Defensive forward - ANB’s replacement?

[Romey 157]

I’m curious what people’s opinions are on who will replace ANB as our defensive gut-running forward? He played such an important role in our team.

We have a number of options including Chandler, Tholstrup, Laurie, Sparrow, Langdon and Sharp. None are like-for-like, but all are great runners, strong defensively and can hit the scoreboard.

For different reasons I think we should try Sparrow or Laurie there. Sparrow is strong overhead and has a penetrating kick. Laurie an effective crumber and deliverer inside 50. 

Obviously still room for a more traditional forward on the other flank. 

Thoughts?

[binman 42,908]

Chandler and/or Sharp is my guess. 

But Langdon might be a left field option as he is the only player who could match nibblas aerobic capacity, ability to cover the ground at speed and repeat sprints.

[rpfc 28,391]

12 minutes ago, binman said:

Chandler and/or Sharp is my guess. 

But Langdon might be a left field option as he is the only player who could match nibblas aerobic capacity, ability to cover the ground at speed and repeat sprints.

Chandler would be ideal as he is a better forward than ANB and that was my only issue with ANB in his incredibly important role. 

Then Langdon to do it and slide up Bowey or the new kid.

One point to reiterate - the role includes having to release CP5 (mainly) to drift forward through blocking in contests and following his opponent into the backline so discipline and footy smarts will be crucial.

[David-Demon 564]

39 minutes ago, Romey said:

I’m curious what people’s opinions are on who will replace ANB as our defensive gut-running forward? He played such an important role in our team.

We have a number of options including Chandler, Tholstrup, Laurie, Sparrow, Langdon and Sharp. None are like-for-like, but all are great runners, strong defensively and can hit the scoreboard.

For different reasons I think we should try Sparrow or Laurie there. Sparrow is strong overhead and has a penetrating kick. Laurie an effective crumber and deliverer inside 50. 

Obviously still room for a more traditional forward on the other flank. 

Thoughts?

Right now I am not a fan of Laurie based on 2024 games. I think Bowie may be able to fill ANB's role, and I see from ground reports @ training by others here that he is in the on-ballers group in these training sessions. As for Sparrow, he needs to take the next step in his playing development. I feel.

[beelzebub 23,353]

38 minutes ago, rpfc said:

Chandler would be ideal as he is a better forward than ANB and that was my only issue with ANB in his incredibly important role. 

Then Langdon to do it and slide up Bowey or the new kid.

One point to reiterate - the role includes having to release CP5 (mainly) to drift forward through blocking in contests and following his opponent into the backline so discipline and footy smarts will be crucial.

Almost like you know what you're talking about ;) 

Is this something they might groom 'Tricky Dicky' for ?  By way of curiosity? 

[At Least I Saw a Flag 5,239]

35 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

Almost like you know what you're talking about ;) 

Is this something they might groom 'Tricky Dicky' for ?  By way of curiosity? 

No idea who 'Tricky Dicky" is. And I'm not a fan of grooming.

I think Chandler is the best option.

[Diamond_Jim 12,571]

1 hour ago, binman said:

But Langdon might be a left field option as he is the only player who could match nibblas aerobic capacity, ability to cover the ground at speed and repeat sprints

I like that idea.

Langdon is a valuable player but I'm not sure the modern game suits the boundary line play which is his specialty. Bringing him infield and slightly forward could result in much faster and centred transition

[Little Goffy 14,525]

Chandler probably the lead candidate as he has the work rate and the role would help smooth his uneven performance.

Sparrow might work and, like Chandler, the role would help keep him involved usefully at the times he isn't gathering the ball so much, but that would need some adjustments to his body (less crash, more dash) which might be counter-productive if we have him penciled in as a long term heavy body in the packs.

Tholstrup has a real chance of developing into a potent weapon (I keep thinking a taller Paul Chapman) but in the contemporary game the starting point for a good mid-sized forward is harassment and pursuit. That'll take continuing fitness over multiple pre-seasons, but overall I can certainly see him contributing to our forward harrassment and even being a defensive forward when the need arises, though not in the Nibbler sense of all-day responsibility.

Spargo knows how to be in positions which stop the ball from coming near him. A statistic-destroying skill but a valuable contribution, especially when he can also be so smart on the occasions he does get the ball. However, everything is at best 'monitor' with Spargo until he gets a clean injury run and finds some confidence.

A collection of players (Bowey, Woewodin, Howes, Sharp, Brown, Hore) who aren't firmly wedded to a current position or even firmly in the 22 might each be given time to prove their team-first mettle across half-forward and that may turn up a nugget, but all have reasons to doubt, as well.

Of course, I'm also 100% in favour of a whole-team ethic on these things. One of the reasons I have so much respect for TMac is he always delivered the pressure acts, and it is also a solid part of Van Rooyen's game. Fritsch could do with a stern talking to on this. Water finds the hole.

[58er 6,425]

1 hour ago, binman said:

Chandler and/or Sharp is my guess. 

But Langdon might be a left field option as he is the only player who could match nibblas aerobic capacity, ability to cover the ground at speed and repeat sprints.

That’s what we got Sharp for isn’t it? 

I would rather give Sharp a free rein to use his skills in running and creating.

We must not get too defensive as a priority against attack which is still the best form of pressure on the opposition. 

Perhaps Bowey could go forward. Lingers must still be allowed to perform  his role which is crucial even more than Nibblers role. 

Other teams  don’t have to have a Nibbler perhaps it’s time we tried a game plan without this defensive mechanism. 

[58er 6,425]

14 minutes ago, Little Goffy said:

Chandler probably the lead candidate as he has the work rate and the role would help smooth his uneven performance.

Sparrow might work and, like Chandler, the role would help keep him involved usefully at the times he isn't gathering the ball so much, but that would need some adjustments to his body (less crash, more dash) which might be counter-productive if we have him penciled in as a long term heavy body in the packs.

Tholstrup has a real chance of developing into a potent weapon (I keep thinking a taller Paul Chapman) but in the contemporary game the starting point for a good mid-sized forward is harassment and pursuit. That'll take continuing fitness over multiple pre-seasons, but overall I can certainly see him contributing to our forward harrassment and even being a defensive forward when the need arises, though not in the Nibbler sense of all-day responsibility.

Spargo knows how to be in positions which stop the ball from coming near him. A statistic-destroying skill but a valuable contribution, especially when he can also be so smart on the occasions he does get the ball. However, everything is at best 'monitor' with Spargo until he gets a clean injury run and finds some confidence.

A collection of players (Bowey, Woewodin, Howes, Sharp, Brown, Hore) who aren't firmly wedded to a current position or even firmly in the 22 might each be given time to prove their team-first mettle across half-forward and that may turn up a nugget, but all have reasons to doubt, as well.

Of course, I'm also 100% in favour of a whole-team ethic on these things. One of the reasons I have so much respect for TMac is he always delivered the pressure acts, and it is also a solid part of Van Rooyen's game. Fritsch could do with a stern talking to on this. Water finds the hole.

Really get off Frittas back. Not every single player is strong defensively. He is not there to be defensive but to kick goals and create opportunities to score. Other players like Chandler and Spargo don’t kick quite enough goals over the period. 

It will be interesting to see what evolves. 

[tiers 2,832]

Nibbler was unique as a small mid/defender operating all around the ground but who could also become an attacker when the opportunity presented. Sacrificing Langdon or Fritta's best game style to cover for Nibbler is mind numbingly silly.

What was special about Nibbler was his ability to operate all over the ground - he was just as likely to save a goal as kick a goal. Langdon does the same (as does Windsor) but Langdon's boundary line running ability to carry the ball is priceless. I believe that his 2 way running was one of the main reasons we won the flag in 2021 - he changed our game style and direction.

There is no easy direct replacement for Nibbler (as there wasn't for Angus) and so we must experiment and distribute the work load.

It might be that the biggest loss from Nibbler is his on field leadership. He should be signed up as a future coach.

[binman 42,908]

1 hour ago, 58er said:

That’s what we got Sharp for isn’t it? 

I would rather give Sharp a free rein to use his skills in running and creating.

We must not get too defensive as a priority against attack which is still the best form of pressure on the opposition. 

Perhaps Bowey could go forward. Lingers must still be allowed to perform  his role which is crucial even more than Nibblers role. 

Other teams  don’t have to have a Nibbler perhaps it’s time we tried a game plan without this defensive mechanism. 

Nibbla wasn't/isn't a defensive forward. 

He plays the high half forward role involving all game gut running up and down the ground from arc to arc that ALL teams now employ.

Nibbla is the best in the business at that role and I have little doubt he play it at the crows.

Edited 12 minutes ago by binman