Tbh... and not a slight on you , but thankyou for raising the notion:
Personally i dont think you bring in a player or move them At AFL level... to learn craft. I allays immediately all but wonder what theyve been doing the previous 10 years or so.
There are different ilks of players... Tmac actually knows how to swing....i.e play front or back and understands the craft of both. He knew how to before getting onto our books. His time with the Dees has allowed him to acclimatise that craft to the demands of AFL level footy.
Then there are some players who can only really play one or the other end. Their game, style, skills .."craft" is suited to that...and not the other.
At times eagle eyed trainers/coaches espy the rudiments and proceed to teach a position. This is done more often in the magoos....in days of old before that in the U19s... so when their name is called they were good to go ...in that position.
I tend to think this especially more relevant to Key Positions more than utility players.
Imo ..Petty is not a FWD.. yes he's occasionally gone ok but in the main his positioning and style aren't that of a fwd. The Roo Boy has it in spades... compare the 2...enlightening.
If you were to want to try and develop Petty up fwd....dont do it in games worh 4pts... Petty tends to work in space and where he can time the flight better.
In the crowded, tagged environs of the fwd arc he's availed little to none of this.
Id only play Harry up front if there was no option. We need to ensure there are.
