Suggestions for player positional changes

[Natman]

Without still being able to see the GF (still o/s) - but getting an idea from BF of the debacle that it was - are there any suggestions of a few radical player positional changes that could improve the overall team perfomances.

One that I would try would be White as a permanent BP only on a tall KPF with Toby to become our more permanent CHB - I think he has matured enough to be given the responsibility.

Also think somehow Ebo has to move to the midfield - the biggest problem though has to be his aerobic capacity - with Gray to be the permanent FP.

 

[Rafa Benitez]

Chad Cornes to CHB
Pettigrew Full Forward

 

[Spadge]

Damon doesnt have the defensive skills and the mobility to play as a BP

Chaplin should and will be our CHB with Toby/Alipate as FB
Pettigrew, Surj and Wilbur will also be permanent fixtures in the backlines with perhaps a Thomas and Lower spending time there too

 

[Spadge]

Pettigrew Full Forward

worth a shot for us ONLY if our forwardline isnt functioning
We all know Grew is a good mark, is very quick and is a dead eye in front of the sticks
remember people were saying he was gonna be the next big thing when he booted 4 in the second half vs Bulldogs up in Darwin in 2006

 

[Andre]

Ebert was our leading goal kicker, but given small forwards don't win you finals and we need midfielders who don't fall over if sneezed on I'd like to see him get some midfield time next season.

If we can have Motlop and Gray up forward our small forwards still look good.

Ideally Senior B. will go back into the midfield. I'd look at giving Krakouer a go at some point in that role (down back). He's got the pace and for a stick insect isn't afraid to lay or take a tackle. Otherwise if we must persist with the link man role he'd be a good choice for that as well.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

Positional changes aren't so much the issue as the no-risk, high-possession, zig-zagging, boundary clinging gameplan. That Ebert and Motlop kicked 100 goals between them is almost an indictment of how wide we attack and leave the corridor open. That's what killed us against Geelong - run the ball along the boundary to wing/half-forward, turn the ball over, watch it waltz uncontested through the middle of the ground to a one on one, mark, kick, goal. Again and again and again.

We need a big bodied pack-crasher in the goal square to force us to hit the top of the square more (and at the moment the only one of those we have is Willits) and strong bodied midfielders who won't flock to Row H and surrender the corridor. Otherwise we will keep losing to those mature bodied sides that force us into contests around the ground for 100 minutes. And that's only going to come with patience now.

 

[Portmanteau]

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[Natman]

Positional changes aren't so much the issue as the no-risk, high-possession, zig-zagging, boundary clinging gameplan. That Ebert and Motlop kicked 100 goals between them is almost an indictment of how wide we attack and leave the corridor open. That's what killed us against Geelong - run the ball along the boundary to wing/half-forward, turn the ball over, watch it waltz uncontested through the middle of the ground to a one on one, mark, kick, goal. Again and again and again.

We need a big bodied pack-crasher in the goal square to force us to hit the top of the square more (and at the moment the only one of those we have is Willits) and strong bodied midfielders who won't flock to Row H and surrender the corridor. Otherwise we will keep losing to those mature bodied sides that force us into contests around the ground for 100 minutes. And that's only going to come with patience now.

Agree with your assessment of what we need and that it will take some time - our the game style (and what was put up in the GF?) is directy reflective of the players actually in the team ATM and the opposition's ability to force turnovers.
I'm sure we would be more direct (all coaches would be) if we had stronger bodied mid-fielders (who could withstand physical pressure and reduce the level of turnovers) and yes, the gorilla KF that we need - but is that style more than likely to make Mots and Ebo or Gray less effective and less productive - and eventually expendable in their current positions and given their abilities, would be better value somewhere else in the team?

 

[Ford Fairlane]

Agree with your assessment of what we need and that it will take some time - our the game style (and what was put up in the GF?) is directy reflective of the players actually in the team ATM and the opposition's ability to force turnovers.
I'm sure we would be more direct (all coaches would be) if we had stronger bodied mid-fielders (who could withstand physical pressure and reduce the level of turnovers) and yes, the gorilla KF that we need - but is that style more than likely to make Mots and Ebo or Gray less effective and less productive - and eventually expendable in their current positions and given their abilities, would be better value somewhere else in the team?

The game style you would've recognised from various games during the year (see particularly the Bulldogs and probably both Carlton games for chilling examples). The trouble was, it wasn't executed against strugglers, but against the best team in the competition which was out to kill and bury a 44 year old gorilla on its back. It wasn't a pleasant sight, and not one I'll willingly ever re-live.

I don't know that we will or can change the forward focus in the near future. Even if we jagged a good power forward in this draft, it's going to be 2-3 years before he would make an impact in that position. West Coast went down the hard road a few years back with Lynch and Hansen who aren't the most talented key forwards going around, but at least lay the highway down the corridor. If we can go down that path and reinvent the role of Ebert and Motlop as dangerous support then maybe they can stay there. But yeah, some hard decisions might need to be made. Looking back at the successful Port key forward tandems that I've seen - Evans-Granger, Hodges-Smith (Hynes) and really the bulk of threat and productivity came from the key forwards. Sure smaller forwards could get among the goals, but you didn't go to games to watch Bucky, DC, Browny and Ginever kick goals.

Gray I'm more hopeful can get into a midfield role once he gets his fitness up, and rest him across half forward for opportunist goals.

 

[Power King]

worth a shot for us ONLY if our forwardline isnt functioning
We all know Grew is a good mark

^I haven't relaly noticed his marking abilities this season... not saying he doesn't have them, but they weren't at the forefront of his arsenal this season

i actually think that grew has the potential to be a mongrel tough bastard midfielder... having said that, due to team structure, i think we should persist with developing him like we did chad at the same age, because imo grew has the potential to be just as versatile, and just as explosive

 

[Port_GW]

^I haven't relaly noticed his marking abilities this season... not saying he doesn't have them, but they weren't at the forefront of his arsenal this season

Playing in the backline though his number 1 duty generally is to punch/spoil. I recall when hes played up in the forward line hes done fairly well up there, hes quite mobile and an excellent shot for goal.

 

[Alberton]

I absolutely hated our forward structure in 2007.

FF - Gray, Tredders, Chaplin
HF - S Burgoyne, CCornes, Ebo
C - Kornes, Rodan, Salopek
CHB - Surj, Carlile, P Burgoyne
FB - Willits, Thurstans, the Grew

Ruck: Lade, Boak, Cassisi
Bench: Motlop, Broges, Westhoff, Pearce

 

[Bucketeer]

I absolutely hated our forward structure in 2007.

FF - Gray, Tredders, Chaplin
HF - S Burgoyne, CCornes, Ebo
C - Kornes, Rodan, Salopek
CHB - Surj, Carlile, P Burgoyne
FB - Willits, Thurstans, the Grew

Ruck: Lade, Boak, Cassisi
Bench: Motlop, Broges, Westhoff, Pearce

sorry but there s no way chaplin will line up in the forward pocket. He will be our key defender and get the opositions best key forwrd most games.
would think it may be more like this
FF - Hoff, Tredders, Motlop
HF - Ebo, Chad, Gray
C - Rodan, Burgoyne, Salopek
CHB Surj, Chaplin, P Burgoyne
FB Grew, Thurstans, Carlile

Ruck - Lade, Kane, Cassisi
Bench - Boak, Broges, Pearce, Brad Ebert (Wishfull Thinking!)

 

[Sheeds]

I would be happy to see Chad at CHF.

 

[Port_GW]

I would be happy to see Chad at CHF.

Me too, CHF is our biggest deficiency given Tredders would best be placed at FF these days.

 

[Power King]

Forgive me for my lack of knowledge...

why would playing in a kpf role be likely to shorten chad's longevity in terms of career?

 

[blackdiamond]

Forgive me for my lack of knowledge...

why would playing in a kpf role be likely to shorten chad's longevity in terms of career?

Its a position where you will see more contested football so there will always be a lot more stress on backs and knees etc.

Would no doubt lessen your chances of making it through a game and make the preseasons harder.

 

[*PAF]

Get Motlop and Gray really really fit, then rotate them between the HF line and midfield. Both goalscorers, both guns.

If there are any North supporters reading this, will this be the first time Motlop has done 2 pre seasons in a row or has it happened before?

 

[Coopers Pale Ale]

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Rucc mightnt be wrong, but Walls is an A-Grade DH! actually no...honors student that is trying to further himself still in this unique art!

That said, I want Chad at CHF too haha