Just now, Roost it far said:

I feel for Melksham. His knee may have been the difference in 23.

I love Melksham, my point was more about our preponderance over recent years to recruit older injury prone players to plug holes in our forwardline, and that Membrey would have just fallen into that bucket. I'm happy we didn't attempt the same thing last year.

Just now, KozzyCan said:

I love Melksham, my point was more about our preponderance over recent years to recruit older injury prone players to plug holes in our forwardline, and that Membrey would have just fallen into that bucket. I'm happy we didn't attempt the same thing last year.

I got that 👍

I still think our forward line is good enough. It’s that our best mids, who are superstars of the game aren’t great kicks, imagine if Petracca and Oliver could hit leading forwards lace out 7/10 times rather than just pump it in. 

I think JUH will be gettable at year end. Hard to see what the Doggies would ask for, but given his form and off-field issues hard to see how they would get good value back. We seem to have a good rapport with the Doggies so i'd say we'd have a decent shot. There will always be competing with the likes of Geelong, but i'd say they are probably not in the Doggies good books given the B.Smith trade last year. 

There is the obvious question mark on whether we'd want the trouble in our club, so you'd want to make sure he has turned the corner so to speak. 

He is the best candidate to complement JVR and Turner i think. He will play that Jeremy Cameron style role and has the capability and talent to equal if not surpass the man himself. 

 

 

4 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

I still think our forward line is good enough. It’s that our best mids, who are superstars of the game aren’t great kicks, imagine if Petracca and Oliver could hit leading forwards lace out 7/10 times rather than just pump it in. 

They don't even need to lace it out (although it would be nice) just get the ball in fast and hit it up to the advantage of our forwards in space. We make things hard for ourselves by bombing everything to the pockets or the top of the goal square onto the heads of our forwards.

The biggest problem with our forward line is that JVR and Disco are not 5 years older. We are relying on two keys that are too young. 
 

Aiden Johnson looks like the perfect fwd 2nd ruck to me. Some of his efforts in the ruck against Freo were  just sheer brute and determination. Perfect. 
 

We appear not to want to play AJ, Disco and JVR in the same team atm. Hopefully this changes and JVR can spend all his time in the fwd 50. 

15 minutes ago, GS_1905 said:

I think JUH will be gettable at year end. Hard to see what the Doggies would ask for, but given his form and off-field issues hard to see how they would get good value back. We seem to have a good rapport with the Doggies so i'd say we'd have a decent shot. There will always be competing with the likes of Geelong, but i'd say they are probably not in the Doggies good books given the B.Smith trade last year. 

There is the obvious question mark on whether we'd want the trouble in our club, so you'd want to make sure he has turned the corner so to speak. 

He is the best candidate to complement JVR and Turner i think. He will play that Jeremy Cameron style role and has the capability and talent to equal if not surpass the man himself. 

 

 

Good friends with Clayton too apparently...whether the pair of them spending a lot of time together is a good idea is debatable, but I would certainly entertain the idea if he could commit.

Edited March 5Mar 5 by sisso

I'm a little confused about this .....

 

In 2018 our average H&A scores were (for and against) 105, 80

(percentage 131.4)

In 2019 our average H&A scores were (for and against) 71, 91

(percentage 78.6)

In 2020 our average H&A scores were (for and against) 63, 58 (shortened quarters)

(percentage 107.8)

In 2021 our average H&A scores were (for and against) 86, 66

(percentage 130.8)

In 2022 our average H&A scores were (for and against) 88, 67

(percentage 130.5)

In 2023 our average H&A scores were (for and against) 90, 72

(percentage 125.2)

In 2024 our average H&A scores were (for and against) 78, 79

(percentage 98.5)

 

When we averaged better than 80 plus we made finals but our flag year was the lowest score among those. Are our forward line worries really that much? Last year was disastrous and even then we weren't too far off managing the same average 'for' as in the premiership year. Now we get Tracc back, a fit Oliver, possibly JVR averages a goal, goal and a half better per game and suddenly our 78 becomes high 80s. We've looked vulnerable forward since 2019 and I hope every player, every tactic, everything about the club improves this year. But we usually manage good enough years to finish high up the ladder .... and score enough. Where am I wrong? What score should they be averaging each week? Or is it something else? Maybe we shouldn't be as worried as so many in Demonland would say we should be.

7 minutes ago, Go Ds said:

I'm a little confused about this .....

 

In 2018 our average H&A scores were (for and against) 105, 80

(percentage 131.4)

In 2019 our average H&A scores were (for and against) 71, 91

(percentage 78.6)

In 2020 our average H&A scores were (for and against) 63, 58 (shortened quarters)

(percentage 107.8)

In 2021 our average H&A scores were (for and against) 86, 66

(percentage 130.8)

In 2022 our average H&A scores were (for and against) 88, 67

(percentage 130.5)

In 2023 our average H&A scores were (for and against) 90, 72

(percentage 125.2)

In 2024 our average H&A scores were (for and against) 78, 79

(percentage 98.5)

 

When we averaged better than 80 plus we made finals but our flag year was the lowest score among those. Are our forward line worries really that much? Last year was disastrous and even then we weren't too far off managing the same average 'for' as in the premiership year. Now we get Tracc back, a fit Oliver, possibly JVR averages a goal, goal and a half better per game and suddenly our 78 becomes high 80s. We've looked vulnerable forward since 2019 and I hope every player, every tactic, everything about the club improves this year. But we usually manage good enough years to finish high up the ladder .... and score enough. Where am I wrong? What score should they be averaging each week? Or is it something else? Maybe we shouldn't be as worried as so many in Demonland would say we should be.

You don't think our scores in finals are worth looking at?

The 2021 Finals series was one of the most dominant ever, where we averaged 119 points for and 56 points against.

Compare that to the following years:

2022: 74 points for and 91.5 points against

2023: 62 PF and 66.5 Points against.

1 hour ago, Stu said:

Tim Membrey is member of the Kent Kingsley Forwards Club - he will kick a few against poor defences, or teams having a bad day. But he won't help you in big games, especially finals. @Roost it far is right - he'll likely twinge a hammy, quad, or calf at least once or twice through the year. 

The Pies are 3-4 injuries to their old stars away from middle of the road mediocrity. 

Yeah right, check out his record against us! Not too shabby!

51 minutes ago, Pulp Fritschon said:

The biggest problem with our forward line is that JVR and Disco are not 5 years older. We are relying on two keys that are too young. 
 

Aiden Johnson looks like the perfect fwd 2nd ruck to me. Some of his efforts in the ruck against Freo were  just sheer brute and determination. Perfect. 
 

We appear not to want to play AJ, Disco and JVR in the same team atm. Hopefully this changes and JVR can spend all his time in the fwd 50. 

Um I'd much rather Tom Campbell than Aiden Johnson any day!

6 minutes ago, picket fence said:

Um I'd much rather Tom Campbell than Aiden Johnson any day!

I think you need to declare a conflict of interest when talking about our forward line ;)

OK a lot has been said. What is the benchmark. Lohman & Rayner are marking half forward, Bobby Hill as the speedy small and crumber and with Mihocheck the reliable marking forward and Elliot as a marking half forward. Cameron Stengle are proven goal kickers. Papley and Heeney or Curnow. Green at GWS

All of the above are expereinced forwards, matchwinners and go to players when needed. Who in our forward line fits this description? Maybe Fritch and Trac when he plays forward. Chandler is a bit player as is Spargo or brown if he gets a game. Roo needs some class arounf him. Nibbler filled a role but perhaps we need a change in game plan where we rely less on a defensive forward and have play makers and goal kickers instead. 

The best our forward line has been since Neitz and Robertson, was with BBB and TMac as our marking targets. Despite modern football being a full ground defensive network, I maintain that having 2 large targets is the best option. I would like to see JVR and Jeffo, but JVR and Johnson looks more ready to go.

ANB hole needs filling. Sharp might get there but looks outside our best 25 to me.

Spargo, Kozzie, Fritsch and/or Melksham in any forward line means headaches for defenders. Hope we can see them fit and firing at the same time. Their combined leading patterns look static too often.

Sparrow and Petracca also rotate through, which is a very strong variation.

Other considerations are Turner, Kolt, and Chandler. Kolt will eventually take Melksham's position, Turner has very good hands and is athletic, Chandler runs two ways.

Too many behinds kicked for too many seasons in a row. Not sure what the answer is. Lets give Chaplin a few weeks to see if anything changes.

Two questions:

1. Do we include Johnson as a 2nd ruck resting forward?
2. What is the best matchup versus GWS?

6 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Admittedly you’re probably right.

Petty’s easily one of our best contested marks and given our lack of small forward pressure and lack of quality small forward full stop, I think he could be of use up there. But yeah, he wasn’t great up forward last year.

Petty should go no further than the Center Square from a defensive position 

He took Marks in the middle of the Ground against Jeeelong and was very effective 

He is not a forward, that has been proven 

2 hours ago, GS_1905 said:

I think JUH will be gettable at year end. Hard to see what the Doggies would ask for, but given his form and off-field issues hard to see how they would get good value back. We seem to have a good rapport with the Doggies so i'd say we'd have a decent shot. There will always be competing with the likes of Geelong, but i'd say they are probably not in the Doggies good books given the B.Smith trade last year. 

There is the obvious question mark on whether we'd want the trouble in our club, so you'd want to make sure he has turned the corner so to speak. 

He is the best candidate to complement JVR and Turner i think. He will play that Jeremy Cameron style role and has the capability and talent to equal if not surpass the man himself. 

 

 

Jamarra and Clarry are good mates.... wonder if that would help and be good for Clarry. Hard to tell.

Tim Lamb, Goody, Jason Taylor and the rest of the coaching department would probably need to be involved to work out if it is right for club culture.

17 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Petty should go no further than the Center Square from a defensive position 

He took Marks in the middle of the Ground against Jeeelong and was very effective 

He is not a forward, that has been proven 

We gave up a goal on the weekend with a set play where Brennon cox floated to the wing and took a kick in mark against one of our wingers then playing on quickly

Thats where Petty needs to be smarter as a defender and not allow those kind of easy outlet goals. With Gawn on one wing and Petty on the other for kick ins we can stop most run ons....

17 minutes ago, DistrACTION Jackson said:

Jamarra and Clarry are good mates.... wonder if that would help and be good for Clarry. Hard to tell.

Tim Lamb, Goody, Jason Taylor and the rest of the coaching department would probably need to be involved to work out if it is right for club culture.

I doubt JUH would be welcome.

The influence on Clarrie would be Hunter Mk 11. 

13 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

We gave up a goal on the weekend with a set play where Brennon cox floated to the wing and took a kick in mark against one of our wingers then playing on quickly

Thats where Petty needs to be smarter as a defender and not allow those kind of easy outlet goals. With Gawn on one wing and Petty on the other for kick ins we can stop most run ons....

Absolutely. You can still be a very dominant defender up the ground 

Petty helped us win a Flag as a solid defender. 
Keeping the ball off the opposition should be Coached all over the ground 

40 minutes ago, Lucifers Hero said:

I doubt JUH would be welcome.

The influence on Clarrie would be Hunter Mk 11. 

Love to know what you are referencing here. If it’s not appropriate to write here, love a DM about it. I still feel very in the dark on the whole Clarrie saga

I still maintain our best version of the forward line is to play 3 talls in JVR, JEFFO and rotate Tom Campbell into the ruck . Fritta gets the other pocket/flank and until Kossy is ready to play use Sharp as goalsnesk. CHANDLER plays at Casey, and he is a very overated player IMV

12 minutes ago, picket fence said:

I still maintain our best version of the forward line is to play 3 talls in JVR, JEFFO and rotate Tom Campbell into the ruck . Fritta gets the other pocket/flank and until Kossy is ready to play use Sharp as goalsnesk. CHANDLER plays at Casey, and he is a very overated player IMV

Serious Question PF

When has Jeffersen dominated a game at VFL Level?

How do you know he is in our best Forward Line?

You live in hope, which i am not knocking, but that’s all it is up to this point. 

1 hour ago, Lucifers Hero said:

I doubt JUH would be welcome.

The influence on Clarrie would be Hunter Mk 11. 

Hence the due diligence. People can find their way again. Clarrie is proof of that. 
There are reports that JUH has broken relationships with the coach and the Bont. A lot in the media are saying there is no turning back from that .. take it with a grain of salt obviously. its the type of player our forward line is in desperate need of.

 

9 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Serious Question PF

When has Jeffersen dominated a game at VFL Level?

How do you know he is in our best Forward Line?

You live in hope, which i am not knocking, but that’s all it is up to this point. 

Jeffo's second half of VFL Last year saw him dominate several games with good goal tallies 29 and finished 3rd in Caseys B& F Can conjure goals from nothing, clunk marks and tackles very well. Set shot routine for goals are very good I saw him kick 4 or 5 on one occasion and I believe we must bite the bullet and play him rather than at Casey where the inside 50s from lesser lights are SHIZZEN! .Emergency last 3 games of last year and very unlucky to only play against Norf and not Freo. Give him a go!

9 minutes ago, picket fence said:

Jeffo's second half of VFL Last year saw him dominate several games with good goal tallies 29 and finished 3rd in Caseys B& F Can conjure goals from nothing, clunk marks and tackles very well. Set shot routine for goals are very good I saw him kick 4 or 5 on one occasion and I believe we must bite the bullet and play him rather than at Casey where the inside 50s from lesser lights are SHIZZEN! .Emergency last 3 games of last year and very unlucky to only play against Norf and not Freo. Give him a go!

Fair enough. I haven’t seen any Casey games for a couple of years 

I certainly hope he succeeds, but i worry that he does not impose himself enough in games. 
I was surprised he didn’t get a run late last year, in order to give him a taste of the upper level, the fact he didn’t even when our Forward Line was not functioning well is to me a concern.