How do we fix the forward line?

_tippa4lyfe · June 12, 2016, 7:12am

Sam Day (Suns) is clunking them today.
He’s out of contract.

Might be a better cheaper option than Patton or Jenkins.

I would chip into the salary to try and lure Peter Wright to come. Kid will be a jet

anon12285009 · June 12, 2016, 8:34am

Hooker JD and Brown will be our 3 talls with Belly probably to spend some time there.

A gun small specialist forward would be handy

benfti · June 12, 2016, 8:43am

Small forwards are easy to find, just give me a pick.

efc1robbo · June 12, 2016, 8:57am

Small forwards are easy to find, just give me a pick.

the problem is when we do draft one we don’t give them a proper chance at cementing themselves in the side.

ALBIE_YEO · June 12, 2016, 9:02am

Small forwards are easy to find, just give me a pick.

And when he finally gets a game we will play him at CHF , or as a HBF. You know I’m right.

darkknightpheonix · June 12, 2016, 9:19am

Parish and zerret are mids and will start there regardless of who returns next year.

That’s a problem alot of people aren’t seeing yet though.
Where do you play stanton ?
where do you play watson ?
heppell ?
coyler ?
Goddard?
Hocking ?
myers ?

and prolly a couple of others i’m missing. All are midfielders or want to play there. not all can fit in there.
who do you honestly think is gonna get first crack at starting mid next year ?

If zerrett and parish are in there great, but i’m betting unless injury restricts someone, they won’t be starting mid and will spend less than 50 % gametime in there, until the dust settles from the old guys returning.

which does nothing for the forwardline IMO because again we would be trying to force midfielders to play up there, instead of finding forwards who can cover in the midfield for short bursts.

There’s way too many essendon culture mistakes that have continued on this year, despite half the list gone from last year and new coaches, for me to say or feel confidence Zerrett and parish would be starting mids next year, above and beyond other “senior” players.

Ants · June 12, 2016, 9:28am

I think this is overly pessimistic. Worsfold has never had those guys on the park, he’ll be use to the youngsters. And we don’t how guys like Stanton and Watson come back. They may even struggle to get into the side. Or not.

darkknightpheonix · June 12, 2016, 10:59am

I think this is overly pessimistic. Worsfold has never had those guys on the park, he'll be use to the youngsters. And we don't how guys like Stanton and Watson come back. They may even struggle to get into the side. Or not.

This is why i reckon it’s gonna be a cluster ■■■■ next season, cos really it’s a no win situation.
Those 2 come back and aren’t performing
If you don’t drop them you’re coaching from a position of guilt
if you do drop them, you alienate large sections of the supporter base who will want them in the side every week, just cos they want a warm fuzzy feeling in their stomach, that a wronged player is not treated badly.

And you think it’s pessimistic of me to suggest 2 players who have been the cornerstone of our midfield for the last 10 odd years, will walk straight back into the midfield ? right.

But no there’s a selling point to get them to re commit, “hey watto and stanton, um yeah we want you to re sign, but as of this stage cos worsfold has had parish and zerrett and his disposal, you guys will have to fight and prove your worthy of pushing them out, but um yeah we really want you to re sign and we love you and you’re totally awesome, but yeah you’re down the pecking order now, cheers.”

darkknightpheonix · June 12, 2016, 11:02am

back onto the original topic, I’ve seen a couple of forward trade threads on the trading board.
I know it’s a very long shot and it’d prolly never happen, but i’d seriously be chasing Revolt from richmond.
He’s tapered off the last couple of seasons primarily due to richmond trying to use him as a last resort and decoy alot.
But the guy can play, has class and the best part is, he can kick bags for the season and gamedays based on ■■■■■■ delivery by sub standard footballers.

He may not totally fix the forwardline, but he’d be a great stop gap to help continue to score in the current ■■■■■■ environment, until they actually do figure out how to fix the fowardline as a whole.

_tippa4lyfe · June 12, 2016, 11:13am

back onto the original topic, I've seen a couple of forward trade threads on the trading board. I know it's a very long shot and it'd prolly never happen, but i'd seriously be chasing Revolt from richmond. He's tapered off the last couple of seasons primarily due to richmond trying to use him as a last resort and decoy alot. But the guy can play, has class and the best part is, he can kick bags for the season and gamedays based on ■■■■■■ delivery by sub standard footballers.
He may not totally fix the forwardline, but he’d be a great stop gap to help continue to score in the current ■■■■■■ environment, until they actually do figure out how to fix the fowardline as a whole.

He hasnt tapered off, hes been playing a massive role for them. One of their only contributors each week.
Will never happen
Lets go after Peter Wright instead

bltn · June 12, 2016, 11:25am

Parish and zerret are mids and will start there regardless of who returns next year.

Where do you play stanton ?
where do you play watson ?
heppell ?
coyler ?
Goddard?
Hocking ?
myers ?

Centre Square Mid = CSM

Stanton…
Wing = 50mins
HB = 20mins
Forward = 20mins
Bench = 30mins

Watson…
CSM = 60
Forward = 30
Bench = 30

Heppell…
CSM = 60
Wing = 10
HB = 20
Bench = 30

Colyer…
Wing = 50
Forward = 40
Bench = 30

Goddard…
Wing = 20
HBF or +1 in Defence = 70
Bench = 30

Hocking…
CSM = 50
HB = 20
Forward = 20
Bench = 30

Myers…
CSM = 50
HB = 10
Forward = 10
Wing = 20
Bench = 30

Zaharakis…
CSM = 10
Wing = 50
Forward = 30
Bench = 30

Zerrett…
CSM = 60
Wing = 10
Forward = 30
Bench = 20

Parish…
CSM = 50
Wing = 10
Forward = 40
Bench = 20

Langford…
CSM = 20
Forward = 70
Bench = 30

Fanta…
Wing = 20
HB = 20
Forward = 50
Bench = 30

I’m assuming that we won’t have a bona fide small forward ready to go for the first half of the year.
Therefore, i’m going with a combination of Fanta, Colyer, Zaharakis, Zerrett & Parish to provide the goal sense, polish, and defensive pressure.

The bigger resting mids will provide some bench relief for Hooker, JD & Brown.
Langford and Laverde to fulfill the medium forward duties.

Some of the forward line minutes will be occupied in Defence with Goddard playing the Quarterback role, or +1.

I can’t see how Howlett makes the side when all mids are available.
Even then, if 1 was unavailable, we’d probably prefer to distribute those extra midfield minutes to Langford and Laverde.

Fanta gives Tippa a rest off HB when he needs it, so we don’t lose x-factor off HB, and Myers/Hocking/Stanton rest the medium Defenders for their Bench time.

nickers · June 12, 2016, 11:55am

I’d be interested to see how this sort of forward set-up would go next year:

HF: Langford Daniher Colyer
F: Fantasia Brown Laverde

A couple of lightning quick smalls who can kick opportunistic goals and apply pressure, two mobile key forwards and two mobile medium forwards.

With another pre-season into these kids and an improved midfield delivering the ball inside 50, I think it’s something that could really work if given time to develop.

Scorpio · June 12, 2016, 12:12pm

Small forwards are easy to find, just give me a pick.

And when he finally gets a game we will play him at CHF , or as a HBF. You know I’m right.

Or in the midfield.

bltn · June 12, 2016, 12:27pm

I'd be interested to see how this sort of forward set-up would go next year:
HF: Langford Daniher Colyer
F: Fantasia Brown Laverde

A couple of lightning quick smalls who can kick opportunistic goals and apply pressure, two mobile key forwards and two mobile medium forwards.

With another pre-season into these kids and an improved midfield delivering the ball inside 50, I think it’s something that could really work if given time to develop.

It looks good on paper Nick, and at times we’ll go with something similar, but I’d say Hooker is a lock for that FF position, and Brown has probably done his best work between 45-65 metres out.
JD can roam even further out.
Hooker will put the fear of God into most Full Backs in 2017, as I believe he has the best hands in the AFL.

I’d say it’s more likely that Laverde and Langford will share that medium forward spot, and alternate mid to get them in the play, and continue their development (both be 3rd year players next year).

The resting forwards of Jobe, Stants, Myers, Hocking(?) will be an interesting balancing act for the coaching team, as we need to ensure that we don’t become treacle slow down there.

HowManyGoal · June 12, 2016, 12:35pm

Parish and zerret are mids and will start there regardless of who returns next year.

Where do you play stanton ?
where do you play watson ?
heppell ?
coyler ?
Goddard?
Hocking ?
myers ?

Centre Square Mid = CSM
Stanton…
Wing = 50mins
HB = 20mins
Forward = 20mins
Bench = 30mins

Watson…
CSM = 60
Forward = 30
Bench = 30

Heppell…
CSM = 60
Wing = 10
HB = 20
Bench = 30

Colyer…
Wing = 50
Forward = 40
Bench = 30

Goddard…
Wing = 20
HBF or +1 in Defence = 70
Bench = 30

Hocking…
CSM = 50
HB = 20
Forward = 20
Bench = 30

Myers…
CSM = 50
HB = 10
Forward = 10
Wing = 20
Bench = 30

Zaharakis…
CSM = 10
Wing = 50
Forward = 30
Bench = 30

Zerrett…
CSM = 60
Wing = 10
Forward = 30
Bench = 20

Parish…
CSM = 50
Wing = 10
Forward = 40
Bench = 20

Langford…
CSM = 20
Forward = 70
Bench = 30

Fanta…
Wing = 20
HB = 20
Forward = 50
Bench = 30

Bingo. Nicely done. Reality would be very close to this.

bltn · June 12, 2016, 12:51pm

Thanks “HowManyGoal?”
Took me a while to do.
Not an easy exercise.

Since I mentioned a large chunk of players, and allocated said players minutes in different parts of the ground, I was curious to see what my Best 22 looks like.

I found that I had 1 player too many.
And that is even with NOT going the second Ruckman (no Belly).
No spot for Dempsey in the side (I think we have enough speed anyway).
Definitely no place for Howlett with all other mids available.

Anyhow, here is my team with Stanton currently the 23rd man…

B. Francis Hartley Baguley
HB. Tippa Hurley Hibberd
C. Zaharakis Heppell Colyer
HF. Parish JoeDan Brown
F. Laverde Hooker Fanta

Rucks. Loony Watson Zerrett

Int. Hocking Myers Goddard Langford

Stanton ???

HowManyGoal · June 12, 2016, 12:56pm

Thanks "HowManyGoal?" Took me a while to do. Not an easy exercise.
Since I mentioned a large chunk of players, and allocated said players minutes in different parts of the ground, I was curious to see what my Best 22 looks like.

I found that I had 1 player too many.
And that is even with NOT going the second Ruckman (no Belly).
No spot for Dempsey in the side (I think we have enough speed anyway).
Definitely no place for Howlett with all other mids available.

Anyhow, here is my team with Stanton currently the 23rd man…

B. Francis Hartley Baguley
HB. Tippa Hurley Hibberd
C. Zaharakis Heppell Colyer
HF. Parish JoeDan Brown
F. Laverde Hooker Fanta

Rucks. Loony Watson Zerrett

Int. Hocking Myers Goddard Langford

Stanton ???

We must have pretty similar impressions on things because that’s probably the best “best 22” I’ve seen for a while. That’s assuming Francis and Laverde develop reasonably well.

hambo · June 12, 2016, 1:03pm

In a team with Watson, Heppell, Zaharakis, Merrett, Myers, Hocking, Howlett, Stanton available, Parish and Fanta could easily be those small forwards we supposedly don’t have.

bltn · June 12, 2016, 1:04pm

I don’t know if you saw Laverde today ?
He wouldn’t have touched it much {fitness, minutes managed perhaps}, but whatever he does is class.

Injury free, he plays Seniors next year.
I have no doubt.

barnz · June 12, 2016, 1:14pm

I don't know if you saw Laverde today ? He wouldn't have touched it much {fitness, minutes managed perhaps}, but whatever he does is class.
Injury free, he plays Seniors next year.
I have no doubt.

for me hes a 50/50 mid/forward split. does great work on a wing.