Prediction 2017 Round 1 Starting 22

[Kevvo]

I can't see a scenario where we move Close (who is in form and has only played forward at senior level IIRC) to the backline and replace him with McStay (who has shown good signs in the backline).

I share the widely held concern that McStay switches off too often to be a great backline player, but has had decent games back there. He'd be the first cab off the rank in my eyes.

 

[jackess]

We have to keep in mind a lot of the KPPs we are talking about are 21 or 22 and a long way from their potential.

 

[a mayes ing]

Close was our best forward on the weekend. No way he's switching down back.

Huh
Did he even get a goal? Was unsighted for most of the match apart from 2 or 3 good things.

 

[a mayes ing]

I reckon in the next game Gardiner is going to be placed on the 2nd key forward to get him ready for GC

 

[Kevvo]

Huh
Did he even get a goal? Was unsighted for most of the match apart from 2 or 3 good things.

14 disposals, 5 marks and 3 tackles for a KPF in a side that shut down for most of the second half.

Unsighted?

 

[jackess]

Huh
Did he even get a goal? Was unsighted for most of the match apart from 2 or 3 good things.

He didn't play a brilliant game but presented a lot better than the rest. Had 5 marks. Freeman, Schache and Walker had 4 between them.

He had 14 possessions so if you didn't notice him you perhaps needed to pay more attention.

 

[chopperduck]

Was involved in the play all day. He isnt the type of forward that will kick bags of 5. He just needs to be involved, take marks and be a presence. If he can chip in with 1-2 goals a game that will be a great return for a KPF his age. We should expect more than that from any of our forwards.

 

[jackess]

Was involved in the play all day. He isnt the type of forward that will kick bags of 5. He just needs to be involved, take marks and be a presence. If he can chip in with 1-2 goals a game that will be a great return for a KPF his age. We should expect more than that from any of our forwards.

Workhorse. Did have a couple of marks inside 50 but after spraying the first shot he didn't have the confidence to go again.

 

[Lions Lions]

Close was our best forward on the weekend. No way he's switching down back.

Am only throwing it up for close to do the job for 1 game. Closey was very reasonable on the weekend but not outstanding. Hipwood and McStay to go back for round 1 off limited prep would be tough and McStay has been training heavily with the forward group. I do think Closey will play a lot of football this year and will probably keep Walker in the twos.

 

[a mayes ing]

Bit surprised at the number of disposals he had but seriously, he contributed no goals to the game. The ball was still in our f50 for him to make an impact which he didn't do.
I get the feeling that the previous regime just wanted the older forwards (Walker) etc to just make a presence, take the experiened defender and make sure that the defender doesn't get the mark inorder to protect Schache. I reckon that was what Walker was told to do, with goals a secondary objective. He was much better that Leuey tho.

I just think that we can't do that anymore, we need forwards who gets goals, contributes to the team score otherwise we will always have low scores. Schache is a 2nd year player and really should be playing reserves to get hi confidence up and to keep developing him. For Close to be the number 1 KPF, he really should be getting 2-3 per game and l don't think that is too much to ask, not even 1 per quarter. He has the body now to compete with most AFL defenders.

 

[Kevvo]

Bit surprised at the number of disposals he had but seriously, he contributed no goals to the game. The ball was still in our f50 for him to make an impact which he didn't do.
I get the feeling that the previous regime just wanted the older forwards (Walker) etc to just make a presence, take the experiened defender and make sure that the defender doesn't get the mark inorder to protect Schache. I reckon that was what Walker was told to do, with goals a secondary objective. He was much better that Leuey tho.

I just think that we can't do that anymore, we need forwards who gets goals, contributes to the team score otherwise we will always have low scores. Schache is a 2nd year player and really should be playing reserves to get hi confidence up and to keep developing him. For Close to be the number 1 KPF, he really should be getting 2-3 per game and l don't think that is too much to ask, not even 1 per quarter. He has the body now to compete with most AFL defenders.

He had two marks in 50 IIRC which set up shots on goal. One was a bad kick, which happens, and he passed off the other because he was at a bad angle. I don't think it's right to say that he didn't create any offensive threat. He didn't convert in this instance, but if he keeps creating opportunities then he'll chip in with goals.

Of any of our forwards, I see him as the most likely to tick over with one or two each week.

As an aside, one per quarter could win him the Coleman, and only three forwards in the comp averaged 3 per game last year.

 

[winged1]

Bit surprised at the number of disposals he had but seriously, he contributed no goals to the game. The ball was still in our f50 for him to make an impact which he didn't do.
I get the feeling that the previous regime just wanted the older forwards (Walker) etc to just make a presence, take the experiened defender and make sure that the defender doesn't get the mark inorder to protect Schache. I reckon that was what Walker was told to do, with goals a secondary objective. He was much better that Leuey tho.

I just think that we can't do that anymore, we need forwards who gets goals, contributes to the team score otherwise we will always have low scores. Schache is a 2nd year player and really should be playing reserves to get hi confidence up and to keep developing him. For Close to be the number 1 KPF, he really should be getting 2-3 per game and l don't think that is too much to ask, not even 1 per quarter. He has the body now to compete with most AFL defenders.

But he is playing way up the field that is just not realistic. it is more important the Forwards function as a group and if Close is dragging the no 1 defender up the field and linking the play he is playing his role.

 

[jackess]

Bit surprised at the number of disposals he had but seriously, he contributed no goals to the game. The ball was still in our f50 for him to make an impact which he didn't do.
I get the feeling that the previous regime just wanted the older forwards (Walker) etc to just make a presence, take the experiened defender and make sure that the defender doesn't get the mark inorder to protect Schache. I reckon that was what Walker was told to do, with goals a secondary objective. He was much better that Leuey tho.

I just think that we can't do that anymore, we need forwards who gets goals, contributes to the team score otherwise we will always have low scores. Schache is a 2nd year player and really should be playing reserves to get hi confidence up and to keep developing him. For Close to be the number 1 KPF, he really should be getting 2-3 per game and l don't think that is too much to ask, not even 1 per quarter. He has the body now to compete with most AFL defenders.

2-3 goals a game would be about 50 in a season. That would have put him in the top 10 of the coleman last season. That is a lot to ask for a young key forward in a team that is likely to win the spoon or at best be in the bottom 3.

 

[a mayes ing]

But he is playing way up the field that is just not realistic. it is more important the Forwards function as a group and if Close is dragging the no 1 defender up the field and linking the play he is playing his role.

I understand what you are saying but if his primary job is to just drag the defender up the field (while giving it off after taking a mark) then who is going to get all the goals? We don't really have any goal-kicking midfielders, apart from McCluggage. Zorko might get 2/3 goals in a game but he could just as easily get 0. Schache could get 2 goals in a game but he is inconsistent and could just as easily get 0.

I have no problem if he goes up the field but he also needs to be consistently getting goals as a primary KPF imo. Maybe 3 goals was a tad optimistic but averaging 2 goals is realisitic with the odd game getting 3.

 

[winged1]

I understand what you are saying but if his primary job is to just drag the defender up the field (while giving it off after taking a mark) then who is going to get all the goals? We don't really have any goal-kicking midfielders, apart from McCluggage. Zorko might get 2/3 goals in a game but he could just as easily get 0. Schache could get 2 goals in a game but he is inconsistent and could just as easily get 0.

I have no problem if he goes up the field but he also needs to be consistently getting goals as a primary KPF imo. Maybe 3 goals was a tad optimistic but averaging 2 goals is realisitic with the odd game getting 3.

But as I said if he is playing his role you are asking him to also make up the short comings of others.

It is more about having a balance, a gunston type would be useful and a genuine crumber. I like the Hawks set up which makes them quite unpredictable and many goals not coming from the keys.

 

[a mayes ing]

But as I said if he is playing his role you are asking him to also make up the short comings of others.

It is more about having a balance, a gunston type would be useful and a genuine crumber. I like the Hawks set up which makes them quite unpredictable and many goals not coming from the keys.

His role isn't to just go uiip the field tho. Pretty sure Fagan wants him getting majors as well.

The Hawks team a few years ago had Roughy and Franklin getting quite a few goals between them.
The reason why the Hawks team gets so many goals through unpredictable ways i that their midfielders are consistent and always seem to get a goal a game. Our players don't do that, some games they get a goal and some games they dont. Rocky spends most time in midfield. Rich gets tagged out of game. Zorko is alright but inconsistent goal kicker. I just don't think we have the cattle to replicate the Hawks forward structure.

 

[winged1]

Actually they play one big gorilla fwd, gunston as a tall hit up, breust as the medium lead and Cyril and puopolo as the smalls. it is just a nice structure. They then roll a ruckmen or a mid through. Franklin hasn't been there for years.

But if you are saying our midfield, which is supposed to be our strength, is the problem defensively and offensively, then I agree. Unfortunately beams can't fix it all (if/when he gets back )

 

[a mayes ing]

Actually they play one big gorilla fwd, gunston as a tall hit up, breust as the medium lead and Cyril and puopolo as the smalls. it is just a nice structure. They then ruckmen or a mid through. Franklin hasn't been there for years.

But if you are saying our midfield, which is supposed to be our strength, is the problem defensively and offensively, then I agree. Unfortunately beams can't fix it all (if/when he gets back )

The problem is not only our midfield, but we don't have that big gorilla gwd who competes for the Coleman. Cyril is x-factor, probably Zorko could have been like him but he is in the midfield now, and we don't have a genuine crumber. We need more guys who consistently hit the scoreboard and part of the reason is because we don't get the ball in our f50 enough and the other part is the players through lack of quality, development etc.

 

[Leemas]

Close is lightyears ahead as our best KPF. His performance on the weekend was very encouraging and I still expect him to kick 40+ this year.

 

[winged1]

The problem is not only our midfield, but we don't have that big gorilla gwd who competes for the Coleman. Cyril is x-factor, probably Zorko could have been like him but he is in the midfield now, and we don't have a genuine crumber. We need more guys who consistently hit the scoreboard and part of the reason is because we don't get the ball in our f50 enough and the other part is the players through lack of quality, development etc.

The problems are in all areas, we also dont link well from defense to midfield and then to the forward line. Once it is forward we are actually pretty efficient, but we cant win games with only 30 inside 50s, that needs to be addressed first.

 

[Skoob]

His role isn't to just go uiip the field tho. Pretty sure Fagan wants him getting majors as well.

The Hawks team a few years ago had Roughy and Franklin getting quite a few goals between them.
The reason why the Hawks team gets so many goals through unpredictable ways i that their midfielders are consistent and always seem to get a goal a game. Our players don't do that, some games they get a goal and some games they dont. Rocky spends most time in midfield. Rich gets tagged out of game. Zorko is alright but inconsistent goal kicker. I just don't think we have the cattle to replicate the Hawks forward structure.

Are you looking to compare our team to the best team of the last 10 years?
Are you expecting Close to be playing like Roughy or Franklin?
Do you think our midfield should be as efficient as Hawthorn's?
We have a little way to go, you're right.

 

[Fatcat08]

I'm still backing Close to do quite well on the scoreboard this season. Its interesting when you start looking at forwards in his draft year. There's really Daniher, Membrey and Close. the fact that he missed most of last year is a big bummer as both of the others really stepped up. Daniher is a fair bit more talented but if you look at Membrey he went from 12 Games 9 Goals in 2015 to 17 games 44 goals last year despite only averaging 2 extra possessions.

I'm not ruling out something similar from close even if the goal tally isn't quite that high. Even someone like Lynch didn't take his tally above a goal a game until his 4th season actually playing AFL. This will be close's 4 season actually playing. Will be interesting to see how he goes.

As for writing him off as a goal scoring threat after one pre season game, that seems a bit silly in a game where Lynch had 4 less possessions and the same number of shots on goal in a side that 16 more inside 50's than the opposition.

 

[a mayes ing]

Are you looking to compare our team to the best team of the last 10 years?
Are you expecting Close to be playing like Roughy or Franklin?
Do you think our midfield should be as efficient as Hawthorn's?
We have a little way to go, you're right.

No, l am identifying the differences between our team and Hawthorn's and why our forward structure won't work like theirs.

 

[a mayes ing]

As for writing him off as a goal scoring threat after one pre season game, that seems a bit silly in a game where Lynch had 4 less possessions and the same number of shots on goal in a side that 16 more inside 50's than the opposition.

I am assuming this is directed at me?
BigFooty: taking a comment and making a completly new statement out of it
I am not writing him off at all, not even sure where you saw that tbh. I am saying that as a forward, he needs to score goals. That is one of the main criterias for being a forward. He seems to be doing most other things fairly well (defensive pressure, disposals, tackling etc) but he still needs to help with the scoreboard. Yes he produced shots on goals, but if he can't kick accurately, then what is the point.

In saying that, l still believe Close should be in our team as the number 1 KPF. Freeman, although looked pretty good with his defensive tackling. Big increase in what he was performing last year

 

[BrizzyBandit]

FB: Hipwood Andrews Mayes
HB: Cutler Mcstay Allison

C: McClugg. DBeams Zorko
Fol: Smith. Rockcliff Mathieson

HF: Robinson Schache Rich
FF: Freeman Close Christensen

BENCH Bastinac, Bewick, Martin, Taylor