Jump to content

Featured Replies

Posted

This isn’t strictly about Melbourne, just more of a general question, if not allowed, mods please delete and apologies.

I can think of quite a few forwards who were Ok or average at best, then get sent down back and turn into absolute guns (Howe and Dunn are prime examples)... BUT... I’m wondering are there any dedicated defenders that went forward and turned into gun forwards?

 

Go dees!

Edited by BoBo

  • BoBo changed the title to Backs becoming gun forwards???
 

Neitz

  • Author

I was pretty young when Neitz started so I don’t remember him as a defender! Thank you 

 

Earl Spalding played both ends.

 


17 minutes ago, BoBo said:

This isn’t strictly about Melbourne, just more of a general question, if not allowed, mods please delete and apologies.

I can think of quite a few forwards who were Ok or average at best, then get sent down back and turn into absolute guns (Howe and Dunn are prime examples)... BUT... I’m wondering are there any dedicated defenders that went forward and turned into gun forwards?

 

Go dees!

Alistair Lynch 

  • Author
3 minutes ago, Demons11 said:

I think Gary Lyon started down back 

At AFL level?

 

I guess I mean they played 1/2 (or a few seasons) their career down back and then the other 1/2 as a gun forward.

Edited by BoBo

 

As stated both Lynch, Neitz were very good defenders.

Silvani easily could have played forward and starred. 
Mal Michael might have gone alright as a permanent forward.

  • Author
8 minutes ago, Gorgoroth said:

As stated both Lynch, Neitz were very good defenders.

Silvani easily could have played forward and starred. 
Mal Michael might have gone alright as a permanent forward.

The Mal Michael example I would count the same as Howe or Dunn. At Collingwood he was very hit and miss and could never cement himself as a forward. Then went to Brisbane and we all know what he was like as a defender.

 

Michael wasn’t bad up forward but he was obviously way better down back.

Edited by BoBo


Whilst not “gun” as a forward, I seem to recall Tassie Johnson playing a bit as a CHF (as well as ruck-rover) late in his career.  

Sean Wight was also handy at times as a swing man forward   

 

Tom McDonald for one!

All I can think of at the moment is players going in the other direction, which would seem more common too.

Liam Jones the first and biggest present example of a player who switched ends and became something completely different.

 

Colin Garland. 

don’t believe me? Look up that bombers game from the ‘dark years’

1 hour ago, BoBo said:

This isn’t strictly about Melbourne, just more of a general question, if not allowed, mods please delete and apologies.

I can think of quite a few forwards who were Ok or average at best, then get sent down back and turn into absolute guns (Howe and Dunn are prime examples)... BUT... I’m wondering are there any dedicated defenders that went forward and turned into gun forwards?

 

Go dees!

 

Getting in ahead of Harrison Pettys 5 goal haul this Sunday.  Very wise man!


Disappointed that no one has mention Oscar McDonald. On track to be the greatest of them all until his recent injury.

  • Author
2 hours ago, DubDee said:

Colin Garland. 

don’t believe me? Look up that bombers game from the ‘dark years’

Yes, but once again, he didn’t become a gun forward for the rest of his career.

 

I guess I’m looking for a Mal Michael type career... but going from the backline to the forward line.

 

He played 3-4 season as a key forward and was average... then became a backman and dominated.

 

I don’t think there is a player that’s been mentioned that has played 2+ seasons as a key defender and then gone forward and been an absolute gun player. Point being, it’s weird how there are at least 6-7 players in the last 20 years (that I can name) at least that have done a few average seasons as forwards and then become gun backmen.

  • Author
2 hours ago, Little Goffy said:

Tom McDonald for one!

All I can think of at the moment is players going in the other direction, which would seem more common too.

Liam Jones the first and biggest present example of a player who switched ends and became something completely different.

 

Tommy was an absolute star in 2018, but that’s really the only season you would call him a ‘gun’


Pavlich. Might've heard of him.

5 hours ago, BoBo said:

I was pretty young when Neitz started so I don’t remember him as a defender! Thank you 

Rated by Wayne Carey as the best CHB he ever played on. A very talented footballer and leader out Neiter. Would be an excellent addition to those mediocracies on Seven and Fox footy.

 

Gary Ablett Sr. was a half back flanker.

Chris Grant.


Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

Featured Content

  • REPORT: Hawthorn

    There was a time during the current Melbourne cycle that goes back to before the premiership when the club was the toughest to beat in the fourth quarter. The Demons were not only hard to beat at any time but it was virtually impossible to get the better them when scores were close at three quarter time. It was only three or four years ago but they were fit, strong and resilient in body and mind. Sadly, those days are over. This has been the case since the club fell off its pedestal about 12 months ago after it beat Geelong and then lost to Carlton. In both instances, Melbourne put together strong, stirring final quarters, one that resulted in victory, the other, in defeat. Since then, the drop off has been dramatic to the point where it can neither pull off victory in close matches, nor can it even go down in defeat  gallantly.

      • Like
    • 0 replies
    Demonland
  • CASEY: Footscray

    At twenty-four minutes into the third term of the game between the Casey Demons and Footscray VFL at Whitten Oval, the visitors were coasting. They were winning all over the ground, had the ascendancy in the ruck battles and held a 26 point lead on a day perfect for football. What could go wrong? Everything. The Bulldogs moved into overdrive in the last five minutes of the term and booted three straight goals to reduce the margin to a highly retrievable eight points at the last break. Bouyed by that effort, their confidence was on a high level during the interval and they ran all over the despondent Demons and kicked another five goals to lead by a comfortable margin of four goals deep into the final term before Paddy Cross kicked a couple of too late goals for a despondent Casey. A testament to their lack of pressure in the latter stages of the game was the fact that Footscray’s last ten scoring shots were nine goals and one rushed behind. Things might have been different for the Demons who went into the game after last week’s bye with 12 AFL listed players. Blake Howes was held over for the AFL game but two others, Jack Billings and Taj Woewodin (not officially listed as injured) were also missing and they could have been handy at the end. Another mystery of the current VFL system.

      • Thanks
    • 0 replies
    Demonland
  • PREGAME: Brisbane

    The Demons head back out on the road in Round 10 when they travel to Queensland to take on the reigning Premiers and the top of the table Lions who look very formidable. Can the Dees cause a massive upset? Who comes in and who goes out?

      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 79 replies
    Demonland
  • PODCAST: Hawthorn

    The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 12th May @ 8:00pm. Join Binman, George & I as we dissect the Demons loss to the Hawks. Your questions and comments are a huge part of our podcast so please post anything you want to ask or say below and we'll give you a shout out on the show. If you would like to leave us a voicemail please call 03 9016 3666 and don't worry no body answers so you don't have to talk to a human.

      • Clap
      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 33 replies
    Demonland
  • POSTGAME: Hawthorn

    Wayward kicking for goal, dump kicks inside 50 and some baffling umpiring all contributed to the Dees not getting out to an an early lead that may have impacted the result. At the end of the day the Demons were just not good enough and let the Hawks run away with their first win against the Demons in 7 years.

      • Clap
      • Love
      • Like
    • 329 replies
    Demonland
  • VOTES: Hawthorn

    After 3 fantastic week Max Gawn has a massive lead in the Demonland Player of the Year award from Jake Bowey, Christian Petracca, Kade Chandler and Ed Langdon who round out the Top Five. Your votes please. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 & 1.

      • Thanks
    • 32 replies
    Demonland