Opinion Forward Line

[grimlock]

Blakey as a forward or wing? Does no one remember how bad he was playing there before moving to half back. I know he had a stinker on Grand Final but he’s one of the best ball carriers in the league. No need to cut our nose to spite our face

 

[Blood1969]

I think what the Grand Final massacre showed us, is that this forward line will win sweet FA come the business end.

We desperately need a new forward line heading into round one, or we will have the exact same outcome this time next year (if we even get that far).

I would switch Blakey up forward ASAP. He played all his junior years there and yes, I get he's an AA half back, but the GF showed him up massively.

Put Mills back as a permanent defender, no midfield time at all, and sure up that shaky defence.

I would also trade Amartey/McLean and bring in a medium size forward who is actually mobile, can work up the ground and kick goals.

We have no dynamic forwards aside from Papley.

Look at Brisbane on the weekend, 78 points from their forward line to our measley 12 points from Papley/Hayward.

That makeshift forward line with Jordon/Parker needs re-jigging or we will have another disaster this time next year.

Thoughts?

Great call on Blakey. He could tear CHF apart

 

[KingV23]

Why McCartin moved down back? My memory escapes me. Were we in need of a defender or was it just not working out for him in the Forward line?

 

[The King!]

Great call on Blakey. He could tear CHF apart

Based on what ?

 

[JackHiscoxWasFast]

Based on what ?

Think he’d be a tough match up tho not sure if it’s a great move or not. He has the height, speed on the lead, long kick, usually accurate at goal. Also think he can bring the ball to ground if needed if up against a more physical defender.

Also, he won’t leak 6 goals in a grannie should we ever get there again.

More I think about it, why not ? If we change tack to more contested footy, won’t be betting the farm on slingshot/rebound.

 

[The King!]

Think he’d be a tough match up tho not sure if it’s a great move or not. He has the height, speed on the lead, long kick, usually accurate at goal. Also think he can bring the ball to ground if needed if up against a more physical defender.

Also, he won’t leak 6 goals in a grannie should we ever get there again.

More I think about it, why not ? If we change tack to more contested footy, won’t be betting the farm on slingshot/rebound.

Blakey was horrid forward though , but guess he may have improved

 

[Nuggetz]

Blakey saved our defensive ass countless times this season as 3rd man in effecting a spoil. Any defence would get their ass kicked when the mids and forward provide zero pressure up field. Blakey going forward is a win for the opposition.

 

[Jewelsbon]

Blakey was horrid forward though , but guess he may have improved

That was a fair while ago and perhaps, after learning about being a defender would help develop his forward craft.
Not the worst idea and God knows, things need to change for us all over the park.

 

[Callipygian]

I think what the Grand Final massacre showed us, is that this forward line will win sweet FA come the business end.

We desperately need a new forward line heading into round one, or we will have the exact same outcome this time next year (if we even get that far).

I would switch Blakey up forward ASAP. He played all his junior years there and yes, I get he's an AA half back, but the GF showed him up massively.

Put Mills back as a permanent defender, no midfield time at all, and sure up that shaky defence.

I would also trade Amartey/McLean and bring in a medium size forward who is actually mobile, can work up the ground and kick goals.

We have no dynamic forwards aside from Papley.

Look at Brisbane on the weekend, 78 points from their forward line to our measley 12 points from Papley/Hayward.

That makeshift forward line with Jordon/Parker needs re-jigging or we will have another disaster this time next year.

Thoughts?

I disagree with most of this.

I don't think our forwards were the reason we lost the GF. I think our team defence was a much bigger problem. And to this end the issue with the forwards was less their lack of scoring and more the lack of pressure they applied. Caiden Cleary long term belongs in the midfield but in the short term make work well as a pressure forward. Wicks is great at applying pressure if a little inconsistent and hot-headed at times. Parker did a great job on Aliir but is not quick enough to apply pressure well but now he's leaving so no longer an issue. Konstanty was drafted in the first round to fill this exact role but hasn't come on in the way that we hoped.

I definitely don't think Blakey should return forward. He's been a revelation at half-back after a long time of experimenting to find a way to use his talents. He's a unique player that would be one of the first players oppositions would love to have in the role he's currently playing. Conversely, as a forward he didn't succeed and he's a mediocre set short (better on the run). His speed provides a lot more benefit running off half-back.

I'd love to have another "medium sized forward who is actually mobile, can work up the ground and kick goals". We already have one (Hayward). Unfortunately, they don't grow on trees. it's hard to target and trade in quality players this late in the cycle - you have to target them a way out. Whatever his faults, Stringer is a goalkicking medium sized forward (don't know about the working up the ground bit) and so I can see the appeal from that point of view.

Jordon is definitely not our problem. Has done really well this year and has looked great on the relatively few occasions he has taken shots at goal.

I think we should think hard about when the 3 tall set-up is working for us but finishing minor premiers and making the GF suggests it might be. Again, I don't think the GF was lost by our forwards.

You've got to win the ball to get it forward to start with and then kick to a Swans player.

We just spray away like a 9 year old at a urinal.

How many times Saturday in the first quarter especially did we drill a 50m kick straight down the gob of a Brissy defender standing on their own.

Horse and Co has struggled with a forward line set up that works for years. Time to get a forward to run the forward line.

Those were the days!

Horse actually is an All-Australian, Coleman-medal-winning forward. Not sure recruiting "a forward to run the forward line" is the key to solving the problems. I wish I knew what is.

 

[zyzzbruh]

McDonald needs to put on some beef.

 

[zyzzbruh]

gives me no pleasure to say that i thought parker with the three talls was an horrendous mistake. I've been saying for weeks that if parker plays it is at the expense of a tall not in addition to one. but my words have been wasted on this forum...

but there is a counter argument which i havent really been willing to grasp which goes to the lack of depth/trust ant horse has in the extended squad. what if they were the best forward options we had anyway ?

Still i cant help but to think that playing warner as the deepest man might have stretched brisbanes defence in a way which parker couldnt do.

Strongly agree. Parker had no legs left what so ever, and he essentially came in for a speedy player in Wicks.

Overall we've been quite poor since Parkers intrusion minus the prelim. And that's not a knock on Parker because he was always going to kick goals, but it definitely took away from how dynamic the forward was at the time in terms of the mix. It seemed like our scores felt more tiresome in the back end of the year.

 

[Caj]

The forward line didn’t lose us the GF, our mids were torn to shreds

Having said that, the 3 tall forward line is a throwback to the 80s and we need to go smaller and faster

Whether Longmire is capable of seeing that and making the change is highly questionable

 

[JackHiscoxWasFast]

Can’t shake the thought that for finals, Blakey would be better than any of the 3 talls. Fast, tall, long straight kick, competes in the air and can bring the ball to ground, apply forward tackling pressure.

Reckon he’d be the best forward we’ve got. All we have to sacrifice is the rebound game - which let’s face it won’t alone win a flag as the game becomes more contested in finals. An added bonus is he won’t leak goals (6) in defence.

This move alone could be the 10 goal turnaround in finals we need (assuming we put grunt in the middle of course)

 

[JimmySwan]

Can’t shake the thought that for finals, Blakey would be better than any of the 3 talls. Fast, tall, long straight kick, competes in the air and can bring the ball to ground, apply forward tackling pressure.

Reckon he’d be the best forward we’ve got. All we have to sacrifice is the rebound game - which let’s face it won’t alone win a flag as the game becomes more contested in finals. An added bonus is he won’t leak goals (6) in defence.

This move alone could be the 10 goal turnaround in finals we need (assuming we put grunt in the middle of course)

One hundred percent. We need to move Blakey forward. Yes, he's a great runner and we love his dash, but he gets exposed on the big grounds one on one.

 

[TheMase]

Blakey as a forward or wing? Does no one remember how bad he was playing there before moving to half back. I know he had a stinker on Grand Final but he’s one of the best ball carriers in the league. No need to cut our nose to spite our face

#1 Swan for metres gained per disposal

He ain’t moving forward.

 

[JackHiscoxWasFast]

#1 Swan for metres gained per disposal

He ain’t moving forward.

So who will score when we finally get it inside 50 in finals ? 3 Talls won’t and can’t rely on Papley / Hayward and we’re not drafting anyone else.

What is his metres gained per disposal in finals vs goals leaked ?

Irrelevant anyways as Horse is coaching next year so same/ same.

 

[TheMase]

So who will score when we finally get it inside 50 in finals ? 3 Talls won’t and can’t rely on Papley / Hayward and we’re not drafting anyone else.

What is his metres gained per disposal in finals vs goals leaked ?

Irrelevant anyways as Horse is coaching next year so same/ same.

We definitely need work on the forward line, but I don’t think the answer is to move our best defensive attacking weapons (and one of the best in the AFL together with his ability to be third man up), who whilst prone to the occasional error (only likely to continue to improve), is a gun there.

We can improve the forward line by changing the mix a bit, ensuring we have quick smalls who can apply pressure and possibly going with one less tall.

Creating a gap in the backline
which is arguably already a weakness especially when the forwards and mids aren’t applying adequate pressure, isn't an ideal result.

 

[Callipygian]

Can’t shake the thought that for finals, Blakey would be better than any of the 3 talls. Fast, tall, long straight kick, competes in the air and can bring the ball to ground, apply forward tackling pressure.

Reckon he’d be the best forward we’ve got. All we have to sacrifice is the rebound game - which let’s face it won’t alone win a flag as the game becomes more contested in finals. An added bonus is he won’t leak goals (6) in defence.

This move alone could be the 10 goal turnaround in finals we need (assuming we put grunt in the middle of course)

I have no idea why you describe Blakey as a "straight kick" nor why it's such a great attribute to have - unless by "straight" you mean accurate. Blakey specialises in kicking across his body, running down a wing and finding someone inboard. He doesn't only kick across his body but that's his trademark.

As for accuracy, Blakey is not an especially accurate shot. This year (albeit playing as a defender) his shot on goal accuracy was 45.5% but that is better than his career average of 42.9% over 6 seasons which included playing as a forward. There is nothing to suggest he has really improved. In the scenario of 'which Swan would you want kicking for your life' he is one of the last I'd pick.

 

[The King!]

Just surprising a team with an ex full forward as coach has struggled with forward set up even when buddy played.

Lot of bombing and lack of space for years

 

[Nuggetz]

What's our depth for Haywards position as a mid sized fwd? Would it be a Heeney? Could Florent or Fox work?

 

[GotTheGoodes]

Blakey ended up back because he did f all up forward didn't he?

I can't see them moving an AA half back who gives us our drive,

If anything get him some
midfield minutes maybe

I agree with this. Throwing him around too much might have a negative effect. I remember once he got his confidence it all started clicking for him. I'd hate to shift him to a completely different role & ruin that confidence he has built around his role.

 

[GotTheGoodes]

I’d tell the players to bulk up over the summer. The last two Grand Finals we’ve been out muscled

We were outmuscled in 2014 too. Our gamestyle values gut running & aerobic capacity over bulk. Can't have both.

Pick a style & go all in I reckon. We aren't the tough physical side. We are the flashy fast paced side that try to get you with pressure & turnovers...

Our pressure dissapeared in the GF. That was the main issue IMO. Play fast & flashy BUT you have to have more pressure applied than your opponent or it all falls apart.

That lack of pressure seemed to me to be due to a lack of adequare mental preperation. We had no answers because tactically we were picked apart because our guys didn't play to the level of pressure & desperation required for our gamestyle to work & they don't want to "blame" anyone (publicly anyway).

 

[Kiama Chris]

What's our depth for Haywards position as a mid sized fwd? Would it be a Heeney? Could Florent or Fox work?

For mine I would favour Florent at the moment for his attacking skills. Foxy has been used more defensively but Hayward's year has shown the value of playing that position more attacking.
Heeney can roll through there out of the mids but not full time please.
Warner is the other part-timer.

 

[rustycrate]

We were outmuscled in 2014 too. Our gamestyle values gut running & aerobic capacity over bulk. Can't have both.

Pick a style & go all in I reckon. We aren't the tough physical side. We are the flashy fast paced side that try to get you with pressure & turnovers...

Our pressure dissapeared in the GF. That was the main issue IMO. Play fast & flashy BUT you have to have more pressure applied than your opponent or it all falls apart.

That lack of pressure seemed to me to be due to a lack of adequare mental preperation. We had no answers because tactically we were picked apart because our guys didn't play to the level of pressure & desperation required for our gamestyle to work & they don't want to "blame" anyone (publicly anyway).

Yep.

I think in the mental preparation we were focussed on our flashy game.
Instead we should have been focussed on our man up, manic pressure on the ball etc only then does our flashy game work. We need to be on defensibly BEFORE we go offensibly.

I think this simple mindset may have been a factor.

 

[Kiama Chris]

Yep.

I think in the mental preparation we were focussed on our flashy game.
Instead we should have been focussed on our man up, manic pressure on the ball etc only then does our flashy game work. We need to be on defensibly BEFORE we go offensibly.

I think this simple mindset may have been a factor.

100%