Gilbert up forward

[StNoodles]

Obviously we don't have too much to go on, but the signs are good imo.

Saw him lead up nicely a couple of times, and i think he has a nice penetrating boot into the fwd 50.

Worth persisting with over the next month or so.

[SAINT JUMP]

dont agree left him there to long

[Spinner]

Absolutely not.

Gilbert is a defender. Needs to be running forward to be the most damaging.

Not a forward player, at all. Don't know why they are wasting their time.

[SainterK]

I'm not so sure, if they want to persist for a couple of weeks I am willing to ride it out...

[vacuous space]

It's not exactly new. He spent significant time up front last year and spent some time on the wing. Even played a few bounces in the centre against Geelong. He's so good at ground level that his height doesn't confine him to a KP. I reckon he's another one who could play anywhere.

[SAINT JUMP]

did nothing played better when went back

[Eastern]

I liked the look of Raph Clarke up there in the last Q. Kicked a goal. Could have kicked 3 !!

[vacuous space]

did nothing played better when went back

Riewoldt would have done nothing up forward in that first half. Gilbert didn't put a foot wrong up forward. Unlike certain key forwards, he's also good at applying pressure to the opposition.

[degruch]

Please gawd no...poor effort, especially once the ball had spilled. Sloppy footballer.

[saintly_safes]

did nothing played better when went back

Riewoldt would have done nothing up forward in that first half. Gilbert didn't put a foot wrong up forward. Unlike certain key forwards, he's also good at applying pressure to the opposition.

Have to agree our foot skills were discraceful . I felt sorry for gilbert didnt get any support from the mid field, hung him out to dry several times by sloppy disposal & poor descision making. He will be a good player but think he needs to go back to the hbf get some confidence & give the team a bit more run off half back but we need to get a game plan together that is actually possitive & then we might see guys like gilbert come into their own

[widereceiver]

Absolutely not.
Gilbert is a defender. Needs to be running forward to be the most damaging.
Not a forward player, at all. Don't know why they are wasting their time.

Ah, the bleeding experts are back.

He has been groomed as a backman by two successive coaches. In his first practice matches with the club he was a HFF, kicked 5 in one, I recall.

Generally, he is a long and accurate kick for goal. More than can be said for others.

Still, go right ahead and pot him, consign him to the backline. If indications are right, the gameplan is like last year's and we will need people to stack behind the ball. He might as well be in the flood.

Rather than bagging individuals in the Fosters/Nab/Escort schemozzle, I think the gameplan is more worthy of scrutiny.

[The Fireman]

Gilbert looks much more at home in defense.
Leave him there.
Sam Fisher looked better up forward.

[Spinner]

Absolutely not.
Gilbert is a defender. Needs to be running forward to be the most damaging.
Not a forward player, at all. Don't know why they are wasting their time.

Ah, the bleeding experts are back.

He has been groomed as a backman by two successive coaches. In his first practice matches with the club he was a HFF, kicked 5 in one, I recall.

Generally, he is a long and accurate kick for goal. More than can be said for others.

Still, go right ahead and pot him, consign him to the backline. If indications are right, the gameplan is like last year's and we will need people to stack behind the ball. He might as well be in the flood.

Rather than bagging individuals in the Fosters/Nab/Escort schemozzle, I think the gameplan is more worthy of scrutiny.

Pot him? Whats wrong with being a defender?


I think he is a ripper defender? Running with forward with the ball, his spoiling, his closing speed, his pressure.

He is just not a forward - And not because of his kicking for goal.


Refer to bolded - I did.

[St Loxton]

dont quite understand the obsession with s fisher up forward. His position is across half back. All australian defender, only occasionally injected into the midfield if it is needed. We need him in our back 6. Goose will need time to get back to his best and s fisher should be there with him. I do think gilbo has potential on a forward flank, and create forward defencive pressure. Cant wait for the real stuff.

[borderbarry]

I agree with Eastern...... Raph has looked good on several occasions when played forward, but I believe he and Sam Fisher would be more effective in bursts on the ball, same as Goddard.

[mad saint guy]

Nope. He can pinch hit up forward occasionally if we need another option, but he is a much better defender. We need him to replace Max.

I think BJ showed that he can be valuable up forward, even if he just spends 5 minutes per quarter there 'resting'

[Bono]

Gilbert's main strength is his straight ahead style of play, bursting out of a pack on the half back line. God help us if he has to play forward and go both ways. That was evident in the intra club match last week. He is OK on the lead but his kicking is poor as is his ability to double back.

[saint66au]

Lets suspend judgement til we get some decent ball out of the centre

Gilbo spent his whole time in attack leading hard against the boundary because of our obsession with avoiding the corridor

Dont forget also that Gilbo will play in defence...every time we employ the 18-man flood, which on last night's viewing will be most times the opposition are in attack

[bobmurray]

Gilbert won't be a Key Forward based on what i've seen so far....

He is one of our best 6 backmen and that's where he should stay....

It's a real worry that we are not developing any Key Forwards...

Roo can look forward to being double and triple teamed again this season....

[ace]

Yeah I thought those goals Gibert and McEvoy got in the first 2 quarters were fantastic too.
Did anyone else notice that the Gilbert and McEvoy forward line was a total flop against a less than AFL standard defence.

[StNoodles]

Seems Gilbo did fairly well against the Dogs..

Can anyone at the game give us more of an inisght into his performance?

[skeptic]

can't have an entire team of running backs

we need a medium sized forward ala Hamil and i think Gilbert fits the mould the best

[Pwoit]

I was at the praccy game and Gilbo look fairly well suited to playing a forward role. Is strong over head and is a good long kick.

Seems others at the game were looking for negatives in everyones game.
I go to enjoy the positives.

FFS its preseason practice matches - stop worrying!!

[Batnoe]

At this point in time he is the player most suited to the 3rd tall role today. The other guys that might eventually play this position havent played a game for us yet.

Play him there, if we get an injury to Roo or Kosi he can fill in at FF or CHF, he is tall, has good hands, is fit and is a long kick

why cant he play in the forward line?

[vacuous space]

why cant he play in the forward line?

He can and, at this stage, it looks like he will. He's quick, he's strong and he's aggressive. He can cover a lot of ground and kick the ball a long way. He loves to tackle and, with his speed, is great at applying pressure.

Having a guy like him up forward allows us to be a lot more flexible with our structure. I think that's one of the strengths of this club at the moment - we have several players who could line up anywhere. That makes it very tough for opposing coaches to prepare for us.