Two years ago he started like an absolute house on fire, although then got hurt and tailed off. I’m in no way a big fan of Shiel but he’s a best 22 player because his best attributes are so elite. Need to be careful in focusing too much on what a guy can’t do rather than what they can.
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The last four H&A games without Walla we scored 102, 97, 98 and 102. In the final despite WBD smashing us in the last and the umps giving them freebie shots on goal beforehand, we had four less shots on goal. Just four.
People need to take a chill pill on the forward line.
And we’ll add the Daveys at year end, and maybe appropriate players in the PSS.
Smith will be a permanent small forward this year. Could Snelling and potentially Lord and Hind at a pinch fill the gap for 12 months?
We’ll see.
Plus potentially
Tom Hird
Hobbs
or forget about nimbly sidestepping blokes - just play Voss and have him run right through opposition backs. One way to diminish the effectiveness of Daniel Dale & Johanisson is to have them all broken by quarter time.
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I think Hobbs is a real possibility. Some of the best crumpets are good in close and started/ended forward (Rockliff, Mercuri, Ablett, etc). He’s scored goals at U18 level so may be able to play the role. Perkins is another obvious candidate who didn’t start in my best 22.
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Crumpet, eh?
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good forwards (and a good forward system) are what turn entries into goals.
With the news about AMT - this is my go :
B Kelly Stewart Heppell
HB Redman Lav Ridley
C Langford Parish Durham
HF Stringer Jones Shiel
F Snelling Wright Smith
M Draper Merrett McGrath
I Guelfi Caldwell Hind Francis
23rd Baldwin
Emer /Stiff to mis : Perkins Hobbs (??) Bryan Cox Waterman Cutler Phillips - all ready backups - with the exception of Hobbs.
The reason/ plan for Baldwin as 23rd man is for him to come on in the 3rd quarter. Also to build up his confidence and match awareness.
This position could also be Cox or even Bryan - we need to stretch the oppositions defense and find the goals Hooker scored.
Francis is first option, but not a key forward in my opinion. Having a 3rd tall will likely make Wrights , Jones and even Francis life easilier with hopefully reduced multiple defenders trying to spoil their marking attempts if there is a 3rd tall option defenders need to be aware of.
The bench has enough flexibility to cover all positions and having a third tall in the forward line - allows Stringer more midfield time - without reducing the marking forwards also allows Francis to play as a more floating half back to half forward marking target.
l don’t think that we will be too tall, but others may have a different view.
I think we learnt last year that if a mid goes down, we need a mobile player as 23rd man, otherwise we are down a rotation. So maybe Cox, but I’d rather the others learn match awareness in the VFL.
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changes: Out walla In: Francis (was sub)
Sub: Hobbs
Francis was a bit stiff originally and has been training the house down.
my guess is we will see Smith permanent forward pocket and likely Caldwell/Shiel/Mcgrath spend time in forwardline too, maybe even parish 
& Merrett too.
Hobbs preseason going well so he gets a chance.
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I’d be looking at ham and hobbs as small forward options with tippa out. Also on shiel he is a decent player but he is just so one dimensional, it’s either centre bounce or bust, I’ve never seen him be even a slight threat when resting as a forward.
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Hobbs should play every game he can this year over Ham.
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Ham should be spending all off season practicing snaps off both feet and getting front and centre. I actually think he could be handy as a small forward because he is quick, gets up and down the ground to defend and has a good kick and shot at goal when he isn’t ■■■■■■■ himself and just bombing it.
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Forward rotating midfield
Damn you Apple! 
I’d be looking for a died-in-the-wool small forward, personally. Even if Tippa does get back, it’s a list gap going forward.
The opposition will be toast with Hobbs buttering his craft up forward
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At least he didn’t waffle
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Agree with that it should have been a priority in the off season with tippa’s issues. I don’t know who is available now, Carlton delisted a small forward and st Kilda delisted lonie but they are both ordinary by all reports.
Raises the bat for post number 1,000 on this thread
Back line
Laverde Stewart Kelly
Heppell Ridley Hind
Midfield
Draper Parish McGrath
Cox Merrett Durham
Forward line
Snelling Jones Stringer
Francis 2MP Smith
Int: Shiel (mid/forward rotation) Caldwell (mid rotation) langford (mid/forward rotation) redman (defender rotation)
Sub: Perkins (not sure who I’d keep out for him even though I’m a big fan)
Emg: Guelfi, Hobbs, Hurley, Bryan
Stringer start on ball for half of the centre bounces then drift forward.
Tippa in if he comes back fit.
Pumped to see how Reid goes.
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