McPharlin- Foward or back?

[legitimatic]

I put this question to all the Freo supporters here, should McPharlin be spending the majority of his time in 09 in defense or at FF?

Is he best suited to taking screamers in the goal square or lining up against the oppositions best foward and streaming out of defense?

For me he must stay back, he is our number 1 defender and it's only logical to have him back there, but I know others disagree with me.

Thoughts?

 

[paul8241]

I think it should be decided on a week by week basis. Sometimes he's the logical and best matchup, but if others can manage the task he can go n kick some goals. However, I have a more unpopular view in that I think Taz and Pav should be making the odd appearance in defence, just so they can be utilised there if the need arises.

With all the speedy little midfielder/forwards coming into the team we could really exploit a a taller, slower paced opposition backline providing all of the forwards have the versatility to go back.

 

[pinkus maximus]

yeah, use him as a swingman. I don't think he's capable of spending an entire season at FF. From memory he did that in 05 and wasn't that effective

 

[TassieSaint]

Just from a neutral point of view, next years AA CHB if he's left there. Top shelf defender, average forward.

 

[silverscope]

when i voted.
Foward - 0
Back - 9


PRetty obvious! he is better down back full stop.

 

[Chops_a_must]

Depends if you can get him lining up on Beau "Oakley"-Wilkes again. You know... the guy that supposedly can out muscle Jon Brown, but Eggshells pushed around with his pinky.

 

[legitimatic]

Funnily enough chops many West Coast supporters have him as their future FB!

If this is the case we will have a winning record over WC in no time.

 

[Chops_a_must]

Funnily enough chops many West Coast supporters have him as their future FB!

If this is the case we will have a winning record over WC in no time.

I know.

No ****ing idea.

 

[ImperialPurple]

haha - I saw it was 14-1 and before I checked I thought rgauci will be the "1".

Not that I have a problem with that.


I would like to think that he'll spend the majority of the time down back, but will be used up forward to create mismatches for the opposition when and if Harves thinks he can exploit it. He should be the "secret weapon" that pops up where and when the opposition isn't expecting it.

 

[Tundrawolf]

I guess i'm pretty 'old school' where we were always taught you put your best players forward.

 

[Tundrawolf]

I guess i'm pretty 'old school' where we were always taught you put your best players forward.

Having said that however, we just dont have enough big bodies or height in defence. But the preferred option is up forward.

 

[Archimedes]

No Brainer, McPharlin is a backman. He plays his best in the backline and is very important for our structure as he provides stability. We don't have a lot of genuine key defenders as it is, so to take him out of the backline to strengthen an area of the ground we are ok in is not smart management.

 

[Sman-21]

defiantely back.
even last year we saw when he stayed forward all game he was very inconsistant.

Hes ok to go forward when we are desperate for goals an have someone to cover for him down back.
But much greater value down back

 

[legitimatic]

Wilkes ROFL!


Had to get that out of the way *wipes tears from eyes*

Not FB, McPharlin would be the best CHB in the comp if he played down there full-time, 2009 should see that.

Back to Bay 13 now.

 

[druid11]

i hope he stays in the backline the whole year and earns himself an all australian guernsey without him i think grover will be under alot of pressure down there

 

[IbbosBFF]

Backline please.

Although, i don't mind seeing him up forward to create miss-matchs and provide a good target for no more that one quarter per game. As long as Harvs doesnt get it into his head that he should be down there for more that just an "impact" play. Either Campbell, Murphy or Bocuvaz (if he gets the chance) must step up for us this year so we dont rely on McPharlap to kick us goals.

 

[The Purple Jesus]

BACK!!!!! For christs sake this guy is in the best 2 or 3 key defenders in the league! Leave him there for 22 rounds and watch him dominate and become AA
He is a pinch hitting forward at best. Robbing Peter to pay Paul just doesnt work

 

[legitimatic]

Backline please.

Although, i don't mind seeing him up forward to create miss-matchs and provide a good target for no more that one quarter per game. As long as Harvs doesnt get it into his head that he should be down there for more that just an "impact" play. Either Campbell, Murphy or Bocuvaz (if he gets the chance) must step up for us this year so we dont rely on McPharlap to kick us goals.

Get stuffed Essenscum supporter!

 

[Docker Clint]

Where's the 'both' option. We're lucky to have a bloke that can be moved from end to end as required and have an impact.

 

[paul8241]

Where's the 'both' option. We're lucky to have a bloke that can be moved from end to end as required and have an impact.

I thought both or swingman should have been an option. But the backline is where he's AA standard.

 

[Kram]

Backline, pinch hitting up forward.

 

[fergalberk]

Would like to see him CHB as a set position, then going forward when we need to mix it up a bit.

 

[Nodgey]

Back. He'd be one of the top 3 defenders in the AFL, and his best use for us in the backline.

Unfortunately, he also happens to be a better tall forward than both Murphy and Campbell (and Warnock and Sandi), so he gets shifted up there more often than should be required.

 

[FootyEater]

i dont know too many players in the AFL, let alone at freo who can regularly play on reiwoldt/hall/brown/franklin/fevola and not have his colours lowered, i have been saying for years that elvis is the best CHB in the league, and that is where he should play.... although against teams like west coast, who have literally ZERO forwards i wouldnt mind him going up forward....... im waiting for the day when west coast realise that lynch is a dud midfielder so that they can put him back forward in a derby.... i think he had a record of 9 goals in 8 derbies on mcpharlin.... with elvis regularly pulling his pants down great times

 

[Cica]

Back, back, back!!! One of only a handful of defenders in AFL that can break even with Buddy.