The two power forward problem....

[Wallace]

Ever since Tippo left we have not been able to field the vaunted two genuine power forward combo in front of goal (I.e. Tippo + Walker). We have not come close to playing finals winning style footy on a consistent basis since that time.

In order to win finals consistently do we need those two genuine power forwards? You can then add on various combos of leading and crumbling forwards around those key planks.

It seems that Many of the successful teams of recent years have been built the way. Buddy and franklin for hawthorn - Hawkins, pods/mooney for Geelong. It also seems that the next wave of contenders are building their sides this way. Buddy and Tippo at sydney - lynch and day (and a heap of others) at Gold Coast - Cameron and Patton / Boyd at gws.

We seem to be building up a decent strength midfield but do we have the keys to winning finals up forward? Walker looks to be on the way back but who else? Jenkins has shown signs but lynch is not a power forward and McKernan and the north adelaide lad just don't seem to be good enough at afl level.

Obviously it took us the better part of 20 years to find the Tippo / walker combo and we lost it before it could deliver us a flag. Do we need to find a replacement and how? Is it necessary?

Personally I reckon we need to find that extra quality power forward that we don't have and I would be wiling to give up a lot to get it. Unfortunately we have been smashed with draft penalties so getting a shot at one will sting.

Could we target a young key forward from gc or gws? Day, Patton maybe and would we be willing to give up a blue chip player + draft pick to get one (if we can convince the kid to come?). We would likely be looking at giving up a top 3 midfielder at the club (danger/sloane/crouch) or a top 10 player plus high first round pick. Is free agency an option and who would we target?

Interested in whether others think or if it is an issue at all?

 

[Deaneus!]

Ever since Tippo left we have not been able to field the vaunted two genuine power forward combo in front of goal (I.e. Tippo + Walker). We have not come close to playing finals winning style footy on a consistent basis since that time.

It's only been a year, in which our best full forward was injured for most of it. We've only managed a twin tower attack on a few occasions, certainly not enough to have them gel.

In order to win finals consistently do we need those two genuine power forwards?

Oh yes.

We seem to be building up a decent strength midfield but do we have the keys to winning finals up forward? Walker looks to be on the way back but who else? Jenkins has shown signs but lynch is not a power forward and McKernan and the north adelaide lad just don't seem to be good enough at afl level.

Walker and Jenkins will be fine, but I'm not against drafting another if we can find one. Real ones are as rare as hen's teeth.

Could we target a young key forward from gc or gws? Day, Patton maybe and would we be willing to give up a blue chip player + draft pick to get one (if we can convince the kid to come?). We would likely be looking at giving up a top 3 midfielder at the club (danger/sloane/crouch) or a top 10 player plus high first round pick. Is free agency an option and who would we target?

Interested in whether others think or if it is an issue at all?

You wonder if GWS will have too many, and what they'd want to give up to trade one. Day if i recall doesn't want to come home. Free agency is a possibility sure but you'd better start practising writing zeroes on the cheque, because everybody wants one.

 

[Bailey01]

Walker/Jenkins combo will be formidable

 

[Mckaye17]

Once Pods retires so he's not even in the question there's no doubt Walker and Jenkins will be the main two, then Lynch plays as that lead up. Then a swapping midfielder like Douglas, then the two main smalls being Betts and Cameron. We've got plenty to look forward to but Pods cannot stay simply because Sando won't make the tough decision to not give him games in my opinion.

 

[hey shorty]

In the possible event of gaining a draft pick early enough to grab Durdin, can we turn him into a forward

 

[AFC979810]

Great Thread!!!

Have been thinking about our forwards quite a lot and think Tippet leaving and Walker doing his knee is the #1 reason we regressed so far between 2012 and 2013/2014.

The perfect structure for some of the best sides* over the last few years has been to have a smart leading key forward (Walker, Hawkins,Franklin,Goodes,Cloke) and pair them with a big body can who can take a strong contested mark (Tippet, Podsiadly,Roughead,Sam Reid,Dawes). You can then throw in a small/medium sized leading forward (Porps, Stevie J, Gunstan, McGlynn, Didak) and top it off with a crumbing opportunist who sits at the feet of the big boy who can take the contested mark (Nutta, Varcoe, Rioli, Jetta, Krakouer).

So where does it leave us? Really think we have three of the above key pieces. Walker is obviously a fantastic choice for the smart leading key forward if he returns from his ACL at 2012 level. Lynch is a fanastic option for the small/medium leading forward and Betts is obviously a fantastic crumber.

What we are missing is that true quality contested marking forward. The one that teams are worried about leaving one on one. Pods would have been perfect for this a few years ago, but does look a little old in the tooth. Jenkins is looking at becoming a good forward, but his strengths are his pace, agility and marking on the lead - not sitting one on one inside 50. I don't mind Jenkins and think he has come a long way, but don't know whether he is a good fit alongside Tex as the two key forwards. Structurally I prefer a forward line containing Walker, McKernan, Lynch long term rather than the Walker, Pods, Jenkins,lynch we would have played this week if Lynch wasn't injured.

The best football we have played all year in my opinion is the first 3 quarters against Geelong. That was when we had a forward line of Johnston, Smack, Pods.

For me the perfect fit would be to get a Tom Boyd, Patton, Apeness type of player to sit alongside Tex,Betts,Lynch.






*These sides are based on the premiership sides of Collingwood 2010, Geelong 2011, Sydney 2012 (and us 2012) and Hawthorn 2013. I have not included Fremantle in this because I don't think Ross Lyon has a structure at Freo that can win a grand final (when your highest score in 4 non winning grand finals is 68 points - you can't be used as an example of how to run a forward line.

 

[Wallace]

Great analysis and I largely agree that we have some of the pieces that we need. Since losing Tippo though we have lost that key big bodied power player. Jenkins has showed promise and pods has bee a serviceable stop gap but it still looks to be our greatest need.

I like the idea of trading for a Patton / Boyd / durdin style player personally and would be willing to give up a prime midfielder to do it

 

[hugecannon]

Tomlinson from GWS would be the one I'd go after, can't see him fitting in with the other talls there, but every time I've seen him play he's been super impressive. What it'd take to prise him away I'm not sure.

 

[WheresGroomgone]

Walker/Jenkins combo will be formidable

I don't think formidable is the correct word -on paper it looks promising but until Jenkins strolls into the "room of mirrors" and realises he is one big mumma and starts to use his bulk in a crashing/bashing way and Tex gets 5/6 games under his belt we will be hopeful but not formidable.

 

[WheresGroomgone]

ps Port appear to be functioning quite nicely with one power forward and a skinny mop headed bloke that runs around like he's Rob De Castella.

 

[Mike Smyth]

Walker is a top tier power forward. Jenkins may turn out to be handy but he will never be a power forward.

 

[lunacy]

Great Thread!!!

Have been thinking about our forwards quite a lot and think Tippet leaving and Walker doing his knee is the #1 reason we regressed so far between 2012 and 2013/2014.

Structurally I prefer a forward line containing Walker, McKernan, Lynch long term rather than the Walker, Pods, Jenkins,lynch we would have played this week if Lynch wasn't injured.

The best football we have played all year in my opinion is the first 3 quarters against Geelong. That was when we had a forward line of Johnston, Smack, Pods.

Interestingly that was also our worst structure of the year against Port.

Johnston and Mckernen are too unreliable. Don't know what you're gonna get and they lack intensity/desire.

I'd rather delist LJ and pick up Brett Eddy on the cheap as forward depth.

 

[RePete]

The worry I have about Tex / Jenkins combo is that the are kinda both leading forwards. The beauty of Tex/Tippet was that you had an elite leading forward and a contested marking machine. You need someone that can crash packs and take the high leaps. Pods is doing this at the moment...

 

[Heafy83]

After all the bitching and moaning on here I think a few people are starting to realize what Tippett brought to the team and how under valued he was on here. He was def worth the $750k pa he was on in Adelaide. Guy was and still is a beast. Not sure I'd pay the $1mill Sydney are now for him. I would reserve that $1mill for only 3 power forwards in the game at the moment Walker, Cloke and Cameron.