Three talls - will it work?

[thrillhouse]

I can say it worked well yesterday, it freed up Mooney, even Hawkins was getting in and doing the 1%'ers, however Tomma's only goal was a gimme. Are the three talls options crowding the forward line too much or do you think it will be a usual tactic for Geelong?

Personally, I was happy with it, however I felt maybe Hawkins was a little restricted yesterday in some parts. Will it be a good option to have seniority in the forward line to show him the way when Moons and Pods eventually retire it will allow Tomma to be a champion tall forward, J.Brown-esque...perhaps..

Funny enough a few years ago we were complaining how we needed a tall forward to stand up, now we have at least three!

What are your thoughts ??

 

[PoidaCat]

Hawkins will be no better than Playfair, Kingsley, McCarthy etc.

It's all in his head.

Potential means absolutely **** all.

 

[Poetic Justice]

In a word, yes.

It was beautiful to note two things yesterday.

The first, the ability of the midfield players to have the confidence to kick it long into the forward fifty and allowing me to confidently think we had a chance of marking it and goal. Not sure if I have had such confidence in kicking it long/high inside 50 like that for a while now.

The second... JPod running up the ground, takes a mark on the wing. Normally in this situation, you think to yourself "Shit, Mooney/Hawkins has marked nowhere near the forward 50 so who is he going to kick to?". The simple fact is, JPod still had at least Hawkins and Mooney as options as well as the rest of Chapman/Byrnes/Johnno to look to. It's very exciting stuff!

The only worry now is for a man named Tom Hawkins... because rest assured Bomber Thompson would be an absolute nut case if he dropped Pods in favour of keeping Hawk.

 

[Just do something]

It def worked yesterday but going forward it will all depend on who we are playing the weather those sorts of factors.

 

[kellykellykelly]

There was a number of instances where Hawkins had his man burnt on the lead yet the kick to him was a scrubber.

He was unlucky not to have another couple of shots on goal yesterday.

 

[noclashjumpers]

There was a number of instances where Hawkins had his man burnt on the lead yet the kick to him was a scrubber.

He was unlucky not to have another couple of shots on goal yesterday.

This.

 

[catters078]

i think it can work..when your 3 smalls are as good as stevie j, byrnes and chapman/ablett its almost impossible to stop on the ground, so even if they dont take grabs the ball gets forced to 50-50 contests where i back our smalls to win 7 out of 10.

Also, these days in the AFL most backlines like to play a tallish backman on a small forward to exploit them (hargrave/maxwell/gilbert), they wont be able to do it now as each tall a backline has has to be used on one of our big men..i think it also makes the loose backman's accountability much more relied upon giving them less freedom..

i like it

 

[Nankervis brothers]

It worked very well yesterday, but could it hurt us against a side with quicker, re-bounding flankers/defenders? May find out against the Swans in a fortnight...

Still, just because 2 talls up forward has become the trend, does not mean 3 can't work.

 

[Reg Hickey]

Hawkins will be no better than Playfair, Kingsley, McCarthy etc.

It's all in his head.

Potential means absolutely **** all.

Complete rubbish.

I thought Hawkins was really good yesterday - he worked well up the ground much of the time which restricted his goalkicking, but he still kicked two (the one in the last quarter that was called touched was clearly over the line) and could have had more with a bit of luck. His marking on the lead across half forward and the middle of the ground was great, and as has already been pointed out he beat his opponent on the lead several more times only to get poor delivery.

I think he's taken another step in his development this year and is now looks more like becoming very, very good than he has in the whole time he has been at the club. He just needs to impose himself on games a little bit more, but that will come. Remember he's still only 21yo.

Yesterday was as dangerous as we've looked up forward for a long time - I say keep playing all three while we produce results like that.

 

[Pivo]

The tirangle offence. Could work a treat.

HF - Byrnes Mooney S Johnson
F - Podsiadly Chapman Hawkins

 

[Jumping Jack]

The 3 pronged attach worked well yesterday ..... but as I suspected with all the focus on the 3 blokes it was always going to let SJ off the leash as we saw yesterday.

How much more relaxed did Mooney look yesterday ?? Him and JPOD were running around hugging each other and sharing the love at every opportunity.

Hawkins is the interesting one - based on how he played yesterday I reckon he'll do more of the grunt work and play a lead up CHF type role. He still gets lost deep inside 50m ..... has to work on timing his leads and also timing his jump at the ball, but when he leads up the ground and into plenty of space he looks every bit the Jonathon Brown of early years (not saying he's a s good). Pods and Mooney will be the stay at home marking options then we've got SJ doing some tricks as well as a combo og Ablett Byrnes Chapman Duncan Bartel floating forward and creating headaches.

The 3 big blokes will spread the load and provide plenty of headaches but the mids and smalls will benefit from staying at their feet.

 

[Gazzajr is god]

Yes it work yesterday but the fact that their wasnt much pressure on the midfielders bringing the ball in helped alot.

More pressure of the guy bringing the ball in may see a slightly different story.

 

[pinion]

i'm not sure it can keep working, especially when ottens needs to rest in the forward line. steve johnson is also a lead-up player who plays tall-ish at times as well.

it worked well on the weekend, but i think teams will better organise themselves around it and try to expose us at ground level, although the three talls do move quite well for their size.

it puts tomahawk on notice though

 

[True Blue Cat]

I don't think it will. Try it against some of the top sides and i think we will be in trouble. It worked well yesterday but there wasn't really tough opposition.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Just out of interest, if a decision was made to go back to two tall's, who would be out, Hawkins or Pods?

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Just out of interest, if a decision was made to go back to two tall's, who would be out, Hawkins or Pods?

It would probably be Pods because Bomber has this thing where he can almost never bring himself to drop premiership players, so for the same reason I could see Duncan going out this week even though his form's been great. JPOD should stay in while he plays this well though.

On Hawk, I don't think he was poor yesterday. What he did he did well, he just needs to do more of it, to quote someone else on these boards. Don't get me wrong, if we're having this conversation again in round 10, and Pods has been playing well for 6 weeks and Tomahawk's form is poor, then maybe there's a case for dropping him, but right now it's far far too premature.

One thing I would say is if we play 3 talls, I think Pods should play more inside 50 (even though he clearly is athletic enough to play up the ground) and Hawk more up the ground. Pods is the better of the 2 in being a natural forward and knowing where to lead. Thus I think this is really important because for all the talk about the 3 talls, our SJ Champman Ablett etc are just as dangerous forwards, so if you can have a Pods always leading to the right spot, it gives them more certainty so they can get crumbs and goals.

I think the three talls worked well yesterday, mainly because they were all willing to work for each other, and 1 of the 3 being outside the 50 most of the time, and because they worked hard defensively. As Amos said on SEN today, Pods defensive pressure was really good (he intercepted that kick in that led to the Chapman shot on goal, among other good pieces of defensive work), as was Mooney's and Hawkin's as well. I think the three talls can work so long as they're all prepared to do that. That said, until we play against a quality defence, and one with genuine pace, then I don't think you can judge whether it's a liability or not. So the Sydney game in round 7, and then the St Kilda game, should help answer one way or the other.

Frankly, I'd keep it the same for the next week or two. Rookey looks a long way off touch, and Varcoe is still injured, so why make a change anyway. As to whether it's how we go longer term, time will tell.

 

[noclashjumpers]

Depends on the weather.

 

[meto]

Just out of interest, if a decision was made to go back to two tall's, who would be out, Hawkins or Pods?

Won't happen!

Stiff ched Saints September, 150+ pts, 95pt winning margin, says it all.
They all play a role, it lets the likes of SJ off the leash, while Mooney obviously relishes the support.
Tunnel vision of the 2 tall fwd line has harmed our scoring potential for too long.
Now Geelong has reinvented itself for the 2010 premiership campaign
Big Lonergan fitting in well down back could well be another boost.

 

[Poetic Justice]

I would gather we will stick with the 3 talls option for at least the next two weeks as we have two games one would think are relatively easy in Carlton then Richmond

 

[AM]

It's a week-by-week proposition. Bomber said in the [strike]Scum[/strike] Hun today:

"Clearly, today it worked. I thought they all had an impact. We looked really dangerous when we kicked in there"

"I think it will probably happen again next week and we'll see how long it lasts. I hope it does work for us because there wouldn't be too many sides with three tall defenders out there, so it may be an advantage"

 

[demondavey]

I can say it worked well yesterday, it freed up Mooney, even Hawkins was getting in and doing the 1%'ers, however Tomma's only goal was a gimme. Are the three talls options crowding the forward line too much or do you think it will be a usual tactic for Geelong?

Personally, I was happy with it, however I felt maybe Hawkins was a little restricted yesterday in some parts. Will it be a good option to have seniority in the forward line to show him the way when Moons and Pods eventually retire it will allow Tomma to be a champion tall forward, J.Brown-esque...perhaps..

Funny enough a few years ago we were complaining how we needed a tall forward to stand up, now we have at least three!

What are your thoughts ??

I reckon you guys are a MASSIVE chance this year with Pods in your side. Nothing has really changed apart from the fact you have a very competent forward player which will only take pressure off Mooney and force T.Hawk to work his arse off for his spot. If his any kind of player he will work his guts out to keep his spot in the 22. Plus you have Duncan and Hogan who both look very good. You guys will be fine, player management is your specialty and i think with a bit of luck (every premier needs it) you will get the job done in 2010

 

[Partridge]

There was a number of instances where Hawkins had his man burnt on the lead yet the kick to him was a scrubber.

He was unlucky not to have another couple of shots on goal yesterday.

I thought he had a quiet if not poor first half, but was very good in the second. Got a lot of the ball and used it well. Same argument from me as before with Hawkins - he just needs to do more. His disposal around the ground is pretty solid now, he's got to step up and start contributing for four quarters instead of one or two.

I wrote elsewhere, the most impressive thing to me was the cohesion between the three, they made space where it didn't always seem possible. Of course, having great midfield supply helped.

It goes against the modern touchy-feelly coaching style in footy now, but I like that it might put more pressure on Hawkins. He's been there a few years now, it's time for him to step up. I firmly believe he's got all the tools, he just needs more faith in his own abilities.

 

[meto]

My opoinion is its alredy prooved itself with us kicking 160pts, well 159 to be exact, not bad after we'd lost our ability to kick those tallies we always used to.
When a team regularly has between 450-500 possessions as Geelong has, with a well functioning forward setup, we should be able to post scores 140pts upwards.

Prior to last Saturday and throughout 09', we struggled to convert our % of time in poccession and our disposal count, Vs the oppositions, into goals.
Our return for effort and time with the ball was poor.

The re-shuffle with 3 tall forwards needs to be continued , obviously based on the great results, and improved scoring effect it already has had.

I felt last year Mooney was almost on his own as the only mature tall fwd, although I believe Tom Hawkins developed a lot in the second half of last year and is now starting to show the confidence of a mature senior.
Having Pods to assist Mooney and a more mature Hawkins could make us a genuine premiership threat 2010.

 

[Belisarius]

I reckon you guys are a MASSIVE chance this year with Pods in your side. Nothing has really changed apart from the fact you have a very competent forward player which will only take pressure off Mooney and force T.Hawk to work his arse off for his spot. If his any kind of player he will work his guts out to keep his spot in the 22. Plus you have Duncan and Hogan who both look very good. You guys will be fine, player management is your specialty and i think with a bit of luck (every premier needs it) you will get the job done in 2010

Although a biased Cat fan - I reckon you are on the money here.

I think with a more experienced and mature FF - Geelong will do very well this year. If Hawkins is prepared, like Mooney, to play further up the field and pinch hit in the ruck - JPod could prove to be a very, very handy pick up. If we add Varcoe back in the side - who is a good deliverer of the ball - and maybe Duncan - we have reinvented our weakest (but still strong) structure - the forward line.

With Taylor playing so well - I am confident the back line will be as strong as last year. With Hunt kicking out we are more likely to get out of the defensive zone more often. The mid-field has always been our best asset - so with a accurately kicking FF - who knows how to play that position - and demanding the ball - I believe we are a very serious contender this year for another flag.

Maybe a bit over confident - but I see the Saints as our biggest challenge - and I think Zac Dawson might have his hands full with the Jpod - and with Hawkins and Mooney moving around, in and out of the forward line, I see them having more issues keeping Geelong to a low enough score to beat us.

I think we are in excellent shape. Only time will tell - but right now I am feeling good about this year - even with a loss to the Dockers.

 

[Mooney_d'King]

I wrote elsewhere, the most impressive thing to me was the cohesion between the three, they made space where it didn't always seem possible. Of course, having great midfield supply helped.

That was definitely amongst the best elements of the day.

Personally, and I was and am still a bit sceptical, I think the three talls could work, but it will be hugely dependent on them holding the marks they go for. Unless they have a tandem crumber run around with them wherever they go to mop up the spills...