Forward Line & Backup Ruck Issues Going into 2024 and beyond ...

[waynewussell 4,146]

Schache just needs to get a sustained run at it. To date, it's been a game here and half a game there. Invest in the Schache and he won't look back!

[Macca 16,174]

54 minutes ago, 58er said:

Yes I would give Clarry a go up forward so  he doesn’t have to run all day and of course Trac as well if needed. He finds goals when forward of the centre like kids find Easter eggs on a hunt. 

I hope McAdam can get into the team with his fitness. Billing’s prob a sure cert now In final 23. 

It's not a bad idea (Clarrie forward periodically)

At full strength our forward line can be quite potent

If the forward line contains Petty, JVR,  Fritsch,  Kozzie,  ANB/ Petracca/Clarrie, Chandler & Melksham/McAdam, then that becomes a real headache for the opposition

We just need to be patient as our better forward players return

And what can happen once the forward line is strong is that the 5th & 6th forwards can shine

Even in Grand Finals.  Players such as Paul Dear, Stewie Dew, Teddy Hopkins and Shane Ellen can bob up and dominate

Our 2 or 3 in that category are Chandler, Melksham and maybe McAdam

3rd forwards such as Gunstan & Fritsch can really shine if the 2 KPF's are standouts or can play their roles well

Edited February 11 by Macca

[The Jackson FIX 2,300]

Who has been taking tap-outs around the ground when Max is resting in match sim?

[Sydee 3,741]

2 hours ago, waynewussell said:

Schache just needs to get a sustained run at it. To date, it's been a game here and half a game there. Invest in the Schache and he won't look back!

I think two other clubs have invested in Josh and so far the ROI hasn’t been acceptable 

I’m not saying he can’t help us just that he hasn’t proven he can deliver - yet ! 
 

Personally I have more faith that Will Verrall will help fill a need 

[DistrACTION Jackson 6,747]

13 hours ago, Sydee said:

I think two other clubs have invested in Josh and so far the ROI hasn’t been acceptable 

I’m not saying he can’t help us just that he hasn’t proven he can deliver - yet ! 
 

Personally I have more faith that Will Verrall will help fill a need 

TBF he was very young at the Lions.

At the dogs he was thrown around a lot so never got settled, which seems to be a Bevo trait.

Not saying he will be a gun for us, just think if he can settle into one position maybe he can improve.

[demoncat 648]

If Petty is injured we have to play Schache

Having two fit key forwards is too important to our structure and I hope the club doesn’t try and be too cute by playing small and leaving JVR to shoulder both the key forward and back up ruck duties alone 

Yes, Schache may never come on as an AFL standard forward, but if the opportunity is there he needs at least a block of games to see what he can do and to ensure we don’t go in undermanned in our forward 50 again

 

Edited February 11 by demoncat

[Demonland 66,674]

Ben King off the shopping list

 

[dee-tox 4,830]

29 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Ben King off the shopping list

 

Or the other way to look at it: salary cap remains in order.

Edited February 11 by dee-tox

[Roost it far 6,278]

32 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Ben King off the shopping list

 

Was always likely with Hardwick joining. JUH is the target for mine

[Kent 2,661]

On 11/02/2024 at 09:48, Macca said:

And Melksham will be back towards the end of the season.  As you said, Kozzie out for the first game only

But 7 out is umprecedented, all the same 

Which leaves us with this ...

If Clarrie is in the side we can use Petracca more forward but without Oliver, it might be a risk using Petracca away from the midfield

If all goes well, the forward line we're left with might be able to help us win the game but a lot might rest with Fritsch.  Chandler & JVR are 2 others who can impact the scoreboard

Petracca doesnt kick enough goals hopefully plenty of assists when forward

Edited February 11 by Kent

[Macca 16,174]

11 minutes ago, Kent said:

Petracca doesnt kick enough goals hopefully plenty of assists when forward

Well he doesn't often play in the forward line so if he does, he may well kick goals

Late in the season last year he kicked 4 goals against the Saints & Lions and had 4 or 5 scoring shots against the Tigers, North & Carlton

Closer to goal, his accuracy can improve

Clarrie could easily hit the scoreboard if he played forward a bit too.  Goes hand in hand with the ability to winning their own ball

Mind you,  what I've just said is not exactly news

[58er 5,689]

24 minutes ago, Kent said:

Petracca doesnt kick enough goals hopefully plenty of assists when forward

Kent Thsts a crazy comment, 

Trac  had 29.34 last year with say 7 OOB. Sharpen up and say 40.30. It’s still a lot to  ask unles he spends time up forward as a forward. But he is a  likely goal kicker at any time. 

[Gawndy the Great 7,840]

1 hour ago, Demonland said:

Ben King off the shopping list

 

Wasn't the player to chase for mine. Id continue to invest in Petty, Jefferson and JVR and use our cap to chase a replacement for May and Gawn. 

[monoccular 16,513]

On 09/02/2024 at 21:31, Macca said:

T-Mac can be useful for selected games if he can get his body right.  And the reason why T-Mac still has to be in the conversation is that Petty has to get over his foot issues

And Brown is in the reckoning as well because in an ideal world, the MC would prefer 2 bona-fide key forwards

So it's JVR & Petty or JVR and ????

Many are envisaging JVR to CHF so the 3 aforementioned players can play deep forward

The tricky part is the 2nd ruck and whether Schache or Fullarton get into the 22.  If Max is 100% fit, then it's doubtful we'd use the 2nd ruck as the sub again

If so, then maybe JVR has to spend limited time rucking (forward line only?)

And someone else down back to cover a few ruck duals.  If Tomlinson is the 3rd tall backman, maybe him

The over-riding question is whether T-Mac & Brown can get their bodies right at all

So if all 3 don't come up, who is the 2nd key forward, DS? (I put forward Tomlinsin but with no confidence)

I would always be concerned that a tall defender takes ruck duties in the backline - it leaves his match up unattended.  Less of a problem with forwards IMVHO.

On 11/02/2024 at 14:37, Sydee said:

If Oliver plays against Sydney I’d prefer he spends time in F50 rather than Trac

I know Trac has spent more time as a forward recently but seriously given where we are today I can’t see how Clayton can run out more than a half as a midfielder in early rounds 

Neither are sharpshooters when it comes to goal kicking but I do think Trac is better at delivering into the F 50 then Oliver who (imho) tends to bomb the ball in without much precision too often 

Do we actually know how much running fitness Clarrie has been gaining when he was away from the club?

On 11/02/2024 at 16:42, waynewussell said:

Schache just needs to get a sustained run at it. To date, it's been a game here and half a game there. Invest in the Schache and he won't look back!

Wayne - I really would love you to be right but like so many I have my doubts.

Here's hoping.

[Macca 16,174]

2 minutes ago, monoccular said:

I would always be concerned that a tall defender takes ruck duties in the backline - it leaves his match up unattended.  Less of a problem with forwards IMVHO.

Good point, monoccular

[Demonland 66,674]

Todd Marshall off the shopping list.

 

[John Demonic 4,942]

On 12/02/2024 at 01:43, Demonland said:

Ben King off the shopping list

 

 

11 hours ago, Demonland said:

Todd Marshall off the shopping list.

 

I'm not sure who's still on the shopping list at this point? Are we just going to rely on Adzy to talk Big Tom Lynch into requesting a trade for our 2024 1st, to rebuild? Could be a win win move if he has a year or two of injury free good footy.

Edited February 13 by John Demonic

[SthSea22 352]

It's concerning we don't have real depth

Fullerton played minimal at the Lions and Schache has been in and out his whole career

Jefferson still is a while away

[HBDee 348]

I don't know many, if any clubs that have multiple key forwards and ruckmen lining up to get into the senior side.......

[leave it to deever 16,439]

On 12/02/2024 at 09:30, demoncat said:

If Petty is injured we have to play Schache

Having two fit key forwards is too important to our structure and I hope the club doesn’t try and be too cute by playing small and leaving JVR to shoulder both the key forward and back up ruck duties alone 

Yes, Schache may never come on as an AFL standard forward, but if the opportunity is there he needs at least a block of games to see what he can do and to ensure we don’t go in undermanned in our forward 50 again

 

He probably needs to add a bit of bulk to his frame if possible.

[Demonland 66,674]

The Dees have some woes inside forward 50 given that Tom McDonald (calf), Harrison Petty (toe) and Ben Brown (knee) are currently sidelined with injury but Cornes is not perturbed by that as he feels Van Rooyen is the answer.

“Every time I see Van Rooyen play, he impresses me,” Cornes said on SEN Breakfast.

“I don't know if we've made enough of him. I know the crowd (loves him), the big ‘Roooooooo’, and we love watching him.

“He's not even 21 and every time I see him play I’m like, ‘you are everything I want for my team's key forward’. He’s aggressive, he leads to the logos, he crashes packs, he's a bit rough around the edges and there's a couple of things that he would need to tidy up in his game, but he's not even 21.

“He's played one season. So the sky's the absolute limit for this young man.”

Melbourne has had McDonald and Brown (and of course Bayley Fritsch) return 30-plus goal seasons in red and blue in recent seasons, but Cornes thinks Van Rooyen is the player they haven’t had since the Jesse Hogan days.

He also feels the Demons should have traded Petty to Adelaide late last year due to Van Rooyen’s presence.

“I just think Melbourne would have been searching for that player for so long. You've found it, don't worry about it, don't go searching, you've found it now,” he added.

“I think they should have traded Petty and absolutely loaded up. He will never be worth more to them than what he was in trade period last year.

“I don't know if he (Petty) is a forward, but Van Rooyen is and I just love watching him play.”

-------------------------

I think Kane is missing the point in that JVR needs backup. With BBB and TMac on the way out, with Petty very likely to leave at years end, Schache probably not up to it and Jefferson still raw, JVR needs a solid partner in crime otherwise he will get double teamed.

[rjay 24,100]

2 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Jefferson still raw

Raw, and maybe not quite right?

[whatwhat say what 19,905]

21 minutes ago, Demonland said:

I think Kane is missing the point in that JVR needs backup. With BBB and TMac on the way out, with Petty very likely to leave at years end, Schache probably not up to it and Jefferson still raw, JVR needs a solid partner in crime otherwise he will get double teamed.

i think kornes says a lot without thinking

jvr + petty = the ideal tall forward structure

the fact that petty is signed up until the end of 2025 gives us the whip hand; if the crom offer of ~7m for 7 years is still there at the end of 2024, then we can re-assess our trade options accordingly

[58er 5,689]

2 hours ago, rjay said:

Raw, and maybe not quite right?

No. Give him a chance they all develop at differing levels. Start looking at his pluses not the negatives. Most can be worked with. 

[rjay 24,100]

1 hour ago, 58er said:

No. Give him a chance they all develop at differing levels. Start looking at his pluses not the negatives. Most can be worked with. 

I will give him a break as he has had an interrupted preseason but will need to get a wriggle on.

...but will need to show some good signs this year.