17th Premiership wrote:
I just think that the specialist small forward role is overrated. All the forwards need to be able to apply pressure to keep the ball in but that is about effort, positioning and technique which can all be taught nd pretty much any player can learn.
The mercurial goal kicker forward is great to have but only if they can maintain their a high output consistently game to game and within games. Cyril, Walters, Charlie Cameron last year all great and Papley too.
And I think we have several players who can play that role eso when we’re up and firing with 3 dominant key forwards and an effective game plan so that the smells pretty much just need to play front and centre.
However, we very much need a strong competitive ruckman to take the mantle from Kreuzer. They need to be competitive at the stoppages and competitive around the ground. I don’t need them to be dominant but we can’t let other ruckmen dictate the play at stoppages or create an additional number around the ground.
And if TDK does not turn out to be the ruckman we need, we are in trouble unless we can bring in a great mature ruckman either by paying overs for a gun or finding a diamond who has taken a while to come on at another club.
So this is a big year for us to find out whether TDK has the goods. He doesn’t need to become the man this year, but he has to show enough so that we are confident he will become the man.
(A bit like Tim English or that young dude from St Kilda whose name eludes me now... Marshalll? He doesn’t need to dominate like Marshall did towards the end of the year but show enough to convince us that he will get there before long).
Depends on the game plan.
Cameron won games for Freo and the other Cameron won games for Bris.
It's more than just forward pressure. It gives coaches a plan B to exercise when there is space available.
They are the new gold.