Defending Opposition Small Forwards

[wayne]

Medhurst, Corey Jones and now Milne have again shown that we desperately need a small defender who can shut down these players. It's a problem we've had for quite a while now.

Do we have anyone on the list that could be developed into this role, or do we look to pick up a 22-23 year old in the draft that can slot straight into the role next season?

I think Polo could be turned into this kind of player, I thought he actually did a reasonable job on Shannon Grant against the Roos when he was moved onto him.

[Tigermonk]

Polo has bad wings & cannot lay the solid tackles required to stop these type of players
His got the pace & smarts as he did play across the half backline / midfield before being drafted to RFC
what we need is a player that can put fear into players when going near the ball & with a attitude to take players out cold
l know its not a nice way to go about footy but its how l've be brought up
 

[{X}]

this has been a problem for us for years, does not help when guys like newman king and jordy pay no respect for their opponents

small fwds have been a nightmare for us for a while now

[DallasCrane]

does not help when guys like newman king and jordy pay no respect for their opponents

This is true, so it's a case of how damaging can Newman and especially King be, running through the corridor and taking that risk. It's the poor disposal that catches them out and the rebound gets little vermin like Milne easy goals. It's not just small forwards its anyone that is lucky enough to be at ff at the time.

I'd like them to keep taking that risk and running off myself. They both have the superior fitness to get back and defend, Newman I think has been crucified for one bad mistake last night, he had a very good game I thought.

 

[mightytiges]

The Saints are well known to be frontrunners and their players often "cheat" by running forward of the contest waiting for the easy possie and goal. It works against bottom 8 sides like us who either lose out in the clearances (which we didn't on Saturday night) or who just turn the ball over far too readily when everyone has peeled off their man. That's why the Saints get exposed badly against the top sides who rarely make those bad turnovers. If they try to "cheat" then it gives the opposition a free man further up the field around the contest who can burn them.

[{X}]

the primary role for a defender is to defend and beat their opponents

if they can do this and create runningdrive , great.

but king newman and jordy were all pathetic v the aints

and newman has been bad most of the year

[Tigermonk]

The Saints are well known to be frontrunners and their players often "cheat" by running forward of the contest waiting for the easy possie and goal. It works against bottom 8 sides like us who either lose out in the clearances (which we didn't on Saturday night) or who just turn the ball over far too readily when everyone has peeled off their man. That's why the Saints get exposed badly against the top sides who rarely make those bad turnovers. If they try to "cheat" then it gives the opposition a free man further up the field around the contest who can burn them.

How can you say they cheat  they are smart if they expose our weakness but cheating is going over the top
we play dumb football & they show how dumb we are so where you get cheating out of that well
your hate for the saints deludes you of the fact we are & will be wooden spooners till we lose that title to another team & we are still playing turnover football & its ugly football

[Tigermonk]

the primary role for a defender is to defend and beat their opponents

if they can do this and create runningdrive , great.

but king newman and jordy were all pathetic v the aints

and newman has been bad most of the year

correct X our defending was pathetic & how a small player in Milne can dominate 4 opponants shows our weakness
too many defenders have bigheads at present & Geelong will smack them back to earth come 2 weeks time
Mooney that man really worries me cause the way he plays is too physical hurt his opponant & Thursfield better be watching & play him side by side

[Stripes]

What about Jackson? He is strong, fast and very accountable. Could he not make a good small/mid-sized defender?

Stripes

[mightytiges]

The Saints are well known to be frontrunners and their players often "cheat" by running forward of the contest waiting for the easy possie and goal. It works against bottom 8 sides like us who either lose out in the clearances (which we didn't on Saturday night) or who just turn the ball over far too readily when everyone has peeled off their man. That's why the Saints get exposed badly against the top sides who rarely make those bad turnovers. If they try to "cheat" then it gives the opposition a free man further up the field around the contest who can burn them.

How can you say they cheat  they are smart if they expose our weakness but cheating is going over the top
we play dumb football & they show how dumb we are so where you get cheating out of that well
your hate for the saints deludes you of the fact we are & will be wooden spooners till we lose that title to another team & we are still playing turnover football & its ugly football

I didn't mean 'cheat' as in doing something illegal but in terms of cheating on themselves. It's a bad habit. You're right it does work against dumb clubs with poor decision making and skills but it won't work against the good clubs and in fact they we get smashed if they try it. Disciplined footy isn't something you can turn on and off like a switch.

As for hating St Kilda lol. I simply don't rate them  . Let's see where both sides are in 1-2 years time. Last night they only had two players under 23 and one of those (R.Clarke) turns 23 later this year. Next year they won't have Harvey or Gehrig and the topping up at the draft table will come back to bite.

[{X}]

What about Jackson? He is strong, fast and very accountable. Could he not make a good small/mid-sized defender?

Stripes

good call

[WilliamPowell]

What about Jackson? He is strong, fast and very accountable. Could he not make a good small/mid-sized defender?

Based on Saturday night ...NO

I can't stand that twirp Milne but he does have some footy smarts (no other tyoe of smarts I might add) I doubt Jacko would have done any better than the others.

[Stripes]

The way he was playing I think the little ferret was nigh unstoppable!

Jackson is a good tagger who would wear a mid/small forward like a cheap suit. I don't think he would have given him room to breath let alone kick 7 goals. He wouldn't run off his opponent like Kingy or Newman giving us better drive from the backhalf but he would make sure his opponent was well held.

I'm not sure if he has the pace and he would need more training but with Hyde playing the tagger role in the midfield so well perhaps Jackson could fill this role...just a thought.

Stripes

[Tigermonk]

What about Jackson? He is strong, fast and very accountable. Could he not make a good small/mid-sized defender?

Stripes

can jackson tackle   

[Hellenic Tiger]

The problem with a bloke like Milne is he has no defensive skills so when an opponent will run off he won't chase. Add to the mix a team like us who will regularly turn over the ball either from his direct opponent or not he will find himself in space and have a feast as he did on Saturday night. He struggles against quality teams and his input is way way lower due to their skill and accountability. For a team like us its not only a matter of finding a suitable opponent for the receiving runts in the opposition teams but also living and learning in terms of skill and number of turnovers as well which will in turn not give a second chance to a forward like him in acres of space to work with. Apart from his first goal which was a direct result of Kingy not being tall enough to take the mark in one grab and having to stretch hence quick immediate snap all his other goals were a result of taking a mark and leading into open space or gathering the ball in open play and running into open space. Especially his 3 last qt goals which included a set shot that went out on the full.