Thoughts about Harry going forward?

[HappyRed]

I know it will probably never happen, but i don't see why not.. and i'm sure someone will tell me..

Why not have, Harry O'brien move into the Forward? To fill Dawes spot, "IF" he moves on. I don't have a great deal of love for Dawes, Granted. However.. I think that O'Brien would benefit from a change and would just be awesome up their in the forward 50..

A video of what he can do goalkicking wise."
http://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/tabid/5586/default.aspx?newsid=148738

 

[RuFiO]

Not sure Harry no-like-high-ball O'brien would go well with us bombing it in the forward line.

 

[HappyRed]

Not sure Harry no-like-high-ball O'brien would go well with us bombing it in the forward line.

It's definetly something you don't learn over night, but if we can take L.Davis and turn him into a defender. Surely we can take a larger unti like Harry-O and turn him into a running half foward.

And Harry does love to Run!

 

[HappyRed]

haha.. love the gif. Wicksy.

Look, i would rather if someone could explain why it's a bad idea? I'm not picking a fight just thinking out loud.

 

[SpongePie]

I was thinking this as well. Reckon it would be interesting to see in the NAB cup or something.

 

[Temploar]

It's a bad idea because.

1. Harry hates the high ball, forwards need to get a lot of high ball.
2. Harry is only 188cm, nowhere near a key forward size.
3. We need a marking key forward
4. Harry is our best rebounding defender.
5. There is no lines for Harry to break in the forward line.

Move along please.

 

[Greening Magic]

I got excited when I watched the highlights package....... until I realised Harry wasn't the bloke wearing 32.

HappyRed you started by asking if he could play Dawes role as a key forward and then downgraded him to a running half forward in ur follow up post. Second thoughts?

 

[vjknight]

in the player summary thread from 2-3 weeks ago, i suggested harry needs to reinvent himself, cos effectively he has been found out. still capable of great games at half back, but maybe a role similar in some ways to goldsack might be an option.

 

[Spuddd]

The only thing I wouldn't call you crazy for, when it comes to O'Brien would be delistment

 

[biggiemediums]

I don't think it's crazy at all. I hate that harry is a defender. I get scared when the ball is in the air near him. I would actually love Harry on the wing. Think about the run he provides and he doesn't have to be a liability!

 

[Mark_K]

So we can watch him take a mark in the 50, play on then get tackled?

 

[Plogs]

Reid FF, Trav CHF. Bring it.

 

[forwardflanker]

haha.. love the gif. Wicksy.

Look, i would rather if someone could explain why it's a bad idea? I'm not picking a fight just thinking out loud.

He isn't mobile enough and he lacks the craft you need to be an effective forward. He's a one direction player in that he's at his best when he is running off half back in straight lines. To be a good forward at his height you have to be able to play both directions,he isn't mobile enough to do this. It's also the reason why he gets exposed defensively on good small forwards - if the ball gets into their forward line quick we're in trouble because H just can't go with them. I think he is pretty overrated tbh, I'd say that he's nothing more than a good average player. Not a great defender, can only play halfback and only real value to us is on the rebound.

 

[Dundalis]

It's a bad idea because.

1. Harry hates the high ball, forwards need to get a lot of high ball.
2. Harry is only 188cm, nowhere near a key forward size.
3. We need a marking key forward
4. Harry is our best rebounding defender.
5. There is no lines for Harry to break in the forward line.

Move along please.

I'm not necessarily advocating O'Brien play forward, but the reasons given above aren't all that good.

On 1, a high ball for a forward is far different to a high ball for a defender. There is significant pressure when defending a high ball, because an error likely equals a goal. Harry gets nervous under a high ball mainly due to this IMO. I doubt this issue exists for him in the forward line, at least to the extent it does in defence. On 2, he's not a key defender in the backline, so he obviously wouldn't be a key forward in the forward line. On 3, With Lynch and Paine, I don't think we necessarily need a marking key forward at all. On 4, no he's not. That is Heath Shaw, and it's not even close. 5 is true, but it depends where the need is. If we find another good running defender and we need to plug a hole up forward, I certainly wouldn't hesitate to play Harry up forward in a pinch.

I don't think it's the worst idea I've heard, but there probably isn't a real need for it at this stage. One thing we do lack though is a crumbing forward, with Krakouer pretty much being our only really good one. Who knows what Harry's crumbing instincts are like, but obviously getting the ball at ground level is one of his strengths in defence. I actually think Harry could at least do as good a job of it as Goldsack has. There are certain instincts you need to play forward though, and it's impossible to tell if Harry has them unless you see him played there.

He isn't mobile enough and he lacks the craft you need to be an effective forward. He's a one direction player in that he's at his best when he is running off half back in straight lines. To be a good forward at his height you have to be able to play both directions,he isn't mobile enough to do this. It's also the reason why he gets exposed defensively on good small forwards - if the ball gets into their forward line quick we're in trouble because H just can't go with them. I think he is pretty overrated tbh, I'd say that he's nothing more than a good average player. Not a great defender, can only play halfback and only real value to us is on the rebound.

This is IMO a good reason for him not to play as a defender. I think he should be trialled in others positions. The wing for example. You never know unless you see them there.

 

[BEEG]

We struggle with run from defense now imagine if he moved forward it would be like playing statues

 

[Go_Brad_Dick]

Ive been saying this for years.
I think he would be good for a couple of goals a game in the forward line.
He's probably kick a bag on the odd occasion too.

 

[MeisterBot]

Hey, Dawesy's left us
And this is crazy
But we need a forward
So Harry, maybe?

(I've argued for one of Shaw/O'Brien/Goldsack to be put on the wing for a while, with Dawes leaving though, Goldsack is a required player in the forward 50. Besides, why has no one mentioned Lynch yet? If we're looking for replacements for Dawes, what about the guy who is supposedly forcing him out by replacing him?)

 

[forwardflanker]

I'm not necessarily advocating O'Brien play forward, but the reasons given above aren't all that good.

On 1, a high ball for a forward is far different to a high ball for a defender. There is significant pressure when defending a high ball, because an error likely equals a goal. Harry gets nervous under a high ball mainly due to this IMO. I doubt this issue exists for him in the forward line, at least to the extent it does in defence. On 2, he's not a key defender in the backline, so he obviously wouldn't be a key forward in the forward line. On 3, With Lynch and Paine, I don't think we necessarily need a marking key forward at all. On 4, no he's not. That is Heath Shaw, and it's not even close. 5 is true, but it depends where the need is. If we find another good running defender and we need to plug a hole up forward, I certainly wouldn't hesitate to play Harry up forward in a pinch.

I don't think it's the worst idea I've heard, but there probably isn't a real need for it at this stage. One thing we do lack though is a crumbing forward, with Krakouer pretty much being our only really good one. Who knows what Harry's crumbing instincts are like, but obviously getting the ball at ground level is one of his strengths in defence. I actually think Harry could at least do as good a job of it as Goldsack has. There are certain instincts you need to play forward though, and it's impossible to tell if Harry has them unless you see him played there.


This is IMO a good reason for him not to play as a defender. I think he should be trialled in others positions. The wing for example. You never know unless you see them there.

I doubt he would be good enough to play in our midfield. He;s competing with Thomas, Pendlebury, Ball, Swan, Ball, Sidebottom, Shaw, Beams, Blaire, Fasola, Seedsman and perhaps a FA player like Clinton Young. The only guys he could replace from that group are Blaire and Seedsman. Also we put O'Brien in the middle who replaces him in defence? Perhaps Goldsack.

The fact that O'brien's position as a defender is safe highlights a reasonable sized weakness in our list atm.

 

[texan]

Howdy,
Haytch is a backmen only - never been a utility type, unlike goldy. Not to many defenders in history have changed there fortunes by being sent forward. Even a gun like Tazza looked totally at sea this year and he spent most of his career there.

Forwards are born not bred, they are freaks, with a splash of arrogance and generally selfish it's all about me types. Harry cares to much about everyone else to really live amongst the footy gods up forward. He struggles on a wing to find the pill, he'd be no chance any further up the ground. His little bag of tricks was split in 2011 and he has only just started to get back his mojo.

We will see the BRAZILIAN BOMBER balk and bang it home outside fiddy once again - still have visions of the last Qrtr 2010 goal. Felt so good, I've had enough of the 2nds and 3rds. Want to climb the mountain again - Bring on 2013.

 

[SwanBet]

tbh i thought the same thing for years, but realised that his main strengths in football are his running ability and take the game on, as well as his ability to weave through traffic. Marking, kicking and footy smarts are not his strengths when on the field, which is what a forward requires to be successful.

I don't see why we couldn't try it out in the NAB, as i feel one of Toovey, Shaw and O'brien must get out of the backline. Why not try him there? He is pretty good one on one. who knows.

 

[Hardas]

Well, I certainly hope that Bucks and co are still open to playing players in new positions. They threw a few around this year with mixed results - Goldy forward ; Shawy outside the backline for me; Wellers forward for tackling pressure etc ; and Reidy forward [jury still out but so good at CHB] off the top of my tired head.
I've also argued for Tooves as a more permanent 'run-with' player for a long time and some have suggested Maxy as a tagger to a name a couple of others.
The Caroline Wilson article in today's Age suggests no stone will be left unturned, so Harry as a forward?
Hell no!!!! Are you crazy????
But seriously, try him on a wing [maybe not the interchange side, if we want to keep his Frees Against numbers down!]. I don't think he has the tricks for the forward line, but as others have said, it probably can't hurt to find out in the pre-season, although I think we'd just be restricting his strengths.

 

[HappyRed]

Thanks dude, i appreciate a good answer without people attempting to pick a fight lol

He isn't mobile enough and he lacks the craft you need to be an effective forward. He's a one direction player in that he's at his best when he is running off half back in straight lines. To be a good forward at his height you have to be able to play both directions,he isn't mobile enough to do this. It's also the reason why he gets exposed defensively on good small forwards - if the ball gets into their forward line quick we're in trouble because H just can't go with them. I think he is pretty overrated tbh, I'd say that he's nothing more than a good average player. Not a great defender, can only play halfback and only real value to us is on the rebound.

 

[the distributer]

I know it will probably never happen, but i don't see why not.. and i'm sure someone will tell me..

Why not have, Harry O'brien move into the Forward? To fill Dawes spot, "IF" he moves on. I don't have a great deal of love for Dawes, Granted. However.. I think that O'Brien would benefit from a change and would just be awesome up their in the forward 50..

A video of what he can do goalkicking wise."
http://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/tabid/5586/default.aspx?newsid=148738

IMO Harry's a reactive player, like all good backmen, trust me when i say the bar is raised considerably when you need to become a proactive player.

 

[pauly_moss]

I like it, I would play him as a defensive forward (even though I really hate that role as forwards are there to kick goals not defend). Harry is at his best when he backs himself and has a crack. Can't hurt to have a look, at worst he can always go back to the backline. For what its worth there have been some pretty good results from defenders going forward

Tyson Goldsack
Harry Taylor
Merritt
Jordan Lewis (wasn't he a backmen who kicked 5 on us?)
Sam Gilbert

Not everyone succeeds but some do

 

[well left]

Think I agree with others in that he seems better coming out of the back half and can read the game better from there.

Still the NAB Cup is for trialling these things so I am not against throwing him forward or, if he has the tank for it, as a midfield negator.

I think we need to improve our kicking and creativity in the back half and for me that means we probably can't play Harry, Toovey and Maxwell all in the back 6. I'm for one of them being experimented with as a midfield tagger to see if they can be that lockdown player we need.