Our Forward structure

[liz]

Liz you're not really Bruce in disguise are you ?

Aaaargh...you've just pointed out what I've done. BM irritates me no end with his constant use of that word (and much else besides) and now I've gone and done it myself.

[aardvark]

Aaaargh...you've just pointed out what I've done. BM irritates me no end with his constant use of that word (and much else besides) and now I've gone and done it myself.

Its almost a Red Card offence

[Swanner]

i just think it doesnt matter who they bring in until they commit to actually having a forward line on the ground we won't be successful.

[Go Swannies]

i just think it doesnt matter who they bring in until they commit to actually having a forward line on the ground we won't be successful.

On the ground?!? That's a novel idea. We certainly have one in surgery, in our heads, and in training so maybe one day we'll have one on the ground, too.

[Leeroy]

We're grievously lacking a forward and half-forward line, especially the 'power forward'. But even if we had a 23 yr old Wayne Carey, he'd go mad for the lack of sharp kicking. Or very tired from chasing random kicks out of the square or off running halfbacks.
It's funny how clubs acquire a characteristic that runs through the decades, regardless of coaches, presidents and players. Sydney have a character based on poor ball skills and a seeming inability to score. Cf, the full-forward in the '05 Grand Final.
Jeez, I remember watching chains of pointless handballs around centre half-forward, like they were all saying "you kick it", "no, YOU kick it" while Tony Lockett was standing in the goalsquare with his arms out, pleading for a quick kick.
I've no more idea of the solution than any of the rest of you. Thing is, Sydney have had two coaches in the last 20 years who've really stamped their mark on the club, Barassi and Roos. Barassi made of the Swans a proper football team, Roos won a flag. But which one would you rather watch?

[Hartijon]

I have no real idea what would work either and we (and Horse has said as much) have to experiment. I remember playing midfield with the same Full Forward for 5 years. You could hit him every time by kicking 20 metres to his left and 20 metres in front of him. When he was injured we could not hit his replacement. This is why our midfield can't hit a target .They keep moving the target.To settle into a structure just lifts the standard of play immensely and the midfield doesn't have to think too much about the delivery.They know where their FF will be running to. IMO opinion we have the cattle.We just gotta find the right combination. The failure of White and the injury to Bradshaw is the root cause of this problem but we gotta get over this and move on. I also don't believe Goodes is the right player for CHF. They tried LRT and it didn't work,why not try Reg and put LRT in Reg's old spot? I think the flankers have enormous potential and I hope LJ goes to forward flank.With Reid the other side this would be an awesome line.

[RBS1]

Any danger of giving white a extended go ?? Looked really good in the early games .. Struggled big time in the wet v cats & Carlton .. But who didn't ... You can't tell me he's not a better forward option than LRT ?? Give him 10 games to prove he can play the position .. This week would have been ideal to bring him back v North

[Swanner]

On the ground?!? That's a novel idea. We certainly have one in surgery, in our heads, and in training so maybe one day we'll have one on the ground, too.

yes it is novel ... i don't know about the rest of you but i am sick of seeing our forwards disappear into the midfield - then we get a fast break and there is no-one to kick it too. eventually they stop running off half back and just kick it long to the boundary - crappy football. i am getting nostaglic now but some off the most exciting moments at the footy was watching lockett; carey; dunstall et.al tearing out from the goal square and trying to beat there man on the lead. ooh well now tackling is valued more as a skill then marking or kicking goals.

[Bloody Hell]

Should have a ? at the end of the thread title.

The forward line I would be aiming for is:

TDL White McVeigh
McGlynn Reid LJ

I like LJ, but think you could suggest 5 guys for the 3rd leading forward spot (where ROK made his name).

McVeigh, TDL and McGlynn to rotate through the midfield, but their primary positions to be forward. If you chose to play 2 true ruckman, would throw this into disarray...but most coaches seem to be shying away from this ATM.

You need someone to take ownership of the forwardline - which I think would suit McVeigh.

White is the BIG ?

As stated elsewhere, like Johnson (of the cricketing variety) the less he plays the more attractive White is. I think he needs alot of coaching regarding body positioning, leading (off a defender ie how to gain 2-3m) and reading the flight of the ball (which as far as I know can only be gained through experience), but I'm clinging to the gossamer thread.

OVERALL though, as the thread implies - the forward line lacks structure...most probaly due to a lack of cohesion/settled unit. Diametrically opposed to the backline, which is largely responsible for our ladder position.

[Bloody Hell]

White is the BIG ?

As stated elsewhere, like Johnson (of the cricketing variety) the less he plays the more attractive White is. I think he needs alot of coaching regarding body positioning, leading (off a defender ie how to gain 2-3m) and reading the flight of the ball (which as far as I know can only be gained through experience), but I'm clinging to the gossamer thread.

Additionally - doesn't seem to have enough @@@@ in him. Would love to see him take it as a personal affront to his masculinity when he's outmarked....at the moment he isn't surprised...that said, neither am I.

[Bloody Hell]

BUMP>>>>>>>>>

Unsurprisingly went to hell with the exclusion of TDL.

Even if he's not doing much he moves to dangerous places, making the defense worry about him. So important for the structure. Considering he played in the twos, makes his exclusion and the reason behind his exclusion look immensily weak.

[Robbo]

People were saying he was dropped because he had the flu. Turns out he was just dropped.

[ScottH]

People were saying he was dropped because he had the flu. Turns out he was just dropped.

And we know this how?

[Big Al]

People were saying he was dropped because he had the flu. Turns out he was just dropped.

Not necessarily. Ever had the flu Robbo?? It saps you of energy for quite awhile so picking him in a senior AFL game wasn't a good idea. Probably on Sat morning he felt he could play reserves so he played. He wasn't great by the way so he wouldn't have made the slightest difference to the seniors.

[Triple B]

BUMP>>>>>>>>>

Unsurprisingly went to hell with the exclusion of TDL.

Even if he's not doing much he moves to dangerous places, making the defense worry about him. So important for the structure. Considering he played in the twos, makes his exclusion and the reason behind his exclusion look immensily weak.

Considering the way he played in the two's, makes the reasoning immensily believable.

If it turns out that they were BS'ing, then he did himself no favours with his performance on Saturday. He certainly played like somebody who wasn't quite right.