Forward Lines in general | PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
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Forward Lines in general

graystar1

graystar1

Tiger Legend
Apr 28, 2004
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Have been watching a fair bit of replay on Fox during this "off" season, and have noticed the forward setups of teams who have performed much better than us over the past few years.

The really good teams seem to have an open forward line, and more importantly, seem to have quite a few leads in all directions, which gives the ball carrier a lot of options. You may disagree, but for years we have had to rely on Richo to be our one avenue to goal. I guess Sydney is a good example, who had Lockett and O'Loughlin both leading in different directions. This is just one example. Others may have noticed something similar from other teams, both earlier and current.

I wonder how we will set up our forward line in '06??
 
In concept - although it took a little time to understand, I liked the idea of Terrys Triangle, with our tall forwards / ruckment rotating into differring positions at different times.

As much as I love seeing Richo there, would prefer to see him at CHF, giving us the ability to use him through the centre and across the wings as well to add penetration towards FF.

Certainly I am an adherent to the one up one down rule in contested marks etc, and at this stage I am not going to raise my hopes of a Nathan Brown cavalcade of goals as I think its asking too much of someone on the way back from a very serious injury.

I also agree that there has to be a multi pronged forward attack, with some of the smaller players ( Pettifer / Rodan / Krackouer ) providing dummy leads perhaps, or at least being in a position in case the ball is not delivered as well as possible.
 
Watching the Swans playing in the finals on TV, I amused myself by watching the way they came out of defence. NEarly always with a long kick and nearly always directed at Ryan O'Keeffe. He would present on the left side of the ground and then on the right and then back to the left again, over and over. BArry Hall was a decoy who wreaked havoc by arriving in the area late after having his initial lead ignored and O'Loughlan presented much deeper in the forward line.

They were as one-dimensional as any team played this year. Where it worked for them is two-fold. O'Keeffe is a seriously hard-running player and the should be seen as the blueprint for the modern running forward and the defence generally expected HAll to be the primary target, because that is how they had played all season.

It is the equivalent of Richmond using Richo as a decoy forward. All we need is the hard-running, on-yer-bike, strong-marking, always-presenting alternative!

Get that Patrick Bowden in the gym and on the running track! Do the same with Limbach and McGuane and get Brian Royal to move in with Ray Hall to improve his skills. Surely one of them can do this!
 
TOT70, your view of O'Keefe is exactly what I saw from the Swans matches, particularly against the Saints. In fact so obvious was it that we were laughing about the Swans team rule to kick it to O'Keefe or get dragged from the second quarter on.

Hall, Davis and O'Laughlin were the deep forwards for the Swans. Playing as a decoy forward requires a smart footballer who doesn't get drawn in. Forget about Richo, he loses himself to the contest.

We don't have anybody for mine that looks like an O'Keefe (or Hall) at this stage. He is a terrific mark and very good kick too.

I just hope 2006 sees Pattison play 20 games and we get a view of McGuane and/or Limbach. As for Bowden I think he's destined for a wing.
 
a maximum of 3 mobile marking fwds, leading to differeant spots
this allows lots of space to lead into and stops defenders peeling off their men to spoil as they need to be accountable - less predictable
the days of tall targets and crumbers are gone, the other 3 fwds become mids and help out through the middle & half back
 
Hi TOT,

Well spotted.

The mobile key forward isn't really new.

Whether it be Hart or Walls in the 70s,
Brereton in the 80s, or
Hird or Carey in the 90s.

Top teams have key fast moving half forwards to present up to the wings.
In the late 90s, I thought that this might have been the role that Joel Bowden could have filled for us.
Unfortunately that didn't happen.

Hopefully Patrick Bowden can fill this role.
 
Phantom said:
Hi TOT,

Well spotted.

The mobile key forward isn't really new.

Whether it be Hart or Walls in the 70s,
Brereton in the 80s, or
Hird or Carey in the 90s.
Click to expand...

The last player we had with this quality was a young David Cloke. Has it really been that long?

Are there any potential draftees that you have seen who can play this game? Hughes? Dowler? Someone not eligible until next year?

If there is someone, I hope you have been in Greg's ear about him!
 
There are some keen students of the game in amongst this lot of replies.

Not surprised really, as no doubt some of you are actually still playing or have played the game. Nobody has mentioned Nick Davis as yet. Lovely kick and with Hall and O'Loughlin leading all over the place, with O'Keefe running in as well, is it any wonder they won the flag. How I would love for us to have that type of forward line talent.
 
graystar1 said:
Not surprised really, as no doubt some of you are actually still playing or have played the game. Nobody has mentioned Nick Davis as yet. Lovely kick and with Hall and O'Loughlin leading all over the place, with O'Keefe running in as well, is it any wonder they won the flag. How I would love for us to have that type of forward line talent.
Click to expand...

Nick Davis stands out in the Swans side because he is inconsistent, runs at half-pace and occasionally does things which no one else can even dream about. He beat Geelong with 15 minutes of brilliance in the semi- did very little before or after. His match-winning goal was a classic, Ball, Schneider, Buchanan and co broke themselves in half to clear a space for Davis to do something absolutely out of this world.

If Andrew Krakouer can survive in the AFL long enough and play in a team which can get him onto the big stage, he'll do the same one day.
 
TOT70 said:
graystar1 said:
Not surprised really, as no doubt some of you are actually still playing or have played the game. Nobody has mentioned Nick Davis as yet. Lovely kick and with Hall and O'Loughlin leading all over the place, with O'Keefe running in as well, is it any wonder they won the flag. How I would love for us to have that type of forward line talent.
Click to expand...



If Andrew Krakouer can survive in the AFL long enough and play in a team which can get him onto the big stage, he'll do the same one day.
Click to expand...

Massive statement, to me Krak has not shown any big game capabilities and has not stood up once when required.
 
SCOOP said:
[
Click to expand...

If Andrew Krakouer can survive in the AFL long enough and play in a team which can get him onto the big stage, he'll do the same one day.

Massive statement, to me Krak has not shown any big game capabilities and has not stood up once when required.

We may find out one day! Just remember, it took Davis 15 minutes to change the way a lot of people view him forever.
 
Phantom said:
Hi TOT,

Well spotted.

The mobile key forward isn't really new.

Whether it be Hart or Walls in the 70s,
Brereton in the 80s, or
Hird or Carey in the 90s.
Click to expand...
Not new, but unlike the other players mentioned, O'Keefe has somehow managed to slip under the radar, up until this point anyway.
Good post TOT. He's an exceptional player who has kept out of the spotlight. Those in the know may well have appreciated his obvious ability, but his undoubted talent doesn't equate to his low profile. Roos has been very shrewd in hiding his secret weapon.
I dare say the Swannies upped his contract quite nicely in his recent negotiations. I think he might well find himself a heavily marked man next season. It'll be interesting to see how he deals with that and how it affects the Swannies performance.
Our forward line is screaming for an O'Keefe type. Unfortunately players like him don't grow on trees. Looking through our list there's a few young guys who might develop into that type of role. However in the short term there's no one I can see currently who can do what O'Keefe does so effectively, at least from the current crop of seasoned players. If P Bowden gets anywhere near O'Keefe output, it will have been a very shrewd selection, but it's highly unlikely unfortunately.
 
brutus25 said:
In concept - although it took a little time to understand, I liked the idea of Terrys Triangle, with our tall forwards / ruckment rotating into differring positions at different times. 

As much as I love seeing Richo there, would prefer to see him at CHF, giving us the ability to use him through the centre and across the wings as well to add penetration towards FF.

Certainly I am an adherent to the one up one down rule in contested marks etc, and at this stage I am not going to raise my hopes of a Nathan Brown cavalcade of goals as I think its asking too much of someone on the way back from a very serious injury. 

I also agree that there has to be a multi pronged forward attack, with some of the smaller players ( Pettifer / Rodan / Krackouer ) providing dummy leads perhaps, or at least being in a position in case the ball is not delivered as well as possible.
Click to expand...
so lets play richo ff have simmonds knobel stafford rotate thru a key position pocket develop pattison as a chf play pettifer and krakouer on a flank or pocket throw browny in some where and what do you have.the slowest forward line of all time.its something that has killed us in the past and will continue to kill us while we keep on playing so many snails.
 
claw you have hit the nail on the head
todays game is about speed and mobility
RFC fwd line is about the slowest in the league
its no wonder our backline is under so much pressure all the time, we cant keep it in the fwd line or chase it out
 
this is true.... i bleieve we need rodan/bling and of course deledio to be goal kicking midfielders......put em on the wing and rest em at half forward and they could be damaging - very quickly!!
 
we need 3 smart mobile fwds in the 50 arc - thats it
the others all play up the ground
Browny is 1
Richo is 2
????? is 3

we need to find the 3rd fwd - must be medium size, fast, mobile, can mark, kick, tackle & chase oh and must have a good footy brain

sounds a lot like Deledio to me??
 
Tango said:
claw you have hit the nail on the head
todays game is about speed and mobility
RFC fwd line is about the slowest in the league
its no wonder our backline is under so much pressure all the time, we cant keep it in the fwd line or chase it out
Click to expand...

Not too mention we lack pace in the midfield and the backline as well hahahahaha not to mention footy smarts or skills.
 
TOT70 said:
Phantom said:
Hi TOT,

Well spotted.

The mobile key forward isn't really new.

Whether it be Hart or Walls in the 70s,
Brereton in the 80s, or
Hird or Carey in the 90s.
Click to expand...

The last player we had with this quality was a young David Cloke.  Has it really been that long?

Are there any potential draftees that you have seen who can play this game?  Hughes? Dowler? Someone not eligible until next year?

If there is someone, I hope you have been in Greg's ear about him!
Click to expand...

I remember the the young David Cloke and.....theres a reason the boys are slow and it might not be Mum.
 
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