Walker - Have we found our forward?

[Artie Bucco]

I'd been hoping to see this for some time, and on Saturday we got it...Walker up forward for the whole game.

Played very similar to Deledio, pushing into the centre at the bounce and then working his way to the forward line. IMO we don't need him in the backline and he plays his best football up forward.

He has a natural flair that really suits playing forward, and provided not only a very strong target but lots of excitement as well.

Thoughts?

 

[Team Mo']

I'd been hoping to see this for some time, and on Saturday we got it...Walker up forward for the whole game.

Played very similar to Deledio, pushing into the centre at the bounce and then working his way to the forward line. IMO we don't need him in the backline and he plays his best football up forward.

He has a natural flair that really suits playing forward, and provided not only a very strong target but lots of excitement as well.

Thoughts?

He sort of reminds me of a Bret Burton in a good way.

But Faster and a better kick.


I hope he plays forward slash run through the midfield for the rest of the year...

 

[HBF]

Was thinking about this on the way out of the ground on Saturday. I wonder if Walker could play a similar role to that of Robert Murphy. Certainly has the height and speed to worry opposition clubs, and is good on the lead. Kicked 3 goals on the weekend, so his kicking is getting better.

 

[Team Mo']

Was thinking about this on the way out of the ground on Saturday. I wonder if Walker could play a similar role to that of Robert Murphy. Certainly has the height and speed to worry opposition clubs, and is good on the lead. Kicked 3 goals on the weekend, so his kicking is getting better.

Murphy with more flair leap!

 

[Artie Bucco]

Was thinking about this on the way out of the ground on Saturday. I wonder if Walker could play a similar role to that of Robert Murphy. Certainly has the height and speed to worry opposition clubs, and is good on the lead. Kicked 3 goals on the weekend, so his kicking is getting better.

I don't think his kicking for goal has ever been a problem, it's moving targets that worry him. IIRC he was kicking around 70-75% eff on the weekend so certainly his best game so far this year.

I think you're right about playing like Murphy, he has the speed to burn any of his opponents and should out mark anyone (did anyone notice when he outmarked the guy from behind on sat ). Not to mention he can crumb the ball as well.

If he can get some games and practise up forward and work in tandem with Fev we could have a very potent forward line.

Betts, Fev, Kreuz / Cloke
Fisher, Walker, mid rotation

 

[Kooley]

Super impressed with his game and in the end he could have kicked 4 or 5. I noticed he was inclined to take alot of contested grabs on his chest indicating he might not be 100% confident with the shoulder yet. He certainly adds some flair and excitement in our front half.

 

[BlueYoss]

I remember an article about him a few years back saying that he was a very attacking midfielder/onballer as a junior, would back himself from almost anywhere on the ground to win the ball, run it forward and score and that when Pagan started his 'defensive apprenticeship' it was because this was the area of his game that needed work.

I would like to think that he has now adequately addressed the defensive side of his game and we can look forward to him being released to play his natural attacking game now, and that we will continue to see him improve by the week.

His suprior speed, vertical leap and penchant for the freaky will make him a very dangeours player in our forward line.

 

[one_twelve112]

I would model his game on Russell Robertson.

 

[Quazza]

He sort of reminds me of a Bret Burton in a good way.

But Faster and a better kick.

lmao Andrew Walker a better kick than Brett Burton?

surely you jest good sir

 

[Madblue]

Yes he played well but i counted 3 to 4 times when he was way to selfish and shot for goal rather than dishing it off to an open team mate !

 

[parrot]

Really like the idea of Walker playing half-forward. Massive leap, blistering speed, and enjoys doing the spectacular. He'll play there for the rest of the season I suspect. Walker and Russell on the HF flanks with occasional runs in the middle.

 

[Just Kreuzing]

I would model his game on Russell Robertson.

Thinking more of Daniel Motlop type, as we need more silky crumbers who can mark also as we seem to be good crumbing opportunities down there when Kreuzer plays forward and Wiggins and Russell keep giving ferocious contests.

 

[Team Mo']

Thinking more of Daniel Motlop type, as we need more silky crumbers who can mark also as we seem to be good crumbing opportunities down there when Kreuzer plays forward and Wiggins and Russell keep giving ferocious contests.

Nah i think he's closer to a Robertson and Burton for mine. He seems to have that energy that they have and as does Motlop but Motlop isn't such a high flyer.

Would be great if Walks could find a position and stick to it....

 

[Just Kreuzing]

Nah i think he's closer to a Robertson and Burton for mine. He seems to have that energy that they have and as does Motlop but Motlop isn't such a high flyer.

Would be great if Walks could find a position and stick to it....

He is a bit slipperier then both Burton and Robertson and is far better below his knees then them 2 also, We need more guys at ground level then pack jumping forwards as the weekend showed we had too many up and not enough down, If i was Walker i would be very selective when he pack jumps and would leave the high leaping to just 1 on 1 contests or 3rd man up scenario's considering our needs at ground level and his shoulders.

 

[sosos]

Nah i think he's closer to a Robertson and Burton for mine. He seems to have that energy that they have and as does Motlop but Motlop isn't such a high flyer.

Would be great if Walks could find a position and stick to it....

Motlop has taken some very good speccies.

 

[Team Mo']

Motlop has taken some very good speccies.

Yeh i thought so but he also looks to be more "mellow" then Walker. Walker is more of a live wire where Motlop seems to make it look too easy.

 

[gbatman]

Walker was always a forward/midfielder, not to mention a gun player. We wont see the best of him this year, but he will still be damn good.

 

[butchyboy]

Two words for this thread on who he should model himself on

Ryan O'Keefe

C Ya

 

[carltonrules1234]

yes he is a gun up forward and can take a strong mark and is quick shoots on goal well

 

[BlueSnake]

Yep, I was very happy to see Walker down there in the Forward line and even happier with the results

He has all the attributes and funnily enough appears to be a pretty good shot on goal (I don't think this was ever a problem though).

 

[Jezza U Beauty]

I wanted to see him forward this season, if for nothing other than the fact that he is a very good kick for goal. He's a class player to boot.

At some stage he WILL take mark of the year too.

 

[Sharks On A Plane]

The best thing about Walker is that he is equally adept on the ground as in the air.

Fisher = very strong in the air; appallingly bad on the ground (often fumbling, losing his feet, ponderously slow etc)

Betts = good on the ground; very good overhead (but too short to provide a contest or take any meaningful pack marks inside 50).

Walker is tough at the footy, quick, has strong hands and has a touch of flair.

Just the player we need inside 50 to provide a truly dangerous foil for Fevola.

The opposition will have to put serious time into Walker, so instead of a largely useless dummy option that other teams largely ignore in their quest to double-team Fev (in the mould of a still-developing Hartlett or Edwards), the very presence of Walker in itself will assist our forward line.

Exciting times ahead...

 

[Dustyjackman]

Could this be the modern day Peter "The Buzz" Bosustow.

'bout the same height & weight. Loves a goal. Loves to fly. Good on the ground and fights like a terrier to keep it in the forward fifty.

Exciting times ahead.

 

[BlueSnake]

And last week Collingcrap supporters were saying Walker is talentless and not worth anything...

But they would say that wouldn't they...

He can only improve. Pumped for the future

 

[FieryNayta]

I'm very happy to have Walker up forward, oposed to down back.

In the game these days you cant afford to turn over kicks coming out of the backline. Walker is known to shank more than the odd kick, and this leads to turnovers in the back half.

Having him up forward lets us use his natural talent and instinct, while reducing this possibility in the backline. Now that we have Bower and Waite, even Armfield running out of defence, Walks is no longer needed down there.