Our forward line in '08

[TwoBlueEyes]

haha you take out the prize for the best carlton supporter! i reckon bradshaw will start the season up front so he can get some match fitness but i woldn't be suprised if he moves down back midseason which would allow clark to play and develop at FF. Brown, Brennan, Clark and Bradshaw in the forward line at the same time is just a bit to tall for my liking.

Geez, hate to have that problem, too many tall forwards

We have one forward of note, and a crack-pot at that

O to have a Henderson, Collier, Clark, Tyler, Leuenberger in the wings

 

[TheCoach]

haha you take out the prize for the best carlton supporter! i reckon bradshaw will start the season up front so he can get some match fitness but i woldn't be suprised if he moves down back midseason which would allow clark to play and develop at FF. Brown, Brennan, Clark and Bradshaw in the forward line at the same time is just a bit to tall for my liking.

Don't forget, although Brown is a tall he has the freakish ability to play small. Very mobile and great at ground level. Brisbane is a warm city so most games will be dry and a tall forward will stretch a few backlines provided the Lions midfield also make options running forward.

 

[POBT]

Other than Brown, none of our forwards are bankable commodities. There's some promise with guys like Clark and Hooper, there are some triers in Copeland and Mills and Bradshaw is a real wildcard. While incredibly disappointing, it would not be a total surprise if our forward line fails to function in a number of games, particularly early in the season. I think TheCoach's summation is pretty close to being on the money.

 

[greendiesel]

I withdraw post #21...Sorry Coach.

 

[TwoBlueEyes]

Potential is a great thing; you'd rather have it than not

Look at pre season 2007, who would've thought Geelong would have had such a high scoring forward line:

This is what I would've thought at the start of 2007

Mooney: Average CHF with anger management problems and a servicable player on a good day.

Ottens: Massively overhyped/overpriced ruck/forward who hasn't done anything really.

N.Ablett: Ablett in name only

G.Ablett: Lazy midfielder with endless potential.

Chapman: Gun player, who tries his heart out every time he takes the field.

Stokes: Little crumber who looks weird

Things change pretty quickly in the AFL

 

[xplo]

but if we went big then i guess Brennan would play up the field a bit and Copes could slot in on a flank:

Things can change quickly, but judging by his training routine -- he's smashed PBs for beep and 3km -- and from what he's said himself, and from what Leigh has said, Brennan will be tried in the middle, at least for the start of the year.

``He's done most of the training for a start, I guess over the start of his career he has had interruptions quite regularly but over the last 12 months he's been able to play better and if you get continuity you'll improve, and that gives him the option of playing in the midfield.

``I thought he showed good glimpses in those 10 minutes.''

 

[Bonz]

Your forward line will be unstoppable next year but its going to be even better with the best midfield in the comp kicking it down to them....

Charman to black,lappen,johnstone,power,ritchitelli,sherman,brennen,selwood the list goes on and on that is alot of certer clearences right there for you guys and kicking it down to brown bradshure hooper clark henderson copeland mcgraph you guys will be unstoppible only issue is you defence....merret is very serviceable and doesn't leak goals drummond can clear the ball from defence to foward line in one kick but does leak goals....apart rom that patful, roe and co are going to be struggleing but hey with your mid who sais its even going to go down there.

trully envy you guys mid all sydney have is forwards and midium sized backman and a genius of a coach but then you guys have mathews.

only team in your way now is geelong but even there defence can't stop brown and co

 

[POBT]

Your forward line will be unstoppable next year but its going to be even better with the best midfield in the comp kicking it down to them....

Charman to black,lappen,johnstone,power,ritchitelli,sherman,brennen,selwood the list goes on and on that is alot of certer clearences right there for you guys and kicking it down to brown bradshure hooper clark henderson copeland mcgraph you guys will be unstoppible only issue is you defence....merret is very serviceable and doesn't leak goals drummond can clear the ball from defence to foward line in one kick but does leak goals....apart rom that patful, roe and co are going to be struggleing but hey with your mid who sais its even going to go down there.

trully envy you guys mid all sydney have is forwards and midium sized backman and a genius of a coach but then you guys have mathews.

only team in your way now is geelong but even there defence can't stop brown and co

Does anyone else's pocket suddenly feel wet and warm?

 

[Gabbatoir]

do the clark - buddy comparisons really have credence?

 

[Hollow Knight]

do the clark - buddy comparisons really have credence?

They are both extremely athletic and mobile for their height and great overhead.

Buddy is a better kick and has the ability to take a game by the scruff of the neck.

 

[Gabbatoir]

They are both extremely athletic and mobile for their height and great overhead.

Buddy is a better kick and has the ability to take a game by the scruff of the neck.

okk... doesn't sound like the worst problem to have

 

[Hollow Knight]

I still think Mitch has the potential to be an elite key forward though.

The five goals against the Pies was just a glimpse.

Once we get him fit, he'll be great to watch.

 

[LionInTheWest23]

do the clark - buddy comparisons really have credence?

I think Mitch Clark is more of a Ruckman / Foward (Think Justin Longmuire) while Buddy is more of a Foward only. Buddy seems to be stronger and a bigger build too.

They are both extremely athletic and mobile for their height and great overhead.

Buddy is a better kick and has the ability to take a game by the scruff of the neck.

And we have already seen him do that

I think we have one of, if not the best foward line going around next year.

McGrath Bradshaw Clarke
Copeland Brown Brennan

Brennan can run up into the midfield (create more space), Copeland can take a mark, Browny can do whatever he wants (Run up the ground, mark around the 50, mark inside the 50) Bradshaw & Clarke both require good, capable defenders and McGrath will just gobble up the crumbs.

Mmm 2008 here we come...

 

[acuguy]

The forward line stinks of heavy scoring, how it will actually set up is of particular interest. Brown does his best work in the forward 50, this is where he is most damaging and it is definitely easier on his body. Bradshaw also does his best work in the forward 50, he is the strong bodied hard leading forward, i always think of him as a poor mans Dunstall for want of a better description. Clark leads like a natural full forward, in the limited time we have seen of him up the field he also looks pretty good. I would think that we might find Brown in the square, with Bradshaw deep as well, this is going to test teams, Brown will draw 2 players where ever he goes, without going to training i am sure there will be a lot of dummy leading to deadish spots to open fat sides up in our forward line. The Bradshaw/Brown thing will work.

Clark will be charged mainly with the responsibility of CHF, if his body is right, i think this could be a great year for him, i see him as a player that will bring others into the game, he is excellent at ground level, a strong grab, the big question mark will be over his ability to stand body to body with defenders. There will be 3 way rotations between our big fellas.

As for smalls i cannot say any louder that i am desperate to see Power working at the feet of these blokes, his ability to get to the front and centre and his footy smarts could see him produce a 30-50 goal effort, this would also mean that Hooper and McGrath would be able to spend more time up field. I see another 3 way rotation there.

 

[LionInTheWest23]

The forward line stinks of heavy scoring, how it will actually set up is of particular interest. Brown does his best work in the forward 50, this is where he is most damaging and it is definitely easier on his body. Bradshaw also does his best work in the forward 50, he is the strong bodied hard leading forward, i always think of him as a poor mans Dunstall for want of a better description. Clark leads like a natural full forward, in the limited time we have seen of him up the field he also looks pretty good. I would think that we might find Brown in the square, with Bradshaw deep as well, this is going to test teams, Brown will draw 2 players where ever he goes, without going to training i am sure there will be a lot of dummy leading to deadish spots to open fat sides up in our forward line. The Bradshaw/Brown thing will work.

Clark will be charged mainly with the responsibility of CHF, if his body is right, i think this could be a great year for him, i see him as a player that will bring others into the game, he is excellent at ground level, a strong grab, the big question mark will be over his ability to stand body to body with defenders. There will be 3 way rotations between our big fellas.

As for smalls i cannot say any louder that i am desperate to see Power working at the feet of these blokes, his ability to get to the front and centre and his footy smarts could see him produce a 30-50 goal effort, this would also mean that Hooper and McGrath would be able to spend more time up field. I see another 3 way rotation there.

I like it when Browny roams the 50. I think we have enough quality players back in the square for him to kick to. I'd prefer to see Browny at CHF and Clarke FF, but it will be interesting no doubt.

Hehe gotta love Luke, small man who thinks he's a big man
I like the 3 man rotation idea (Hooper looks to be Electric in the midfield) but I'd rather keep it to a 2 man, and leave Mcgrath as a more permenant foward, I think he works really well with Big Browny, and is just deadly around the big sticks.

What about Brennan? I think he really improved last year, and I just love the Triple B offense. Brown, Bradshaw, Brennan

 

[dlanod]

McGrath Bradshaw Clarke
Copeland Brown Brennan

To be honest, I'd be interested in seeing McGrath's stats on goals from the field versus goals from marks. I seem to remember him scoring the majority of his goals as an alternate leading forward to Brown, with fewer coming from crumbing. In that forward line, they're basically all leading forwards with a few extra strings to their bows (Brown and Brennan are both quite good at ground level, Bradshaw has the extra body strength to win a wrestle when not on the lead), so a proper crumbing forward might have a field day.

 

[POBT]

The only time we have 6 forwards is on paper on a Thursday night. The set-up won't include 6 guys which means at least one half forward (probably two) will actually be a part of the midfield set-up more than the forward line.

I agree with acuguy in that I see our forward line substantially enhanced with Luke Power buzzing around at the feet of the big units. I would add two provisos. Firstly, it seems to me that Power has lost some of the goal sense that he had as a young bloke. It is probably a by-product of spending almost all of his time in the midfield or across half back. He would probably get it back but I'm not sure he's a 50 goal a year forward anymore - but he might set up that many which is the benefit of having someone of his class playing further forward. Secondly, the risk of putting Power up forward is the loss of class and experience in the midfield. Power is currently an onball man almost exclusively. Putting him in a rotation through the forward line would weaken our onballers at times, unless the young guys can step up.

I would like to see Power play more forward of the pack rather getting into it or skirting behind it - I want him to be the one delivering the ball inside 50. It is a little like the role Aker used to play for us when he went into the midfield.

I see a possible structure as this:

Goal line: Bradshaw Copeland
30m: Brown

50m+: Hooper Mills Power

The names might change (eg Clark would push for a spot in there somewhere, McGrath instead of Copeland etc) but I think the structure stays pretty much the same - the only possible structural change is including a further tall option on roughly the same line as Brown and taking a half forward away to play as a second defensive option closer to goal. It would then possibly look like this:

Goal line: Bradshaw Copeland
30m: Brown Clark
30-50m: Hooper

50m+ Mills Power


The half forward line are forwards in name only. Effectively, they are forward running midfielders, operating primarily between the 50 arcs.

While it is easier and more traditional to refer to the "back 6" and the "front 6", in reality neither end of the ground has the full compliment anymore. I mean, there would have been times last year that Mills barely stepped inside the forward 50 during a match and yet, the closest position name for his role was centre half forward. While team lists will still refer to 5 lines of 3 plus 3 followers, the reality is much different.

 

[LionInTheWest23]

The only time we have 6 forwards is on paper on a Thursday night. The set-up won't include 6 guys which means at least one half forward (probably two) will actually be a part of the midfield set-up more than the forward line.

Mmmm true, but I'd like to see at least 3 talls besides Brown. I'd put Bradshaw in the square, who needs a real full back. Strong one on one, but also good on the lead. McGrath in the pocket.

Mitch Clark or Brennan in the other pocket. I've heard Brennan wants to have a go in the midfield, so this could be a rotation with Mitch Clark going into the ruck, with Charman or Brennan alternating.

Copeland & Brown on the 30-50. I thought Copeland went well leading out & marking around the 50 last year. Brown can pull down anything at half back, or run with the flight scare the pants off the opposition.

I'd just rather see 5 men man on man inside our 50, than 3 man on man, and 2 on Brown. If teams want to go man on man and still double team Brown then put the extra man in the midfield and get better delivery.

 

[weevil]

Things can change quickly, but judging by his training routine -- he's smashed PBs for beep and 3km -- and from what he's said himself, and from what Leigh has said, Brennan will be tried in the middle, at least for the start of the year.

I was so keen on seeing JB2 run around in the middle tonight. I reckon he is going to turn it on big time this year.

He and Mitch are my ones to watch.

 

[BigCat2]

weevil don't you usually make a call at the start of the year on who's going to come good?

What's your call this year? Go on...

 

[weevil]

weevil don't you usually make a call at the start of the year on who's going to come good?

What's your call this year? Go on...

That was my bloody call!!!!

Mitch didn’t train and JB2 didn’t do anything special but that’s my call for the year.

...I suppose this should be in the intra thread...oh well stuff it, the mods can sort it out.

 

[FFB1]

As for smalls i cannot say any louder that i am desperate to see Power working at the feet of these blokes, his ability to get to the front and centre and his footy smarts could see him produce a 30-50 goal effort, this would also mean that Hooper and McGrath would be able to spend more time up field. I see another 3 way rotation there.

Dont want to state the obvious (but I will otherwise you'd have no idea what I was saying), but the inclusion of Johnstone into the midfield and the development and improvement (hopefully) of Rischa and Stiller and the re-emergence of Sherman should enable Luke to play a more forward role, even if it is in bursts.

Spewing about the weather up there guys, there was article in the Herald Sun yesterday about our practice game and massive news that JB is 2 months ahead of last year in terms of fitness and preseason, thats beaut news.

On that note, when I read he's had 'his best preseason to date' my mind wandered back to Nick Holland and David Bourke's last seasons - normally 'best preaseason' is reserved for players who are on their last chance.

 

[Hollow Knight]

On that note, when I read he's had 'his best preseason to date' my mind wandered back to Nick Holland and David Bourke's last seasons - normally 'best preaseason' is reserved for players who are on their last chance.

Browny's no different.

If we don't see any improvement from Jonathan this year, he'll be a candidate for delistment.

Has been a passenger for too long.

 

[beatnik]

hear hear - he's such a bludger

 

[Sherminator.]

He's fat too, 110kg! Stop woofing down cheesies and go for a run JB!


I wouldn't say that to him in real life...