Dees find their crumbing forward - I'm rapt!

[hardtack 10,520]

Interesting thread.

I reckon we'll see a lot of new tactics to beat the press this year. Hawthorn have tried and had reasonable success with the left foot short kicking off half back game plan. I wonder what we'll see from the dees.....

I reckon by putting Davey forward we might see an attempt to try and catch our opposition on fast break type plays from kick-ins. I quite liked our double huddle set plays under Viney where we had two groups of players about 20m apart from a kick-in. With Davey and Jurrah in the second group providing short, sharp sprints towards goals we are going to score a lot of goals if we can execute.

Yes, Davey doesn't need to kick goals in my opinion. If he can use his pace to break away from his opponent on the lead to the 50, he will be able to gather and use his deadly accurate short kicks to hit a leading forward close to goal. Any time is going to have trouble trying to cover a forward line that has Davey's short burst pace and accurate short kicking ability, as well as Howe, Jurrah, Watts, Green and Clark. I just hope our midfield is up for it.

[Sir Why You Little 36,990]

Absolutely agree with every single thing stated above.

To suggest Green doesn't put his head over the ball is a disgrace. In 2010, he was arguably the bravest footballer in the country.

Brad Green is certainly a Brave Footballer, i just want him to concentrate on Footy going forward, and not the captaincy.

[dee-eee 231]

Gee i hope all you optimists are correct but the Flash of the last couple of years has been rendered ineffective by not only injury but by in-your-face taggers. He owes us heaps !

[Cheesy D. Pun 1,762]

Four goals a game would be nice?

If he played 22 games he would be win the coleman medal! It would be a bit more than nice.

Yep and 220 tackles would have to be some sort of world record.

[888Dee 6]

Wow what a brainwave! Playing a guy in his most natural role. I honestly cant stand hearing pre season player X is improving his fitness and looking for a midfield role or player, usually a forward is so fit they could be a a gun midfielder, think Pavlich or Franklin. Truth is theyre forwards. Always have been. If Davey played fwd the last few years maybe we would of won a few more games. This is good simple coaching. Go Flash i hope this is true cos i can see those half backs looking over their shoulders already.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

If you look at Davey's body shape now compared to when he started it is completely different.

He is much heavier now and doesn't glide over the ground as freely as he used to, I am not sure he is still suited as a small forward, but more than happy to be wrong.

[1 red eye 1 blue eye 771]

I agree with you Clint. He is naturally skinny so should be able to drop some bulk.

[binman 42,715]

I mostly agree. When they moved flash up the ground whether it be on the wing or HBF, it was to use his pace and deadly left foot. That worked quite well for a while.

A little like TJ in that he was too clever for his own good and tried to thread a needle. The opposition worked both of them out and new exactly where they were going to deliver the ball. They both turned over the ball so many times because they didn't have a plan B.

Forget about Daveys last season, he was playing injured or recovering from it for most of the season. His knee would have to be 100% this year to even think about playing FP, the position requires someone who can twist and turn and get onto his left foot. Remember he doesn't have a right foot and handball is not a preferred option for him.

Just one thing Binman in your last sentence Was that meant to be Set Shot or [censored] Shot?

Set shot. Though last year Green, who has always been a great set shot , was a pretty shet shot.

[Lil_red_fire_engine 11,126]

The key role of a small forward in todays game is to get to the foot of the contest when a long ball comes in and either create a scoring chance if the ball hits the ground, lock the ball in or pressure the opposition back out if they win possession. If Davey's head and heart are in for the defensive aspects of the game that were once his trademark then this is his best position. If they're not he will be at Casey. He does not have the engine to play midfield or most importantly break a tag. He will look great getting 20 kicks a game playing half back but he does not have the nature to man up when required.

Edited December 24, 2011 by big_red_fire_engine

[Lutz 76]

If you look at Davey's body shape now compared to when he started it is completely different.

He is much heavier now and doesn't glide over the ground as freely as he used to, I am not sure he is still suited as a small forward, but more than happy to be wrong.

Was about to post exactly the same thing.

[PartyTimeJohnny 537]

Flash was unfortunately a victim of being a great forward in a side with no midfield depth. Bailey bulked him up and moved him into the middle.

Because flash is a natural born talent he adapted and had some great seasons in the middle, even winning the Bluey.

As of late he's begun to fatigue in the middle and lose his way, this however, does not mean he is not as skilled, talented and deserving of a spot in the side.

I'm really excited to see him move home to his natural position and send Journo's and supporters alike into a frenzy over the re-birth of the Davey-Train

[monoccular 17,417]

Absolutely agree with every single thing stated above.

To suggest Green doesn't put his head over the ball is a disgrace. In 2010, he was arguably the bravest footballer in the country.

Like everyone else last season, Brad had a shocker, but it wasn't due to lack of courage or commitment.

Possibly lack of direction, which he will not lack in 2012, and the in$tability cau$ed by you know who that didn't help anyone.

That said, I am not sure if captaincy suited him, but would probably leave it with him for another year to see whether Trengove or Grimes are ready and able.

[monoccular 17,417]

Set shot. Though last year Green, who has always been a great set shot , was a pretty shet shot.

Was that a sheet set shot, because his set shots weren't pretty.

Dr Seuss anyone?

Edited December 24, 2011 by monoccular

[monoccular 17,417]

A very close source in the realm of the football department has just informed me that the reason Davey has stayed away from a lot of the endurance work and bulked up is that next season the Flash will be back deep in the forward line. The conditioners are being very careful not to flatten him with long distant running instead trying to condition him for plenty of short sharp efforts and have the body to break tackles in congestion. I for one am rapt to hear this and at worst he will give 35 goal plus as a crumbing forward. That has to be a good thing.

Sounds good Parma. If that is fact and works out as planned I am excited.

A 35 goal small forward -- last time I remember a 35 goal small forward, certainly then also a rover as was the case then, was ........John Townsend in the year....................1 9 6 4 !!!

[Biffen 12,940]

Ricky Jackson had a good year once .

[Wadda We Sing 10,685]

"Mega Watts lighting up the track

"& this about Davey................

"Misson admits the Demons have been led on a steep learning curve.

"They needed some real structure with their training, weights and conditioning," he says.

"We needed to improve their strength and fitness and we've put some systems in place to get them up to speed on what an elite AFL program is. To be honest, they've embraced it and in the seven weeks I've been here they've really taken to it.

"We can see a lot of upside and the improvement in just seven weeks has been more than I expected. We've got a long way to go, but they're really taking the bit between the teeth and I think they're enjoying the hard work."

They've EMBRACED.........upside& the improvment in 7wks

All very positive and leaves me salivating about our future

To be honest Im starting to wonder how we even won games this year....Go Dees!

[Elwood 3184 1,298]

Ricky Jackson had a good year once .

So did Ray Biffin a few times during his career

Never seen the name spelt like you do.

[beelzebub 23,313]

We'll see. Would have thought Davey much better in a little space a-la a flank than couped in a pocket.

Where has he been playing in any match simulations to date ...if anywhere ?

Its a nice idea I suppose... I'll wait to see any results in this regard. Im a little over Aaron. ..perhaps that tempers any enthusiam.

[mfcrox 143]

Pretty sure Jeff Farmer kicked more than 35 goals in a season. Best small forward we have had in a LONG time!

[Geddy Lee 582]

Pretty sure Jeff Farmer kicked more than 35 goals in a season. Best small forward we have had in a LONG time!

76 in 2000.

Certainly the best year for a small forward from any team in my lifetime. (87-)

[beelzebub 23,313]

Jeff Farmers forte ( trademark ) ?? v Davey's ??

There is always room for a very quick and nimble high flying mark taker who knows where the sticks are.

In all fairness , as a forward, Farmer had/has more bows in his quiver than Aaron.

I have some reservations regarding the idea of bulking a player and maintaining his outrageous speed. Seems contradictory for mine.

Im happy if they can reinvent Aaron..... lets get some value back by all means.

The new maxim of the MFC a Player shall only take to the field if his contribution to the team effort warrants selection.Nothing else applies.

Either he sparks or we run him out in the magoos; that simple.

[1 red eye 1 blue eye 771]

Jeff Farmers forte ( trademark ) ?? v Davey's ??

There is always room for a very quick and nimble high flying mark taker who knows where the sticks are.

In all fairness , as a forward, Farmer had/has more bows in his quiver than Aaron.

I have some reservations regarding the idea of bulking a player and maintaining his outrageous speed. Seems contradictory for mine.

Im happy if they can reinvent Aaron..... lets get some value back by all means.

The new maxim of the MFC a Player shall only take to the field if his contribution to the team effort warrants selection.Nothing else applies.

Either he sparks or we run him out in the magoos; that simple.

Yes elite performance with integrity forces the above.

[Roost It 1,434]

Davey surrounded by Clark, Watts, Jurrah, Petterd (Howe) and Martin will most likely have an excellent Season. He has the smarts, burst of pace, tackling ability, kicking ability to be a weapon. Good coaching should make it a certainty. I'm all for it.

[bjDee 1,249]

So, has anyone seen Aaron during the training setups this pre-season in a forward crumbing role? I do like the thought of it, just reckon if it was a serious option, it might have been implemented at training before now. There have been plenty of changes to the structure & forward line since AD was positioned there last, so I'd reckon it needed to be practiced well before it was rolled out on game day.

[DeeSpencer 25,515]

Don't tell me green does not get the hard ball. Over many seasons he has put his head over the ball

Not saying he's soft or doesn't put his body on the line, but he certainly doesn't win hard ball. It's more an ability thing than mentality thing.