What do we need? - Small Crumbers

[indieswan96]

As most of you know we are challenging for a decent finals run this year and well looking forward I was wondering what are our weaknesses. One that came to mind was our lack of a crumbing forward since Schneider and Amon left the club so who can fill this void? Should we trade to get one maybe Barlow for Garlett of Carlton?? Should we draft one in or can one of our players play that role?
Another weakness we probably need one more A - Grade midfielder I would strongly suggest with whatever pick in the first round of the draft we get, we use it to get a midfielder ala Trengove or Cotchin (probably won't get that kind of quality but who knows) Someone with good skills and some pace. We could trade for one but the only one I like is Joel Selwood so It's probably out of the question.
It might be a bit premature but it doesn't hurt to plan for the future.

 

[liz]

Don't think Amon was every really a crumber. Not after his first handful of games, anyway.

It is a really hard position to sustain an AFL career out of. A few make it (Milne is a standout) but many struggle to maintain their place in the team because if they're not kicking goals, they often don't add much other value.

And Roos doesn't seem to like playing a structure with a full-time crumber. A few years ago he surprised most of us by bringing Flipper into the team while he was still a tot, but then we'd watch him hover around midfield packs and dive in, rather than hang around the feet of Baz and Magic.

We have a few smallish, nuggety players who can crumb at forward line contests, like Jack, McGlynn, Moore. Sumner could develop into a small forward in future years if he decides to hang around. And of course, we recruited TDL this year. I suspect he's not a pure crumber - more of a small marking forward but his highlight tapes from last year shows he can crumb too. When he's ready to play for the seniors, he will bring something different to the forward line set-up.

FWIW I think our biggest scope for improvement in the short to medium term is the forward line. Even though Bradshaw and Goodes are individually playing well, I don't think they are yet on the same wavelength. And Jesse is still working out how he fits in down there. Given the teams we have played so far have been pretty woeful (obviously St Kilda aside) and we have dominated them in the middle for periods of each game, I don't think we have made the most of forward line entries so far.

 

[CAS79]

When McVeigh gets into the forward line he is an excellent crumber.

McGlynn looks to be the sort of forward pocket we are looking for too. I think he is capable of crumbing, he can make space for a small forward to mark in place of the big timber and he can harass the opposition backs running it out..

I've been critical of the lack of crumbing and pressuring of opposition backs over the last couple of years but McGlynn seems to fit the forward pocket role quite well.

Moore also moved forward to this position in his abscess and while no means was like for like he played the harrasing game quite well with a good tackle and went for the hard pack ball. With his form improved again the swans are much improved.

I think the team has improved this year to this style of play.

 

[TheGoatBaron]

How about Gary "Rangalicious" Rohan?

He can play Ben McGlynn's quite well. Not only be used as a small forward, but can be used as a crash and bash forward.

Bring in Rangalicious.

 

[smithy72]

I like having Moore in the Forward Line,he is as tough as nails & as previous posts have stated(apologies for not remembering who posted them) he racks up quality possesions,also Vez can play the role..

 

[TheGoatBaron]

Vez can play the role..

Aussie Gun wouldn't like that though, even though I agree with you.

 

[SouthSwans]

Ever heard of McGlynn and Veszpremi? I'd persist with these two before jumping on limp noodles like Garlett.

 

[Dangas]

BMac, Vez, Moore? Sorry indie, I don't think its that, a tall KPD is needed

 

[BarneyBent]

BMac, Vez, Moore? Sorry indie, I don't think its that, a tall KPD is needed

Grundy and LRT not to your liking?

 

[Swans120]

BMac, Vez, Moore? Sorry indie, I don't think its that, a tall KPD is needed

Reg and LRT not to your liking?

Theiy're not that old, 24 and 27.

 

[Swans120]

Grundy and LRT not to your liking?

WOW. I hadnt refreshed my screen so i hadn't seen your comment. And i quoted it word for word. Creepy!

 

[Dangas]

Reggie's fine, LRT is fine, I reckon we could have another

 

[Swans120]

I think we could do with one more young KPD running around in the 2's with Sammy Reid, despite him playing in the forward line a bit so far.

I think trying to trade in another star high profile KPD is a road to a surplus. We will have too many running around at one time and be unbalanced. Draft another KPD and get him going and developing in the 2's and let him grow with Reid and there is the future with Reg.

 

[BarneyBent]

I think we could do with one more young KPD running around in the 2's with Sammy Reid, despite him playing in the forward line a bit so far.

I think trying to trade in another star high profile KPD is a road to a surplus. We will have too many running around at one time and be unbalanced. Draft another KPD and get him going and developing in the 2's and let him grow with Reid and there is the future with Reg.

It seems that Campbell Heath is being groomed into a KPD in the Bolton mould. We've also got Teddy Richards running around in reserve (not that he's a power KPD, but he provides depth), Pyke is being trained up as a key defender, we've got Henry Playfair in an absolute pinch, and both Taylor Gilchrist and Chris McKaigue may yet develop into that role (but it's too early yet, atm they seem to be tall HBFs, but that's how Bolton started out too).

 

[indieswan96]

Adressing the other point I made about another A - Grade midfielder do we agree we need someone in the mould of a Marc Murphy, Trengove and Cotchin?

 

[bedford]

I like having Moore in the Forward Line,he is as tough as nails & as previous posts have stated(apologies for not remembering who posted them) he racks up quality possesions,also Vez can play the role..

But he doesn't kick enough goals, has improved and has guts and kicked a great pass to Bradshaw, but its not enough goals for his role.

 

[TheGong]

Adressing the other point I made about another A - Grade midfielder do we agree we need someone in the mould of a Marc Murphy, Trengove and Cotchin?

Yes, and hopefully next year we will get that in Tom Mitchell.

 

[grimlock]

But he doesn't kick enough goals, has improved and has guts and kicked a great pass to Bradshaw, but its not enough goals for his role.

But he has been dishing out plenty of assists, 2nd in the team.