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Bulldog4life
04-01-2017, 11:55 AM
http://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/2017-01-03/the-best-forward-depth

AN EASY measure of the best forward lines in the competition would be to look simply at the 'points scored' column against every club. But in ranking the best attacks club-by-club, we had to dig a little deeper than that.

Of course, a club's average score is a reasonably accurate representation of how successful its forward line is. But when looking ahead, there are other things to take into account.

Who has left the club since last season, and who has joined? Who looks set to step up a cog or two, and who might have left his best form in the past?

The clubs at the top of this list almost picked themselves, such was the wealth of talent and strength of depth available to them inside 50. Similarly, the teams at the bottom were reasonably easy to slot in given some of the rebuilding going on at respective clubs.

Placing the clubs in the middle might have been the most difficult task ahead of what shapes as an enthralling 2017 season.

1. GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY

B: Heath Shaw, Aidan Corr, Zac Williams
HB: Nathan Wilson, Phil Davis, Nick Haynes
C: Tom Scully, Callan Ward, Josh Kelly
HF: Toby Greene, Jeremy Cameron, Brett Deledio
F: Rory Lobb, Jonathon Patton, Steve Johnson
Foll: Shane Mumford, Dylan Shiel, Stephen Coniglio
I/C: Devon Smith, Lachie Whitfield, Jacob Hopper, Ryan Griffen

Depth
Midfield: Matt de Boer, Tom Downie, Matthew Flynn, Matthew Kennedy, Tendai Mzungu, Harry Perryman, Will Setterfield, Dawson Simpson, Tim Taranto
Forwards: Daniel Lloyd, Sam Reid, Lachlan Tiziani, Zach Sproule
Defenders: Matt Buntine, Isaac Cumming, Jeremy Finlayson, Harrison Himmelberg, Adam Kennedy, Tim Mohr, Joel Patfull, Jake Stein

The Giants' forward line is, quite frankly, absurd. Four of the front six have been All Australian, Jonathon Patton was the No.1 selection in 2011 and Rory Lobb ranked third for contested marks per game last year. GWS was the second-highest scoring team in 2016 and with the class of Brett Deledio coming into the team, the side will be even more potent. Devon Smith's elite defensive pressure and liveliness around goal means he will continue to be an important player for the Giants.

The Giants have built a very dangerous forward line. Picture: AFL Photos

2. ADELAIDE

B: Luke Brown, Kyle Hartigan, Jake Lever
HB: Rory Laird, Daniel Talia, Brodie Smith
C: Rory Atkins, Brad Crouch, Charlie Cameron
HF: Tom Lynch, Taylor Walker, Richard Douglas
F: Mitch McGovern, Josh Jenkins, Eddie Betts
Foll: Sam Jacobs, Rory Sloane, Matt Crouch
I/C: Kyle Cheney, Riley Knight, Wayne Milera, Scott Thompson

Depth
Midfield: Cam Ellis-Yolmen, Jordan Gallucci, Dean Gore, Hugh Greenwood, Curtly Hampton, Paul Hunter, David Mackay, Reilly O'Brien, Myles Poholke, Paul Seedsman, Matt Signorello, Harrison Wigg
Forwards: Jonathan Beech, Ben Davis, Harry Dear, Ben Jarman, Troy Menzel
Defenders: Tom Doedee, Elliott Himmelberg, Alex Keath, Jake Kelly, Andy Otten

The Crows ranked No.1 for scoring last year and it's not hard to see why. Josh Jenkins, Tom Lynch and Eddie Betts were nominated in the All Australian squad of 40. That trio isn't a bad place to start but Taylor Walker is probably the best player of the lot, having long established himself as one of the absolute gun key forwards in the competition. Mitch McGovern has already shown plenty of aerial prowess despite only having been in the AFL for two years. If the Crows can harness Troy Menzel's talent they will become even more dangerous.

3. WESTERN BULLDOGS

B: Dale Morris, Marcus Adams, Matthew Boyd
HB: Robert Murphy, Easton Wood, Jason Johannisen
C: Lachie Hunter, Marcus Bontempelli, Jack Macrae
HF: Caleb Daniel, Travis Cloke, Stewart Crameri
F: Jake Stringer, Tom Boyd, Tory Dickson
Foll: Jordan Roughead, Tom Liberatore, Luke Dahlhaus
I/C: Liam Picken, Clay Smith, Shane Biggs, Bailey Williams

Depth
Midfield: Tom Campbell, Bailey Dale, Tim English, Declan Hamilton, Lin Jong, Matthew Suckling, Mitch Wallis
Forwards: Josh Dunkley, Fergus Greene, Mitch Honeychurch, Patrick Lipinski, Toby McLean, Nathan Mullenger-McHugh, Jack Redpath, Tristan Tweedie, Lewis Young
Defenders: Kieren Collins, Zaine Cordy, Bradley Lynch, Josh Prudden, Fletcher Roberts, Roarke Smith, Lukas Webb

The premiers are set to add Stewart Crameri and Travis Cloke to their forward line. Combine that with the improvement Tom Boyd showed in last year's finals series and the expected bounce back in form from 2015 All Australian Jake Stringer and the Bulldogs should be very potent in attack. Tory Dickson isn't fashionable but he has booted 90 goals over the past two years and takes advantage of his opportunities. Improvement should come in Caleb Daniel's third season, and he is among a number of Dogs who can play either up forward or through the middle.

Twodogs
04-01-2017, 12:14 PM
Tory Dickson might not be fashionable but he's a gun. A premiership gun!

90 goals in the last 2 years is a good return, especially because he really struggled at the start of the season. But even when he wasn't playing well he'd still kick a couple of goals.

Bulldog4life
04-01-2017, 12:34 PM
Tory Dickson might not be fashionable but he's a gun. A premiership gun!

90 goals in the last 2 years is a good return, especially because he really struggled at the start of the season. But even when he wasn't playing well he'd still kick a couple of goals.

Yes agree. What is fashionable despite kicking goals? Does he need a new haircut or need to grow a beard? Would he be fashionable then?

bulldogtragic
04-01-2017, 12:37 PM
Yes agree. What is fashionable despite kicking goals? Does he need a new haircut or need to grow a beard? Would he be fashionable then?

Man bun.

Averaging 3 goals in all his finals is not fashionable unless he has a man bun.

Bulldog4life
04-01-2017, 12:40 PM
Man bun.

Averaging 3 goals in all his finals is not fashionable unless he has a man bun.

And pink boots. The ones Teddy always wanted Dermie to wear until Dermie decided to wear them in a state game. Suddenly Ted said "You're not wearing those when you play for the big V son".

BulldogBelle
04-01-2017, 01:04 PM
Tom Boyd at Full-forward?

I think that he will shortly claim the title as the best ruckman in the comp. Would you nest him at Full-forward? Changing in the Forward pocket for me.

1eyedog
04-01-2017, 01:27 PM
Well Dicko has kicked 30 more goals than Toby Greene over the past 2 years for a start.

Twodogs
04-01-2017, 01:31 PM
Tom Boyd at Full-forward?

I think that he will shortly claim the title as the best ruckman in the comp. Would you nest him at Full-forward? Changing in the Forward pocket for me.

Looking back at his finals series it's plain to see that he played well when it really mattered. In the prelim when Roughie couldn't go on in that third quarter Mummy was really starting to monster Boyd, for Boyd to go into the 3/4 time huddle and regroup and come out and get on top of Mumford and help majorly to turn the tide again our way. The very next time some journo asks why we pay him a million a year we send them video of that. But that question won't be getting asked anymore.

ledge
04-01-2017, 01:40 PM
The million dollar a year man got us 8 million in profit in one year .. Well worth the investment .. Could say we get him free the next 5 years if you juggle the figures to suit. Is there a Spin doctor in the house ?

bornadog
04-01-2017, 01:44 PM
The million dollar a year man got us 8 million in profit in one year .. Well worth the investment .. Could say we get him free the next 5 years if you juggle the figures to suit. Is there a Spin doctor in the house ?

Not sure where 8 million came from? We made a profit of $3.6m

ledge
04-01-2017, 01:51 PM
Not sure where 8 million came from? We made a profit of $3.6m

Thought we took 5 mil off our debt as well leaving us only 1.9 mil left.

bornadog
04-01-2017, 01:56 PM
Thought we took 5 mil off our debt as well leaving us only 1.9 mil left.

Yes we did - that was debt reduction not profit.

ledge
04-01-2017, 02:04 PM
Yes we did - that was debt reduction not profit.

Ok well I will spin doctor it then we made 8.6 mil profit spent 5 on loan and paid Boyd out :-)

Twodogs
05-01-2017, 06:41 AM
A sound investment by the Bulldogs. It was always going to pay off but who knew it was going to pay off so early or so big.

Eastdog
05-01-2017, 02:56 PM
Our forward line looks very formidable now. Big potential to get some big scores this upcoming season if the application is right. Big year for Jake Stringer coming up. He was dissapointing in 2016 but I'm hoping he is much better in 2017.

ledge
05-01-2017, 05:08 PM
We have to realise we can't judge our forwards on goals individually as one might get free one week and another the next week ..if we can get 30 to 40 out of some of them they have all done their job.
It's going to be great to see different players kick 4 to 5 in a game .
Cloke might only kick 15 for the year but if he has dragged out the best backman and Boyd kicks 5 then we need to give credit to Cloke.

Flamethrower
05-01-2017, 08:11 PM
Interesting that the top 2 forward lines also go missing in the heat of September, while the forward line ranked 3rd flourished when the stakes were raised.

bulldogtragic
31-03-2017, 10:59 PM
I think we do. Three club leading goal kickers played tonight. We proved that Boyd, Cloke & Stringer can play together, and be effective (8 goals tonight) plus 2 each to Bonts & Picken. Dicko to come back & Crameri to hit form.

Giddy up.