Changes to forward line

[beautime]

This has been the major talking point since the Adelaide loss, and one of the reasons we lost by so much.

Surely, it cannot be hard to rectify this problem of forward pressure, with West Coast not being considered a soft team, and amongst the league leaders in tacklers.

After our first game, our forwards didn't fire up either, but no-one was complaining and acting like it was the end of the world.

After just watching the game again on bigpond footy, it was obvious we got smashed because Nicoski, Hansen, Wirra, Masten, and Ebert didn't pressure the ball enough. We didn't work hard enough to keep it in there, and with two rucks resting/playing in there, along with Lynch the problem will occur more often.

I think, we need to put Waters, and Fletcher/Staker there on the hf flanks to pressure. Beau played here in the first game and was straight in at the bounce and kicked two goals.

If Masten is to play at all he should be in the midfield. I think Ebert looked great but got pushed off the ball too easy. He shouldn't be in the forward line either.

New Forward Line;

Wirra Lynch Fletcher
Waters Hansen/Kennedy Staker

I think that is a forward line that can score and apply pressure. All are good runnings, and I don't think we would have this problem again.

 

[Lynch takes a mark]

Fletcher is a terrible forward as has been proven OFTEN over the past 3 years - midfield rotation or not in the squad

Staker never uses his pace to tackle and is a liability anywhere outside the goal square on the right opponent - tagger or defender

Wirra will kick 2-3 a game, his opponet will have 25 dispsosals and have a much bigger impact on the game - should be in defence, he works harder and is better than any other player at setting up from the back line to the midfield. The move to defence against the lions won us the game IMO

Give Masten another shot in the pocket, looked quick and smart compared to the rest of our forwards.

 

[mark johns]

staker will kick 4 goals this week
you can mark it here
unless he plays down back

 

[WC6320]

I like waters as a half forward/pocket. Kicked 2 or 3 goals in rd 1 against Brissy at the start for the small amount of time he was up there. I remember when he first came to the club he played up forward and looked quite comfortable up there.

Give him a whole game up forward I say.

 

[Spongebob]

From the games I have seen in Melbourne over the last few years, there has been plenty of drive out of the middle going over the top of the half-forward line. The forward line and on-ballers have then provided the scoring.

When that drive out of the middle, the hald-forward line has had to carry the load. This is often the area of break down, especiallythe good old fashioned hald-forward flankers.

I have been frustrated for a long time that we basically do not have a half-forward line. If just gets shown up if the middle or crumbers are not happening.

With the change of personnel since last season, it is a place I worry about.

 

[Crimson King]

My 1st forward line would be:

Wirra---Lynch---Nicoski
------------------------
Waters-Kennedy--Embley

Rotation forward line would be:

Wirra---Hansen--Nicoski
------------------------
Waters-Kennedy-Ebert

 

[Delroy]

Waters Lynch/Hansen Staker
Ebert Kennedy/Lynch McKinley

 

[bigburger]

My 1st forward line would be:

Wirra---Lynch---Nicoski
------------------------
Waters-Kennedy--Embley

Rotation forward line would be:

Wirra---Hansen--Nicoski
------------------------
Waters-Kennedy-Ebert

I like the looks of the first one. Though I think Nicoski is too bigger asset running out of defense to put deep forwards. Waters is a little different but he could be awesome at holding the ball inside 50.

 

[Cuzz09]

staker will kick 4 goals this week
you can mark it here
unless he plays down back

That would be awesome! Lets hope so.

 

[Lynch takes a mark]

My 1st forward line would be:

Wirra---Lynch---Nicoski
------------------------
Waters-Kennedy--Embley

Rotation forward line would be:

Wirra---Hansen--Nicoski
------------------------
Waters-Kennedy-Ebert

thats actually a good setup

not too tall, good dround level ability and some good marking targets.

 

[Crimson King]

Cheers guys. I think that's how we plan to play this weekend and I hope we do.

 

[bigburger]

I just hope to see a bit more confidence in our players. Then the run will come in my opinion as they will have the confidence in their fellow man to land the ball on the chest every time.

 

[WCFaithful]

If I could just sway this thread a little .......

After just watching the game again on bigpond footy

have you got a link to that which I could try? For some reason I cant access these games! Im a bigpond broadband member but if I attempt to watch any video that says "authentication required" whenever I click "login to bigpond" all i get is "access denied" when it should ask me for my username and password

any suggestions? anybody?

if not carry on

 

[Crimson King]

Oh yeh BB, I forgot to give you my explaination for Nico in the forward line.

I think he would be a good match-up for the rebounding machine Hayden. If he could snag a goal or three it would be a bonus.

 

[bigburger]

Oh yeh BB, I forgot to give you my explaination for Nico in the forward line.

I think he would be a good match-up for the rebounding machine Hayden. If he could snag a goal or three it would be a bonus.

I like that idea very much now i think of it as i rate Roger Hayden very highly. Still Hurn could probably do the same thing and is a better kick at goal so he might be a better option. Also Hurn would be a great link up in the forward line and if he does stay with Hayden his rebounding running would be very effective.

 

[beatlesmith]

If all else fails.....
Hurn at CHF. He is massive, has good pace and could slot it from 65. If we could get him leading straight up the ground he could be a weapon.

 

[Lyyynnnchy]

If all else fails.....
Hurn at CHF. He is massive, has good pace and could slot it from 65. If we could get him leading straight up the ground he could be a weapon.

Thats a bit of a bandaid solution. Hurn will never be a genuine CHF. Doesn't have great hands, IMO isnt great at leading and doesnt get very high off the ground.

Better option would be for him to be on a flank

We need a CHF who can break open packs and can take those sorts of marks. Pav, Lucas, Lloyd, B Johnson, J Brown, M Richardson, Fev, Franklin, Mooney, Hawkins, Tredrea, Hall, Rocca We need a pure Power Forward. IMO Lynch just doesnt stack up to the guys I listed

 

[Eagles!!!]

I have been thinking about WCE in near future fwd line:

HF: Waters, Lynch, Lecras
FF: Wirra, Kennedy, Embly

This is provided we have 2 players
Lecras - should be up and running in the next 4-5 weeks (hopefully)
Butler - in the midfield
Fletch - sorry
Nicko - WAFL

My def is;
HB: Bones, Hunters, Hurn
FB: Selwood, Glass, Sphanger

For this week:

HF: Embley, Ebert, Lynch
FF: Wirra, Kennedy, Waters

 

[Mop]

I have been thinking about WCE in near future fwd line:

HF: Waters, Lynch, Lecras
FF: Wirra, Kennedy, Embly

This is provided we have 2 players
Lecras - should be up and running in the next 4-5 weeks (hopefully)
Butler - in the midfield
Fletch - sorry
Nicko - WAFL

My def is;
HB: Bones, Hunters, Hurn
FB: Selwood, Glass, Sphanger

For this week:

HF: Embley, Ebert, Lynch
FF: Wirra, Kennedy, Waters

I'm curious, where would you fit Hansen in there?

 

[flyinghi64]

There is only 2 things wrong with our forward line.

1- The delivery into it is terrible, the guys coming down the ground either piss/fart around with it too much allowing the oppostion to crowd it or they kick it over the forwards heads or drop it in front of them. Solution is to kick the bludy thing in there quicker and cleaner.

2- Our 2 key forwards we keep depending on are currently not up to the job. Hansen has no heart, guts or second effort in him and Lynch can't time a lead and doesn't know where to lead. Solution is to TRY SOMEONE DIFFERENT for more than 5 minutes and tell Lynch to stay out of the 50 area, he can't kick goals from in there but he is good at delivering it into there.

 

[West Coast 06]

What about if we lined up as-

Ebert Hansen Embley
Wirra Kennedy Waters (LeCras when fit)

Then our backline would be-

Hurn Lynch Hunter
Bones Glass A Selwood

Leaves us S Selwood, Priddis, Fletcher, Braun, Stenglien, Kerr for the midfield rotations. Staker and Nicoski on the wings, Cox and Seaby rucking and going forward on rotation.

Any takers? Trying my best to stay positive here.

 

[eagles0903]

Oh yeh BB, I forgot to give you my explaination for Nico in the forward line.

I think he would be a good match-up for the rebounding machine Hayden. If he could snag a goal or three it would be a bonus.

It worked so well against McLeod

 

[beautime]

What about if we lined up as-

Ebert Hansen Embley
Wirra Kennedy Waters (LeCras when fit)

Then our backline would be-

Hurn Lynch Hunter
Bones Glass A Selwood

Leaves us S Selwood, Priddis, Fletcher, Braun, Stenglien, Kerr for the midfield rotations. Staker and Nicoski on the wings, Cox and Seaby rucking and going forward on rotation.

Any takers? Trying my best to stay positive here.

where does Waters play. I don't know about lynch backline. I think he could play hf or wing

 

[The Passenger]

Nicoski is not a forward. I haven't seen him for a good while but i think he's a far more dangerous player on the back flank or the wing...

And Wirra doesn't apply enough pressure. He's good for a couple of goals most games but his opponent can cause a lot of problems coming off the backline...

Without having seen the game the numbers aren't good at all. No one in the forward line has taken a stack of marks, and we are second last for goals kicked.

It does show how much we have relied on our midfield to come forward to kick goals in previous years...

Embley should be playing across the half forward line permenantly. He's dangerous and can take marks and kick goals. Although i think he's better on the wing, we aren't going too badly in the midfield and across the centre.

The half forward line just doesn't look potent at all.

And was Mark LeCras dropped on is he injured?? being dropped wouldn't make sense to me after last season... and if he's injured how long for??

He is a brilliant pressure player up front.

 

[wilsonstheman]

the delivery to our forwards has been terrible for a number of years...the only player i can remember seeing spear a pass straight onto the chest of a forward was judd. Even cousins just kicks it straight up in the air. They are great at winning the ball and pumping it foward but have no idea how to pass to a leading forward.

Low , flat and on the chest.