Stringer to the midfield

[bornadog]

Well not yet, but according to the Bulldog Magazine that's where he will eventually head. Will be a brute of a midfielder, bit like Pav was a couple of years ago.

[lemmon]

That's what I've always felt, will end up with a body like Jobe Watson or Josh Kennedy. Massive weapon having a gun midfielder who can go forward and kick 5 on his day

[Ozza]

I hope he stays as a forward - who can pinch hit in the midfield.
A strong forward who kicks accurately - surely we will be more than happy with that!!

[LostDoggy]

Maybe a reverse Cooney?
Instead of a midfielder who swaps to FWD for a rest, he is a FWD who rests in the midfield................Don't look at me like that, You know what I mean.

[LostDoggy]

If he can be our Pavlich, then I'll be a very happy man.

Predominately forward with stints in the midfield.

Chuck him in the guts when we are in strife!

[azabob]

I hope he stays as a forward - who can pinch hit in the midfield.
A strong forward who kicks accurately - surely we will be more than happy with that!!

Agree totally.

[Mofra]

Played a high forward type role at Bendigo, I'd suggest he spends a lot of his time playing this role at AFL level once he's fit.

[boydogs]

Knew from draft day that Stringer was the new Pavlich and Macrae was the new Pendlebury.

[LostDoggy]

No point having a gun midfield if we haven't got the cattle down the front to finish off the good work. We've been there many times before.

His permanent move to the midfield will rely on what player develop into forwards on the list currently and in the next two drafts i'd imagine.

[Sedat]

Played a high forward type role at Bendigo, I'd suggest he spends a lot of his time playing this role at AFL level once he's fit.
Sounds like a Crameri type role. Will need to develop his tank to fulfil that type of role. Happy to see him in permanently up forward for the time being while he continues to do the necessary work to build up his engine.

[wimberga]

From everything I have read, it seems that Stringer played largely midfield before breaking his leg and largely forward coming back from that injury.

I see him as a forward who we can just swing into the middle or defence in bursts if required or if he isn't getting any service.

WHAT.A.BEAST.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

I'd like to see Stringer busting an Andrew Carrazzo tackle in the midfield but even better is watching him develop in the forward line.

[Sedat]

I see him as a forward who we can just swing into the middle or defence in bursts if required or if he isn't getting any service.
So depending on how his tank develops, he could go one of 3 ways. The Pavlich type who spends more time up forward as a key target but can occasionally cover in the midfield, the Jobe Watson/Josh Kennedy type who is an inside ball winning clearance animal but can also occasionally drift forward and get dangerous on the scoreboard, or the O'Keefe/Crameri high half forward type who works extremely hard in both directions and is constantly mobile providing a lead-up target. I like all 3 options but I personally think the Pavlich role will suit us better in the long run, especially with Jones also developing well up forward.

[Greystache]

So depending on how his tank develops, he could go one of 3 ways. The Pavlich type who spends more time up forward as a key target but can occasionally cover in the midfield, the Jobe Watson/Josh Kennedy type who is an inside ball winning clearance animal but can also occasionally drift forward and get dangerous on the scoreboard, or the O'Keefe/Crameri high half forward type who works extremely hard in both directions and is constantly mobile providing a lead-up target. I like all 3 options but I personally think the Pavlich role will suit us better in the long run, especially with Jones also developing well up forward.

I see him as that Pavlich type myself, play him predominantly forward unless we need a burst through the middle or injury leaves us vulnerable.

Jack Darling is probably similar to that Crameri/O'Keefe type, not quite key position sized, but has the mobility to get up the ground and provide a kick to option and can also go deep and take a one on one mark against a similar sized opponent, all the while providing defensive pressure. I see Stringer mostly playing that way, with as I said an occasional burst in the centre.

[F'scary]

We have lots of midfielders.

We are short of quality forwards.

What is it with this midfield madness? Everyone has to be a midfielder. No wonder we can't kick a winning score, if that's the way we think.

Oh, I think I understand: instead of kicking goals, we want him to specialise in, let me guess, defensive pressuring of opposition rebounding with particular emphasis on zoning and tackling coupled with blocking manouvring and other non-possession linking plays.

Brilliant.

[bornadog]

We have lots of midfielders.

We are short of quality forwards.

What is it with this midfield madness? Everyone has to be a midfielder. No wonder we can't kick a winning score, if that's the way we think.

Oh, I think I understand: instead of kicking goals, we want him to specialise in, let me guess, defensive pressuring of opposition rebounding with particular emphasis on zoning and tackling coupled with blocking manouvring and other non-possession linking plays.

Brilliant.

Good midfielders win you games, not forwards. Good midfielders also kick goals and pump the ball into the forward line and find targets. A forward can be the greatest of all time but if there is no one to kick it to them then how do you win a game.

[Ghost Dog]

Don't where he plays as long as he kicks goals, doesn't get injured, and enjoys playing there.

[wimberga]

Good midfielders win you games, not forwards. Good midfielders also kick goals and pump the ball into the forward line and find targets. A forward can be the greatest of all time but if there is no one to kick it to them then how do you win a game.

You get a combination of 2-3 of the top 100 midfielders in the competition to kick it to him. You leave the 1 quality tall forward out of perhaps the 8 in the league to take the mark and kick the goals.

^^you know what im trying to say.

Let him play how he wants up front and head to the middle if required. 2+ years from now teams will be saying "we are introducing the number 1 pick in the draft, should we try and get him to play the way Stringer does at the dogs?"

[Greystache]

Let him play how he wants up front and head to the middle if required. 2+ years from now teams will be saying "we are introducing the number 1 pick in the draft, should we try and get him to play the way Stringer does at the dogs?"

I'm hoping in 2+ years GWS are saying how the hell did we overlook this guy. ;)

[F'scary]

Good midfielders win you games, not forwards. Good midfielders also kick goals and pump the ball into the forward line and find targets. A forward can be the greatest of all time but if there is no one to kick it to them then how do you win a game.

True. But we have a very good midfield that is likely to improve over the next couple of years. So leave him forward where we have some real issues. I could not bear to watch him spend all game doing zoning/space filling stuff like a seagull looking for an abandoned dim sim.:mad:

[lemmon]

True. But we have a very good midfield that is likely to improve over the next couple of years. So leave him forward where we have some real issues. I could not bear to watch him spend all game doing zoning/space filling stuff like a seagull looking for an abandoned dim sim.:mad:

If its fine for Ablett and Judd I'm sure its okay for Stringer :rolleyes: and its not like forwards take no part in the defensive stuff

[wimberga]

I with F'Scary here.

We have a raft of talented mids coming though, and a forward line that's struggling. lets have him play there.

Will be very interesting to see where we finish this year and what sort of players are available to draft. if we finish bottom 2, we are a very good chance to get KPF Boyd, otherwise any higher, it will most likely be another gun midfielder.

[F'scary]

I with F'Scary here.

We have a raft of talented mids coming though, and a forward line that's struggling. lets have him play there.

Will be very interesting to see where we finish this year and what sort of players are available to draft. if we finish bottom 2, we are a very good chance to get KPF Boyd, otherwise any higher, it will most likely be another gun midfielder.

Well, I don't want us to finish bottom 2 even if we could get this Boyd forward type. But, yeah, what a forward line that would be. Jones, Stringer, plus something like a Boyd forward type. Complimented by some good crumbers like Dahlhaus & Dickson. That would boost membership.

[F'scary]

If its fine for Ablett and Judd I'm sure its okay for Stringer :rolleyes: and its not like forwards take no part in the defensive stuff

Judd is a hack nowdays so space filling is an ideal role for him, when he is not out getting the new recruits drunk legless. Ablett jnr doesn't have to do defensive stuff. The whole GC game plan is "kick it to Gary" so he is excused.

[wimberga]

Well, I don't want us to finish bottom 2 even if we could get this Boyd forward type. But, yeah, what a forward line that would be. Jones, Stringer, plus something like a Boyd forward type. Complimented by some good crumbers like Dahlhaus & Dickson. That would boost membership.

Your right, and I dont want to finish bottom two either. What I meant was, if we dont get boyd, it appears that the next 3-8 top rated players appear to be midfielders. Take the current crop of mids, plus that pick, plus stringer as some are suggesting, and remember we have also floated the idea of Dahlhaus playing there too, and all of a sudden we have a huge list imbalance.

That is the main reason I think we need Stringer forward, but just move him around when he isn't getting any service.

[Maddog37]

When he is fully fit I would play him wherever it was needed on the day. Like a Luke Hodge type that impacts the outcome of matches. Kicks goals, busts open packs and hurts the opposition or sweeps up across half back when we are under the pump. Even use Hird as an example. He just goes wherever he wants whenever he wants.


Assuming he is that good of course.......

[F'scary]

Your right, and I dont want to finish bottom two either. What I meant was, if we dont get boyd, it appears that the next 3-8 top rated players appear to be midfielders. Take the current crop of mids, plus that pick, plus stringer as some are suggesting, and remember we have also floated the idea of Dahlhaus playing there too, and all of a sudden we have a huge list imbalance.

That is the main reason I think we need Stringer forward, but just move him around when he isn't getting any service.

Wasn't saying you did - I took the statement as a hypothetical. Like your phrase "list imbalance" that's what will happen if Stringer, Dahlhaus and maybe a couple more are turned into midfielders. Imagine Stringer, wasted down to 82 kg, running up and down the wing all day giving off handballs or on his hands and knees, quarter after quarter, clutching at the ball waiting for the ump to blow the whistle and say "my ball". Not a sight I want to see.

[LostDoggy]

So far Stringer is just finding his way. That means he plays with a a tendency towards more open footy rather than bash and crash pack marking and under the packs inside player. It means marking the ball on the lead, doubling back, sitting outside of packs or contesting one on one. It means tackling and chasing in bursts and reading the play to swoop on balls. Is his leg up to or ready for the physical demands of a much tougher role? I would be letting him make his mark, for now, in the role already assigned to him, which seems to be of a mobile leading forward and ball gatherer.

[lemmon]

Wasn't saying you did - I took the statement as a hypothetical. Like your phrase "list imbalance" that's what will happen if Stringer, Dahlhaus and maybe a couple more are turned into midfielders. Imagine Stringer, wasted down to 82 kg, running up and down the wing all day giving off handballs or on his hands and knees, quarter after quarter, clutching at the ball waiting for the ump to blow the whistle and say "my ball". Not a sight I want to see.

Would you rather have a Stewart Crameri or Jobe Watson? Your argument makes no sense. Surely you are able to see the impact big bodied midfielders such as Watson and Kennedy have? These guys are game winners.

[bornadog]

Would you rather have a Stewart Crameri or Jobe Watson? Your argument makes no sense. Surely you are able to see the impact big bodied midfielders such as Watson and Kennedy have? These guys are game winners.

Exactly, as I said Forwards don't win games.

[LongWait]

Good midfielders win you games, not forwards. Good midfielders also kick goals and pump the ball into the forward line and find targets. A forward can be the greatest of all time but if there is no one to kick it to them then how do you win a game.

Wayne Carey, Gary Ablett and Buddy Franklin say hi!

[lemmon]

Wayne Carey, Gary Ablett and Buddy Franklin say hi!

So do Wayne Schwass, Buddha Hocking and Luke Hodge ;) Someone has to kick it to them

[Hotdog60]

So do Corey McKernan, John Barnes and Robert Campbell. :) someone had to tap it to them

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Exactly, as I said Forwards don't win games.

Bit simplistic though.

You (obviously) need both, and comparing Watson to Crameri isn't exactly fair. Watson v Cloke is closer to the money, or Watson v Kennedy etc.

[lemmon]

Bit simplistic though.

You (obviously) need both, and comparing Watson to Crameri isn't exactly fair. Watson v Cloke is closer to the money, or Watson v Kennedy etc.

Youve misunderstood me. I was making the Crameri comparison because as a permanent forward that's what kind of player Stringer will be, he isn't going to be a Cloke...but he could very well end up a Jobe

[lemmon]

So do Corey McKernan, John Barnes and Robert Campbell. :) someone had to tap it to them

Hahaha perhaps it all came back to the ump who bounced it? :p

[wimberga]

Exactly, as I said Forwards don't win games.

Your right, out of Crameri v Watson, 99% of people would take Watson everytime.

What if the choice is Pavlich v Watson?
it becomes a fair bit tougher. I definitely understand the point your trying to make in that midfielders can have a much greater say in the outcome of a game, and to that point I definitely agree.

But lets have a look at the big forwards who can really impact games (in no particular order):

N.Riewoldt
J.Riewoldt
Pavlich
J.Kennedy
Buddy Franklin
Cloke
M.Clarke
J.Brown
Petrie
Tex Walker
Roughead
Tom Hawkins

Now you can make a case for some of those to be omitted due to age or not reaching potential yet, but I would say this list is just about complete for current big forwards in the game who are capable of having a real effect. there are others such as Vickery, C Dixon, Pods etc but they have been omitted as I either dont see them as the same class as those above or dont think they have quite proved that they are able to step up when required just yet.

Now lets look at midfielders who are capable of that:

Ablett
Judd
M.Murphy
Cotchin
Martin
Pendlebury
Swan
Thomas
K.Jack
Hannebury
Goodes
J.P Kennedy
J.Bolton
Boomer Harvey
D.Wells
D.Swallow
Bartel
Selwood
Deledio
Dangerfield
S.Mitchell
Sewell
Hodge
Watson
Hayes
Goddard


Now obviously this list isnt complete and there are others that could be removed or added (D.Martin, Hartlett, Montagna etc).

I spose the point I'm trying to make is having a gun forward is a much rarer event and if Stringer has the ability to play in the middle then by all means put him in there now and again when we need a spark or to get him into the game. But with our forward woes and stocks of currently developing midfielders, I dont want to rob peter to pay paul by making him a pure midfielder and leaving a hole in our forward line.

It's not easy to end this debate as its all opinion, but hopefully this explanation sheds a little light on why I believe we should develop him as a forward who can have stints in the middle but does most of his damage in the F50 as a forward.

[lemmon]

Its a great post Wimberga and one I cant fault, the only reason I'd go the other way and have him eventually as more of a midfielder is because I don't think at his current height he will ever end up as a Cloke, Riewoldt or Franklin.

Hopefully he just ends up as good as Pavlich and both camps are happy :p

[boydogs]

Its a great post Wimberga and one I cant fault, the only reason I'd go the other way and have him eventually as more of a midfielder is because I don't think at his current height he will ever end up as a Cloke, Riewoldt or Franklin.

Hopefully he just ends up as good as Pavlich and both camps are happy :p

Which player do you think Liam Jones will end up being similar to?

[bornadog]

Which player do you think Liam Jones will end up being similar to?

If he can run all day then a Riewoldt type.

[bornadog]

It's not easy to end this debate as its all opinion, but hopefully this explanation sheds a little light on why I believe we should develop him as a forward who can have stints in the middle but does most of his damage in the F50 as a forward.

Great argument and hard to fault and all subject to lots of opinions.

I think the reason the MC see him in the midfield is that as far as being involved in a game, the midfielders are the ones where the ball is a large percentage of the game. They rack up the most disposals, and create all the play through the middle of the ground. Its no wonder they get all the brownlow votes.

You want your best players in the midfield not stuck up one end waiting for the ball to come to you. You want your best to go and get the ball. Whether it all pans out this way we will see.

[Greystache]

If he can run all day then a Riewoldt type.

I think endurance is always going to be an issue for Jones, he may reach satisfactory levels but I doubt it will ever be a strength. I see him more as a Petrie/Tippett/Clark type- Tall, strong overhead mark, quick on the lead.

[LongWait]

The thing with Stringer is that he will end up being pretty much the complete footballer (I hope) a bit like Pavlich but maybe even better: awesome up forward; brutal in the midfield; and able to swing down back to play the loose man turning back those out of control opposition inside 50's.

I might be wrong, but I think and hope that Stringer will eventually be held in similar regard to Chris Grant, as a complete footballer who is a once in a generation player.

[Dancin' Douggy]

I'm hoping in 2+ years GWS are saying how the hell did we overlook this guy. ;)

If they're not already saying it, they're idiots.

[Dancin' Douggy]

Youve misunderstood me. I was making the Crameri comparison because as a permanent forward that's what kind of player Stringer will be, he isn't going to be a Cloke...but he could very well end up a Jobe

Lemmon. With all due respect, Stringer will make those guys look like duds. Seriously.

[azabob]

Lemmon. With all due respect, Stringer will make those guys look like duds. Seriously.

How many quarters has Stringer played? 6 max?

So far so good, such a long, long way to go.

[Remi Moses]

Forwards win premierships. No offense to Tom Williams who has been cruelled by injury, but pick 2 and 5 would have got us Franklin. Fifteenth, sixteenth is still a poor season.
In this system ( which is awful) we're better finishing lower.

[Remi Moses]

How many quarters has Stringer played? 6 max?

So far so good, such a long, long way to go.

Agree, way to early on Jake. Signs are good and he looks like he has the X factor about him.

[Hotdog60]

Hahaha perhaps it all came back to the ump who bounced it? :p

Or Billy Smith who was the ball boy with a air gun at Sherrin PTY.:eek:

[LostDoggy]

Way too much expectation on this kids head.

[LongWait]

Way too much expectation on this kids head.

Way too much expectation on this whole club's head - but you've gotta have hope or what's the point?

Stringer can handle the expectations - I suspect he wouldn't have it any other way.

[boydogs]

Stringer can handle the expectations - I suspect he wouldn't have it any other way.

He sets his own. Told everyone they were wrong when they said he wouldn't play round 1, and in every interview in the opening rounds for Willy he wanted to play for the Dogs yesterday.

[lemmon]

Which player do you think Liam Jones will end up being similar to?

He actually reminds me of a Trent Henschel, hopefully he has a longer career but Trent was a talented boy.


On Stringer we all need to calm down, 2 games and we have anointed him the next coming of Christ, its ridiculous

[comrade]

He actually reminds me of a Trent Henschel, hopefully he has a longer career but Trent was a talented boy.


On Stringer we all need to calm down, 2 games and we have anointed him the next coming of Christ, its ridiculous

Christ or Chris (Grant)?

To be fair, a lot of it is tongue in cheek. It's just fun watching a kid who clearly is a massive talent.

[lemmon]

Christ or Chris (Grant)?

To be fair, a lot of it is tongue in cheek. It's just fun watching a kid who clearly is a massive talent.

Arent they one in the same :p

Yeah no doubt, but I mean I would be over the moon if he ends up half the player Matt Pavlich is...thats still a 3 time BnF winner and 3 time AA

[F'scary]

On Stringer we all need to calm down, 2 games and we have anointed him the next coming of Christ, its ridiculous

Ye of little faith. Do you not know it is the end time and he is walking among us?

I just want to see him kick 10 in a game before Judgement Day.;)

[Scorlibo]

The thing with Stringer is that he will end up being pretty much the complete footballer (I hope) a bit like Pavlich but maybe even better: awesome up forward; brutal in the midfield; and able to swing down back to play the loose man turning back those out of control opposition inside 50's.

I might be wrong, but I think and hope that Stringer will eventually be held in similar regard to Chris Grant, as a complete footballer who is a once in a generation player.

That's a silly thing to say.

Pavlich is one of the greatest footballers of the last 15 years. He'll be Fremantle's team of the century captain in 90 years time. Jake has played 1 game and 1 quarter.

[westdog54]

That's a silly thing to say.

Pavlich is one of the greatest footballers of the last 15 years. He'll be Fremantle's team of the century captain in 90 years time. Jake has played 1 game and 1 quarter.

A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step...

[wimberga]

Boom



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQQG9vOv5mc

[Rocco Jones]

WOOF posters reaction to Stringer reminds me of this...

http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20101031000016/familyguy/images/1/11/Peter%27s_Boat.png

[comrade]

WOOF posters reaction to Stringer reminds me of this...

http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20101031000016/familyguy/images/1/11/Peter%27s_Boat.png

Should just call the boat SS Stringer and save on paint.

[w3design]

Seems like a bad move as Jones was crying for help last week.