strongest forward line of all time

[Pure_Ownage]

Interesting theory.

I wonder if opposition teams will load up their back-lines initially with more defenders and simply play an outright, continual flood against us? If so, we might be able to get more numbers around the ball in the midfield and get more take-aways from the clearances.

Not all sides will, we won't.
But some will...so expect the Lyon cage to become the 'Lyon' * permanent sit in

*= can be substituted with name of coach of any other club that also does it.

 

[whatboutbob]

Just occurred to me that with Fev's addition Rischa is likely to be a much more potent player now, even without any likely improvement over the pre-season.

His tendency to win a clearance and then just bomb long into the forward line with his head down, more often than not to the opposition player filling the hole in front of Brown, has frustrated me for ages.

That con has now just about been turned into a pro, through no doing of his own.

 

[Nuggo]

You're still no match for Geelong's backline.

Wouldn't be so sure about that now. Our marking power and goal kicking pressure power is off the scale. Where you guys may give us trouble is rebound attack if it goes to ground. The pressure is on our smaller forwards to keep the ball in the forward fifty. Can't wait for this game. Your midfield will still give us a touch up though....great team Geelong.

 

[dlanod]

Potential Lions spine

Merret - Bradshaw - Clark - Brown - Fevola

New game plan, kick it LONG!

New game plan, same as the old game plan?

 

[weevil]

I think there are going to be 3 critical improvements to our team next year.

I agree with others that having both Berger and Charman available is going to allow us to move Mitch to CHB. Mitch has the size, speed, endurance and reach to match it with any key forward in the league. He also has the proven ability to read the play from the back and to be a tremendous rebounding linking option.

Along with Merrett, Mitch will be a strong central pillar that the rest of the defenders can be structured around. Patfull, Drummond, McGrath have all become battle hardened, top shelf medium/small attacking defenders.

I personally am extremely confident that Raines will recapture his early career form; second in the Rising Star, second in Richmond’s club championship and an international rules representative. He now has a coach who believes in him 100% and will thrive in a stable, supportive environment. He will add some serious bash, crash and dash to our side.

Second our depth across the midfield is also going to be significantly improved. Brenanan, Adcock and Polkinghorne can all be released from their other roles to be permanent parts of the rotation.

If any one of Buchanan, Clarke or Staker produce their best consistently they will be very significant contributors. If not they can still be handy contributors.

All this will mean that guys like Proud and Harding will not be able to hold their spots with low possession games and Johnstone will know that he will have to perform week in week out to stay in the team. Quite a number of regular midfield players from this year will be in the same boat.

When we come up against the top teams we will not be doing it with a team half full of skinny kids.

And thirdly, yes we will have another fairly handy bloke up front who can kick a goal or 8.

 

[whatboutbob]

Second our depth across the midfield is also going to be significantly improved. Brenanan, Adcock and Polkinghorne can all be released from their other roles to be permanent parts of the rotation.

Do you really think we'll try Adcock in the middle again? (genuine question, not a troll)

 

[Ferris_rules]

i acknowledge that this statement assumes a few big IFs, namely:

- if Bradshaw does not retire
- if Fevola knuckles down and plays good footy
- if Vossy can find a way to make all three power forwards gel and not get in each others' way

...but is it possible that this is the strongest AFL forward line ever assembled?

Sherman Brown Polks
Adcock Fevola Bradshaw
​

Congrats on Fevola.

On paper you do but will it gel ? And can Fevola keep out of trouble?

I guess come this time next year we will know.

 

[notliondown]

I think there are going to be 3 critical improvements to our team next year.

I agree with others that having both Berger and Charman available is going to allow us to move Mitch to CHB. Mitch has the size, speed, endurance and reach to match it with any key forward in the league. He also has the proven ability to read the play from the back and to be a tremendous rebounding linking option.

Along with Merrett, Mitch will be a strong central pillar that the rest of the defenders can be structured around. Patfull, Drummond, McGrath have all become battle hardened, top shelf medium/small attacking defenders.

I personally am extremely confident that Raines will recapture his early career form; second in the Rising Star, second in Richmond’s club championship and an international rules representative. He now has a coach who believes in him 100% and will thrive in a stable, supportive environment. He will add some serious bash, crash and dash to our side.

Second our depth across the midfield is also going to be significantly improved. Brenanan, Adcock and Polkinghorne can all be released from their other roles to be permanent parts of the rotation.

If any one of Buchanan, Clarke or Staker produce their best consistently they will be very significant contributors. If not they can still be handy contributors.

All this will mean that guys like Proud and Harding will not be able to hold their spots with low possession games and Johnstone will know that he will have to perform week in week out to stay in the team. Quite a number of regular midfield players from this year will be in the same boat.

When we come up against the top teams we will not be doing it with a team half full of skinny kids.

And thirdly, yes we will have another fairly handy bloke up front who can kick a goal or 8.

Couldnt agree more

I think our weakness this year in the midfield was a lack of diversity not necessarily talent. When you compare us to say the Pies who cycled varying body types and styles through their midfield like there was no tomorrow we inevitably turned up with a pretty static group of players ability and style wise.

Now with the addition of Staker and Buchanan at the very least we have another tall mid... and for the first time a very solid stocky in and under mid. Free up Adcock (and yeah whataboutbob I reckon he will form part of the rotation too), let Drummo roam a bit more, let Rischa play a more offensive role, takes some attention off Brennan, both Luey and Mitch on the ground....

Its not that there will be so many new faces, more new roles I think... and somehow I think a more offensive midfield too with those freedoms. It just gives us more diversity and perhaps the ability to put players in roles that more suit them rather than where we need them to go... if that makes sense

 

[Nuggo]

Do you really think we'll try Adcock in the middle again? (genuine question, not a troll)

I think so. He is worth another shot. He is strong, fairly quick and has the right amount of aggression to drive the ball forward. Also not a bad shot for goal outside 50. He would of learnt a lot being in there last time.

Besides not everybody can play in the back line. Somebody has step up to the plate and smash it.

 

[weevil]

Do you really think we'll try Adcock in the middle again? (genuine question, not a troll)

How could that be interpreted as a troll???

Difficult to know what the exact specifics would be, they may well move all sorts of things around. Drummo could come onto the wing and Jed could go back. We have a lot more balance and a lot more flexibility with all of these sorts of things now.

 

[Nuggo]

How could that be interpreted as a troll???

Difficult to know what the exact specifics would be, they may well move all sorts of things around. Drummo could come onto the wing and Jed could go back. We have a lot more balance and a lot more flexibility with all of these sorts of things now.

We want our best kick taking the kick in. Drummond will float up the ground at times but I feel that he will mainly play down back. He is our catalyst for attack from the back line also a very important position.

 

[notliondown]

We want our best kick taking the kick in. Drummond will float up the ground at times but I feel that he will mainly play down back. He is our catalyst for attack from the back line also a very important position.

I wonder if Ash will assume that role more... Vossy seemed keen on getting that left boot of Drummo pointing at the sticks towards the end of last/this season...

 

[weevil]

We want our best kick taking the kick in. Drummond will float up the ground at times but I feel that he will mainly play down back. He is our catalyst for attack from the back line also a very important position.

Yeah but having both Drummo and Rich lasering the ball into our forward line from the middle of the ground is kina appealing too.

 

[whatboutbob]

How could that be interpreted as a troll???

Difficult to know what the exact specifics would be, they may well move all sorts of things around. Drummo could come onto the wing and Jed could go back. We have a lot more balance and a lot more flexibility with all of these sorts of things now.

Ok, let me rephrase then:

Do you seriously think we'll try Adcock in the middle again after the catastrophic failure last time we tried this??!! Are you on drugs, moron??11!!!/????



(please don't card me)

Difficult to know what the exact specifics would be, they may well move all sorts of things around. Drummo could come onto the wing and Jed could go back. We have a lot more balance and a lot more flexibility with all of these sorts of things now.

In all seriousness though, I wonder if Jed does simply need to step up and play more on ball, despite the failed attempt last time?

Seems like Voss is looking for flexibility and if Jed doesn't bring it then he could risk losing his spot, depending on how the new guys come on.

 

[whatboutbob]

Yeah but having both Drummo and Rich lasering the ball into our forward line from the middle of the ground is kina appealing too.

Add McGrath to that too.

I need a minute.

*fap fap fap fap fap fap fap*

 

[irel]

Just occurred to me that with Fev's addition Rischa is likely to be a much more potent player now, even without any likely improvement over the pre-season.

His tendency to win a clearance and then just bomb long into the forward line with his head down, more often than not to the opposition player filling the hole in front of Brown, has frustrated me for ages.

That con has now just about been turned into a pro, through no doing of his own.

Bob, your pointed to an obvious flaw in Riska's game. He is in his 6th/7th season and there has not been any significant improvement to Riska's game. He has survived in the team on tackling statistics. However Voss by his actions has made a statement that the Premiership is the goal NOW. Not in two, three five years, but now. Therefore we will need player's whose sole focus is the ball not tackling the man with the ball. A ferocious attack on the ball. Clearances to get the ball to the Brownshawvola territory. Personally I can't see a place in the 22 for Riska. If Bucha, Steaknives and X-factor perform to their best, Riska is miles behind any of them.
If what happened is not a wake up call to Riska and he does not use it as a motivation to get better, I am afraid there is no spot in the 22 for him. By not accepting Carlton's offer he has only postponed the inevitable next year.

 

[chopperduck]

I think Adcock is more suited to small bursts or stints on the ball. I think he is still at his best playing 'into' the midfield from the backline, not starting in the middle. Perhaps in the rotations to give someone a break he will get a few minutes on ball, but for me he will stay in defense. But we all know Half Back has really turned into Half Back Midfielder, so in a way he will play midfield, just not as a full on baller i think.

He could always be given a shut down role as well, or play as a defensive mid or even forward if needed.

 

[chopperduck]

Bob, your pointed to an obvious flaw in Riska's game. He is in his 6th/7th season and there has not been any significant improvement to Riska's game. He has survived in the team on tackling statistics. However Voss by his actions has made a statement that the Premiership is the goal NOW. Not in two, three five years, but now. Therefore we will need player's whose sole focus is the ball not tackling the man with the ball. A ferocious attack on the ball. Clearances to get the ball to the Brownshawvola territory. Personally I can't see a place in the 22 for Riska. If Bucha, Steaknives and X-factor perform to their best, Riska is miles behind any of them.
If what happened is not a wake up call to Riska and he does not use it as a motivation to get better, I am afraid there is no spot in the 22 for him. By not accepting Carlton's offer he has only postponed the inevitable next year.

I kinda half agree with this. I dont think Riska has lost his spot, but he will be in the group of players under pressure. Probably about 6 players with only 3 spots in the team.

I personally think he has only delayed the inevitable til next year, but i think he genuinely wants to stay in brisbane with his partner. I also think his manager has been in his ear about the GC, and thats where he will end up next year. I can't see us being able to afford to renew his contract, and this way his manager gets extra dollars from the no doubt juicey contract he will get from GC, and he stays in brissy.

I still think he is good enough to keep his spot in the team though. He hasn't been playing on ball, but as a defensive forward, and for me, he has done that job well.

 

[weevil]

In all seriousness though, I wonder if Jed does simply need to step up and play more on ball, despite the failed attempt last time?

Seems like Voss is looking for flexibility and if Jed doesn't bring it then he could risk losing his spot, depending on how the new guys come on.

Yeah it was interesting listing to that interview with Leigh and to hear how highly they rated Clarke.

The idea that Jed’s place could be under pressure was unthinkable a week ago.

 

[notliondown]

Add McGrath to that too.

I need a minute.

*fap fap fap fap fap fap fap*

Hahaha... you've got me in tears!!! The last thing I expected to see on this board!!!

 

[Nuggo]

If everybody we have brought in plus the players we already have play at somewhere near their best we have a very powerful team on our hands bar another elite extractor and throw in a classy crumber.

 

[Lionfan]

I would hate to see Adcock used as a crumber I think he has the potential to take over from Blacky if he pulls his finger out. Also Rich could play back pocket and kick 90 metre goals of he wanted to. We need more out of Sherman IMO he is a genuine goal kicker I would have him in the pocker roving Fevola and possibly Bradshaw.

 

[Ferris_rules]

If Fevola straightens his life up from his time with the Lions then clearly the Lions are the winner in this deal.

I have always felt that the Blues board at the Brownlow should have done more to control him.

If I did that at a work function my boss would take me aside and straighten me up.

As a Crows supporter I am concerned about the dramatic improvement in your forward line, if and only if he Fevola stays out of trouble you have a potential premiership winning forward line.

 

[The Sloane Ranger]

Roughead, Franklin, Rioli and Williams was a pretty decent forward line

that alone does not get a club over the line as you still need to win the midfield and your back 6 needs to hold up

footy still comes down to clearances, stoppages and contested ball

 

[The Sloane Ranger]

If Fevola straightens his life up from his time with the Lions then clearly the Lions are the winner in this deal.

I have always felt that the Blues board at the Brownlow should have done more to control him.

If I did that at a work function my boss would take me aside and straighten me up.

As a Crows supporter I am concerned about the dramatic improvement in your forward line, if and only if he Fevola stays out of trouble you have a potential premiership winning forward line.

On field it's always been about team Fev, poor body anguage and abusing players when things dont go his way and thinking he is the most important thing to the club when he is in form

Off field his behaviour can be cancer to a club's culture

On and Off the field I hope Fev pull's his head in and pays the lions for their faith in him

however only time will tell, if he woth the risk well the answer is yes, however with any risk their is potential of greater rewards or greater failure

time will tell