Blue Sombrero wrote:
Lang is a mid. Cunners is a winger/outside mid. Garlett could play anywhere from HB to forward pocket. Lebois is a curly one. Probably yes, a small forward. Picket a high HF/small forward.
Of those, Le Bois has the lowest skillset IMO. Personally, I think Garlett has the most upside if he can get his head on straight. he is fast, a good user and likes to fly. He is a candidate in waiting for MOTY.
Pickett also has the raw speed but is reports he came back with excessive skin folds for the second year in a row are correct, I doubt he wants it enough.
Great discussion piece.
Small forwards
I agree with your assessment on each player, but you didn't suggest what forward skills they can bring to the team to keep a balanced outlook.
Are you pigeon holeing them a bit? Maybe you are but vaguely.
Lang is a good mark, neat HF has pace. Cats goalkicker.
Cunners can break a line with strength and speed and make space to have a shot.
LeBois has skills in spades: that was the attraction. Trained well yesterday. Good kick.
Pickett creates space with speed to steady for a shot. Kicks goals when he plays.
You can make an argument for all of them as small forwards.
Same with the midfielders. Plenty can players forward: Murphy, Dow, SPS Fisher
Fisher and Murphy are op class forwards if we let them play longer.
IMO 2 part time mid/small forwards = 1 small forward
I think our problem in 2018, hopefully due to injury, was having the fewest inside 50 entries in the league.
There were games we got slaughtered despite having most forward 50 entries in a couple of games. Why?
We were unstructured. How could ther be a forward structure when most forwards are up field defending.
That left opposition to double team a our key forwards, with a 6 v 4 defence.
Hard to structure outnumbered 4 v 6. Unless we move the ball quickly from the midfield. Come on outside runners Walsh, Dow,
Next year we have 3 mobile marking players in the forwardline: McKay, Curnow & McGovern.
Gotta win the midfield battle (without Shiel).