Will our forward line work?

[Stiffy_18]

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.

I think the club will take a super cautious approach with Hentschel. They will start him off in the backline and I suspect Bock would be moved forward.

Hentschel WILL need some time to get comfortable and it would make his life easier if he started off in the backline and eventually moves forward. Pretty much the same way he started his AFL career.

Personally, I think Hentschel will play a lot of footy next year in the SANFL rather than the AFL. He shoudl get some AFL games but he is not going to be a major player for us next year. Its a LONG LONE road back for Hentschel

 

[WaynesWorld19]

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.

IMO he'll be competing with Torney and Massie for a HB flank alongside Bock.

Maybe why Torney is considering his future or having his future considered.

He'll need to be running straight lines next season rather than trying to twist and turn too much as a forward.

 

[Mismatched]

IMO he'll be competing with Torney and Massie for a HB flank alongside Bock.

Maybe why Torney is considering his future or having his future considered.

He'll need to be running straight lines next season rather than trying to twist and turn too much as a forward.

At the moment this is how I see our defence at its strongest:

FB: Basset Rutten Johncock
HB: Stevens Bock Mcleod

No room for even Massie or Torney there, they would have to be changing out of defence or more playing off the wing. Granted we more than often play 7, but you wouldn't want another tall down there probably Torney or Massie could slot in, but not Hentschell.

As for shifting a player out, I would hate to see Bock move back to the forward line, he is a dead set gun at CHB, if he'd played the full year there he would have been AA. Stevens would be the one, but i'd prefer to see Hentschell start up in the forward line, he could be targeted as weakness perhaps too much back there and I'd be worried about his ability to man up.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

At the moment this is how I see our defence at its strongest:

FB: Basset Rutten Johncock
HB: Stevens Bock Mcleod

No room for even Massie or Torney there, they would have to be changing out of defence or more playing off the wing. Granted we more than often play 7, but you wouldn't want another tall down there probably Torney or Massie could slot in, but not Hentschell.

As for shifting a player out, I would hate to see Bock move back to the forward line, he is a dead set gun at CHB, if he'd played the full year there he would have been AA. Stevens would be the one, but i'd prefer to see Hentschell start up in the forward line, he could be targeted as weakness perhaps too much back there and I'd be worried about his ability to man up.

That's a good back 6 .....but as you know injuries occur during the year and opportunities open up ......I also agree with Stiffy that Hentschell is likely to spend large chunks of the season in the SANFL getting confidence in his leg

I hope Bock is largely kept at CHB ....although he'll probably be sent forward at some stages .....CHB is his natural position and where he plays his best footy.

The key to Bock is Tippett and McGregor and how they come up next season.

 

[Drummond]

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

And yet nothing impressive about his work up forward. His ruckwork was the impressive aspect of his game.

Tippett is quickly becoming the most overrated guy on this board. He was "super impressive" in his limites SANFL game? Gosh, low standards then.

 

[Thunderstruck]

Gill has to be our focal point in the forward line I rekon. He is the only 'tall' player we have that busts his balls every game and does have natural talent. Very quick, strong mark, brilliant tackling and 2nd efforts and runs all around the ground, leads well, gets into middle and sets up attacks. Gives us a bit of structure and can get better. Just gotta kick it straight, but I don't think we should rely on him to kick the most goals. Use his efforts to get it deeper into the forward line and use his leads to open up space behind to let Kenny or Welsh or even Tippett if he is ready to lead into space. And have Bode snapping at the heels, shit have we missed him this year. If Bode and Gill can play 22 games next year it'll help us for sure.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

And yet nothing impressive about his work up forward. His ruckwork was the impressive aspect of his game.

Tippett is quickly becoming the most overrated guy on this board. He was "super impressive" in his limites SANFL game? Gosh, low standards then.

you can be so cynical of players sometimes but so optimistic if they are Norwood.

His rucking was the more impressive i'd assumne due to his strong basketball bacground ....so that would be more instinctive .....but as a forwrd is where his true potential for us lies.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

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

F: Welsh, Hentschel, Edwards
HF: Burton, Gill, Porplyzia

I'm assuming Hentschel will be OK to play FF - probably not mobile enough for CHF, with Gill more suited to that role. Hopefully Tippett & Sellar are blooded at some stage & can also got taller with a resting ruckman if conditions suit. I see Kenny as a backup for injury (think we should have traded him to the Bullies & packaged with Hudson as they were keen).

Welsh should be used as the 3rd tall. Stevens also an option too.

Burton is likely to roam between the forward line & wing. Should only play FF in a pinch-hitting role.

Would like to see Edwards, Thompson, Porplyzia, Knights & Reilly all rotate through the forward/midfield. Hopefully will trade/draft a pacy Davey type to try out. Campbell should be given a decent run too. Bode should be delisted IMO as too injury-prone.

Important thing is to mix it up a bit (but with a structure) & have an even spread of constibutors.

 

[MJ101]

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?

Ditch McGregor and play youth....
I have alot of time for McGregor as he has serviced as well but he is never going to be a match breaker. Throw in the young guys and see if we can find one.

 

[King Elvis]

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!

If he can stay injury free and have a massive pre-season, I'd expect him to have a break-out year next year.

He's looking the goods.

Also, wrt to Bock, he must play down back - without any question. What we lose by moving him from the backlines is a hell of a lot more than we gain by having him down forward.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

If he can stay injury free and have a massive pre-season, I'd expect him to have a break-out year next year.

He's looking the goods.

Also, wrt to Bock, he must play down back - without any question. What we lose by moving him from the backlines is a hell of a lot more than we gain by having him down forward.

I agree on both points.

We must play players in their best position where possible.

Mattner included if he stays at AFC.

 

[macca23]

you can be so cynical of players sometimes but so optimistic if they are Norwood.

His rucking was the more impressive i'd assumne due to his strong basketball bacground ....so that would be more instinctive .....but as a forwrd is where his true potential for us lies.

Impressed the hell out of me too WW. As you say totally instinctive and natural with his rucking.

If we played him as a ruckman he has the potential to be many times over the player that Meesen was - or never was.

If he can play as a KPP up forward as effectively as a ruckman then he is worth about 20 times what Meesen was worth.

But then again WW we don't barrack for Norwood.

 

[TheLeftFist8]

Yes it will!!

First choice forwardline:

FF: Welsh, Hentschel, Johncock/McLeod (rotating between FP/HBF)
HF: Porplyzia, Gill, Burton

Includes goalkickers, skill, X-factor, gamebreakers, defensive pressure, all good overhead.

If an additional tall needed then can rotate resting ruckman or Stevens thru, or select Tippett if up to it.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Impressed the hell out of me too WW. As you say totally instinctive and natural with his rucking.

If we played him as a ruckman he has the potential to be many times over the player that Meesen was - or never was.

If he can play as a KPP up forward as effectively as a ruckman then he is worth about 20 times what Meesen was worth.
But then again WW we don't barrack for Norwood.

He has also a bit of size at 95kgs ....so he's already stronger than Meesen and has shown a bit more agression on the footy field which I like from big men

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Interesting thought from Kane McG re Edwards .......

He is slowing down .....is his time in the midfield coming to an end ....are we likely to see him more in a set position this season?

He started life as a Crow as a BP .....could he end up there to relaese Stiffy Johncock or as Kane has suggested a FP?

 

[Brett_Burton_#24]

I think we might go real tall in the forward line next year so i reckon this might be our setup

F: Welsh, Hentschel, McGregor
HF: Burton, Gill, Porplyzia

I think that Craig might put Welsh on the half foward line sometimes like he did this year and maybe play a shorter player deep like Edwards, Porplyzia, Burton and maybe someone we pick up in Trade week or the draft . I also think Burton and Porplyzia could be rotated through the midfield and then midfielders could be rested up forward, also Hentschel and McGregor i think should probably play deep throughout the season baring injury as i think both players are suited to that role.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Interesting thought from Kane McG re Edwards .......

He is slowing down .....is his time in the midfield coming to an end ....are we likely to see him more in a set position this season?

He started life as a Crow as a BP .....could he end up there to relaese Stiffy Johncock or as Kane has suggested a FP?

IMO, we do need to put one of our classier crumbers up forward if we don't trade for one.

 

[TheLeftFist8]

IMO, we do need to put one of our classier crumbers up forward if we don't trade for one.

agreed...edwards, mcleod and johncock could all do damage up there

 

[Mismatched]

Interesting thought from Kane McG re Edwards .......

He is slowing down .....is his time in the midfield coming to an end ....are we likely to see him more in a set position this season?

He started life as a Crow as a BP .....could he end up there to relaese Stiffy Johncock or as Kane has suggested a FP?

I'm not so convinced Edwards time in the midfield is coming to an end, I'd love to see him over taken by some of the other younger midfielders as he has a lot of value all over the ground (as was shown under Ayres).

In our last match of the year against Hawthorne, he was one of the few midfielders who kept us in the game when all others seemed to go missing. Throughout this year, whilst he has been down on the whole, he, like Goodwin seemed to step up when the team needed them to, unfortunately at these times often this wasn't enough.

Whilst I'd like to see him play less of a role in the midfield, eg back pocket/forward pocket, I think he still would have a valuble role in the midfield. Maybe we should look at swapping Goodwin and Edwards with each other so that in the midfield we still have 1 experienced gun and 2 other younger ones, because Goodwin and Edwards are still in our top 3 midfielders as far as I see it.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

I'm not so convinced Edwards time in the midfield is coming to an end, I'd love to see him over taken by some of the other younger midfielders as he has a lot of value all over the ground (as was shown under Ayres).

In our last match of the year against Hawthorne, he was one of the few midfielders who kept us in the game when all others seemed to go missing. Throughout this year, whilst he has been down on the whole, he, like Goodwin seemed to step up when the team needed them to, unfortunately at these times often this wasn't enough.

Whilst I'd like to see him play less of a role in the midfield, eg back pocket/forward pocket, I think he still would have a valuble role in the midfield. Maybe we should look at swapping Goodwin and Edwards with each other so that in the midfield we still have 1 experienced gun and 2 other younger ones, because Goodwin and Edwards are still in our top 3 midfielders as far as I see it.

Edwards ability to get the ball is still there, but IMO his skill level was not up to his usual standard this year (though still better than most). He still has a role to play on-ball - like you, I think he & Goody should play a lesser role in the midfield & be used over other parts of the ground. I suggested the forward line, as IMO we need classier crumbers.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Edwards ability to get the ball is still there, but IMO his skill level was not up to his usual standard this year (though still better than most). He still has a role to play on-ball - like you, I think he & Goody should play a lesser role in the midfield & be used over other parts of the ground. I suggested the forward line, as IMO we need classier crumbers.

He wasn't the only one whose skills declined this year! I am not sure its due to his age because the team as a whole was terrible in that aspect. Chalk and cheese compared to 2005 and 2006.

I am sure that eased off workload during PS was the reason for him. If we go back to skill intensive PS, I am sure Tyson's skill level will return to its usual high standards.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

He wasn't the only one whose skills declined this year! I am not sure its due to his age because the team as a whole was terrible in that aspect. Chalk and cheese compared to 2005 and 2006.

I am sure that eased off workload during PS was the reason for him. If we go back to skill intensive PS, I am sure Tyson's skill level will return to its usual high standards.

I hope so. Our skill levels were atrocious at times.

 

[Mismatched]

I hope so. Our skill levels were atrocious at times.

In terms of preparing a team, Craig would rank up there with the best, whatever he did preseason in terms of skills didn't work, but I have complete faith that he can fix it.

Its kinda tough midseason to do genuine work on skills, the preseason is where its at, expect the crows to come out again as one of the highest skilled teams in the AFL.

 

[fightingdreamer88]

I must say I am liking the idea of Burton, Gill and Hentschel all up forward. That's a lot of unpredictability and excitement there, plus throw in a developing Tippett and you never know what you'll get.

 

[TheLeftFist8]

I must say I am liking the idea of Burton, Gill and Hentschel all up forward. That's a lot of unpredictability and excitement there, plus throw in a developing Tippett and you never know what you'll get.

Throw in Welsh, Porps, and Johncock, with Tippett quite possibly rising to second ruck/resting forward as well...not all doom and gloom.

If no injuries, gonna be hard to fit Tippett in as specialist forward initially, unless we go quite tall.