Small forward mid role

plugger66 · Post: # 1532913Post **plugger66** » Sun 08 Mar 2015 8:45am

Last week I had a topic on out ruckmen and was dually told that it isn't an issue however I will press on and this week its the small forward. Again its only a 2 week sample but I suppose its 100% bigger sample than last week. Anyway the questions are do we play 2 small forwards or one? Is Templeton a small forward or a further up the ground player as he is playing at the moment? Well based on the huge sample of 2 games the player that has come from nowhere is Lonie and looks a lock for round one which is great for the club. When was the last late pick to play the first game of the year? Seems a while ago. The other options are Minchington, Saad and Templeton who I believe is a small forward because he just doesn't get enough of the ball on the wing. Based on what we have seen I would play another small even though I have argued previously that 2 is one to many and at the moment I would give it to Saad but there isn't much in it.

FQF · Post: # 1532918Post **FQF** » Sun 08 Mar 2015 9:05am

Well Saad is a rookie so that would have to put him at the end of the queue together with Schneider.

Templeton is an interesting one because he was drafted as a midfielder and seems to have worked on his body shape to play in the midfield but all his success early last season was as a forward.

plugger66 · Post: # 1532919Post **plugger66** » Sun 08 Mar 2015 9:09am

FQF wrote:Well Saad is a rookie so that would have to put him at the end of the queue together with Schneider.

Templeton is an interesting one because he was drafted as a midfielder and seems to have worked on his body shape to play in the midfield but all his success early last season was as a forward.

We have 2 LTI so that wont be an issue if they think Saad is going well enough. Im no Saad fan but I think they will go with him but IMO he really doesn't do enough and doesn't seem to be able to go into the midfield.

FQF · Post: # 1532932Post **FQF** » Sun 08 Mar 2015 10:10am

If they were to upgrade Saad and give him a chance before Minchington, you'd have to question the decision to permanently promote Minch to the senior list. Although their form is much of a muchness, it just seems right to use your primary list players before resorting to rookies in the same positions.

Dis Believer · Sun 08 Mar 2015 10:10am

AS we are in a development phase I think they will stick with Eli on a wing as they want his pace there and think he can do it long term. I think that right now, the small forward position is Lonie's to lose.

dragit · Post: # 1532935Post **dragit** » Sun 08 Mar 2015 10:15am

Templeton has to become a mid IMO, which might mean he plays at Sandringham as a full time mid until he builds up more for AFL. If we are going with specialist small forwards I would imagine Saad is favoured and Lonie sounds like he is banging the door down, however he is odds on to do a hamstring at the current rate.

Specialist small forward has to be kicking or setting up goals and laying plenty (5+) of tackles every game otherwise they are just wasting space. As soon as we have more young genuine midfielders on the list, then I think these specialist smells will be up against it to get a game... It's a really hard role to play consistently & there are not many playing it at AFL level who don't also run through the midfield.

plugger66 · Sun 08 Mar 2015 10:23am

dragit wrote:Templeton has to become a mid IMO, which might mean he plays at Sandringham as a full time mid until he builds up more for AFL. If we are going with specialist small forwards I would imagine Saad is favoured and Lonie sounds like he is banging the door down, however he is odds on to do a hamstring at the current rate.

Specialist small forward has to be kicking or setting up goals and laying plenty (5+) of tackles every game otherwise they are just wasting space. As soon as we have more young genuine midfielders on the list, then I think these specialist smells will be up against it to get a game... It's a really hard role to play consistently & there are not many playing it at AFL level who don't also run through the midfield.

I have a really good specialist smell.

8856brother · Sun 08 Mar 2015 10:33am

plugger66 wrote:
dragit wrote:Templeton has to become a mid IMO, which might mean he plays at Sandringham as a full time mid until he builds up more for AFL. If we are going with specialist small forwards I would imagine Saad is favoured and Lonie sounds like he is banging the door down, however he is odds on to do a hamstring at the current rate.

Specialist small forward has to be kicking or setting up goals and laying plenty (5+) of tackles every game otherwise they are just wasting space. As soon as we have more young genuine midfielders on the list, then I think these specialist smells will be up against it to get a game... It's a really hard role to play consistently & there are not many playing it at AFL level who don't also run through the midfield.

I have a really good specialist smell.

As in a foul odour?

Old Mate · Post: # 1532941Post **Old Mate** » Sun 08 Mar 2015 10:59am

Lonie, Templeton and Billings can all play the small mid (high half forward) role and all have something in common....foot skills. There's room for all three in the team. Saad is a one dimensional small forward incapable of playing mid at the top level at least. If Richo wants a small forwards in the team there's room for Saad as well as the other three mentioned. Minch and Schneider at the end of the queue.

BringBackMadDog · Sun 08 Mar 2015 11:12am

I think Templeton and Lonie are a lock for round one as they provide something we need desperately, outside run. Saad looks good but is a stay home small forward so provides less flexibility.

White Winmar · Sun 08 Mar 2015 11:15am

Lonie as the small forward for round one. He's been the most impressive of that type. I think Richo was quoted as wanting to turn Eli into a midfield "running machine" and Billings, if fit, will play the high half forward, midfield role. There's always room for blokes who can kick well and we seem to be collecting a few. As for a dark horse for rookie promotion, Jack Sinclair wouldn't have done his chances any harm yesterday. Seeing as we have room for two upgrades, why not use them and have a look.

plugger66 · Sun 08 Mar 2015 11:18am

White Winmar wrote:Lonie as the small forward for round one. He's been the most impressive of that type. I think Richo was quoted as wanting to turn Eli into a midfield "running machine" and Billings, if fit, will play the high half forward, midfield role. There's always room for blokes who can kick well and we seem to be collecting a few. As for a dark horse for rookie promotion, Jack Sinclair wouldn't have done his chances any harm yesterday. Seeing as we have room for two upgrades, why not use them and have a look.

I suppose if you are looking at those 2 you aren't playing players already on the main list. I wouldn't upgrade anyone unless they are certain to play.

Old Mate · Post: # 1532948Post **Old Mate** » Sun 08 Mar 2015 11:21am

Saad and Sinclair the obvious two to be upgraded if we go that way. I suspect Sinclair is the most likely of the two especially with Ross out for a while.

White Winmar · Sun 08 Mar 2015 11:31am

plugger66 wrote:
White Winmar wrote:Lonie as the small forward for round one. He's been the most impressive of that type. I think Richo was quoted as wanting to turn Eli into a midfield "running machine" and Billings, if fit, will play the high half forward, midfield role. There's always room for blokes who can kick well and we seem to be collecting a few. As for a dark horse for rookie promotion, Jack Sinclair wouldn't have done his chances any harm yesterday. Seeing as we have room for two upgrades, why not use them and have a look.

I suppose if you are looking at those 2 you aren't playing players already on the main list. I wouldn't upgrade anyone unless they are certain to play.

I get your point p66, but it wouldn't hurt to kick the tyres, especially with Sinclair. Like the look of him.

PJ · Post: # 1533053Post PJ » Sun 08 Mar 2015 9:51pm

Old Mate wrote:Saad and Sinclair the obvious two to be upgraded if we go that way. I suspect Sinclair is the most likely of the two especially with Ross out for a while.

Agree, I think he's well worth a look at in the mid role. But like Richo has said only if there is form that warrants it. He looked pretty good yesterday.

Con Gorozidis · Sun 08 Mar 2015 10:47pm

Im open minded on this with a general rule to pick on form not position.
If we have a couple of guys playing well and they happen to be 'small fwds' then play them.
But don't just pick someone in a position for ideological reasons.
On current form - we seem to have very healthy competition.
As p76 said - the hawks game will sort the men from the boys...
The only one we can rule out of Rd 1 is Schneids.
But Lonie, Templeton (is he a small fwd anymore?), Minch, Saad, Billings are all genuine bona fide contenders for a spot.

Right now I am wary of talking Rd 1 because who knows who will be left standing by then. Brett Bowey might get a phone call at this rate.

stkfc1 · Post: # 1533099Post **stkfc1** » Mon 09 Mar 2015 11:58am

IMHO we need to get guys into the team that can actually kick the ball! At the moment we are carrying too many guys that are not up to AFL standard with their kicking. Geary, Shenton,Wright,Ross,Newnes. All these guys have their great points and Im a fan of all of them, Ross, Newnes and Wright , of course,should be kept in the team (when available) with but the reality is you can only carry so many of these guys. Hawthorn are the benchmark of moving the ball. Precise kicking makes a slow team on paper, one of the quickest ball movers. Our new game plan to move the ball forward as quick as possible totally relies on effective disposal. The small forward brigade all have one thing in common. Great uses of the footy. Im just wondering if we could use them in other positions? Minchington on a HBF for instance, then rotate him through the middle.(Im a big fan of the Minch, I believe he could be an absolute jet if given the opportunity) I noticed Saad went down back a few times and put on some good pressure. Just think we should think outside of the square a bit. I know there has to be a balance of height snd so forth but the games called FOOTball for a reason!

PJ · Post: # 1533103Post PJ » Mon 09 Mar 2015 12:15pm

stkfc1 wrote:IMHO we need to get guys into the team that can actually kick the ball! At the moment we are carrying too many guys that are not up to AFL standard with their kicking. Geary, Shenton,Wright,Ross,Newnes. All these guys have their great points and Im a fan of all of them, Ross, Newnes and Wright , of course,should be kept in the team (when available) with but the reality is you can only carry so many of these guys. Hawthorn are the benchmark of moving the ball. Precise kicking makes a slow team on paper, one of the quickest ball movers. Our new game plan to move the ball forward as quick as possible totally relies on effective disposal. The small forward brigade all have one thing in common. Great uses of the footy. Im just wondering if we could use them in other positions? Minchington on a HBF for instance, then rotate him through the middle.(Im a big fan of the Minch, I believe he could be an absolute jet if given the opportunity) I noticed Saad went down back a few times and put on some good pressure. Just think we should think outside of the square a bit. I know there has to be a balance of height snd so forth but the games called FOOTball for a reason!

Newnes kicking is good - he doesn't belong in the Geary category.

When Fisher, Savage and Webster are back we won't have the problem coming off the hb line.