Under the circumstances, and with May returning to solidify the defense, we know what we’ll get from Harrison, and placing him at centre half forward seems the only viable solution at the moment to our underperforming forward line.

No thanks Joe

I always thought Adam Hunter from West Coast was one of the best versatile players I've seen in terms of being able to be a great lockdown defender, but then could swing forward and kick 3 or 4 goals in a game when needed.

I reckon Petty has the potential to emulate this as his strengths is his reading of the play and strong contested marking. He showed some really positive glimpse back in 2019, but I also think he's needed more down back then he is forward.

We tried that in 2019, it didn't work.

He's also badly banged up and may not play this week anyway.

Also don't need Tomlinson in defence, he was awful.

And he is our tallest defender - will make our backline short.

no

you don't rob peter to pay paul

As good as H is I don't think he's our next Earl Spalding. Not yet anyway. 

16 minutes ago, FearTheBeard said:

We tried that in 2019, it didn't work.

He's also badly banged up and may not play this week anyway.

Also don't need Tomlinson in defence, he was awful.

Ease up FTB:-  in 2019 he was 19 y.o playing in an average team, and actually did very well all things considered.

He hasn’t been tried as a forward since breaking out as a player. Needs to happen if/when he is fit.

Try it for a week or 2, if it doesn’t work at least we know. If nothing else, need to know if it’s an option for a mid game swing, if a key forward goes down in a final 

 

 

Edited June 6, 20222 yr by 1964_2

31 minutes ago, Jontee said:

And he is our tallest defender - will make our backline short.

That won't matter against the filth.

I actually think this could be worth a go if Brown x2 and Weid don’t improve. Petty did show himself as a capable forward when placed there, he’s a good mark and he knows the tricks of defenders. It could also solve the issue of losing TMac as the swing man should we come under pressure down back mid-game. 

Foe now I think he looks like he needs a spell on the sidelines to repair some niggles, but we’ve seen several examples of defenders turning to being forwards. 

He did show a bit when up forward years back in some poor team performances.  He does have nice hands.

Still, I dont think he'll add anything more than what we have at the moment.

The delivery isn't the forwards fault.  The forwards movement and leading patterns could be there own issues but it feels like we've gone back into a bit of a "bomb it in" style.

This mightn't be bad if the lads can get it to ground but it's not working and every intercept defender in the comp will be licking there licks against up.

Howe will take a dozen intercept grabs against us this Monday if we don't address it.

29 minutes ago, Pates said:

I actually think this could be worth a go if Brown x2 and Weid don’t improve. Petty did show himself as a capable forward when placed there, he’s a good mark and he knows the tricks of defenders. It could also solve the issue of losing TMac as the swing man should we come under pressure down back mid-game. 

Foe now I think he looks like he needs a spell on the sidelines to repair some niggles, but we’ve seen several examples of defenders turning to being forwards. 

Think Neita did pretty well when he moved from backline to forward line :-) 

Ridiculous call. 

It's up to our mids to use the ball with care going inside 50 and it's up to the forwards we have in there to compete much better.

1 minute ago, JimmyGadson said:

Ridiculous call. 

It's up to our mids to use the ball with care going inside 50 and it's up to the forwards we have in there to compete much better.

Ridiculous response.

Our key forwards are ALL underperforming and have been given more than enough opportunities to show they’re up to it.

They’re NOT!!

3 minutes ago, joeboy said:

Ridiculous response.

Our key forwards are ALL underperforming and have been given more than enough opportunities to show they’re up to it.

They’re NOT!!

Might not go that far to say they’re not up to it, they are all more than capable but are all horribly out of form. Trying something different to mix things up isn’t a bad idea though, it also gives Tomlinson an opportunity which he misses out on last season. 

Our mid/forward connectivity this season has been deplorable. 

The foundation of our system is defence. I can’t see Goody putting that at risk to finds a couple of extra goals a game.

I'm not against Petty getting a run forward but I don't think this is the week to do it - he seems to have taken a number of knocks the last few weeks and so expecting him to play that role is too big an ask.

I think our main issue is lack of pressure on the opposition.  it allows other teams to lower their eyes more when kicking forward and puts our defence under more pressure.  This reduces the turnovers in the back half which reduces our ability to score from turnover and not be forced to bomb it in under pressure.

So I wouldn't be against dropping a key forward and bringing in another small pressure forward (Maybe Bedford) and bring back the manic pressure.  With Gawn and Jackson we already have an extra tall in our forward line most of the time - especially when you consider Fritsch is our biggest goal kicker and is more of a medium size.

2 hours ago, joeboy said:

Under the circumstances, and with May returning to solidify the defense, we know what we’ll get from Harrison, and placing him at centre half forward seems the only viable solution at the moment to our underperforming forward line.

My 3 word analysis;

On Drugs Mate!

29 minutes ago, JimmyGadson said:

Ridiculous call. 

It's up to our mids to use the ball with care going inside 50 and it's up to the forwards we have in there to compete much better.

It seems Mrs Brown’s boys just can’t compete, neither can the Weid.

Weid never has. Mitch Brown should’ve retired years ago. And Ben can’t get out of a jog.

Maybe Benny can come good with some longer breaks and the bye - he did last year, but there might be a time coming when his decline seems inevitable.

2 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

I always thought Adam Hunter from West Coast was one of the best versatile players I've seen in terms of being able to be a great lockdown defender, but then could swing forward and kick 3 or 4 goals in a game when needed.

I reckon Petty has the potential to emulate this as his strengths is his reading of the play and strong contested marking. He showed some really positive glimpse back in 2019, but I also think he's needed more down back then he is forward.

Can you remember how the Weagles covered for Hunter down back?

Some combination of Brett Jones, Waters or Chick slotting in at CHB? Or Hansen going back?

The issues with Petty as a swing man are our flankers are undersized and/or not very strong defenders. Without Rivers and Hibbo in the team we can’t use flankers as de facto CHB. We don’t have a CHF who can go back, unless Tomlinson takes the forward role. And we don’t have midfielders or forward flankers who slot in nicely down back either.

If we had last years team with Gus on a wing and Tommy at CHF then there’s 2 ways to engineer a Petty swing forward and give some cover.

With the current set up I think Petty has to start forward with Tomlinson at CHB and swap if it’s not working. 

1 hour ago, dl4e said:

That won't matter against the filth.

Even despite our forward woes we still outscore the filth over 12 rounds. They also defend poorly. Statistically and on paper there's no way we lose this. Should be another regulation win just like against Richmond and Essendon. On current form and coaching though Collingwood could win its 4th in a row. Would be a huge scalp for them. But if we lose to this Collingwood team after how we've played the last two weeks I'd hazard a guess to say we might be in trouble.

Our back 6 has struggled the last 2 weeks us well.  We need May back, petty down back so Lever can find some form.

Then we need Rivers and Hibberd back to lock down midsized to enable Salem and Bowey to set up the forward play from back there.

I reckon having Max up forward more has unsettled the forward line and we just don't hit the leading player.  It is all about hitting the spot hoping for a contested mark or crumbing goal.

Strengthen the back 6 and work out our forward entries

7 minutes ago, praha said:

Even despite our forward woes we still outscore the filth over 12 rounds. They also defend poorly. Statistically and on paper there's no way we lose this. Should be another regulation win just like against Richmond and Essendon. On current form and coaching though Collingwood could win its 4th in a row. Would be a huge scalp for them. But if we lose to this Collingwood team after how we've played the last two weeks I'd hazard a guess to say we might be in trouble.

I would hazard a guess, to say if we lose this week it won’t matter in the slightest regarding our chances of back to back.

We plan to peak in Sept not June :- appears to be some very slow learners on demonland.

 

He is the heir apparent to May. Do not rob Peter to pay Paul.

Average forwardlines have won flags before. Average backlines have not  (recently anyway). 

Given he's been our mr fix it, i see the only logical option as playing Angus Brayshaw as our towering key forward.