In different eras, different positions have been essential.

Strong full forward and running half backs during the mid 1970's.

The CHFs of the 80s - 00's.

The elevations of a midfield "group" that extends to include players who come in and out of the team in the current era.

If you look at the Dees in 2014, a lot of our possession and disposal stats matched up kind of well (or at least average) across the season. It is when we got to the half forward line that we looked a total mess.

Look at the Socceroos at the moment. The work Postecoglou has done has given 1) a midfield section who can control the play and 2) 8 different scorers over the tournament so far

Look at the the tennis. It those who can hit winners on big points who are progressing.

In all sports, the most important part of the game comes down to scoring because it so bloody hard to do.

Most important position is the key forward. The player who can one-grab mark, kick from outside 50, hold his position in a pack, fend off defenders, and after all of that settle back and kick goals on the set shot. Sometimes I think we have forgotten how important the skill of overhead marking actually is in our great game.

I have to admit that the half-back general who sweeps across and can deliver inside 50 is also a vital cog in the modern game, but you still need the right men at the pointy end to kick goals.

Todays game has reduced positions to essentially forwards, midfield and backs.

Regardless whether you need a number of them, midfield is the most important position. And your best midfielder is the crucial item in your team. They win more contests than they lose (by a margin), they use the ball well by hand and foot to hurt the opposition and they make those teammates around them better players.

While the midfield includes the ruck, todays game has restricted the ruckmans role to less than it was 30 years. Its still an important role but not the most important.

And I dont buy the argument you can win a flag with a good midfield and a not so forward line. Both have to be good but your midfield must be superior to other teams including the team that becomes the runner up.

Todays game has reduced positions to essentially forwards, midfield and backs.

Regardless whether you need a number of them, midfield is the most important position. And your best midfielder is the crucial item in your team. They win more contests than they lose (by a margin), they use the ball well by hand and foot to hurt the opposition and they make those teammates around them better players.

While the midfield includes the ruck, todays game has restricted the ruckmans role to less than it was 30 years. Its still an important role but not the most important.

And I dont buy the argument you can win a flag with a good midfield and a not so forward line. Both have to be good but your midfield must be superior to other teams including the team that becomes the runner up.

Agree with you.

Most important position is the key forward. The player who can one-grab mark, kick from outside 50, hold his position in a pack, fend off defenders, and after all of that settle back and kick goals on the set shot. Sometimes I think we have forgotten how important the skill of overhead marking actually is in our great game.

I have to admit that the half-back general who sweeps across and can deliver inside 50 is also a vital cog in the modern game, but you still need the right men at the pointy end to kick goals.

I think the modern game (and in particular Hawthorn) have shown that you forward line no longer centres around one key forward. You need a spread of goal kickers not just one avenue. And the attributes you honour in a key forward are attributes that should be present in all your forward options.

And the half back "general" who sweeps is not the general but a corporal with good footskills enjoying another uncontested possession due to the hard unheralded work of others. I see the "general" as the person who marshalls the troops up back, leads by example in the contest and on the damaging opponents. They may not pick up wads of possessions but their selfless and skilful deeds on the ground dont go unnoticed by the coaches. Players like Hodge (an outstanding example) and Maxwell are these types

An attacking half back flanker.....what does that look like?

H. Lumumba

And I dont buy the argument you can win a flag with a good midfield and a not so forward line. Both have to be good but your midfield must be superior to other teams including the team that becomes the runner up.

I don't buy that either, but teams have won flags with "competent" rather that "star" forwards. Not sure that you could say that about midfields.

Edited January 26, 201510 yr by jabberwocky

It depends on the team/game plan. Simple as that.

I don't buy that either, but teams have won flags with "competent" rather that "star" forwards. Not sure that you could say that about midfields.

I take it that "star" is your twist. My reference was to "good". You dont have to a star forward although it could be argued that Geelong and Hawthorn did but you have to better than mere competent across a whole 22 H&A and Sept finals to the flag.

And every premiership side in the past 8 years have had good forward lines with a number of key forward players many of them stars in their own right.

I think its a stretch to claim that a recent flag team has got there on the basis of a "competent" forward line.

The most difficult position on the ground to play is CHF . Timing/positioning in relation to receiving the ball is an art form and can be massively counter productive with back men steaming forward with a full view ahead .There are other factors but this is the key attribute assuming good hands bodywork finishing and aerobic capacity are up and about.

Does that make it the most important position on field? Probably

.Although the scope is wide with with 18 positions and with a dominant player in a team say a Stynes who was a utility playing out of the one if that makes sense .Also mavericks like Farmer who could win a game of their own boot who would occasionally be beaten even with the ball coming in . Would the back pocket be the most important position on the field?

The most important position on the field this year could be Jack Watts....think about it!

The most important position on the field this year could be Jack Watts....think about it!

Yeah........nah.

Is that the sister of Li Na?

Is that the sister of Li Na?

Nah.....

Nice conversation there Qwerty30

I think the most important position for team success is the second KPF. With only one star KPF a team will struggle; give that team a second KPF, the first one has much greater ability to impact the contest and ultimately dominate the game.

Nice follow up in the series - Demons' most important

The most important position on the field this year could be Jack Watts....think about it!

Tyson/Jones out to Watts, Watts pinpoint pass to Hogan > GOAL!

In different eras, different positions have been essential.

Strong full forward and running half backs during the mid 1970's.

The CHFs of the 80s - 00's.

The elevations of a midfield "group" that extends to include players who come in and out of the team in the current era.

If you look at the Dees in 2014, a lot of our possession and disposal stats matched up kind of well (or at least average) across the season. It is when we got to the half forward line that we looked a total mess.

Look at the Socceroos at the moment. The work Postecoglou has done has given 1) a midfield section who can control the play and 2) 8 different scorers over the tournament so far

Look at the the tennis. It those who can hit winners on big points who are progressing.

In all sports, the most important part of the game comes down to scoring because it so bloody hard to do.

Most important position is the key forward. The player who can one-grab mark, kick from outside 50, hold his position in a pack, fend off defenders, and after all of that settle back and kick goals on the set shot. Sometimes I think we have forgotten how important the skill of overhead marking actually is in our great game.

I have to admit that the half-back general who sweeps across and can deliver inside 50 is also a vital cog in the modern game, but you still need the right men at the pointy end to kick goals.

If you have a key forward, think Jonathon Brown at his prime, then the half back general will have less influence as the key forward can and should run through them.

For me it is the CHF (big bodied powerful forward). If I had the choice of Jonathon Brown at his prime or Gary Ablett jnr I would pick Brown. The whole side would play better, other forwards lift big & small and midfielders have more faith in delivering it forward. Midfielders are dime a dozen. (Ablett maybe a dollar)

I dream Hogan is the one. (in time)

What players are the most sought after? Tippett, Franklin, Boyd, Cameron, Clark, Pavlich, Cloke, etc. Follow the money.

The Most Important Position On The Ground

Where I am sitting

That includes my unincumbered view of all the ground, and the ease at which i can get to the bar at half time and at the end of the game (if we win!)

The Most Important Position On The Ground

Where I am sitting

That includes my unincumbered view of all the ground, and the ease at which i can get to the bar at half time and at the end of the game (if we win!)

silly me, and i thought you favourite position was actually inside a bar in se asia watching the tv

I was interviewing for staff many years ago and I asked a very standard question.

Who is the most important person in an organisation? A very bright future employees said, "the paymaster".

I was looking for the standard answer of, the customer, but the paymaster? He backed it up with,"If the paymaster doesn't pay the staff then staff become unhappy, unhappy staff results in unhappy customers."

So the most important position on the ground? Maybe the TV broadcast director or more obviously the umpire.

silly me, and i thought you favourite position was actually inside a bar in se asia watching the tv

hahaha dc

That is a very close second!!