What’s the plan for our forward line?

[chico2001]

Bruce would have to curb his natural game if he was to play in the backline. He likes to fly for the big mark and plays a bit loose. If he could tighten up his game and play backline with Roberton and carlisle then that is the nucleus. Austin has a fair bit of work to do IMO to hold down Fullback.

[Jacks Back]

What’s the plan for our forward line?

To kick bloody goals

[Enrico_Misso]

Draft those King twins.

[kalsaint]

Bruce
Paddy
Marshall

Battle
Membrey
Acres

Gresh
Long
Lonie
Billings
Newnes

On the fringe =
Weller
Minchington


Simply put, like everything else at the moment, it’s a heaping mess with no clear structure or plan moving for.

From where I sit, the best spine =
Bruce and Marshall. Bruce is the most accomplished forward and the only guy we have that has several occasions kicked 4 goals or more. Marshall is developing but seems to be able to take a grab and kick a goal... + he has the added capacity to play ruck relief for periods of time and could even foreseeable swap with Carlisle for patches of time.

IMO that’s the spine.

Next lock is Membrey. He’s the medium sized forward who is supposed to get of the leash when Marshall/Bruce move the defenders away. Needs to stop playing as a lead up forward per’se.

Around them, I like Sinclair on a HFF... can kick a goal or spot up our players with his decent disposal.

At the feet of the big men should be Gresh and Lonie. As forwards both have an x-factor about them... they can make things happen even if they occasionally misfire.

Gresh could occasionally rotate into the midfield and rotate with a guy like Billings.

My structure

Membrey, Marshall, Lonie
Gresh, Bruce, Sinclair

Then you have Battle fighting for Membrey’s spot or if we want to go taller or move Gresh into the middle more
We have Long fighting for Lonie or Gresh’s spot... alternatively, we might consider moving him to a HBF in a quarter back role... I feel like he could do that.

IMO Billings and Acres need to be permanent midfielders... Newnes is at best a HBF/ back pocket

Weller is done.

I’d keep Minch for one more season and see if he could make it as a mid.


The sore point... I can’t see a role for Paddy. He just doesn’t fit the structure. Can’t work up the ground enough, not strong enough overhead, doesn’t kick enough goals... isn’t versatile.
I think we should trade him.

I like a lot of this but dont have the same respect for keeping either Acres or Billings. Both have great potential but thats where it seems to end. New coaches migh help but no improvement next year I would definitely look for trades for these two. Even this year it might be wise to do something with these guys to procure leadership for next season. Thats the biggest earner for us next year. In fact, without it any trades will be wasted and burn future years opportunity.

I agree totally with your forward line as the structure for many forward patterns can be modified to create a plan B. Thats something we dont have at the moments. I have always thought Membrey should be in midfield and said so many times last year and this year. He should be an extractor aand then run forward. He needs to duplicate the role Petracca has now at Melbourne. He has the capability and is exactly the same height.

[tonyh]

Without any new recruits

FF : Long Marshall Battle
I'd take the g off lon and put in ie. Long yet to prove himself I would suggest.
Jury perhaps out on Battle I would say, but hopefully will be good as a 3td tall

HF : Gresham Membrey Billings
Sounds good!

C : Sinclair Acres Ross
Sounds good. Hope Acres picks up from late last season. Ross on wing may be ok.

HB : Webster Carlisle Roberton
Hope Roberton can play. If so, a good line!

FB : Clark Austin Geary
May need a 3rd tall. I think Clark will be good.


R : Pierce Steele Steven
Steele could be a gun player.

Int : Phillips, Paton, Coffield, Bruce

I think Coffield will be good. Bruce needs to get back to marking overhead as he did 2-3 seasons ago.

[mad saint guy]

I think the rest of the team is very relevant when deciding how to structure the forward line, so with that in mind if I could pick a 22 to have the best chance at winning a game from our full list right now (no injuries) it would be this:

B: Webster, Austin, Geary
HB: Roberton, Carlisle, McKenzie
C: Acres, Steele, Sinclair
HF: Billings, Marshall, Gresham
F: Membrey, Bruce, Long

Foll: Hickey, Steven, Ross
Int: Clark, Dunstan, Newnes, Savage

Given that we don't have any mids who can go forward and take a grab or even play out of the goalsquare ala Danger and Dusty I think it's absolutely necessary that we play 3 marking forwards. Going in with 2 tall forwards and deciding that Acres can fill in because he's over 190cm is complete stupidity, especially when one of our forward will have to spend a significant amount of time in the ruck. Marshall has shown that he knows where to lead, he's decent overhead, usually a good field kick and usually a poor kick a goal - so he plays high CHF. Membrey is our most talented forward and should always be an option inside 50. Bruce is the best athlete of our forwards, is a decent kick for goal and can trouble any defender on the lead; if his hands are good he kicks 40+ easily each year. I was really looking forward to seeing what Bruce could do when he's not in the shadow of Roo but his year was ruined by injury.

That leaves us with McCartin and Battle. Battle only turned 20 today and I'm sure he will force his way into the side eventually because he's just too good at footy to miss out. However he might need another year or two of development before he demands a spot. He is a smart, natural forward with good skills, great defensive pressure and a massive tank. McCartin is a smart natural forward with ordinary skills, no defensive pressure and a poor tank. I don't see him making it at AFL level. To make it as such a limited athlete you need to be an imposing monster who takes his chances. McCartin hasn't shown an ability to convert simple shots, he regularly drops uncontested marks and usually can't play more than 3 quarters of the match because of his diabetes.