Which Forward line would you rather have, Crows or Port?

[Kane McGoodwin]

Id still go Luko for a CHF position over Fogarty. He doesn’t cover the ground enough to play that role.

I would prefer the regular goal kicker... but my combined team on the other thread had them both.

 

[Mr MysteryGuest]

Adelaide

But Port has the better goal kicking mids to cover any deficiencies IMO

Adelaide’s 3 highest scoring mids were Rankine, Sholl and Dawson with 51 goals.

Ports highest 3 were JHF, Rozee and Butters with 55

 

[Gavin Excell]

Adelaide’s 3 highest scoring mids were Rankine, Sholl and Dawson with 51 goals.

Ports highest 3 were JHF, Rozee and Butters with 55

Which suggests it comes down to an elite KPP going forward

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Which suggests it comes down to an elite KPP going forward

Thilthorpe, Fogarty, Walker/Curtin

V

Georgiades, Lukosius, Lord/Finlayson/Ratugolea

 

[GoldbergsGold]

If Port can't free Willie, their forward line becomes a bit pedestrian. It's something that gets exposed in finals.

Adelaide need to figure out whether Tex is still in their best set up. Geelong had an awkward transition before figuring out playing Neale, without Hawkins, was now a better mix. The Crows look to be in a similar position with Walker.

They have other really good crumbing options, too, Powel-Pepper, Horne-Francis, Byrne-Jones, it's not just about Rioli. It's their tall forwards that they are lacking considerably.

 

[Mr Meow]

They have other really good crumbing options, too, Powel-Pepper, Horne-Francis, Byrne-Jones, it's not just about Rioli. It's their tall forwards that they are lacking considerably.

I only half count JHF because he spends so much time in midfield.

Bear in mind I wasn't splitting their forward line into smalls and talls like you did. I was ranking it overall. Georg and Rioli are dynamic options that can win you finals. The rest as a group I'm just not sold on. They have been the least accurate and the 3rd least accurate team in the comp the past 2 seasons, reflective of how unreliable they are at converting attacks to goals.

Powell-Pepper missing most of 2024 didn't help.

 

[JimmyBC]

I think it's about what Port get from the crumbers tbh finally getting that lumbering pillock into retirement hopefully changes things a bit too.

As for the other mob they'll get better service out of Fogarty & Thilthorpe if they piss Tex off to the glue factory.

 

[Taper]

Port's got a few of the best crumbing forwards, but only 1 decent tall forward. Similar to The Crows who only have 1 decent tall forward, too, Walker completely dropped off, he was the difference in 2023. Probably pick Port's just because their crumbers are real clutch players. See that Hawthorn game where their crumbers Rioli and Byrne-Jones snatch the win off Hawthorn with 23 seconds to go.

Port's forward line struggles because of their forward line coach.
Their forward 50 system was a dog's breakfast in last year's preliminary final.
Port get a decent forward line coach and their forward line could be quite dangerous, especially with Lukosius crashing packs and launching long bombs.

 

[powerrrrrrrrrrrr]

Port's forward line struggles because of their forward line coach.
Their forward 50 system was a dog's breakfast in last year's preliminary final.
Port get a decent forward line coach and their forward line could be quite dangerous, especially with Lukosius crashing packs and launching long bombs.

We’ve had 6 different forwards coaches during Ken’s time.

During that time we have had the same crappy forward structures and forward movement. That to me says that it’s not the forwards coach setting the play, it’s the one man that’s been there consistently through them all instead.

What’s more likely, of those 6 coaches they all wanted to play the same style that’s crap, or the head coach is setting the direction?

 

[Mr Meow]

We’ve had 6 different forwards coaches during Ken’s time.

During that time we have had the same crappy forward structures and forward movement. That to me says that it’s not the forwards coach setting the play, it’s the one man that’s been there consistently through them all instead.

What’s more likely, of those 6 coaches they all wanted to play the same style that’s crap, or the head coach is setting the direction?

First answer is usually the correct one. I think you cracked the case.

 

[sunsofanarchy]

Thilthorpe still hasn't done anything, Not sold on Fog, and will be surprised if Tex plays 15 games. Love the combination of Keayes, ANB and Rachelle/Rankine, especially with what ANB can do to unlock Dawson.

Personally i prefer the mix of Lord/Georgiades/Luko for tall forwards but not sold on their smalls/mids. Berry is a complete unknown, SPP and Rioli inconsistent for impact but as mentioned Port having Rozee and JHF rolling through gives their fwd line the nod

 

[JPetro83]

Only thing saving Port from falling off the perch is their gun midfield. Teams need to put A LOT of work into Butters and try get JHF to sook it up. will go a long way to stopping port

 

[John Kale]

Surprised by the negativity in this thread about Port’s tall forwards.

Last year was Fogarty’s best career goals tally (booting 41 in 23 games), and yet Georgiades kicked more goals in less games (44 in 20) while being 2 years younger.

While you could argue “well Fogarty will look better as the main target once Tex is gone” you could make the same argument for georgiades getting a similar boost with Dixon gone as the main target.

Now, based on the second half of last year Thilthorpe certainly looks the better prospect when comparing to Luko - but coming into next season he’s only showed a very small sample size of good form. A lot of the hype is based on expected natural improvement, but we all know that isn’t a guarantee - and Luko at least has a few +20 goal seasons on his resume, which Thilthorpe doesn’t (and in a basket case Suns forwardline, where he was thrown around a lot).

While Thilthorpe will likely break out next season, there’s also every chance that Luko thrives in a new environment playing a steady forward role.

Not saying one pairing is definitively better than the other, more pointing out that the common sentiment that Port’s tall forwards are shit doesn’t seem accurate.

In fact, id argue there aren’t many clubs with two U25 KPFs on their list as good as Georgiades and Luko (noting the crows may well have a better pairing - but it isn’t night and day).

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Surprised by the negativity in this thread about Port’s tall forwards.

Last year was Fogarty’s best career goals tally (booting 41 in 23 games), and yet Georgiades kicked more goals in less games (44 in 20) while being 2 years younger.

While you could argue “well Fogarty will look better as the main target once Tex is gone” you could make the same argument for georgiades getting a similar boost with Dixon gone as the main target.

Now, based on the second half of last year Thilthorpe certainly looks the better prospect when comparing to Luko - but coming into next season he’s only showed a very small sample size of good form. A lot of the hype is based on expected natural improvement, but we all know that isn’t a guarantee - and Luko at least has a few +20 goal seasons on his resume, which Thilthorpe doesn’t (and in a basket case Suns forwardline, where he was thrown around a lot).

While Thilthorpe will likely break out next season, there’s also every chance that Luko thrives in a new environment playing a steady forward role.

Not saying one pairing is definitively better than the other, more pointing out that the common sentiment that Port’s tall forwards are shit doesn’t seem accurate.

In fact, id argue there aren’t many clubs with two U25 KPFs on their list as good as Georgiades and Luko (noting the crows may well have a better pairing - but it isn’t night and day).

Imo Port forward line will be better for Dixon not being the main target. Georgiades should flourish further... as he was often crowded out by Dixon.

Similarly I think Adelaide will benefit from Walker being the 3rd banana when he plays & when he doesn't Curtin looks ready to go. A fit 2M+ Thilthorpe transforms the Crows forward line.

 

[Taper]

We’ve had 6 different forwards coaches during Ken’s time.

During that time we have had the same crappy forward structures and forward movement. That to me says that it’s not the forwards coach setting the play, it’s the one man that’s been there consistently through them all instead.

What’s more likely, of those 6 coaches they all wanted to play the same style that’s crap, or the head coach is setting the direction?

In my opinion, the fact that Quinton Narkle, Francis Evans and Esava Ratugolea were regular starters in Port's forward line last year is an indication of Chad Cornes not having the cattle.