Gazolla wouldn't be the answer, but he'd be worthy of a look. Henderson is a chance to go forward with Bower to be re-signed.

_________________
29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

Henderson always a chance to go forward, but he falls into the age-old debate of where is better suited to him - forward or back. Not willing to write him off yet as a forward, he's still young and he could learn a lot about positioning, leading, and marking while playing the CHB role. Let's not forget, Scott Lucas won a best and fairest playing in the backline before making the switch to a more permanent role as a forward, so Henderson could see some time deep in attack yet...he has a long career ahead of him. If the club get rid of a player who can play a role as a tall forward, they'd have to be bringing in someone new to play the same role. Would be disastrous for them to leave us in a poorer position KPF wise.

_________________
Premierships: 1869, 1871, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1877, 1887, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1914, 1915, 1938, 1945, 1947, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1995.

"GIBBS."

Get everything else right and the forward line should look after itself.

Had a look at the Sydney Etihad game the other day again and some of the footy we played that day was electric.

This was of course with Kreuzer in B.O.G form. Hampson was excellent forrward for 2 and 1/2 quarters before doing his PCL, and Henderson at CHF who went from being near kickless in the first half, to finishing strongly.

As I said in the Fev thread, if we cant fashion something up that isn't anywhere near a JPOD, Hawkins, Mooney, West, Ottens + mids/smalls setup that Geelong have had over the past five years then I'd be disappointed. Question is have we got the other areas as strong?

Problem is - and will be as we argue all Summer- that I dont think we have enough data over the last two years to put a case conclusively for or against as to whether our forward line will be a Premiership setup.

Waite's 2010 was never going to be strong after a knee, and 2011 then stopped with the hip injury. Hampson has only played down in patches. I not sure how jim you can say that we have seen a million times that he is not forward as he never has been able to get any continuity into his game? Thornton only became a forward in late 2011. Kreuzer missed half of 2010, and was never going to have any impact in 2011, and Henderson missed half of 2011 after preseason hip surgery and then played down back.

I hope at least in 2012 we can see all these guys on the park for an extended period, so then if it doesn't work we can at least go into next years trade period with a clearer vision as to what we need to take what would hopefully be the final step.

We have to remember that it's not all about 2012 or bust as far as winning a flag. We'd actually be cheating the Premiership clock by a year, unless we can do a Hawthorn of 2008 so I'm glad the club didn't go for any quick fixes this trade period that might decimate the talent of the rest of the squad.

_________________
"They're [REDACTED]'

We have plenty of options forward.

Mitchell and Levi will get opportunities, then add Waite, Walker, Kreuzer, Hampson, Henderson and T-Bird.

Jamison to be the new SOS and be a swing man......

_________________
The problem will be made. for the solution to be sold, to your face before your eyes, tolerance is now the new danger

Guys - just posted this on the recruiting forum but thought it might be worth discussing here as well. I think the attached list summary shows we do in fact have enough developing forwards. Whether they develop and or more importantly stay on the park long enough is the key in 2012.

Plus we would be able to yell "crazy Joe Gazolla"

Another person who knew Wilson was going to be delisted before Wilson!

_________________
when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth

Feelgood Hit of the Winter - GHRP-2, GHRP-6, CJC-1295, AOD-9604, Humanofort and Hexarelin

Easy, watched him play down there, he was terrible. It wasn't that hard. Can't take a mark, can't play the position. Go back to earlier in the season and you'll find similar from a heap of posters. In the end many wanted him dropped with the preference to pinch hit with Setanta until Kreuzer came back just for the sake of having a forward. We tore our hair out. Came back, had a couple of wonderful games as a first ruckman before injury struck, yes, first ruckman where he plays his best footy, and suddenly everyone goes hard and reckons he's our KP forward answer. Faaaarrrrk! Just many have a memory span of 3 games and forget, especially when they're desperate for a key forward. Setanta was a way better forward as was Thornton. Only place i want continuity for Hampson is in the ruck.

If Kreuzer struggles to play the KP forward role well then Hampson, and Warnock too I might add, have no hope. Let them rest forward by all means, as they pose a danger, and support Waite and Thornton/Casboult/Mitchell but not in the KP role. Both ruin them and screw up the team.

casboult is vfl standard not afl standard.
Mitchell hasn't played in two years except for a handful of games.

kreuzer warnock and hammer don't take contested marks.

_________________
Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Agree...the play the ruckman at FF idea worked once with Paul Salmon....its no subsitute for a real KP forward
who is a specialist.
Our kids are still a way off and Waite cant stay on the park....

_________________
"When you have the attitude of a champion, you see adversity as your
training partner."
- Conor Gillen

Nick Sautner -- the forgotten mature age VFL power forward.

I have often wondered why they actually have to mark the ball. They are ruckman for goodness sake with good leaps. Why not treat the incoming ball like a ruck throw and direct it into the path of the little guys at their feet or running past into space. They will get their hands to the ball 1st most time, so put it where it can do the most damage.

Chances are if it is not a clean pick up it to the man on the ground it will be a free due to an over zealous defender. Big Nick use to do it all the time when he played out of the square.

Regards Cazzesman

_________________
Ricky Gervais - “Everyone has the right to hold whatever beliefs they want. And everyone else has the right to find those beliefs f***ing ridiculous.”

You're probably a bit too young to remember but Big Nick also used to take the odd contested mark as well.

_________________
"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

Also just wanting to add that Robert Walls and Mark Maclure invariably always knocked the ball on (playing to instruction) when contesting in packs - but they played further up the ground where there was more space for our "mosquito fleet" to work with.

Its a bit harder to do this playing out of the square (not saying impossible) but there is less room.

_________________
"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

His big backside helped to hold the defender out a few postcodes

I say play the percentages. What is the percentage of contested marks taken by a forward when the ball is kicked to a pack situation 20 metres out from goal. I suspect not high. So why not have to 200cm+ forward attempt to direct it to where our crumbers are or are going to be? Alot easier to flick it over the back as well rather than marking it. Time and again Hammer gets his hands to it first.

It's not rocket science. With the ball placed into the path of Jeffy, Walks and Eddie heading towards goal I will back them every time. Coaches want the KPP to make a huge contest ala Duke Spalding so why not make the contest and direct it to advantage. If they attempt to mark and the mark is dropped it normally falls within a few metres of the marking contest. I think it should be hit/palmed to space, away from congestion and would-be tacklers.

Regards Cazzesman

_________________
Ricky Gervais - “Everyone has the right to hold whatever beliefs they want. And everyone else has the right to find those beliefs f***ing ridiculous.”

I always thought we looked the most dysfunctional when the opposition backman were dominaing rather than how many contested marks our guys were taking.

The Hawthorn game for example was a game of 2 halfs when you compare the dominance of Gibson early compared to the difference Jamo made when he went down there. Net result on the scoreboard from Jamo was 1 goal, but the whole complexion of the game changed.

Our last memory was the WC final. With Setanta having to ruck, it meant that ee had a forward line without Kreuzer, Waite, Hampson, Thornton as well as not having the flexibility of being able to throw Jamo or Hendo down there, on top of Gibbs who'd down plenty of his best work forward of centre late in the year.

Collingwood and Hawthorn have 2 best forwards in the game, but in the end it wasn't enough to beat a side with a forward line that has long been labelled as their achilles heel.

I realise the durability concerns on some of these guys, but what else can we do apart from trading them all out for Clark, Gunston, Lisle, Walsh and Fev and starting the whole process again?

Only 5 months to go. Can we have a Talking Forwards forum?

_________________
"They're [REDACTED]'

I like the theory but its a bit harder to direct/hit/palm a ball that has been kicked from 40/50 metres away rather than hit/palm a ball that is being thrown in or balled up.

But like I said at the time I would have preferred Hampson rather than Walker wrestling with Glass in the goal square in those final few momemts of the West Coast final - who knows what might have happened.

_________________
"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

The first job is to get the smalls out of the talls way.
The talls first job is to demand the ball then provide a contest, a contested make is not the only avenue to goal. If everyone know his job and tries to fulfil his duties to his team you don't need a Carey/Brown. We do need talls and a also think we have a number to come in and do the job for now and also the younger talent in years to come.

The exact tactic used in our finals campaign..... by Setanta

Inadvertently of course, he tried to mark them but they wouldn't stick.

_________________
"I had to eat"