Forward line fix?

[leave it to deever 17,507]

Hi good Dlanders.

Due to a few health issues, I've very much been out of the loop regarding our trades and expulsions etc.

Have we picked up a couple of tall fwds yet to fix a problem that I'd say 99 % of supporters agree on.

That our fwd line has been lacking a big bodied , uninjured, experienced tall player that can compete for the Coleman.

Perhaps we are missing a decent full forward and chf.

In any case our fwd line has cost us possibly two flags and has been a problem very much unprofessionally ignored by the club for three years in a row.

Have the powers to be woken up and done anything about it in the last four months?

Much obliged.

[Neil Crompton 5,439]

5 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

Hi good Dlanders.

Due to a few health issues, I've very much been out of the loop regarding our trades and expulsions etc.

Have we picked up a couple of tall fwds yet to fix a problem that I'd say 99 % of supporters agree on.

That our fwd line has been lacking a big bodied , uninjured, experienced tall player that can compete for the Coleman.

Perhaps we are missing a decent full forward and chf.

In any case our fwd line has cost us possibly two flags and has been a problem very much unprofessionally ignored by the club for three years in a row.

Have the powers to be woken up and done anything about it in the last four months?

Much obliged.

Hope you are on the mend Deevs 

[leave it to deever 17,507]

Reading this article...

 

https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/melbourne-to-explore-forward-line-troubles-in-offseason/news-story/2d19ad5fa446e1b0329a2a75d01d26cd

 

doesn't fill me with great confidence.

We have experimenting enough and for too long.

No more bandaid solutions.

There has to be at least one proven big fwd we can lure.

We must have have a bit of cash to spend.

[adonski 11,619]

Kick ball to player in space

Do not kick ball to pack of 20

[DistrACTION Jackson 8,422]

I think the bones are there to have a functioning forward line.

JVR - for the love of god stop using him in the ruck… this decision has frustrated me no end. He will get 50+ goals next year if left at full forward.

Turner - showed great signs, think they should persist with him at CHF. Think he could kick 20-25 goals in 2025 if fit.

Fritsch - needs to get back to his very best next year and kick 40 goals

Pickett - should be kicking 35-40 goals in 2025

Tholstrup - think he will run as a 60% fwd and 40% mid in 2025. Think 20 goals is not impossible for him.

Chandler - hopefully keeps improving and can up his goal tally to 25-30 for 2025

Petracca - think he will play maybe 50% time up forward. Was on track for a 25 goal season before getting injured so think that’s the aim again.

So tallying those up it gives us 225 goals between 7 players. Last year we kicked 259 for the whole team! So if we get additional goals from the mids we should be able to go way past that.

My key concerns are:

1. Back up ruck - this just can’t be JVR anymore. He has to be our main forward target. If this means Fullarton plays then so be it, as I’d rather him rucking than Petty.

2. Additional mid/small - these players are so important in the modern game and with ANB gone we need someone to step up. Will be between Sharp, Spargo, Billings and Laurie I think. Unless we get someone in the draft who fits the bill.

[Robbie57 2,017]

Have to agree about JVR, he needs to be allowed to play his position. He can ruck when its deep in the forward line if need be but his job is to contest and kick goals....simples.

[biggestred 4,980]

its not who we have down there but how they play. the leading patterns are horrribleeeee.

 no one leads at the ball carrier

no one blocks to create separation so they can lead at the ball carrier unopposed...

new coach will do wonders down there i hope

[Its Time for Another 4,184]

15 minutes ago, DistrACTION Jackson said:

I think the bones are there to have a functioning forward line.

JVR - for the love of god stop using him in the ruck… this decision has frustrated me no end. He will get 50+ goals next year if left at full forward.

Turner - showed great signs, think they should persist with him at CHF. Think he could kick 20-25 goals in 2025 if fit.

Fritsch - needs to get back to his very best next year and kick 40 goals

Pickett - should be kicking 35-40 goals in 2025

Tholstrup - think he will run as a 60% fwd and 40% mid in 2025. Think 20 goals is not impossible for him.

Chandler - hopefully keeps improving and can up his goal tally to 25-30 for 2025

Petracca - think he will play maybe 50% time up forward. Was on track for a 25 goal season before getting injured so think that’s the aim again.

So tallying those up it gives us 225 goals between 7 players. Last year we kicked 259 for the whole team! So if we get additional goals from the mids we should be able to go way past that.

My key concerns are:

1. Back up ruck - this just can’t be JVR anymore. He has to be our main forward target. If this means Fullarton plays then so be it, as I’d rather him rucking than Petty.

2. Additional mid/small - these players are so important in the modern game and with ANB gone we need someone to step up. Will be between Sharp, Spargo, Billings and Laurie I think. Unless we get someone in the draft who fits the bill.

I wouldn’t write off McAdam yet. His season was ruined by injury which ended up costing form. He’s a very good player at his best. That doesn’t just vanish forever. I hope 

[58er 6,350]

3 minutes ago, Its Time for Another said:

I wouldn’t write off McAdam yet. His season was ruined by injury which ended up costing form. He’s a very good player at his best. That doesn’t just vanish forever. I hope 

McAdam will need to be very match fit as well to have any chance. 

[DistrACTION Jackson 8,422]

10 minutes ago, Its Time for Another said:

I wouldn’t write off McAdam yet. His season was ruined by injury which ended up costing form. He’s a very good player at his best. That doesn’t just vanish forever. I hope 

I view him as depth for Fritsch. I don’t think you can play both of them in the one forward line, but happy to be proven wrong.

[Ferghus31 97]

13 minutes ago, biggestred said:

its not who we have down there but how they play. the leading patterns are horrribleeeee.

 no one leads at the ball carrier

no one blocks to create separation so they can lead at the ball carrier unopposed...

new coach will do wonders down there i hope

Fully AGREE a New Coach or our current one is forced to admit his style and game day setups have not worked 

[roy11 3,824]

43 minutes ago, DistrACTION Jackson said:

Turner - showed great signs, think they should persist with him at CHF. Think he could kick 20-25 goals in 2025 if fit.

Think we can get more from this fella, Kicked 17.7 this year from 15 games in 2024.

Hopefully he stays fit and kicks on again in 2025.

[Little Goffy 14,400]

If I were Tom Campbell I'd be absolutely frothing at the mouth to get into 2025.

He doesn't even need to suddenly deliver his best ever football. the poor guy never got a run at it, always either stuck behind a clear 1st ruck or at a club which simply didn't care much about the ruckman. The only two seasons (2017 and 2021) where he got any kind of run at it he did fine - not spectacular, but fine.

He's not an answer to our forward issues except that he can be out on the ground as a supporting ruck, is a proper big lump who can take the impacts as well as contest overhead, and clearly has the humility and experience to work with a clear first ruck.

Campbell isn't a star but if he is doing his job well it lets Van Rooyen, Fritsch and so on do the job they are actually best at, and that could make a very big difference.

[DistrACTION Jackson 8,422]

8 minutes ago, roy11 said:

Think we can get more from this fella, Kicked 17.7 this year from 15 games in 2024.

Hopefully he stays fit and kicks on again in 2025.

Was being conservative… but could easily kick 35-40 goals

[Fritta and Turner 4,287]

2 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

Have we picked up a couple of tall fwds yet to fix a problem that I'd say 99 % of supporters agree on.

That our fwd line has been lacking a big bodied , uninjured, experienced tall player that can compete for the Coleman.

No or not yet. JVR needs a big year or else same old same old.  Naturally Fritta aand Turner will do their bit.

Get well mate.

[biggestred 4,980]

39 minutes ago, Ferghus31 said:

Fully AGREE a New Coach or our current one is forced to admit his style and game day setups have not worked 

i meant that we have a new forwards coach and this will surely change things.