12 hours ago, Wrecker45 said:

His run without the ball, towards our goal, facing away from play with a backman running with him, then turn around with an explosive lead towards the ball carrier is the best I have ever seen any Melbourne player do (maybe excluding Jackovich) He did it enough this season to make me think he is a natural forward.

He has the pace to put immense pressure on opposition rebounds.

The way we bombed it into our forward line this year wasn’t conducive for crumbing forwards.

It wasn’t a year for our forwards at all really.

I’d train him with the forwards.

 

 

Agree, his tick leads are forward craft is quite good, its hard being a forward when things arent going well. Theres not many small /mid forwards that dont go missing from time to time.

IMO no point having him in the backline purely for his line breaking speed...his kicking under pressure when running at full speed is average at times so id rather not have him delivering out of defence to save us all the head aches....frost is gone, lets have elite users delivering out such a critical part of the field.

 

forward/ mid/ wing for mine 

Having a look again at some of his highlights in 2016-17, he was breathtaking at times as a dashing half-back flanker. Some great running goals and would lower eyes hitting teammates. Hasn’t been the same since end of 2017 but his 2019 was good as a forward option. I’d use him as a forward again to start next season. In a year where it was plain horrible for our forward line he acquitted himself well I thought. 

I’m still curious as to why he got dropped for the Sydney game. I don’t think he was as bad as some say when shifted back against Richmond and Coll. He did a very good job on Rioli and the following week everyone was lost at sea against the Pies in the Mihocek show.

A fan of any Melbourne player that wears a headband.

But feel he could play wing, D or up front. That versatility can be handy but also note as commented above that Fritta excelled when just left to the one spot. 

Will comment once our list is confirmed and we see how magic Burgess really is. 

16 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Back.

Goes missing far too often when playing up forward. Snags the odd goal here and there but that's about it.

With his speed, acceleration and through increasing his awareness of forward line space, he could be the very best of link-men that we could muster. Forward line for me, with appropriate coaching/development.

1 hour ago, Carn dees said:

an explosive lead towards the ball carrier is the best I have ever seen any Melbourne player do

Really like this aspect of his game, as well. Seldom used but it should be more prevalent.

Obviously his best position is off half back but.. and it's a big but... Goodwin's game plan does not suit his style of play and to some extent Hunt's gamestyle does not suit the defensive tactics adopted by other teams.

Credit to trying him upfront but not sold on him up there.

If he is going to play down back he needs to break the lines and deliver the ball to advantage of a fast running forward.. ( a player we don't have.)

Edited November 15, 20195 yr by Diamond_Jim

I think whatever position the coaches think they want him, he desperately needs to train their all summer. He looked a little lost in the forward line on occasion, but not sure how much work he did there last pre-season, and when he got moved back again looked a little out of place in the game. He's a guy who I think really needs a set position, only then will he able to use his best asset. 

Personally I like him back, not only for his pace but also when switched on and full engaged he has a desperation that few can match, maybe he's the answer to replacing Nev as a small defender? 

He was one of our better forwards this year and he won us a game with that late goal against the Blues.

He's not damaging enough off half back despite his pace as his delivery lets him down. I'd prefer him on the wing then half back but I think he is better suited in the forward line.

If he is to play forward I'd like to see some more small forward craft, hitting packs front and centre, that's what we need from him. But most of his best footy in 2019 was playing almost as a lead up forward. With TMac, Weid, Fritch and to a lesser extent J Smith all capable in the lead I think we need to more dynamic small forwards, not another small key. No matter how quick he is.

His set shot to general play shot ratio is too much like a kpf. Only 10 shots in general play for the year. We need quick smalls who are a threat at ground level

Tom and Trac as comparison:

Edited November 15, 20195 yr by ArtificialWisdom
So many Spelling

I have this vision in my head of Hunt, Smith and Bennell in the same forward line just wreaking havoc with their speed, agility and ability to mark. Tmac and Weid would have to get the strong marking defenders but all 3 of our 'smalls' can take a mark as well as run very fast. Add milkshake to that mix and i think they could really prove a handful for any defense. 

4 hours ago, roy11 said:

A fan of any Melbourne player that wears a headband.

But feel he could play wing, D or up front. That versatility can be handy but also note as commented above that Fritta excelled when just left to the one spot. 

Will comment once our list is confirmed and we see how magic Burgess really is. 

Who else meets that criterion? Carl Ditterich would be one. Did David Schwarz or Greg Parke? Help me out, please.

Edited November 15, 20195 yr by La Dee-vina Comedia
correct punctuation

Was just too fumbly, caught of position and ineffective when down back the last two years. If that’s the case he can’t play there.

Forward and in short bursts on the wing I think. 

Desperately needs to be taught how to pressure and tackle effectively. Some of his high motor just keep chasing pressure was good but his overall forward pressure is bad for such a quick player. 

Lets see if a good preseason and some agility work can sharpen him up. 

Hunt has to play back.....we would have the slowest back-line in the league if he doesn't. The first game v the West Coast, who have a dynamic f/w line, will certainly expose our pace if he doesn't play there. I like him as a forward too like most, however, it would seem we don't have that luxury......especially with Melb letting frost go!

1 hour ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Who else meets that criterion? Carl Ditterich would be one. Did David Schwarz or Greg Parke? Help me out, please.

Todd Viney, not sure if Tingay ever wore one.

Reckon Nate should wear one this season

I like his pace in the forward line

 

Base on training reports, forward it is.

Has high top speed but lacks agility, that's the problem. He missed a bunch of forward line tackles because even though he had the closing straight line speed he couldn't change direction to nail the quarry.  Suspect this got worked out down back too.

Kinda surprised he wasn't traded.

Edited November 20, 20195 yr by Fifty-5

On 11/15/2019 at 12:18 PM, Lefty said:

He was one of our better forwards this year and he won us a game with that late goal against the Blues.

He's not damaging enough off half back despite his pace as his delivery lets him down. I'd prefer him on the wing then half back but I think he is better suited in the forward line.

He was also heavily involved in both the scores we needed  to win with 45 sec to go at Metricon.

Edited November 20, 20195 yr by Jumping Jack Clennett
Grammar

gets it in limited quantities, good in the air, excellent speed, decent set shot - he should play forward

Does Jones' shift to the half-forward flank - I'd suggest widely unexpected, but not unwise (one of the few who can collect around the 50 and slot it; also a reliable set shot from distance) - signal a fresh deployment for Hunt? I know he's been training up front to date, but we're running out of space for him in the forward-line (@WERRIDEE?). Meanwhile, our running half-back stocks have been depleted over summer,  with not much in the way of exposed reserves. 

3 hours ago, Skuit said:

Does Jones' shift to the half-forward flank - I'd suggest widely unexpected, but not unwise (one of the few who can collect around the 50 and slot it; also a reliable set shot from distance) - signal a fresh deployment for Hunt? I know he's been training up front to date, but we're running out of space for him in the forward-line (@WERRIDEE?). Meanwhile, our running half-back stocks have been depleted over summer,  with not much in the way of exposed reserves. 

i'd prefer to see Jones off half back. Can't see the benefit of him as a half forward.

On 11/15/2019 at 11:10 AM, Deemania since 56 said:

With his speed, acceleration and through increasing his awareness of forward line space, he could be the very best of link-men that we could muster. Forward line for me, with appropriate coaching/development.

Stafford is clearly gonna sort him out..Lol

For a large chunk of our 2019 season he was our best forward. But in the results we were getting it does wear on players mentality.

I thought Hunt came into the season with something to prove up forward but unfortunately the young lad didn't get alot of assistance with forward 50 deliveries. A dysfunctional forward line didn't help either. 

On 11/15/2019 at 12:18 PM, Lefty said:

He was one of our better forwards this year and he won us a game with that late goal against the Blues.

He's not damaging enough off half back despite his pace as his delivery lets him down. I'd prefer him on the wing then half back but I think he is better suited in the forward line.

i remember that blues game and that sums him up, great long goal at the end to help win it, great pace but at times his disposal was woeful, his handballing especially. To me he is the opposite to Spargo, physical attributes in pace and a decent mark but game sense and disposal is not good enough. he kills us most weeks. 

Edited November 21, 20195 yr by Bay Riffin

On 11/15/2019 at 1:03 PM, FlashInThePan said:

I have this vision in my head of Hunt, Smith and Bennell in the same forward line just wreaking havoc with their speed, agility and ability to mark. Tmac and Weid would have to get the strong marking defenders but all 3 of our 'smalls' can take a mark as well as run very fast. Add milkshake to that mix and i think they could really prove a handful for any defense. 

This does look to be the pathway to forward competence.