Death of a full forward?
April 25th 2008 03:34
AFL LATEST MERGER MAKES POWER FORWARD: Can Lloyd cope?
April 25th 2008 03:34
When any group of people my age discuss football, the great full forwards of our childhood always seems to be mentioned. We reminisce on the perfect leads of Dunstall , the sheer strength of Lockett and the "Ablettness" of Gary Senior. The difference between these three player’s ability to kick the magical 100 goals in a season versus the ability of current players is always the central talking point. The reality was that we grew up seeing the last era of full forwards. As Matthew Lloyd is discovering, Full Forwards and Center Half Forward just do not exist like the used to. In Today's football, the more successful sides just seem to usually use the one "Power Forward".
When the first side used this tactic, it was dubbed "Pagan's Paddock". The Kangaroos realized a Wayne Carey by himself beween the two traditional key forward positions, simply meant more Wayne Carey. This in turn meant more goals. The most dangerous player in the game was able to get a chance at the ball at nearly every forward thrust. It also meant that rarely the opposition would clear the ball, such was the King's presence in a contest even if he did not mark.
The raw speed of football today was began to appear towards the end of Carey's career. However, the new ultra-fast running midfielder makes the need for only one power forward all the more relevant to score goals at rapid pace. To combat the end to end speed of their opposition, it has become common place for most clubs to place players behind the ball. No longer can full forward just focus on timing his leads into space to receive a lace-out pass.
The league now features a list of players headed by Gary Ablett and Chris Judd who can burst out of the center into the forward fifty in seconds. Instructing such players to then pass to a Center Half or Full Forward makes no sense. Even the village idiot could see that it would be much more beneficial for their midfield speedsters to take their momentum, with the footy and go for home themselves. Or at least handball to another on-running midfielder to have a quick shot at goal. A big monster with an equivalent opponent standing as genuine Center Half Forward will only be forming a needless wall to block his teammates.
After returning from long-term injury Lloyd himself admits he has been struggling in recent games. During Essendon's heyday in the 1999-2000 era Kevin Sheedy tried to rotate his star for a more unpredictable balance. The simple reality is that Essendon's favourite son has had a successful career really only as a Full Forward. Like many juniors predicted to be further up the ground forwards, Lloyd has perfected the art of the goal-square.
A quick look at the top forwards, essentially shows the Bombers problem with their heroic goal kicker. Franklin, Brown, Pavlich, Mooney, Fevola, Hall are all players of athletic ability who play at least large portions in the power forward position. Utilising big tanks for fast leads, but at the same time being able to force fifty-fifty contests and applying defensive pressure to allow on running midfielders score goal themselves. Another concern for the Don's captain is the injured Scott Lucas fits nicely onto that list.
Today will most likely be the biggest game for Matthew Lloyd this season, and has no bigger stage to show if he can quickly adapt to being a more modern forward. Just as the Anzac's did when they were placed in the most foreign of situations on land a world away , and showed the world the Australian "Fighting Digger Spirit".
April 25th 2008 03:34
When any group of people my age discuss football, the great full forwards of our childhood always seems to be mentioned. We reminisce on the perfect leads of Dunstall , the sheer strength of Lockett and the "Ablettness" of Gary Senior. The difference between these three player’s ability to kick the magical 100 goals in a season versus the ability of current players is always the central talking point. The reality was that we grew up seeing the last era of full forwards. As Matthew Lloyd is discovering, Full Forwards and Center Half Forward just do not exist like the used to. In Today's football, the more successful sides just seem to usually use the one "Power Forward".
When the first side used this tactic, it was dubbed "Pagan's Paddock". The Kangaroos realized a Wayne Carey by himself beween the two traditional key forward positions, simply meant more Wayne Carey. This in turn meant more goals. The most dangerous player in the game was able to get a chance at the ball at nearly every forward thrust. It also meant that rarely the opposition would clear the ball, such was the King's presence in a contest even if he did not mark.
The raw speed of football today was began to appear towards the end of Carey's career. However, the new ultra-fast running midfielder makes the need for only one power forward all the more relevant to score goals at rapid pace. To combat the end to end speed of their opposition, it has become common place for most clubs to place players behind the ball. No longer can full forward just focus on timing his leads into space to receive a lace-out pass.
The league now features a list of players headed by Gary Ablett and Chris Judd who can burst out of the center into the forward fifty in seconds. Instructing such players to then pass to a Center Half or Full Forward makes no sense. Even the village idiot could see that it would be much more beneficial for their midfield speedsters to take their momentum, with the footy and go for home themselves. Or at least handball to another on-running midfielder to have a quick shot at goal. A big monster with an equivalent opponent standing as genuine Center Half Forward will only be forming a needless wall to block his teammates.
After returning from long-term injury Lloyd himself admits he has been struggling in recent games. During Essendon's heyday in the 1999-2000 era Kevin Sheedy tried to rotate his star for a more unpredictable balance. The simple reality is that Essendon's favourite son has had a successful career really only as a Full Forward. Like many juniors predicted to be further up the ground forwards, Lloyd has perfected the art of the goal-square.
A quick look at the top forwards, essentially shows the Bombers problem with their heroic goal kicker. Franklin, Brown, Pavlich, Mooney, Fevola, Hall are all players of athletic ability who play at least large portions in the power forward position. Utilising big tanks for fast leads, but at the same time being able to force fifty-fifty contests and applying defensive pressure to allow on running midfielders score goal themselves. Another concern for the Don's captain is the injured Scott Lucas fits nicely onto that list.
Today will most likely be the biggest game for Matthew Lloyd this season, and has no bigger stage to show if he can quickly adapt to being a more modern forward. Just as the Anzac's did when they were placed in the most foreign of situations on land a world away , and showed the world the Australian "Fighting Digger Spirit".
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