Is Johnston no good as a forward?

[ernie koala]

I'm a little curious as to why LJ has not been given a chance to show his wares, at senior level, as a forward. He played his junior footy as a forward with much success, which had him drafted in the first round.On top of this, I've read he's regarded as the best kick for goal at the club. I know plenty of players have been moved from the forwardline to the backline with success...Grundy and Richards spring to mind. The difference is they were given plenty of opportunities as forwards, with limited success, before being moved back. Given LJ can lead, mark and is a beautiful set shot, surely he should be given an opportunity up forward. He's a natural forward, drafted in the 1st round...lets see what he can do, as a forward, in the seniors.

[BSA5]

The problem is he's probably not big enough to be a key forward. He's only a touch over 190 cms, and he's not a bulky guy. Sometimes a person's muscle develops so that they become bulky, power-athletes. LJ isn't one of them. He's sleek, sinewy. Not weak, but not big, which is the point. Half the reason key forwards like to be big isn't for wrestling defenders; it's for shielding the ball on the lead, blocking space, etc. Hall was/is a master of it. It was rare that he actually used his strength directly on his opponent, but he used his giant bulk cleverly to block, allow the ball to fall to his advantage and prevent spoils on the lead.

LJ doesn't have the physique to be a power forward, but he does have the pound-for-pound strength, or at least the potential to achieve the pound-for-pound strength, to match it with key forwards in marking contests. He also has the skills to be dangerous on the rebound.

I've seen LJ up forward and down back a few times now. Not as many as Ugg, Liz and so on, but a few times, and while LJ was always a bit exciting and classy up forward, he never imposed himself. His games down back, on the other hand, have been a bit rough around the edges at times, showing some inexperience in the marking contests and such, but he has been able to impose himself a bit more, get more consistently involved. It seems like he has a higher ceiling down back than up forward.

And the best part is, while he's probably not quite physically ready to play as a key defender, he has the pace and agility to play on a HBF if we need him (not that we're running short of such players, but yeah).

Finally, with only Alex Johnson and possibly Campbell Heath as our young, up-and-coming key defenders, and Spangher as some handy-but-currently-injured depth, we need some more depth there. Up forward we've got White, Reid, Pyke (who seems to be making a transition to near-full-time KPF duties) and Haren, with TDL capable of playing out of FF, and Rohan yet to find a place but looking OK up forward.

[Hartijon]

I don't have a problem with what has been said above and his suitability for backlines but I am still curious too.We recruit a top pick draft as a forward,the guy can kick(God knows we need this!),mark on a lead and is generally well skilled and knows where the goals are. Why not give him a chance in the forwards first?

One comment about the Geelong game. Podsiadly stood out because he was a forward! No need to make excuses for him and once he found his range we were in trouble(no disrespect to Ted who did a great job) . We need this type of player. Maybe LJ is not but we will never know unless we try him.How long has it been that we had a forward who can hold a tricky pack mark on a flank then slot the goal? I would just love to see LJ given a chance to show us what he can do.

[ernie koala]

And the best part is, while he's probably not quite physically ready to play as a key defender, he has the pace and agility to play on a HBF if we need him (not that we're running short of such players, but yeah).

Finally, with only Alex Johnson and possibly Campbell Heath as our young, up-and-coming key defenders, and Spangher as some handy-but-currently-injured depth, we need some more depth there. Up forward we've got White, Reid, Pyke (who seems to be making a transition to near-full-time KPF duties) and Haren, with TDL capable of playing out of FF, and Rohan yet to find a place but looking OK up forward.

I understand what your saying re: LJ as a key forward, but I never suggested he be put in as our key, power forward. Surely, as you've suggested Re: his suitability as a HBF with his present size,and inexperience, he would be well suited as a forward flanker.

[Cheer Squad]

He's starting to remind me of Vespremi in that he's been on the list for a while and hasn't gone anywhere.

I know he missed 2009 with a foot injury, but he should have made his senior debut by now. Look at how quickly Alex Johnson was given a go.

You'd think he'd get some sort of chance soon, or why bother keeping him?

[Nico]

Probably not if they are playing him in defence in the 2's.

[satchmopugdog]

My take on it is that because he is such a good kick they are going to use him as a distributer from the half back line to set up attacks

[Lucky Knickers]

I often hear pundits state that the position that a some play in junior footy isn't the one they are suited for in senior footy. I hope to see LJ soon.

[Nico]

I often hear pundits state that the position that a some play in junior footy isn't the one they are suited for in senior footy. I hope to see LJ soon.

How true is this. Here's an example:

Damian Cupido ex Essendon, Brisbane played footy with my son at Auskick and Junior Footy. Damian was way ahead of anyone his age in the Eastern Football League Juniors in Melbourne. The next best was Sam Mitchell. Damian was destined to be a star. At 14 after the 14's season finished he played an Under 18's game for Croydon and kicked 6 goals. The under 18's is one of the main feeder comps for the Eastern Ranges in the TAC CUP.

Up until Under 16's Damian played on the ball against Sam Mitchell and beat him hands down every time we played Mooroolbark. Mind you Sam was pretty darn good. I ran the boundary so saw them close up. Before games we heard other clubs parents say Cupido was overrated and watch so and so tear him apart today but of course by games end there was silence. When Damian went to the Eastern Ranges they had him playing in the backline then realised he was such a good kick he could slot goals at ease. Problem was Damian had stopped growing and even at 18's level was not tall enough for a key position. I recall when he was drafted he was listed as a midfielder, and Mathews said something along the lines that they believed he was about the best midfielder in the draft,(Mitchell wasn't drafted because he was "too slow") but when he went to Brisbane he was stereo typed as a forward. His papers were stamped as a forward. Two shoulder injuries later he was off to Essendon and the same happened. I saw him play an excellent quarter at Ethihad Stadium for Essendon when he was moved on to the ball and he looked so at ease and home, but alas next week he was back up forward.

Damian was a brilliant footballer, who could kick equally as well both feet, was athletic, agile and quick but faded away through inconsistency and in part this was because he was never allowed to play his natural game.

Maybe LJ was better suited to defence but at 18's level was agile and opportunist enough play forward and kick goals. As Roosey says there is a huge chasm between Under 18's and AFL. If they are seen as something they are not it makes it even bigger and harder to readjust.

[nomae]

Cameron Ling played full forward as a junior.

That being said I wouldn't mind seeing LJ have a crack in the seniors forward line, god knows we need someone to kick goals.

[giant]

It would be nice to find out wouldn't it?

[ShockOfHair]

Not unusual for young players to take a little while to find their place in things. Plenty of batsmen who started as bowlers and vice versa (not that I can think of one right now...).

Sounds like LJ is headed for the backline, but in this brave new era of multitasking it doesn't mean he won't play forward. Our defence is aging a little - Kennelly turns 30 this year, Mattner 29, LRT & Ted 28. With Melcho's injuries it's good to have someone else with his footskills, plus the ability to take a big mark.

[BSA5]

Not unusual for young players to take a little while to find their place in things. Plenty of batsmen who started as bowlers and vice versa (not that I can think of one right now...

Off topic, but Kevin Pietersen was a bowler at schoolboy level, and possibly u19s. Krejza was a batsman when he first got into FC cricket. Nathan Hauritz was a batting allrounder in the u19s, ditto Steve O'Keefe. Trent Copeland was a wicketkeeper/batsman in Sydney grade cricket until 3-4 years ago, when he picked up seam bowling, and is now the most consistent and dangerous seamer in domestic FC cricket.

[ShockOfHair]

Thanks BSA5. That's just what I meant!

[Primmy]

Give the kid a go for heavens sake! Even the coaching staff is hanging in with Curry, so why not Johnston? He will be fine, in his own time; not all of the younguns can be a Hannerbery, Reid or Johnson! As for comparing him with Vezpremi, no. Not having that. He has a better team awareness, so no comparison.