A crumbing forward, my kingdom for a crumbing forward

[Hulett Packard III 166]

There are some who say that the crumbing forward type is out of vogue with Paul Roos and his coaching style but if that's the case, I would like to know the basis of the claim.

Most of the top sides have at least in brilliant crumber and most are highly skillful indigenous players. Geelong have a few special ones which, together with Stevie J, always makes them an exciting team (as well as successful) to watch.

[CBDees 3,167]

There are some who say that the crumbing forward type is out of vogue with Paul Roos and his coaching style but if that's the case, I would like to know the basis of the claim.

Most of the top sides have at least in brilliant crumber and most are highly skillful indigenous players. Geelong have a few special ones which, together with Stevie J, always makes them an exciting team (as well as successful) to watch.

Rookie Alwyn Davey!

[Freddy Fuschia 747]

Rookie Alwyn Davey!

Yeah. Davey was stiff to get delisted while Leroy Jetta kept his spot. Unless it was because of contracts it's hard to work that one out.

Problem for Alwyn is his age and the fact that clubs shouldn't be touching Essendon players until at least after the final ASADA report comes out.

[samcantstandya 1,057]

Yeah. Davey was stiff to get delisted while Leroy Jetta kept his spot. Unless it was because of contracts it's hard to work that one out.

Problem for Alwyn is his age and the fact that clubs shouldn't be touching Essendon players until at least after the final ASADA report comes out.

I'd rather get Aaron back if we must have a Davey in the team.

[rjay 25,093]

There are some who say that the crumbing forward type is out of vogue with Paul Roos and his coaching style but if that's the case, I would like to know the basis of the claim.

Most of the top sides have at least in brilliant crumber and most are highly skillful indigenous players. Geelong have a few special ones which, together with Stevie J, always makes them an exciting team (as well as successful) to watch.

The basis is he has said 'On the Couch' that you need more than a small crumbing forward, they need to be able to work up the ground. Geelong don't have a specialist small forward, Stevie J does most of his work as a mid now and the others you allude to like Motlop, Stokes and Christiansen all work up the ground.

The Alwyn Davey type small forward is obsolete, it's why the bombers have cut him. What we need and what we will have are forwards who can work up the ground, midfielders who can kick goals.

[Whispering_Jack 30,674]

WJ I started a thread about the same topic about the same time.

Your thoughts on Willie Rioli?

I haven't seen him play and know very little about him except what I've read here and on the net. I found this article and clearly, he needs a fair bit of work on the track to get him ready to go at AFL level -

Willie big draft chance

A few years ago, I would have said a definitive "no" and for the reasons outlined in the post above by rjay, I'm still inclined that way.

However, let's not forget that when his cousin Cyril was playing Under 18s for NT, the draft pundits were wary of him because he wasn't supposed to have a tank, wasn't fit or suited to the modern game etc. We picked Morton at 4 in that draft - about 10 spots ahead of Cyril who has now played in two premierships - enough said.

Possibly a rookie on the basis of his willingness to work his butt off on the track as expressed in the article.

There's also supposed to be some family relationship between the Rioli's and the Wonaemirri's, isn't there?

[InVINCEable 358]

I haven't seen him play and know very little about him except what I've read here and on the net. I found this article and clearly, he needs a fair bit of work on the track to get him ready to go at AFL level -

Willie big draft chance

A few years ago, I would have said a definitive "no" and for the reasons outlined in the post above by rjay, I'm still inclined that way.

However, let's not forget that when his cousin Cyril was playing Under 18s for NT, the draft pundits were wary of him because he wasn't supposed to have a tank, wasn't fit or suited to the modern game etc. We picked Morton at 4 in that draft - about 10 spots ahead of Cyril who has now played in two premierships - enough said.

Possibly a rookie on the basis of his willingness to work his butt off on the track as expressed in the article.

There's also supposed to be some family relationship between the Rioli's and the Wonaemirri's, isn't there?

I think he should be prepared to lose a lot of weight before we consider him.

[Whispering_Jack 30,674]

So we picked JKH although I'm told that the way he plays makes him more than just a crumbing forward.

His bios are encouraging enough for me to conclude that we're going to be well placed with him in the side. Salem has also shown a capacity to bob up and do damage while playing forward. In fact, that's where I initially placed him after seeing him represent Vic Metro as a bottom aged player last year when he came on and played havoc with the Vic Country defence particularly late in that game.

[Return to Glory 8,448]

Fitzpatrick has gots ta go.

I know everyone loves him and all that. But he's 50th in line in our forward line and I don't think he'll ever be better than the forwards in front of him.

He'd get more chances elsewhere. We need a crumber.

Trade him for what we can get and dedicate that pick to a goal sneak (if there in fact are any)

How's Dom Barry below the knees, clean?

You're kidding right? Fitzpatrick was a revelation last season.

[What 18,810]

You're kidding right? Fitzpatrick was a revelation last season.

He was fantastic, showed true star potential too.

[brey9186 102]

He was fantastic, showed true star potential too.

If Mitch, Dawes and Gawn all continue thier injury trends and Hogan is nursed through his first year, Fitzy will get 10+ games in 2014

[Deez 298]

You're kidding right? Fitzpatrick was a revelation last season.

Dunno why everyone's so caught up on signing small forwards, it's good we got one, but he will be expected to perform in more areas than just fwd pocket. And for the record fitz is a fantastic back up fwd at the very least. It's likely he will play more than

Most think due to resting hogan and managing Clark and Dawes.

[rjay 25,093]

Dunno why everyone's so caught up on signing small forwards, it's good we got one, but he will be expected to perform in more areas than just fwd pocket. And for the record fitz is a fantastic back up fwd at the very least. It's likely he will play more than

Most think due to resting hogan and managing Clark and Dawes.

Correct!

[rpfc 28,779]

Yes, but having someone who knows what they are doing in the fwd line is more important than whether they have an idea what they are doing for the 30 mins they spend up the ground.

[jnrmac 20,189]

I'd rather get Aaron back if we must have a Davey in the team.

Because his last three years were so good????

[CBDees 3,167]

Because his last three years were so good????

Yes because he always lifted us when he came on as a sub (which is where they ended up starting him)!

[dazzledavey36 55,360]

JHK is more then a handy specialist forward pocket.

He averaged 23 disposals this year playing in the TAC. His ability to push up the ground and provide run and drive and then go up forward and kick a couple of goals is a handy weapon to have up your sleeve. The player that does this the best is Steven Motlop.

[rjay 25,093]

Yes, but having someone who knows what they are doing in the fwd line is more important than whether they have an idea what they are doing for the 30 mins they spend up the ground.

Nup, they need to be well rounded otherwise not worth….

[rjay 25,093]

JHK is more then a handy specialist forward pocket.

He averaged 23 disposals this year playing in the TAC. His ability to push up the ground and provide run and drive and then go up forward and kick a couple of goals is a handy weapon to have up your sleeve. The player that does this the best is Steven Motlop.

Agree, and he has a couple of mates at the Cats.

[rpfc 28,779]

Nup, they need to be well rounded otherwise not worth….

'Nup'?

The ability of a good small forward to go into the midfield is ideal and most desired.

However, a good small forward will spend most of his time in the forward line, playing one of the hardest positions on the ground.

It is far more desirable to have a player in that position that knows what they are doing for the 90 mins they will be in the forward line to the 30 mins they will be in the middle.

You talk about a 'rounded' player but seem to reject the fact that half of that circle would be their work as a small forward.

This isn't counterintuitive - you need to be able to do well that to which you do for the most time.

[rjay 25,093]

'Nup'?

The ability of a good small forward to go into the midfield is ideal and most desired.

However, a good small forward will spend most of his time in the forward line, playing one of the hardest positions on the ground.

It is far more desirable to have a player in that position that knows what they are doing for the 90 mins they will be in the forward line to the 30 mins they will be in the middle.

You talk about a 'rounded' player but seem to reject the fact that half of that circle would be their work as a small forward.

This isn't counterintuitive - you need to be able to do well that to which you do for the most time.

Nup, a small forward is a waste of space if that's all he does but we've been through this argument a number of times. JKH wouldn't have been picked up by us if that's all he offered.

[rpfc 28,779]

Nup, a small forward is a waste of space if that's all he does but we've been through this argument a number of times. JKH wouldn't have been picked up by us if that's all he offered.

What do you think a small forward does for most of the game?

They are asked to spend 90 minutes of the game looking to, when we have the ball - get to the feet of the targets up forward, and when we don't have the ball - chase and harrass the HBFs trying to clear the football from our forward line.

The secondary role is a rotation through the middle.

If you cannot do the primary function - you won't play as a small forward. Ideally, he would be able to do both. But you are kidding yourself if you think that we are going to leave the better small forward out of the team for someone who isn't as good a small forward but plays the secondary role better.

[Hannibal 5,814]

Roos requires his small forwards to be capable midfielders. If they're not they won't get a game. The game has moved on from a Steven Milne type.

I'd say that no matter how good they are as a small forward, if they're not a capable mid they won't play under Roos. The beauty about Kennedy-Harris is that he's shown he's very capable in that department. A great get.

[Wrecker45 3,378]

Roos requires his small forwards to be capable midfielders. If they're not they won't get a game. The game has moved on from a Steven Milne type.

I'd say that no matter how good they are as a small forward, if they're not a capable mid they won't play under Roos. The beauty about Kennedy-Harris is that he's shown he's very capable in that department. A great get.

Surely any coach would take the wizard in his prime as a small forward without rotating him through the midefield.

[rpfc 28,779]

Surely any coach would take the wizard in his prime as a small forward without rotating him through the midefield.

Yes, they would. If you cannot play an offensive or, failing that, defensive forward role - you won't play as a small forward.