Walker's Best Position

[Da Shag On Fire]

Over the past two seasons, Walker has been used in a number of positions. Given Pagan will try and settle him this year into one slot, where would you like to see him play?

 

[HBF]

Has to be the wing IMO. He must be accountable for an opponent and it's the position that will best utilise his natural flair.

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

is there attacking/defensive midfielder positions in AFL ??

Im only familiar with the soccer positions by this name.

if so, can someone explain them to me.

 

[Funkalicous]

I have no objections to his newfound position on a half back flank. The way I see it, he has the height and strength to play as a 3rd tall. Further more, he has the speed and skill to play as a midfielder. God knows we need help in both areas.

Win/Win

I think he's gonna be a great acquisition this season.

 

[Silvagnis]

Half-back flank.

Nothing wrong with him playing there and we all know how he can hold players such as Aker and Mcleod to an average game. May help his development if he can learn where to run by watching the play unfold before eventually pushing up into the midfield.

Just like Koutoufides.

 

[mojo31]

Wing.

In open spaces where he can leap at the ball in a marking contest and use his pace and agility to run and carry the ball.
Not a natural goal kicker yet.

Russell on the HBF.
Walker on the wing is how I would do it.

 

[SurreyBlue]

Natural Winger for me.

 

[ECHUCABOY]

Natural Winger for me.

Pagan will definetly start him on the hbf, up to him to see if he stays there.

 

[av76]

I think he would be good on the wing. But guys like Simpson, Houlihan and Lappin are BETTER suited to the wing position IMO. They have better delivery skills into the forward line. Walker has the athleticism to shut down athletic forwards and run it out of defence, either passing it to the more skill wingers or just bombing it long (although less of that would be nice this year).

 

[Blue70]

Natural Winger for me.

I'd settle him down at HB for the majority of 2006 with stints on the ball. We need him to gain some real confidence and be the link man running from the backline, especially with the new kick in rule he will be able to use his pace to be an option from the kick out. This means he will get more of the footy and will be able to run the lines....... This all adds up to better development.

 

[bibi01]

HBF will be his best position for 2006

walker seems to get a bit lost on the wing and he drifts in and out of the game too much

HBF will get him settled, allow him to attack but also benefit the defensive side of his game which he will need down the track when he moves into the midfield

walker showed he is capable of doing a tagging role, he can do this at HBF

he has pace and height so if a very versatile option and can be very valuable across HB

teague- strong and courageous but not overally quick
carazzo- quick but lacking marking power
houlihan- classy but lacking defensive/shut down mentality
sporn- height and pace but very injury prone

how would be better suited to a defensive role- houlihan or walker?

i say walker, this also free's up houlihan to use his creativity getting the ball into the 50 and his smarts around the goals.

 

[bibi01]

is there attacking/defensive midfielder positions in AFL ??

Im only familiar with the soccer positions by this name.

if so, can someone explain them to me.

defensive = tagger = s baker
attacking = anyone tagged by s baker

 

[HBF]

I'd be mindful that if Pagan and co started Walker on the HBF, opposition sides would probably drag him into the back pocket, where he is very uncomfortable playing, as seen when he played on Cooney last year.

IMO, Wing is his best position. He had a learning year last year and he should be almost ready this year. The Wing allows him to showcase all of his talents whilst it also means that he has to play accountable footy as well.

 

[murphster]

I think alternating him and Russell between HB and Midfield for now and maybe give them each a wing in the future say in two or three years when they get more comfortable with the game and its pace.

 

[Pivot]

He will play HBF, wing and have stints in the midfield. Wouldn't want to tie him down to one set position. A back flank and wing look good at this stage.

 

[HBF]

He will play HBF, wing and have stints in the midfield. Wouldn't want to tie him down to one set position. A back flank and wing look good at this stage.

Not sure about that Pivot. I think he's the type of player that needs to settle into a position. IMO, that position should be the wing.

 

[mojo31]

I'd be mindful that if Pagan and co started Walker on the HBF, opposition sides would probably drag him into the back pocket, where he is very uncomfortable playing, as seen when he played on Cooney last year.

IMO, Wing is his best position. He had a learning year last year and he should be almost ready this year. The Wing allows him to showcase all of his talents whilst it also means that he has to play accountable footy as well.

I think that is exactly what clubs will do to him if he plays back. Does not seem suited to it and would prefer he roams all over the ground from the wing. Uses his size and leap on likely smaller opponents and open spaces to run and carry the ball.

 

[Pivot]

Not sure about that Pivot. I think he's the type of player that needs to settle into a position. IMO, that position should be the wing.

Good call but he won't play on the wing all the time. The wing may suit him the best but I would like to think he can play back flank and ruck-rover. He will get his chance to play all those positions this year, not just one. Players need to be flexible in the modern game. Maybe he could play a similar role to Adam McPhee from Essendon?

 

[HBF]

Good call but he won't play on the wing all the time. The wing may suit him the best but I would like to think he can play back flank and ruck-rover. He will get his chance to play all those positions this year, not just one. Players need to be flexible in the modern game. Maybe he could play a similar role to Adam McPhee from Essendon?

Players do need to be flexible, that is correct. I'm just not sure he has the confidence or the ability (yet) to play in so many positions.

 

[Pivot]

Players do need to be flexible, that is correct. I'm just not sure he has the confidence or the ability (yet) to play in so many positions.

The ability is there, no question. He is older now, fitter and bigger - I think he will gain much confidence from that and also from his form thus far in the pre-season.

His confidence was shot playing all over the ground last year, tagging most of the time and being played in too many positions.

This year, he should be more settled but will still play in a few positions - maybe across half-back and wing rather than being thrown all over the place like last year where he played deep in the forward 50, deep in the back 50, ruck-rover, wing, bench, HB, HF, rover, and everywhere else, also in a terrible side!

He just couldn't settle. Playing as say a half-back and winger isn't unsettling to a player, being thrown into half a dozen different positions in one game can be.

 

[Bee Vee]

I'd play Walker as a half back/sweeper.
Let him do the drive by role Campo played.

Walker has concentrated on the defensive side of his game but its time to let him becoming offensive. He needs to start finding the "cheap/easy" possessions to round out his game.

Start him at half back and let him run past and carry the ball through the lines.

 

[melbdocker]

even though a dockers fan i have a soft spot for carlton and andrew walker both coming from up north and watching a fair bit him play as a kid a yr younger than he i think what pagan did last yr as a run with player was perfect for him can keep wit most of the gun midfielders remember anthony stevens spent 3 yrs doin the same thing early in his career when the kangaroos were in the same posi as carlton low on the ladder (and cash flow probs) and all of a sudden come 96 he was a good midfielder in a well balanced side that won 2 prems.
all in all would love to see u finish 2nd this season behiend freo of course

 

[Stig O'Hara]

Dunno,
but reputation alone,
will not secure him a spot.

Someone must have seen how good he was previously.

 

[melbdocker]

yeah i did see him at underage level knew how to get the ball and very silky not he hardest bloke around but could take a bump

 

[Ysaye]

Reckon Wing is the best place for him.

Looks the sort of young player that would have benefited from having a strong midfield around him, but that's life. Hope he really shines this season.