Our Forward structure

[Peace]

need. bradshaw. now.

[Hartijon]

Mick Malthouse (Collingwood)
?We lost our structure. When you lose your structure in today's football, you lose control of your own destiny, and it was all played in Geelong's front half.?

This could easily be a comment on our last two games!

Same thing happened to us against Geelong and the Blues.The game then depends on random quick kicks and can swing either way.With a proper forward structure,we would be a force to be reckoned with and be able to bury the opposition.Bradshaw would be one answer but its not going to happen.Goodes is a part time answer.Reid is not quite there yet.We need to invent a forward structure post White .A proper forward line with players that can actually kick goals from set shots and we are top 4 and challenging for higher. Our backline is great and settled.I would like to see TDL and even LJ in the mix for this and a tall ruckman for FF
Ideas?

[Slade]

Structure is definitely one thing we need but I believe what we need more is the ability to kick to our forwards advantage. So many times last week we kicked to their feet, over their heads to the side and to their opponents. Must be discouraging leading up and seeing the ball going anywhere but where you want it. We would have thrashed the Bulldogs if we kicked to our forwards.

[Hartijon]

Having a makeshift forward structure meant today's result was inevitable. Just putting guys like LRT who are big and can mark is not the answer.When they finally get a shot they often miss.We need true natural forwards like TDL for example. Stopping the opposition scoring doesn't win you a game unless you score more than they do.To do this you must have a forward line with players who can kick a goal. Take Hawthorn as a classic example.

The shocking delivery to the forward line can partly explained by the fact that the players have no idea who they will be kicking to. Without a forward structure the team cannot be drilled into where and how to deliver the ball and must make it up as they go.
Today the backline had a day off.Shaws delivery was atrocious,Matty could not pick the ball up and Grundy was delivering as badly as he has all year. By all means play the kids but when you have potential experienced forward players like TDL and Seaby playing in reserves and you don't use them you deserve to lose. The players give it a lot,its time for the coaches and game planners and selectors to match the effort of the players.

[mcs]

Why do we do rubbish like we did with LRT up forward today. Lets pick a damn forward line and stick with it. TDL has to be part of it, and a 2nd ruckmen should be in the team to help out as well. We have no idea how we are trying to get the ball forward most of the time as we have no idea what our forward line is or how it is trying to score goals. Infuriating to say the least!

[Captain]

I have said it before, Bevan and TDL need to be in the team and in the forward line.

[Rob-bloods]

There are surely two points here structure and players. If you have a 'forward structure' which is basically just a plan, then you can change the personnel around. I do not detect a forward structure at all and that is the real concern. Add to that an inability to hit targets around the ground even when not under pressure then we are going to have a frustrating year I'll wager.

[chalbilto]

Having a makeshift forward structure meant today's result was inevitable. Just putting guys like LRT who are big and can mark is not the answer.When they finally get a shot they often miss.We need true natural forwards like TDL for example. Stopping the opposition scoring doesn't win you a game unless you score more than they do.To do this you must have a forward line with players who can kick a goal. Take Hawthorn as a classic example.

The shocking delivery to the forward line can partly explained by the fact that the players have no idea who they will be kicking to. Without a forward structure the team cannot be drilled into where and how to deliver the ball and must make it up as they go.
Today the backline had a day off.Shaws delivery was atrocious,Matty could not pick the ball up and Grundy was delivering as badly as he has all year. By all means play the kids but when you have potential experienced forward players like TDL and Seaby playing in reserves and you don't use them you deserve to lose. The players give it a lot,its time for the coaches and game planners and selectors to match the effort of the players.

The organizing of the forwards was effectivly done by Jared Moore. Statistics show that the team had a higher percentage of wins when he played. As the coaching staff have noted in the post match reviews, how much he actually influences the team structures.

[Old Royboy]

At present there is no forward structure - I am surprised this thread received any replies.

[swansrule100]

is there any way our forward line could be better with the cattle we have available? my answer yes, Dennis Lane has to play. He is a goal kicker. Apart from that its young inexperienced and learning to work together. The delivery is also rubbish at times. We just didnt have the ball today.

We lack consistency in our targets too, lets give a forward line a run together for a few weeks, not chop and change key targets

[Cheer Squad]

We're in genuinely uncharted waters now as far as our forward structure goes.

For the first substantial period of time since the recruitment of Lockett in the 90s, and the departure of Hall in 2009, we don't have a big name target up front.

It's easy to understand why the club jumped on Bradshaw when he unexpectedly became available at the end of 2009, but he's basically been unavailable for most of the time due to injury. Even with a near-miraculous recovery to his latest surgery, the clock is ticking down rapidly on his career.

White has not worked out as planned. There doesn't seem to be anyone else on the list we can develop in the short term.

If we want a power forward, we're going to have to trade for it, as we have in the past.

Who's going to be our next Tony Lockett or Barry Hall? Who would we be prepared to trade to obtain another match-winner like them? It would need to be for someone who could make a career out of their time with us.

[Ratna]

While it is not an option at the moment (until he returns) I think Pyke should be put forward when he returns. He gives 100%, is not scared to make a contest, can take a mark and pressures the opposition. It's not the complete answer but in the short term may be part of the puzzle

[robamiee]

Isn't Lewis Johnston or Campbell Heath suppose to be the potential development forward....
But we clearly lack a big bodied forward coming out of the goal square and whenh you think about it the swans hjave always played with a power forward....But we need ot get some structure in there...TDL has to come back in the side....

[Hartijon]

We're in genuinely uncharted waters now as far as our forward structure goes.

For the first substantial period of time since the recruitment of Lockett in the 90s, and the departure of Hall in 2009, we don't have a big name target up front.

It's easy to understand why the club jumped on Bradshaw when he unexpectedly became available at the end of 2009, but he's basically been unavailable for most of the time due to injury. Even with a near-miraculous recovery to his latest surgery, the clock is ticking down rapidly on his career.

White has not worked out as planned. There doesn't seem to be anyone else on the list we can develop in the short term.

If we want a power forward, we're going to have to trade for it, as we have in the past.

Who's going to be our next Tony Lockett or Barry Hall? Who would we be prepared to trade to obtain another match-winner like them? It would need to be for someone who could make a career out of their time with us.

I agree with what you are saying, but we need urgent action for this season too and a safety just in case that match winning forward that nobody wants can't be found.Everytime someone says this I think of Fevola and his wasted talent. What about trying Mike Pyke.He has exceeded all expectations so far.After 5 or so games he might be a servicable Full forward.He has height, speed ,marking and kicking skills,is used to handballing off and can tackle.

[Cheer Squad]

I agree with what you are saying, but we need urgent action for this season too and a safety just in case that match winning forward that nobody wants can't be found.Everytime someone says this I think of Fevola and his wasted talent. What about trying Mike Pyke.He has exceeded all expectations so far.After 5 or so games he might be a servicable Full forward.He has height, speed ,marking and kicking skills,is used to handballing off and can tackle.

I don't really have an opinion about Pyke one way or the other. He's competent but not outstanding.

But you're certainly right about needing a "Plan B" in case we can't secure the services of a suitable "Plan A".

I think that whatever his limitations, we may as well put White as full forward, and build the rest of the forward set up around him. And put LRT at fullback, and build the rest of the defence around him.

Whatever we decide, we have to stick with it. There's no way we'll get anywhere this year with a perpetually disrupted structure. We don't have the personnel for it.

As for "Plan A", who's going to be our next big "personality", who'll not only kick a bag of goals, but help us with our marketing? Especially if Folau works as a full forward for GWS?