a chance to step up, ie Lonergan, it was a good move.
Unfortunately, Lonergan's career may be over.

Geelong needs its best players in the forward line.
There are ways to compensate for the backline,
but not key forwards.

 

[Boundary-Rider]

Scarlett looked out of place down forward, The move was ok for an experiment and if we need to move Matty during a game this would be an option.

However the down side is then our defence becomes less reliable. Lets base our defence around the best defenders and our offence around our best forwards.

Scarlett did not instinctively lead to the ball and as a primary defender he normally reads the plays well, just is not that creative as a forward. It is easier to run off your man in defence and create a loose man than to create the space to lead or take possession to create a goal scoring opportunity.

At least we tried.

 

[thehoff]

I think the Scarlett forward role could work in the right circumstances. Saturdays game was a great time to try him forward because: Neitz was not playing, they had no other power forward that Egan or Harley could not cover and because our season was over before the game started.

Ideally, the forward 50 would have been left vacnt for Scarlo and the opposition fullback to battle it out 1 on 1. Like me, most people on here would comofrtably back Scarlo more often than not 1 on 1 due to his unbelievable strength and abilty to read the flight of the ball, however Scarlo's kicking for goal would be very questionable as previously seen when have a shot for goals.

I would much prefer Egan tried forward and Scarlo remaining back to torment the opposition backline.

 

[Mooney_d'King]

I agree that he seemed a bit like a fish out of water, but I reckon he could get used to being a forward pretty quickly and it could be used as a danger option for the future. He knows how forwards think, it's just a case of integrating that thought into his own behaviour and acting the "create" instead of the spoil.

I'd like to see it tried again next week, especially as this not a "must-win" game. I also agree that Egan could be another good option for this, but Scarlo's speed and a degree of unpredictability could make the difference.

Good on the coaching staff for trying out something less than usual.

 

[Oscarlett]

Delivery (as always) was suspect. However in broken plays, I liked what I saw, he went to the right spots etc. Plain and simple he is a clever footballer. If he was to be given a month as a forward, I reckon he would get 10+ goals.

Just not sure the +'s outweigh the -'s, with this move.

 

[Inferno]

I would of switched him every 5-10 mins between FF and him dropping back as an extra man in defence so he could get open in the forward line.

I didnt watch most of the game so I dont if thats what we tried or if we played him as a FF the whole game.

 

[Stoney]

It didnt work but it would be harsh to judge based on one performance ... I'd give Scarlett another full game at full forward this wk before even contemplating making a decision.

 

[Partridge]

Delivery (as always) was suspect. However in broken plays, I liked what I saw, he went to the right spots etc. Plain and simple he is a clever footballer. If he was to be given a month as a forward, I reckon he would get 10+ goals.

Totally agree. The delivery to him was appalling. I've got no doubt he'd make a decent forward given time but the other end is where he's needed. If he can keep Williams for example goalless next week he may yet get All-Australian fullback. Give him a chance to grab that by playing him in his correct spot.

 

[Stoney]

I wouldnt think Bomber would be thinking about Scarlo's AA prosepects when picking the team this wk ... wouldn't we want to look to the future - its a long shot but with some forward line coaching, Scarlo could be what Geelong fans have been praying for all these years... I'd be definitly in favour of giving him another full game out of the goalsquare.

 

[chapmanmagic35]

Now with finals out of the question, we may as well try a few things out.

 

[cat in sydney]

I agree that he seemed a bit like a fish out of water, but I reckon he could get used to being a forward pretty quickly and it could be used as a danger option for the future. He knows how forwards think, it's just a case of integrating that thought into his own behaviour and acting the "create" instead of the spoil.

I'd like to see it tried again next week, especially as this not a "must-win" game. I also agree that Egan could be another good option for this, but Scarlo's speed and a degree of unpredictability could make the difference.

Good on the coaching staff for trying out something less than usual.

I think the best option is to have Egan go forward. Sure, Scarlo may develop into a good forward over time, but there is no doubt that when we play teams like Sydney (Hall), St Kilda (Gehrig), Richmond (Richo), Pies (Rocca) etc. there is no other fullback that can dominate and intimidate like Scarlo does. Therefore, if we know that he will at least have to play down back for those games, why would we consider moving players around from game to game... it just creates more inconsistency. We need the right people in the right places ALL of the time.
Sure he can go forward in certain games at certain times (like he has in the past and kicked some goals), but it won't help him personally nor the backline to be inconsistent with his positioning.

 

[Stoney]

Hmm good point ... but id still play him at FF this week. Egan isnt a spring chicken - he's 23 so its not like we'll be able to teach him the tricks froma young age, he's obviously in a similar boat to Scarlett whereby he has played most of his football in the defensive 50 by the looks of it.

 

[nananana catman]

Moving our best backman to become an average forward line will just create a greater hole in a different position.

It was a nice little idea given Neitz wasnt playing and we didn't need him down there, but I wouldnt be doing it on a regular basis.

 

[Stoney]

Coming from the man who decided that Gary Ablett Sn would make a good full forward ... Malcome Blight has always maitained that he thinks Scarlett would make an exceptional full forward.

I dont think we'd be doing it if it was a given that hed b an average fwd ... we're doing it in the hope that he could be a 50-60 goal forward.

 

[TGTOA]

I'm not sure it was done with the intention of making him a permanent, 50-60 goal forward though. Bomber suggested it was to see whether it could work to send him forward as a "pinch hitter".

Even so, he has some attributes which would make him a good forward. He's quick off the mark, and a great one-on-one mark. Whether he has the ability to read the play, time his leads and find space is another question, and one which won't be answered without giving him at least half a dozen games in the forward line. I wouldn't expect to see him lining up there on a regular basis though, the gain he gives to our forward line is likely to be more than offset by the gaping hole his absence would leave in our backline.

 

[cat in sydney]

Coming from the man who decided that Gary Ablett Sn would make a good full forward ... Malcome Blight has always maitained that he thinks Scarlett would make an exceptional full forward.

I dont think we'd be doing it if it was a given that hed b an average fwd ... we're doing it in the hope that he could be a 50-60 goal forward.

yeah, but as oscarlett said, not sure the number of goals he would get will match the amount of goals we might concede with him not in the backline.

 

[Renegade]

Trust Thompson to pull a stupid move like that. Early in the game is when we needed Scarlo down there holding fort. We had no run from the backline early in the game and usually it all starts with what Scarls can create from defense.
He needed to start down back and then Thompson could pull his little fairy moves if a change was needed. Besides, if he wants to be an idiot and throw a defender up forward it had to be either Egan or Harley, Not Scarlett.....but then again it's Thompson. Tactics are not his strong point. Actually.....can someone please tell me what the hell Thompson's strong point is..?

 

[DanA]

Trust Thompson to pull a stupid move like that. Early in the game is when we needed Scarlo down there holding fort. We had no run from the backline early in the game and usually it all starts with what Scarls can create from defense.
He needed to start down back and then Thompson could pull his little fairy moves if a change was needed. Besides, if he wants to be an idiot and throw a defender up forward it had to be either Egan or Harley, Not Scarlett.....but then again it's Thompson. Tactics are not his strong point. Actually.....can someone please tell me what the hell Thompson's strong point is..?

He is exceptionally strong at cutting lunches. You wouldn't believe some of his handywork with his bread knife.

 

[Big Roo]

He's too short to be a FF.

 

[DanA]

He's too short to be a FF.

He's 2 cm taller than Mathew Loyd you idiot, same height as Barry Hall.

Go back to eating your chips

 

[LongBomb]

He's too short to be a FF.

What are you talking about muppet?

Scarlett is taller than Lloyd & Fevola.
Same height as Barry Hall.

 

[Stoney]

Renegade - with the season over we want to see some changes happening - i thought it was fantastic to see Scarlo up forward to mix things up.

 

[thehoff]

Trust Thompson to pull a stupid move like that. Early in the game is when we needed Scarlo down there holding fort. We had no run from the backline early in the game and usually it all starts with what Scarls can create from defense.
He needed to start down back and then Thompson could pull his little fairy moves if a change was needed. Besides, if he wants to be an idiot and throw a defender up forward it had to be either Egan or Harley, Not Scarlett.....but then again it's Thompson. Tactics are not his strong point. Actually.....can someone please tell me what the hell Thompson's strong point is..?

Broken record anyone?

 

[Rosella]

Renegade - with the season over we want to see some changes happening - i thought it was fantastic to see Scarlo up forward to mix things up.

I'm with you - Scarlett has had a tough year with his mate Harley out for so long and getting little help. He's wanted to have a go on the forward line. I thought in the first quarter they were to conscious of trying to get the ball to him and the delivery just wasn't good enough. But it was a worth while enough experiment.