We got ourselves a FORWARD LINE

[RandB]

This is a good read for anyone who hasn't yet.

Mark Neeld is sure he can mend a down Melbourne club

Neeldy talks about the players we've brought in and the players we've let go. I like what he said about Rodan and how we'll go about developing JV.

Also the perspective on the type of players we need and Neeldy's philosophy on list management.

Most of all I like this:

"The role we want Dawesy to play is the stay-at-home forward. I was involved with Dawesy at Collingwood when he played that role really well."

"Mitch (Clark) has got great agility and between he and Cam Pederson they will share the second ruck role. It allows Mitch to get on his bike a bit more and we're keen for that"

The forwardline and system we've been crying out for since 2007.

In previous years on this board there were some critics of anyone on this board who mentioned a "stay at home forward" - as that was apparently old hat. Well guess what, we're going back to basics and it feels great.

Sharing the 2nd ruck role between Clark and Pedo is perfect, they are both adept at playing forward and both will be more than serviceable in ruck spells. I have nothing against Martin but it is clear (with this system in mind) why we let him go, he just isn't damaging enough up forward.

At a time when we're getting battered from pillar to post it is so refreshing to read about a guy who just wants to coach (always wanted to coach). A guy who will not compromise on the players we need to get the job done, will do what is required to get those players, knows what he is doing and most importantly is at our club.

In Neeld we trust.

 

[d33my]

It will be nice to have a little bit more structure up forward, and also clubs will hopefully be forced to put good defenders on Clark and Dawes, which frees up others (potentially Rodan) to crumb.

Of course, this is all pretty typical pre-season talk from the coach, keeping the supporters at bay etc. I'll reserve final judgement till next year.

However, the thing that I like about Neeld's style is that he is making every single one of our players accountable, under DB it seemed he was so focused on development that he forgot about making players play a role (as long as they were 'competitive'). As RandB mentioned, this has been obvious from the sort of players we let go (Martin, Petterd etc).

 

[CowboyFromHell]

Terrific article, and nice to pick up the paper and read one that isn't sinking the boots into the club.

As d33my mentioned above it is all pre-season talk and we know how that can go but it's clear that Neeld is taking the club in a direction that it hasn't gone in for some time. Players know their roles, know what is expected of them and it won't be compromised. Our forward line now looks very potent and we won't just be reliant on Clark to kick the goals. Both Dawes and Pedersen are more than capable and guys like Howe, Byrnes, Sylvia, Rodan, Blease and others can snag a goal or two also.

If Viney can make a good impact and Pick 4, which will hopefully be a midfielder, can have an impact also then the side is really starting to take some shape.

 

[tasmanlvr]

Wonderful read and good on Mark Stevens for offering something different instead of Caro's 'Melbourne's tanking. LMAO'-fest.

I think playing Clark more often in the ruck this season hints at what Neeld plans to do with Clark when Hogan comes in, and I don't mind that.

 

[PureFooty]

Terrific article, and nice to pick up the paper and read one that isn't sinking the boots into the club.

As d33my mentioned above it is all pre-season talk and we know how that can go but it's clear that Neeld is taking the club in a direction that it hasn't gone in for some time. Players know their roles, know what is expected of them and it won't be compromised. Our forward line now looks very potent and we won't just be reliant on Clark to kick the goals. Both Dawes and Pedersen are more than capable and guys like Howe, Byrnes, Sylvia, Rodan, Blease and others can snag a goal or two also.

If Viney can make a good impact and Pick 4, which will hopefully be a midfielder, can have an impact also then the side is really starting to take some shape.

The only thing stopping Viney and 'Pick 4' having an impact, is the Andrew Demetriou and Co. This makes me uneasy.

 

[CowboyFromHell]

The only thing stopping Viney and 'Pick 4' having an impact, is the Andrew Demetriou and Co. This makes me uneasy.

Won't happen. Way too much water to go under the bridge for them to take either away this year, although I'm 99% sure that as Viney is already on the list they can't do anything about it. It's like saying "you tanked, give Clark back to Brisbane and we'll take the pick you traded." Doesn't work like that.

 

[PureFooty]

Won't happen. Way too much water to go under the bridge for them to take either away this year, although I'm 99% sure that as Viney is already on the list they can't do anything about it. It's like saying "you tanked, give Clark back to Brisbane and we'll take the pick you traded." Doesn't work like that.

i don't believe we will lose draft picks this year. I think Melbourne have a very good case to argue. Basically they can say your making these allegations based on a kick after the siren. But Andrew Demetriou's incomptence still worries me.

 

[Vardy]

Byrnes, Dawes, Pederson
Blease, Clark, Howe

Looks alright. Got a good mix of all types of players.

 

[Viney4PM]

Very Very Exciting! hope Pedo, Dawes and Clarko can kick 100+ goals together!

our climb up the ladder begins ( barring tanking situation ) fingers cross!

 

[Franky_024]

an article in the sun about teams best 22's; our forwardline also looked so much more promising than the past 5 years or from what I can remember.

Good mix of talls and smalls and well as a burst player like Blease and a high flyer in Howe. If our midfield gets it down there i'm confident they will have the skills to get the job done and if not the skills to keep it down there longer than last year

 

[Bartram_Class]

FF: --------, Dawes, Pedersen
HF: Byrnes, Clark, Howe

Still think we're missing a bona-fide crumber, Brynes is more of your nimble flanker who pops up with a goal or two. With Blease, I think his run is far more damaging when used out of HB/on a wing than if he's sent forward.

Wonder if we're looking at Matt Campbell? Personal issues aside, he'd fit nicely into that front 6.

 

[Captain Jack]

FF: --------, Dawes, Pedersen
HF: Byrnes, Clark, Howe

Still think we're missing a bona-fide crumber, Brynes is more of your nimble flanker who pops up with a goal or two. With Blease, I think his run is far more damaging when used out of HB/on a wing than if he's sent forward.

Wonder if we're looking at Matt Campbell? Personal issues aside, he'd fit nicely into that front 6.

I see what you mean, but I reckon we're better off overall with a few of those Byrnes/Blease types instead of a genuine crumber. There aren't many of those players left in the game, because they really have to be the best to make it as a small forward. Milne is one, and I can't think of another off the top of my head. All the other 'small forwards' such as Rioli, Jetta, Ballantyne, Nahas etc have the ability to run through the midfield when needed.
So unless we can find a Milne type, I'm fine with those forward/midfield goal kickers.

 

[d33my]

I see what you mean, but I reckon we're better off overall with a few of those Byrnes/Blease types instead of a genuine crumber. There aren't many of those players left in the game, because they really have to be the best to make it as a small forward. Milne is one, and I can't think of another off the top of my head. All the other 'small forwards' such as Rioli, Jetta, Ballantyne, Nahas etc have the ability to run through the midfield when needed.
So unless we can find a Milne type, I'm fine with those forward/midfield goal kickers.

Agree. Plus knowing Neeld's style, even if we were to pick up a genuine crumber from somewhere, Neeld would want him to be able to play other roles too. Versatility is good.

 

[hoddo]

FF: --------, Dawes, Pedersen
HF: Byrnes, Clark, Howe

Still think we're missing a bona-fide crumber, Brynes is more of your nimble flanker who pops up with a goal or two. With Blease, I think his run is far more damaging when used out of HB/on a wing than if he's sent forward.

Wonder if we're looking at Matt Campbell? Personal issues aside, he'd fit nicely into that front 6.

Surely that's Davey's position if he's still going to be in the team at all. Years of failing to break tags have shown he can't play in the midfield effectively so if he still has the fitness to chase defenders down and keep the ball in the forward 50 then the forward pocket is the obvious place for him. If he can't do that his days in the seniors may be at an end.

 

[Viney]

What we need is goal input from our mids on top of the key forwards

 

[Howezzat]

What we need is goal input from our mids on top of the key forwards

This is actually where I think we are quite handy. We have Jones (16), Blease (19), Howe (19) and Sylvia (15) who are all capable of kicking goals. Hopefully the addition of Dawes and Pedersen doesn't effect how many goals they kick in 2013.

 

[Viney]

This is actually where I think we are quite handy. We have Jones (16), Blease (19), Howe (19) and Sylvia (15) who are all capable of kicking goals. Hopefully the addition of Dawes and Pedersen doesn't effect how many goals they kick in 2013.

Yeah I realise out mids are all capable of kicking goals but I think we need a couple of mids capable of kicking 30 odd a year (as most strong teams have these days)

 

[Howezzat]

Yeah I realise out mids are all capable of kicking goals but I think we need a couple of mids capable of kicking 30 odd a year (as most strong teams have these days)

That's true but remember that Sylvia and Blease didn't play the whole season, so they could have had a few more. Also, as our midfield gets stronger, these guys will have more of an opportunity to get forward and hit the scoreboard. I think that these guys are capable of kicking a fair amount of goals, maybe not 30 each but thereabouts.

 

[autocol]

I think we might have a dominant key forward in... Tom McDonald! Think about it... Lots of forwards start in the back line at the beginning of their careers. One thing a few people have said recently is "shame Tom won't play against Nick Reiwoldt many times, he's one of the few players with a tank big enough to go with him". That sort of comment got me thinking, maybe in a few years Tom will BE Reiwoldt, burning defenders off with his running ability.

You never know, our "great hope" for the forward line has turned out to be a defender. Maybe our "great hope" (apologies to Chip Frawley) of the back line will end up an attacker.

 

[tasmanlvr]

Yeah I realise out mids are all capable of kicking goals but I think we need a couple of mids capable of kicking 30 odd a year (as most strong teams have these days)

Wines is a goalkicking midfielder. Provided we keep pick four which we should he'll kick goals. Blease will continue kicking goals, Sylvia's seriously impressed Neeld since he came back into the lineup and I think he will have his best season in 2013 (drools at the prospect).

 

[Andy_Mac]

I think we might have a dominant key forward in... Tom McDonald! Think about it... Lots of forwards start in the back line at the beginning of their careers. One thing a few people have said recently is "shame Tom won't play against Nick Reiwoldt many times, he's one of the few players with a tank big enough to go with him". That sort of comment got me thinking, maybe in a few years Tom will BE Reiwoldt, burning defenders off with his running ability.

You never know, our "great hope" for the forward line has turned out to be a defender. Maybe our "great hope" (apologies to Chip Frawley) of the back line will end up an attacker.

Whilst Tom played as a KPF/Ruck as a junior, i think the club will be banking on J Hogan to be our next big forward.

 

[Big_Ed]

The first half of the season we pretty much only kicked goals through Furious Mitch and Jones. The second half of the season our midfielders started to figure their shizzle out and goals were the result. Unfortunately we no longer had a forward line (Mitch).

Pretty excited about next year, with the midfield continuing to improve and forwards aplenty, we should kick a lot more sausage rolls.

PLUS MAYBE A CRUMBING FORWARD FOR THE FIRST TIME IN LIKE A MILLION YEARS OMFG

 

[autocol]

Whilst Tom played as a KPF/Ruck as a junior, i think the club will be banking on J Hogan to be our next big forward.

Something something Jack Watts.

It's just an idea...

 

[LeverPuller]

PLUS MAYBE A CRUMBING FORWARD FOR THE FIRST TIME IN LIKE A MILLION YEARS OMFG

This would be nice. Just for the threat when the pill is on the deck.