Murray MiddletonRound Seven (Tall Forwards)
May 4th 2008 12:46
Over the past ten seasons the impact of tall forwards has significantly diminished. Long gone are the days when Tony Lockett, Gary Abblett and Jason Dunstall kicked one hundred goals in a season. During the period in which Sydney and West Coast were the dominant teams, the emphasis was on getting numbers behind the ball and surging forward when the opportunity arose. Geelong's 2007 premiership changed the way the game was played. Now the onus is on players to move the ball fast. For the first time in several years a number of forwards are on track to kick one hundred goals.
The likes of Lance Franklin, Brendan Fevola and Daniel Bradshaw are thriving. Bradshaw's last quarter performance against Port Adelaide showed what can happen if a strong forward is allowed to play one on one with his opponent inside fifty metres. It is difficult for a coach to orchestrate such a situation - and even more difficult to find players of the calibre of Lance Franklin to exploit it. The modern forward requires strength, pace, stamina and the ability to perform the uncanny. Fevola and Franklin - above all others - have the ability to kick one hundred goals in 2008. The only thing stopping them, barring injuries, is their own temperament.
Although several key forwards seem to be flourishing, there are also some renowned forwards who are struggling. Three in particular spring to mind: Anthon Rocca, Fraser Gehrig and Matthew Lloyd. Any forward who is thirty or over is in a delicate position. Two lean games in a row can be all that it takes for questions to be asked. The modern game suits athletes who have pace. Neither of the aforementioned forwards have pace, nor are they athletes any more. Watching Lance Franklin's recent heroics only serves to further underline the lack of mobility of Rocca, Lloyd and Gehrig.
Matthew Lloyd kicked five goals against the Kangaroos in round one, however the Bombers lost Scott Lucas for ten weeks. Lucas has been Lloyd's partner in crime for the past decade. Since round one Lloyd has born the brunt of the opposition's defensive attention. Such has been the lack of scoring options for the Bombers that Lloyd has often been forced to contest with two or three defenders at once. He has also been hampered by a calf injury. Worst of all, his kicking has been inaccurate - which is the first sign of a player in physical decline.
Lloyd kicked five goals against Port Adelaide on Sunday in an encouraging performance. He is captaining a side that is likely to finish in the bottom four in 2008. It will not be an easy season for Lloyd. His fortunes, and his teams, will improve when Lucas returns. It is too early to say that Lloyd is finished. There is every chance that he is currently restricted by injury. He must play solely out of the goal square. If he plays higher up the field his body will not hold up and, as has happened in recent weeks, he will be exposed by the opposition.
Collingwood has had a disappointing start to the season. They have won three out of seven matches and are struggling to get the right balance in their forward line. Rocca has missed the past two matches. Some experts have suggested that the Pies forward line has been more effective without Rocca. He kicked six goals in a dominant display against Fremantle in round one, but has struggled since. The problem for Mick Malthouse is that there is such a large discrepancy between Rocca's best and his worth. He can no longer be counted on to perform on any given week.
The loss of Sean Rusling for the season hurt Collingwood. They would have expected to play Cloke, Rusling and Rocca as their three tall forwards. Add the likes of Didak, Thomas, Medhurst and Davis and they seemed to have the balance right. In the first seven rounds Travis Cloke and the undersized Paul Medhurst have been forced to lead the Pies' attack. Medhurst is having a good year, but should not be asked to play as a tall. Ben Reid is still lean. He had no impact in his last senior game. Malthouse would have hoped that Rocca could perform for one or two more seasons to allow Reid to develop in the reserves. The plan is in jeopordy.
Fraser Gehrig famously endured one of the shortest retirements in league history. He ended last season as an important part of St.Kilda's structure. There was no need for Gehrig to play one more season. If anything, it shows how bereft the Saints are of options up forward. Gehrig has struggled this season. After three matches he was dropped. His return on Saturday night yielded five touches and one goal. The game seems to have passed Gehrig by.
Under Ross Lyon Gehrig has frequently been forced to play up the field. In the past two seasons the Saints would have been best suited to play Gehrig out of the goal square to ensure his longevity. His motor has diminished. He has never been a great pack mark. His strength has been his pace off the mark when leading. He seems to have lost that. Add his arthritic hands to the equation and the solution is simple: Gehrig must retire.
The likes of Lance Franklin, Brendan Fevola and Daniel Bradshaw are thriving. Bradshaw's last quarter performance against Port Adelaide showed what can happen if a strong forward is allowed to play one on one with his opponent inside fifty metres. It is difficult for a coach to orchestrate such a situation - and even more difficult to find players of the calibre of Lance Franklin to exploit it. The modern forward requires strength, pace, stamina and the ability to perform the uncanny. Fevola and Franklin - above all others - have the ability to kick one hundred goals in 2008. The only thing stopping them, barring injuries, is their own temperament.
Although several key forwards seem to be flourishing, there are also some renowned forwards who are struggling. Three in particular spring to mind: Anthon Rocca, Fraser Gehrig and Matthew Lloyd. Any forward who is thirty or over is in a delicate position. Two lean games in a row can be all that it takes for questions to be asked. The modern game suits athletes who have pace. Neither of the aforementioned forwards have pace, nor are they athletes any more. Watching Lance Franklin's recent heroics only serves to further underline the lack of mobility of Rocca, Lloyd and Gehrig.
Matthew Lloyd kicked five goals against the Kangaroos in round one, however the Bombers lost Scott Lucas for ten weeks. Lucas has been Lloyd's partner in crime for the past decade. Since round one Lloyd has born the brunt of the opposition's defensive attention. Such has been the lack of scoring options for the Bombers that Lloyd has often been forced to contest with two or three defenders at once. He has also been hampered by a calf injury. Worst of all, his kicking has been inaccurate - which is the first sign of a player in physical decline.
Lloyd kicked five goals against Port Adelaide on Sunday in an encouraging performance. He is captaining a side that is likely to finish in the bottom four in 2008. It will not be an easy season for Lloyd. His fortunes, and his teams, will improve when Lucas returns. It is too early to say that Lloyd is finished. There is every chance that he is currently restricted by injury. He must play solely out of the goal square. If he plays higher up the field his body will not hold up and, as has happened in recent weeks, he will be exposed by the opposition.
Collingwood has had a disappointing start to the season. They have won three out of seven matches and are struggling to get the right balance in their forward line. Rocca has missed the past two matches. Some experts have suggested that the Pies forward line has been more effective without Rocca. He kicked six goals in a dominant display against Fremantle in round one, but has struggled since. The problem for Mick Malthouse is that there is such a large discrepancy between Rocca's best and his worth. He can no longer be counted on to perform on any given week.
The loss of Sean Rusling for the season hurt Collingwood. They would have expected to play Cloke, Rusling and Rocca as their three tall forwards. Add the likes of Didak, Thomas, Medhurst and Davis and they seemed to have the balance right. In the first seven rounds Travis Cloke and the undersized Paul Medhurst have been forced to lead the Pies' attack. Medhurst is having a good year, but should not be asked to play as a tall. Ben Reid is still lean. He had no impact in his last senior game. Malthouse would have hoped that Rocca could perform for one or two more seasons to allow Reid to develop in the reserves. The plan is in jeopordy.
Fraser Gehrig famously endured one of the shortest retirements in league history. He ended last season as an important part of St.Kilda's structure. There was no need for Gehrig to play one more season. If anything, it shows how bereft the Saints are of options up forward. Gehrig has struggled this season. After three matches he was dropped. His return on Saturday night yielded five touches and one goal. The game seems to have passed Gehrig by.
Under Ross Lyon Gehrig has frequently been forced to play up the field. In the past two seasons the Saints would have been best suited to play Gehrig out of the goal square to ensure his longevity. His motor has diminished. He has never been a great pack mark. His strength has been his pace off the mark when leading. He seems to have lost that. Add his arthritic hands to the equation and the solution is simple: Gehrig must retire.
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