Small forward

[monoccular 17,573]

What we lack in a small forward we make up with mid size forwards Howe, Jurrah, Sylvia, Green, Petterd, Dunn are very good at ground level and in the air. The problem in the past is we needed these players to play tall and key forwards, from the training I have seen an dthe set up from Saturday night we will have three talls up forward in Clark, Watts and Martin/Jamar. Davey, Blease will play the quick small forward roll this year. Our trading/drafting focus needs to be on midfielders and small/mid defenders these are the biggest holes in our list at the moment.

I also agree that even if we had a great small forward over the past few years we wouldn't have been able to get much out of him - now that we have some decent tall forwards who may be able to function as such, the likes of Davey (if he still has the desire) or Lawrence or Blease may make the role their own, and the mediums can play their dual role as back up falls or crumbers.

We have only had one look at them in action, under appalling conditions: give a little time, and by draft season we may decide we don't need one.

[rhaz 342]

Neeld was appointed before the draft period (I think?), so he would have been part of his delist.

Oh right, for some reason i thought Maric was delisted a lot earlier. Well, he was delisted first, but yeah. Ah well.

[BIG JIM 508]

I also agree that even if we had a great small forward over the past few years we wouldn't have been able to get much out of him - now that we have some decent tall forwards who may be able to function as such, the likes of Davey (if he still has the desire) or Lawrence or Blease may make the role their own, and the mediums can play their dual role as back up falls or crumbers.

We have only had one look at them in action, under appalling conditions: give a little time, and by draft season we may decide we don't need one.

Yes you are right someone could grab it by the horns that would be great

[Buzzy 992]

If Jetta can get himself fit and have an uninterrupted pre-season for once, I'd like to think he could do a great job as a small forward.

He has excellent pace over 5-10 metres. His tackling and harassment are his strengths, rather than goal kicking admittedly - but if he made this a focus in his training who knows, he could improve in leaps and bounds. It's not like Wonna was amazing in front of goal either, most of his goals were scored running off the back of the pack and dribbling it through before doing his frog-leap.

Maybe Jetta needs to be given this role and told to concentrate on it - it might be the job that gives him the confidence to be an above average player and avoid the low paid obscurity that Bennell seems to be drifting ever closer to.

I've always wished we had one of those players you could be confident of - with a sixth sense for a crumbing goal... I'm thinking a Betts, Lyndsay Thomas, Rioli, Ebert, Milne, Kraquer, LeCras.... The last really good one I can remember us having is Jeff Farmer. One of the greatest. Maybe Yze to a lesser degree.

We're just lacking some sparkle and have done for a long time.

[dee-luded 2,959]

30 posts and no-one has noticed that we may be able to get a limited free agent this year. Try looking at experienced smalls that have been at their clube 8 years or more, and are coming out of contract.

What Eddie Betts?

[BIG JIM 508]

What Eddie Betts?

How old is Eddie?

[rjay 25,088]

The small forward discussion is a good one to have but personally I think it is an over rated position. Of the recent premiership teams only Rioli stands up as having a major impact and before that Akker. I would much rather have strong goal kicking mid/forwards who exert maximum pressure and think players such as Petterd, Howe, Silvia, Trengove, Jurrah, Tapscott and others can do the job.

An Akker type (player not personality) would be great for us as he was also a class mid, Rioli similar but I really don't see the point of a Milne or Betts type, they are too one dimensional for me.

A quick, highly skilled running mid is what we need IMO, a perfect match to Viney.

[DeeSpencer 26,081]

Jetta has been training as a defender this preseason, and his preseason has been interrupted.

I think from Davey and Blease as the quick men and guys like Sylvia, Petterd and Jurrah as dangerous match ups that we can find enough X factor, but we still need to get the structure right. Clark and Howe are 2 guys who are hard to out mark, so goes for big Jamar, if he has a run at the ball he'll either mark or bring it to the ground. The next step is to get the players at the fall of the ball.

[rpfc 28,777]

What about we try and get Addam Maric from Richmond?

Looked pretty good out there...

[BIG JIM 508]

What about we try and get Addam Maric from Richmond?

Looked pretty good out there...

Very funny but i did see some good things from adam before he left us. Do you think he will do ok with the tigers?

[The Chazz 4,077]

Jurrah, Davey and Jetta surely have this stitched up don't they? I'm not sure about Blease doing it - reckon he could make a great HBF.

After a long preseason, and with the proper footy just around the corner, the bloke I'm looking forward to seeing the most this year (in terms of where the coach plays him, etc), is Tapscott. I hope he's knocking on the door for selection either this weekend or next - would love to think he's 100% as of Round 1.

[BIG JIM 508]

Jurrah, Davey and Jetta surely have this stitched up don't they? I'm not sure about Blease doing it - reckon he could make a great HBF.

After a long preseason, and with the proper footy just around the corner, the bloke I'm looking forward to seeing the most this year (in terms of where the coach plays him, etc), is Tapscott. I hope he's knocking on the door for selection either this weekend or next - would love to think he's 100% as of Round 1.

Where is tapscott at with his rehab he is a real gem of a player and would love to see him thrown forward with that thumping kick and is not easy to move of the ball he will be a gun.

[rpfc 28,777]

Very funny but i did see some good things from adam before he left us. Do you think he will do ok with the tigers?

Good skills, good balance, good footy mind, he should be better than he is.

Sometimes you get an A Rod, sometimes you get a Billy Beane.

That's a baseball reference.

[Guest Thomo]

Forget height, it is not a "small forward" Melbourne need, they need a crummer. Jurrah can do the job as good as anyone in the AFL, with the advantage of being able to take a mark. The problem he has is his defence and intensity. Hopefully all the running he has done this preseason

Jetta is an inside midfielder, he has never been forward, he is not fast, does not kick goals and does not seem to be a great mark. He also seems to lack the selfishness of the good forwards. Being Aboriginal does not automatically qualify a player as a small forward. I love his attack on the ball, and would love to see him make it. If he makes it, it will be in the midfield as a tagger or clearance specialist, but unfortunately I don't think he will.

I think if Blease is to make it, it will be on a wing, I'd rather see him played up the field and using his pace to deliver into the forward line.

[BIG JIM 508]

Good skills, good balance, good footy mind, he should be better than he is.

Sometimes you get an A Rod, sometimes you get a Billy Beane.

That's a baseball reference.

Yes he was a bit up and down but shows some good run going forward and not a bad kick on the run i would love to know what went on there because he was the one to put his hand up and say he wants out . Was it he did not get a good run or did not get along with boys or was he told by the club he is not in the plans going forward anyone?

[The Chazz 4,077]

Forget height, it is not a "small forward" Melbourne need, they need a crummer. Jurrah can do the job as good as anyone in the AFL, with the advantage of being able to take a mark. The problem he has is his defence and intensity. Hopefully all the running he has done this preseason

Jetta is an inside midfielder, he has never been forward, he is not fast, does not kick goals and does not seem to be a great mark. He also seems to lack the selfishness of the good forwards. Being Aboriginal does not automatically qualify a player as a small forward. I love his attack on the ball, and would love to see him make it. If he makes it, it will be in the midfield as a tagger or clearance specialist, but unfortunately I don't think he will.

I think if Blease is to make it, it will be on a wing, I'd rather see him played up the field and using his pace to deliver into the forward line.

Totally agree about Jurrah, but I don't agree re Jetta. He has pace, he has size, has great awareness, with all these things rolled in to one package, his forward pressure would be one of the best at the club. He may well play midfield too, which will make him more valuable (I think Stokes plays through the midfield at times?).

In terms of our list, I think Jetta has the potential to be our best "small" forward. But, I can't see why Flash can't play that role, after all, he invented the role that is the current day small forward.

[BIG JIM 508]

After watching the replay again of the nab games i really think davey is looking good he really has some top class skills.

[BIG JIM 508]

i think tynan might be a good option seems very hungry for the ball just till he steps up to the mid

[rjay 25,088]

Yes he was a bit up and down but shows some good run going forward and not a bad kick on the run i would love to know what went on there because he was the one to put his hand up and say he wants out . Was it he did not get a good run or did not get along with boys or was he told by the club he is not in the plans going forward anyone?

He is a very good VFL player but struggled to step up to AFL level a bit like Newton.

[Hells Gates 505]

Im back to NT today to watch the NTFL Grand Final between Nightcliff vs Tiwi Bombers.

A small forward to watch out for here is - Ross Tungatalum.

Was drafted by STK but delisted a few years ago. Is an absolute star up here and is a very capable small forward.

At 178cm and all the skills - theres never a weekend that goes by without his name popping up over a few beers.

At 21 years of age he has matured a hell of a lot and learnt from his experience at STK and when I was talking to him before he is super keen to give the AFL another shake. I rate him higher than Waylon Manson & Austin Wonaemirri.

He is the best crumbing forward in the comp and won this seasons MVP. A bit overweight and only plays as a forward pocket but just thought I'd throw his name out there for those who want a small forward.

Here is an article for you

http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=ross%20tungatalum%202012&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCIQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.heraldsun.com.au%2Fafl%2Fmore-news%2Fnorthern-territory-star-ross-tungatalum-back-in-afl-frame%2Fstory-e6frf9jf-1226302042938&ei=-xFkT-a0D-mAmQWelMC5CA&usg=AFQjCNHF8iWjNNswaidkJx2rB2VwOTI_hA

Tungatalum booted 48 goals from 15 games so far this season.

[dee-luded 2,959]

After watching the replay again of the nab games i really think davey is looking good he really has some top class skills.

From what I read his defensive stats looked good, & took marks & had kicks.

[Demon Dynasty 17,109]

Geelong = stokes 165 goals,varco 113 goals even Johnson 363 goals plays this role

Collingwood= krouker 137 goals,blair 33 goals,beams 61 goals

Westcoast= LeCra 234 goals,nicoski 61 goals and now josh hill 75 goals

Carlton= Betts 215 goals,Garlett 99 goals

As you can see all the top sides have good pressure small forwards i do think jurrah could be good at this role to if he gets his pressure up this year. Cheers

Good info re other teams having "true" crumbing forwards. Although some of them i'd see as mid sized forwards rather than "small" crumbers as per the banner. I don't see Jurrah in this role for us though. Sorry but i'm still not convinced about Jurrah producing on a consistent basis most weeks let alone trying to play a small crumber's role.

I agree, we definitely need a fast small crumber like Stokes/Betts to feed of the clunkers like Clarke and our other "many" mid sized forwards that rotate through there IMO. It's not a choice of class mids versus a small crumber either. We desperately need both and will probably need to give away some decent players (Sylvia, Martin, others?) and maybe a few draft picks to get them.

[Go the Biff 3,440]

Disagree with Rusty Nails on Jurrah. I think he's been consistent although there's a feller in Perth who makes the point that too often he turns what should be 5 - 6 goal games into 2 - 3 goal games. There was a stat produced on this site on how quickly LJ got to 50 goals & I think he was up with some of the best.

The way it appears we are setting up & delivering into our forward line, we definitely need a player with the nous to get front & square to feed off marking contests. At the moment Flash seems best equipped although his best is behind him. Some have mentioned Kel Lawrence but that would be more out of hope I'd think. He's shown flashes of brilliance at times but more often than not his form is colder than a mother in law's kiss.

Of the others on our list, Blease should be using his pace further up the ground. Bennell has the skill set but goes missing too often. He's the only one I can recall sharking the ball off packs in recent times. The goals Jetta has got are pretty much all set shots - from marks, frees. I believe the coaching staff got Jetta & Bennell arse about - Jetta should have been training as a small defender. He certainly has the tenacity & appetite for tackling & contesting. Just not convinced he has the pace. He is quite slow.

I detest the idea of the ability to apply "forward defensive pressure" as being one of the leading criteria for a spot in the forward line. Anyone can do that - you just have to get 'em fit enough. The best forward pressure you can create is to beat your man, get hold of the footy and kick it through the goals. Simple but still true. Cyril doesn't get a gig just because he can chase & tackle.

[old dee 23,872]

IMO most of the names mentioned are not the answer.

Jetta -Constantly injured, last I saw he was listed as indefinate. Will struggle to stay on the list 2012 is his fourth year.

Bennell - Not up to AFL standard IMO has played 50 games and still struggles to get more than 5 touches a game

Jurrah- A bit tall for the part but who knows what his situation will turn out to be. May never play again for the Dees

Davey- probably the best chance but he is in his last couple of years. probably fill the hole in the short term

[Yossarian 1,820]

Thinking I'll start training and take on this role. Soon as I can get these bloody robot legs working.