Whats our weakest Line?

[Arr0w]

Nobody expects it to be given the young talent we got to work with this year that in fourth, third and second seasons. Easily our forward line has less obvious talent we can identify so it is the obvious relative weakness to address.

I disagree, the forward line has an abundance of talent. Harry, Charlie, McGovern, they are locks as forwards.

You then have mature bodies, Levi, Betts.

Then you have rotating players, Jack, Kennedy, Gibbons, Newnes, SPS, Fisher, Martin, Cuners

Resting players, Cripps, Murphy

Developing, TDK

Seems pretty talented to me

 

[TheKITC]

Nobody expects it to be given the young talent we got to work with this year that in fourth, third and second seasons. Easily our forward line has less obvious talent we can identify so it is the obvious relative weakness to address. Young talent we had for such roles no longer on list like Sumner,LeBois and Pickett so we do not have a build up of clear goal kicking small forward options in fourth, third or second seasons at club. It is one of reasons Paplay was such a target.

The question is "what is our weakest line" not "what area has the least young talent developing". I also don't necessarily agree we are short on developing forward talent.

Our forward line currently rates higher for mine compared to the other clubs than our midfield does. I agree we are potentially better stocked for young midfield talent, but that isn't the question...

 

[footyfan1978]

I disagree, the forward line has an abundance of talent. Harry, Charlie, McGovern, they are locks as forwards.

Taken comment out of context. If you read my series of posts it is clear I am talking quick small goal kicking forwards. I was not talking key forwards at all. We got that covered for next decade for mine. Just forgot to clearly word it small forwards only in post you replying to as it is the obvious missing piece of puzzle to go with the key forwards we already have in place long term.

 

[footyfan1978]

The question is "what is our weakest line" not "what area has the least young talent developing".

Yes, well our weakest line is the last line of defence because cannot name a clear quick small defender for next decade and first line of forward line because a quick small goal kicking still needs to bob up and make it his own for next decade. If we got Papley would have been ideal.

 

[Arr0w]

Taken comment out of context. If you read my series of posts it is clear I am talking quick small goal kicking forwards. I was not talking key forwards at all. We got that covered for next decade for mine. Just forgot to clearly word it small forwards only in post you replying to as it is the obvious missing piece of puzzle to go with the key forwards we already have in place long tern.

I know where you were going.

I don't see small crumbing forwards as the number 1 priority, in fact it is the least of our worries, although you never say no

Go back to the last 3 flags, most of the goals come from key/3rd talls, and rotating mid type players.

Small forwards do play are part, especially around pressure, but no player is immuned from apply it

 

[HavUEvaSeenTheRain]

Don't understand people who have posted "easily our forward line". Our midfield is so thin and would be close to the worst in the league.

Yes we have high hopes for a lot of the players coming through, but it is still a midfield that is really short of proven performances, mature bodies and certainly depth. I absolutely love Ed but the fact he is still a starting mid at our club speaks volumes.

Right now, midfield is our worst line for mine.

I agree but if Curnow plays as a tagger then there aren’t many better in the league. Cripps speaks for himself. The other starting mid has to hold their own, will someone step up? Will Murph carry his form on? Walsh on a wing is a win, the other wing position worries me. We really need someone to step up, hopefully atleast two do.
For me though it’s no different to our forward line. Half of them (Cunningham, McKay and Curnow have never even put together a good AFL level season).
Martin and MMG are coming off poor seasons and never played a season to a very high standard despite their age. Good yes but nothing really special. Eddie is extremely close to the end of his career. Will he stand up? Dunno but he managed to get dropped last year so who knows.

Still huge question marks over both areas imo. That’s why this is the most exciting preseason in such a longtime. We have so many players that should be ready to step up and become top line players. Will it happen? Who knows.....

 

[HavUEvaSeenTheRain]

I know where you were going.

I don't see small crumbing forwards as the number 1 priority, in fact it is the least of our worries, although you never say no

Go back to the last 3 flags, most of the goals come from key/3rd talls, and rotating mid type players.

Small forwards do play are part, especially around pressure, but no player is immuned from apply it

Only about 15% of a team are small forwards so you’re never going to get a huge percentage of goals from them. Even if you take out defenders you still have only about 20%.
I also don’t think anyone is suggesting we need a small forward who can contribute as much as Kennedy, Darling, Lynch and Riewoldt. Those guys are always going to be the main avenue to scoring.

 

[Arr0w]

Only about 15% of a team are small forwards so you’re never going to get a huge percentage of goals from them. Even if you take out defenders you still have only about 20%.
I also don’t think anyone is suggesting we need a small forward who can contribute as much as Kennedy, Darling, Lynch and Riewoldt. Those guys are always going to be the main avenue to scoring.

15%, about 1 in 6? Don't disagree

Here's the thing though, with rotations/resting players/tactics, there could be up to 10 -12 players going through the forward line, as well as mids only hitting the scoreboard

That reduces that % of scoreboard output even further

 

[footyfan1978]

I know where you were going.

I don't see small crumbing forwards as the number 1 priority,

It is if we are not winning matches and relying too much on too few from marking options kicking the goals.
Hardly any small forward kicked 10 goals for us last year.
You need a few crumbing forwards kicking 25 goals or more for real premiership winning dynasties to take hold for a club. It is still our weakness and when we are winning premierships it will be easy to see how we missed them when we did not have them.

 

[Arr0w]

It is if we are not winning matches and relying too much on too few from marking options kicking the goals.
Hardly any small forward kicked 10 goals for us last year.
You need a few crumbing forwards kicking 25 goals or more for real premiership winning dynasties to take hold for a club. It is still our weakness and when we are winning premierships it will be easy to see how we missed them when we did not have them.

I think we will see increased output from small/medium forward/midfielders this year with more opportunities/inside 50's this year, IMHO

 

[Foucault1989]

The line in the sand for mine.

Need to show more mongrel.

100%. We can be such a nice team to play against. I love the attitude and physicality Williamsom brings, Gibbons seems plucky but other than that all seem like very introverted souls. We need some spunk hence why I was shattered we threw about Robbo

 

[footyfan1978]

I think we will see increased output from small/medium forward/midfielders this year with more opportunities/inside 50's this year, IMHO

It is what I am half expecting and hoping for.
25 plus from Cuningham and two or three others is what I want on the horizon.
I'm excited to see it happen from those not expecting it from right now. Opportunities abound for someone to make their mark.

 

[Jeremias]

I am not worried by any line in particular, I think we are exceptionally well placed. We have young quality everywhere, star power on every line, but a lot will come down to development.

See how things transpire over the course of the season, but I think we can always do with more players with goal sense - Papley would have been absolutely perfect.

Another medium/tall defender would not go astray either.

 

[katmanblue]

Random comment thought bubble- but I like the word mongrel.

Almost as much as I dislike the word moist.

On SM-N960F using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Accidental genius]

i wouldnt call it a "weakest line". i think we have enough talent across all lines. the main issue we have atm is the inefficient link up between mids and forwards. often gets kicked blindly into f50. our forawrds need to make more leads (with good timing) and mids need to honour those leads. asa good example they could watch replays of fev leading and murphy hitting him lace out.

 

[Jabba73]

i wouldnt call it a "weakest line". i think we have enough talent across all lines. the main issue we have atm is the inefficient link up between mids and forwards. often gets kicked blindly into f50. our forawrds need to make more leads (with good timing) and mids need to honour those leads. asa good example they could watch replays of fev leading and murphy hitting him lace out.

Better off watching Houlihan linking with Fevola.

Even Fev nominated Hoops as his preferred option for delivery to him

 

[Accidental genius]

Better off watching Houlihan linking with Fevola.

Even Fev nominated Hoops as his preferred option for delivery to him

yeah im aware he said that but based on what ive watched/seen murphy was one of the perfect hitterer upperers. i was surprised fev nominated hoops ahead of murph. maybe because he played more games with hoops.

anyway both great examples to aspire too.

 

[Jabba73]

yeah im aware he said that but based on what ive watched/seen murphy was one of the perfect hitterer upperers. i was surprised fev nominated hoops ahead of murph. maybe because he played more games with hoops.

anyway both great examples to aspire too.

Think the difference was the weighting of the kicks. Murph kicked to advantage, Hoops kicked it to advantage without unnecessary speed or spin on the ball so it virtually floated into the forwards hands.

 

[Accidental genius]

Think the difference was the weighting of the kicks. Murph kicked to advantage, Hoops kicked it to advantage without unnecessary speed or spin on the ball so it virtually floated into the forwards hands.

yes... good description/comparison of the two.

 

[SurreyBlue]

I’ve got nothing better to do right now, so here are my thoughts .........

I don’t believe we have a weak line, what we have is particular areas that need strengthening.
Major concern for 2020
- big body midfielders. Outside the starting of Cripps, Ed and Murphy, we have no other ‘men’. Lack of FA and trading hurt us the past 2 years. This will affect us if we don’t get any growth from the many developing. 3rd and 4th year players need to stand up and take the next step.
- Lock down small defender. Plowman is our mid range lock down but the Eddie Betts types hurt us.

Some others will add small forwards or rucks but I don’t think 2020 is an issue with Betts and Martin or Kruezer and Pittonet.

Moving forward:
Our Drafting focus for development
- another DeKoning (ruck/foward)
- small ‘lock down’ defender - maybe Polson will develop
- small forward / midfielder - I’d be pushing SPS into this role
FA-Trading big @#$&*%§ body midfielder - been 2 years though....

 

[Just Kreuzing]

Better off watching Houlihan linking with Fevola.

Even Fev nominated Hoops as his preferred option for delivery to him

The glaring difference in watching footy from the 80’s & 90’s compared to now is the mid-forward connection.

Despite having more space back then the kicking skills off both sides of the body appear to be much better.

Our forwards have been spoiled over the years with guys like Ashman, Johnston, Bradley, Williams, Camporeale, Houlihan etc.

 

[Gethelred]

The glaring difference in watching footy from the 80’s & 90’s compared to now is the mid-forward connection.

Despite having more space back then the kicking skills off both sides of the body appear to be much better.

Our forwards have been spoiled over the years with guys like Ashman, Johnston, Bradley, Williams, Camporeale, Houlihan etc.

Watching footy from back then, you notice how much more space and time there is for players to make their decisions, both in close and once the ball got out. It's much easier to kick to advantage when you've got the time to think.

Improved fitness levels, tackler-friendly adjudication of the possession rules, and tackling technique being more emphasised by coaches would have a bit to do with it, IMO.

 

[Beer n Skittles]

We tend to win clearances and gain plenty of possession but don't use it well. Also don't apply enough pressure in general play. Both are issues with our outside mids / half forwards, which is to be expected since we don't have any players with a decent amount of experience in that area besides the new Newnes.

There are some experienced player we could move there but it's probably just robbing peter to pay paul.
Martin - can't see us moving him too far up the ground after his showing in round 1.
Murphy - found out last year we need him on the ball.
Simpson/Docherty/Newman? - Winger Simpson of 2011/12 would be handy, not sure he's still up to it. Wouldn't mind seeing Newman on a wing.

 

[thylacine60]

Tough choice but I'm going with:

"Well here I am, what are your other 2 wishes?"

Highly commended:

"If I could rearrange the alphabet I’d put U and I together"

"Hey, my name’s Microsoft. Can I crash at your place tonight?"

 

[Jabba73]

Is your name Google?

Why?

Because you are everything I have been searching for ...