Nick Davis - HBF?

[liz]

No - not permanently, but how about him as an option for the next month to cover for Kennelly. Reading of the play,a burst of speed, good footskills and the confidence to run and carry are the main attributes needed to be very good in that position. Davis doesn't have Kennelly's pace but has a good acceleration over a couple of steps and - just as importantly - the confidence and nous to know when to use it to step back into traffic rather than be forced wide.

He looked fit last week and more prepared to run hard, despite his recent lay-off. The delivery skills and footy smarts are a given with Davis.

Yes, he'd be missed up forward (though there is nothing to stop him running forward ala Malceski for the odd shot at goal) but I reckon it would be easier for someone like Laidlaw to come in and play a bit part in the forward line as a way of easing into senior football than to be expected to integrate into the back unit straight away.

[Industrial Fan]

That means he also has to be accountable! The same reason I dont think he should go into the midfield. I prefer him on hff with Laidlaw running off the hbf.That is a role I think Dumpster could also play with handle with aplomb.

[goswannie14]

That means he also has to be accountable! The same reason I dont think he should go into the midfield. I prefer him on hff with Laidlaw running off the hbf.That is a role I think Dumpster could also play with handle with aplomb.

That is the role that Dempster usually plays....when he's not injured.

[Industrial Fan]

Not really...he plays in the back half or on the wing, but doesnt play 'off' the back flank...

I am more trying to suggest that he could be the speedy link man.

[Nico]

Not on your sweet Nelly.

[RogueSwan]

No - not permanently, but how about him as an option for the next month to cover for Kennelly. ..

Not for any extended period. As Marry Me says, he would have to be accountable. I am afraid he would be more like Goodes when Roos tried him at CHB, just not up to it.

[ScottH]

That means he also has to be accountable!

That was my first thought too.

[Lucky Knickers]

My initial reaction was identical to Nico. Second thoughts is it's quite brilliant - not least because the opposition wouldn't have a clue. He is a fantastic user of the ball. The accountability question is always there, however, you could level the same criticism at Tadhg and Eski on occasion. Imagine the two Nicks - there'd be no messing about moving the ball from defence (something that is really frustrating me at the moment). Imagine, Eski kicks in, Davo marks, Eski or ROK run hard, mark on the wing/forward of the centre, bang into the F50 on the chest of BBBH/MOL or Davo himself. GOAL!

[NMWBloods]

I don't think Kennelly or Malceski are massively accountable either (as per my other post on running HBFers). I think it is something to consider to give us some more drive and it may also be really good for Davis.

[stellation]

He spent quite a bit of time playing off HB for Collingwood, so it wouldn't be something overly new to him... he gets down to around HB a lot anyway when pushing up from the HF at the SCG, but half of that is probably because of how tiny the ground is they would just need to make more of a concious decision for him to do it at Telstra Dome and for the team to actually use him.
I don't think he is as completely unaccountable as some are suggesting.

[swansrule100]

he is our best shot for goal though, seems a bit to defensive too me. He adds to much class to the forward line

[ScottH]

he is our best shot for goal though, seems a bit to defensive too me. He adds to much class to the forward line

He is our best shot at forwards, too.

[NMWBloods]

I reckon we'd get more value from Davis kicking it into F50 than from him being in the F50.

[Nolie]

.. he gets down to around HB a lot anyway when pushing up from the HF at the SCG, .....
I don't think he is as completely unaccountable as some are suggesting.

He played a brilliant game in the Preliminary Final against Freo last year and that was as a roving role but he makes a helluva difference to the skill levels of the Swans generally. It may have been a coincidence but the kicking against Melbourne was so much better.
Leave him in the forward line for God's sake so there is an alternative to Hall.

What you want Davis to deliver long kicks from the backline to Hall so they can bounce off Hall's chest?

[voodooguru]

he is our best shot for goal though, seems a bit to defensive too me. He adds to much class to the forward line

I think his play across half-forward and especially on the wing solves a lot of the "quality" delivery into F50 issues we occasionally suffer from - and at any moment "The Kolonel" could bang through a greasy bag.

He could certainly provide the same quality long kicks on the rebound through the center that usually come from The Leftorium, Tadgh, and to a lesser extent Dempster - but I think he's too valuable in the forward half.

Goodes to the running, McLeod role, if his shoulder's not too bad and Davis shading more (but not much more) to the defensive side of 50. Vogues has earned the call up, but being VIC-(de)based, I haven't seen Laidlaw. How do they compare?