Will our forward line work?

[ruscy002]

Lets see, considering the supposed imminent departure of Perrie, Jericho and obviously Roo, it’ll probably look something like this:

FF: Vince, Hentschel, Welsh
CHF: Porplyzia, McGregor, Stevens

Players rotating through the midfield/forward line would be Burton (if fit), Thompson and if the rumours prove correct then also Biglands will rest there.

It’d have to function at an optimum level every week for us to be any chance of a premiership, and it’ll exposed with quicker backlines, particularly with Biglands resting there. I’ve got Stevens in there because with Hentschel back, Bock goes to the backline permanently and with Bassett also back, there wont be much need for Stevens in the backline, and he still makes the forward line in the best 22 over Gill

In this case, was there any point in recruiting Gill at 24 YO and still keeping McGregor??? Might as well have given McGregor the flick and got whatever we could in draft picks. Now Gill will spend another year only getting opportunities through injuries (obviously if Hentschel doesn‘t come up he gets that spot, but I definitely want him to recover fully). That and if they’re serious about developing talent like Sellar and Tippett then they have to get opportunities in the next two years, and if they don't they’ll just waste away in the SANFL like Watts, Jericho, Meesen etc.

What do we think?

 

[cocka]

Lets see, considering the supposed imminent departure of Perrie, Jericho and obviously Roo, it’ll probably look something like this:

FF: Vince, Hentschel, Welsh
CHF: Porplyzia, McGregor, Stevens

Players rotating through the midfield/forward line would be Burton (if fit), Thompson and if the rumours prove correct then also Biglands will rest there.

It’d have to function at an optimum level every week for us to be any chance of a premiership, and it’ll exposed with quicker backlines, particularly with Biglands resting there. I’ve got Stevens in there because with Hentschel back, Bock goes to the backline permanently and with Bassett also back, there wont be much need for Stevens in the backline, and he still makes the forward line in the best 22 over Gill

In this case, was there any point in recruiting Gill at 24 YO and still keeping McGregor??? Might as well have given McGregor the flick and got whatever we could in draft picks. Now Gill will spend another year only getting opportunities through injuries (obviously if Hentschel doesn‘t come up he gets that spot, but I definitely want him to recover fully). That and if they’re serious about developing talent like Sellar and Tippett then they have to get opportunities in the next two years, and if they don't they’ll just waste away in the SANFL like Watts, Jericho, Meesen etc.

What do we think?

God help us.

 

[macca23]

Gill would have to be in the forward line based on his form this year.

Bode is another ccontender if retained.

He plays the lead up forward well, he CAN take a contested mark, and he applies great forward line pressure.

Biglands is not slow. Off memory he was in the top brigade over the first 20 metres at the club prior to his injury.

Hopefully we will draft/trade for a fast skilful crumbing forward this year - a priority IMO.

 

[ruscy002]

Think about it, they've obviously made a committment to McGregor, all the others the club would consider best 22. Without the departure of guys like Welsh, McGregor, Stevens, Burton etc, thats what were stuck with for a few years.

 

[ruscy002]

Gill would have to be in the forward line based on his form this year.

Bode is another ccontender if retained.

He plays the lead up forward well, he CAN take a contested mark, and he applies great forward line pressure.

Biglands is not slow. Off memory he was in the top brigade over the first 20 metres at the club prior to his injury.

Hopefully we will draft/trade for a fast skilful crumbing forward this year - a priority IMO.

Biglands not slow before the injury being the key part, at 30 he wont return from an ACL with the same pace. And if he's bulked up as much as you've said then that will slow him down a fraction.

I would go Gill over McGregor or Stevens for the forward line, my point is I don't think the club will. I was rubbing my hands at the trade prospects with McGregor wanting to leave, now I'm a bit disappointed. I like Kenny, but his departure wouldve been good for him and the club.

 

[ruscy002]

I would be very disappointed at the club if they kept Bode. Good player when fit, not great. 100 games in 10 years, 28 years old and the body doesn't get more reliable with age.

Getting rid of him will be one of the tough decisions that has to be made, they type of tough decision that hasn't been made since Blighty took over at the end of 1996 and put a colossal broom through West Lakes, that got results

Note: I don't qualify axing Ben Hart as a hard decision for the club, only the fans.

 

[lunacy]

Biglands not slow before the injury being the key part, at 30 he wont return from an ACL with the same pace. And if he's bulked up as much as you've said then that will slow him down a fraction.

I would go Gill over McGregor or Stevens for the forward line, my point is I don't think the club will. I was rubbing my hands at the trade prospects with McGregor wanting to leave, now I'm a bit disappointed. I like Kenny, but his departure wouldve been good for him and the club.

Surely Gill is a better forward option than Kenny? I just hope he is not the preferred option now that they signed him for 2 years. ALthough Kenny got 2 yrs while Gill only got a 1 yr contract. Does this mean Kenny is the preferred option? I hope not.

 

[ruscy002]

Surely Gill is a better forward option than Kenny? I just hope he is not the preferred option now that they signed him for 2 years. ALthough Kenny got 2 yrs while Gill only got a 1 yr contract. Does this mean Kenny is the preferred option? I hope not.

You bet it does!

 

[KUNG FU]

I think this will be the first option used by the club:

F: Porplyzia, McGregor, Welsh
HF: Burton, Gill, Edwards (resting mid)

From this formula there will be a number of wild cards that will come up:

a) 3 ruckmen rotation and/or resting ruckman and/or Tippett full time playing near the goal square
b) Hentschel - God knows where he will play, there is the possibility he will be eased back by playing in defence
c) Sellar??? We'll probably have to wait until 2009
d) Bock and/or Stevens pinch hitting
e) Vince - Serious doubts over his current tank for the midfield and doubts over his tenacity as a forward, hopefully a solid pre-season will finally solve those issues
f) Bode - Will he be retained? Will he stay fit?
g) Campbell? Douglas? Jericho?????
h) Will Burton return to the wing, at least part time? Or will he be stuck in the forward lines?

 

[ruscy002]

No way the Hentschman will play in defence. Forces Bock out and he's far too valuable. That and with Truck occupying Full Back, Hentschel would need to play CHB, which would be unnecessary stress on the body of a guy who has just come back from one of the worst knee injuries ever done at AFL level.

No place but FF for the Hentschman.

 

[Freddy Bassett]

Nick Gill will be a star in 2008, barring injuries. If he kicked straight this year hed be a gun. Next time you are at a crows game watch how much this lad runs to get into space. Bloody impressive. Comparing him and Mcgregor in my opinion is a waste of time as IMO Mcgregor is no more now than a stay at home forward.. Gill has replaced Perrie as a workhorse forward.. Gill is the one player on our list capable of making our forward line a success

 

[Mismatched]

If our forward line remains injury free and we improve the structure, I think we have the cattle to succeed, it just requires no one getting injured, because as soon as injuries occur I think we will start to struggle, I'd go:

FF: Hentschell Welsh Porplyzia
HF: Burton Gill Bode

If they fire, that would be a pretty dangerous forward line, however I think it will be hard to say how we will go up forward, too many variables at this stage.

 

[fightingdreamer88]

FF: Hentschell Welsh Porplyzia
HF: Burton Gill Bode

If they all stay injury free and Hentschel recovers as well as we hope, that actually could be one of the more dangerous forward lines going around...

 

[ruscy002]

If they all stay injury free and Hentschel recovers as well as we hope, that actually could be one of the more dangerous forward lines going around...

We still need somebody with some blistering pace in there. Bode comes close but I'm more worried about him getting up than Hentschel. Bode will come very close to being cut anyway.

 

[earlsta]

Tippet will be in there round 1.

 

[CarnCrows]

We still need somebody with some blistering pace in there. Bode comes close but I'm more worried about him getting up than Hentschel. Bode will come very close to being cut anyway.

I'm worried about if Bode does'nt play next year - or gets injured. As mentioned heaps before we need another crumbing forward. Porps is more a HFF. Gill will be CHF.

 

[Mismatched]

I'm worried about if Bode does'nt play next year - or gets injured. As mentioned heaps before we need another crumbing forward. Porps is more a HFF. Gill will be CHF.

Agree, this is where we need to chase Varcoe and Didak and look to recruit a Rioli or someone in the draft.

 

[King Elvis]

Vince isn't a forward.

And no, I'm expecting it too suck as per the last decade.

 

[macca 23]

in the forward line crows have the choice of:
Gill,
Hentschel,
Burton,
Bock,
Mcgregor,
Welsh,
Biglands
Stevens
and didak if he arrives to adelaide

 

[mymansyd]

Vince isn't a forward.

And no, I'm expecting it too suck as per the last decade.

Based on his Eagles form, Bernie is definitely more of a midfielder and that's where I'd like to see him given a crack next season. He's a mercurial talent and one I'd love to see in the thick of things. Needs to put on some bloody weight though!

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Gill would have to be in the forward line based on his form this year.

Bode is another ccontender if retained.

He plays the lead up forward well, he CAN take a contested mark, and he applies great forward line pressure.

Biglands is not slow. Off memory he was in the top brigade over the first 20 metres at the club prior to his injury.

Hopefully we will draft/trade for a fast skilful crumbing forward this year - a priority IMO.

Maric is a class act as a small forward ......I hope we grab him because he'll be a great AFL player ....but I'm not sure you'd classify him as a crumber?

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Don't expect Hentschell in the forward line next season ....he'll be across HB ....maybe at Torneys expense if he retires.

The key next season to our improvement IMO is Tippett.

Stevens IMO is a definate 3rd tall defensive .....as preferred position.

Thompson plays some of his most dangerous footy changing with Reilly off the HF flank

FF: Welsh Tippett Porplyzia
HF: Burton Gill Thompson

 

[Stiffy_18]

Don't expect Hentschell in the forward line next season ....he'll be across HB ....maybe at Torneys expense if he retires.

The key next season to our improvement IMO is Tippett.

Stevens IMO is a definate 3rd tall defensive .....as preferred position.

Thompson plays some of his most dangerous footy changing with Reilly off the HF flank

FF: Welsh Tippett Porplyzia
HF: Burton Gill Thompson

While its too early to speculate (lets wait until the end of trade week), I do agree that Tippett is the key. If he can come in and play some games, showing some glimpses, then it would be a HUGe boost for us. If he doesn't show much, then it will be more of the same I am afraid.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

While its too early to speculate (lets wait until the end of trade week), I do agree that Tippett is the key. If he can come in and play some games, showing some glimpses, then it would be a HUGe boost for us. If he doesn't show much, then it will be more of the same I am afraid.

If you study his limited SANFL games ....and in particular coming back from a limited PS and being under done fitness wise ...he was super impressive.

Strong marking, quick and excellent ground skills ....hence why the club excitedly looking at him as a forward more so than ruck ATS

 

[Mismatched]

Don't expect Hentschell in the forward line next season ....he'll be across HB ....maybe at Torneys expense if he retires.

The key next season to our improvement IMO is Tippett.

Stevens IMO is a definate 3rd tall defensive .....as preferred position.

Thompson plays some of his most dangerous footy changing with Reilly off the HF flank

FF: Welsh Tippett Porplyzia
HF: Burton Gill Thompson

Where in our defence would you fit in Hentschell, we already have Rutten, Bock, Stevens and Basset as designated talls, there is no room unless injury occurs for Hentschell. There's no room and we don't need him there at the moment.

The forward line is where its at, would love to see Tippet come through and play some footy and expect him to get a couple of matches, but I don't think we can count on him doing a great deal just yet.

I have a fair bit of faith in Hentschell being able to come back into the side up forward and being quite dangerous, he has some freakish abilities which are best utilised up forward and he would probably gel well with the likes of Welsh and Gill, just no room for him in defence, maybe pinch hitting but nothing more at this stage.