Why dont the SA clubs pick up small forwards?

[Dutchy]

Was thinking about this today, one thing Crows and Port dont have is a good small forward, both teams are crying out for one but have let the following talent slip from right under their noses (the SANFL) -

A Davey
M Stokes
L Thomas
M Campbell
A Wonamerri
R Gamble

Do the Adelaide teams seem to overlook the SANFL a bit? Some serious goalkicking talent has left our state, many at high draft picks....

[Hondo]

Motlop, Ebert & Porplyzia are fairly handy don't you reckon?

With 14 of the 16 clubs in the draft outside SA there's always going to be a bunch of SA boys at other clubs.

You'd have to look at each of those cases - when they were drafted and who the Crows or Power drafted instead. Only then can you work out if they "slipped out from under their noses" or not. Have you got some more specifics?

[the joker]

they do!!!
last years draft the crows picked Myke Cook and Jarrhan Jacky.
and the draft before that port picked Nathan Krakouer and Robbie Gray.

[spell_check]

Obviously from an Eagles point of view, Stokes went through 3 lots of drafts and 8 SA picks in the 2005 Draft, before being picked up by Geelong at pick no.61.

[JK]

I dont think most of those listed were actually drafted as small forwards, their frames have perhaps dictated where they start but they were probably either hopeful picks or "punt" picks for midfielders ... That said Aaron Davey set the new trend for speedy for defensive forwards and maybe some of the above were picked along those lines???

[GWW]

Port were interested in Alwyn Davey, and were disappointed when he went before they had the chance to draft him. Gray is on the list, and he has the potential to be one of the best small forwards within a couple of years, and with Ebert and Motlop, there's not a lot of room for any more small forwards.

[Dutchy]

they do!!!
last years draft the crows picked Myke Cook and Jarrhan Jacky.
and the draft before that port picked Nathan Krakouer and Robbie Gray.

yeah they had huge years

Hondo, Porps is a midfielder playing forward cause of his shoulder and Ebert/Motlop arent exactly "small" forwards, Id clasify them as marking forwards, hence why i didnt include Mackie on the list also

Alwyn Davey went mid 30's so Port had their opportunity to get him, he had a super year for South in 2006, Thomas played for the maggies while Campbell was pyling his trade for North surely all right in front of Crows and Power officials..

[GWW]

Port had the chance to get him, but he wasn't considered to be top 30 material, its as simple as that. I'd say the club would be content with Gray, so its no big deal at all.

[Rik E Boy]

Dutchy's on drugs. How many small forwards do Port need?

regards,

REB

[wycbloods]

they do!!!
last years draft the crows picked Myke Cook and Jarrhan Jacky.
and the draft before that port picked Nathan Krakouer and Robbie Gray.

yeah they had huge years

Hondo, Porps is a midfielder playing forward cause of his shoulder and Ebert/Motlop arent exactly "small" forwards, Id clasify them as marking forwards, hence why i didnt include Mackie on the list also

Alwyn Davey went mid 30's so Port had their opportunity to get him, he had a super year for South in 2006, Thomas played for the maggies while Campbell was pyling his trade for North surely all right in front of Crows and Power officials..

How long has Mackie been playing forward ? I think port and crows have plenty of small forwards .

[Wedgie]

they do!!!
last years draft the crows picked Myke Cook and Jarrhan Jacky.
and the draft before that port picked Nathan Krakouer and Robbie Gray.

yeah they had huge years

Hondo, Porps is a midfielder playing forward cause of his shoulder and Ebert/Motlop arent exactly "small" forwards, Id clasify them as marking forwards, hence why i didnt include Mackie on the list also

Alwyn Davey went mid 30's so Port had their opportunity to get him, he had a super year for South in 2006, Thomas played for the maggies while Campbell was pyling his trade for North surely all right in front of Crows and Power officials..

How long has Mackie been playing forward ? I think port and crows have plenty of small forwards .

Surely he can't be talking about Andrew Mackie as he's Geelong's Centre Half Back tipped named on Riewoldt this week!

[Dutchy]

Dutchy's on drugs. How many small forwards do Port need?

regards,

REB

Name one small crumbing forward they have that kicks regular goals....

[Dutchy]

they do!!!
last years draft the crows picked Myke Cook and Jarrhan Jacky.
and the draft before that port picked Nathan Krakouer and Robbie Gray.

yeah they had huge years

Hondo, Porps is a midfielder playing forward cause of his shoulder and Ebert/Motlop arent exactly "small" forwards, Id clasify them as marking forwards, hence why i didnt include Mackie on the list also

Alwyn Davey went mid 30's so Port had their opportunity to get him, he had a super year for South in 2006, Thomas played for the maggies while Campbell was pyling his trade for North surely all right in front of Crows and Power officials..

How long has Mackie been playing forward ? I think port and crows have plenty of small forwards .

Surely he can't be talking about Andrew Mackie as he's Geelong's Centre Half Back tipped named on Riewoldt this week!

and the same Andrew Mackie that has kicked 11 goals this year and was initially developed as a forward?

[Booney]

Running of half back and as their attacking defender,not exactly a small forward..

[Dutchy]

Running of half back and as their attacking defender,not exactly a small forward..

who mackie? as I said I didnt include him

[Booney]

Yes,I am aware.

I agree with your initial post,in some ways.Port have Ebert who plays taller than what he actually is and is a strong mark,not really a crumber.We do have Rodan and Gray,although Rodan plays primarily as a midfielder he,along with S.Burgoyne and when fit Gray,when selected Krakouer and even Pearce play that role at times.

I see your point that Port ( I dont care about Adelaide ) have missed some talent,but that may be more of a reflection on what sort of player both clubs required at the drafts these players were taken in.Port may have been after defenders to replace Wilson and Wakelin,or took Westhoff and DeLuca as we needed forwards and a ruckman,all that information and who Port and Adelaide took at those drafts would help this debate.

The "why didnt this/that club pick up this/that player" is a debate you could go on about for hours with.

[Dutchy]

Fair call about what they needed at the draft, just seems to be a hole in both teams and the guys listed would have been very valuable to them...would be worth a high draft pick I would have thought

[Hondo]

Hondo, Porps is a midfielder playing forward cause of his shoulder and Ebert/Motlop arent exactly "small" forwards, Id clasify them as marking forwards, hence why i didnt include Mackie on the list also

Alwyn Davey went mid 30's so Port had their opportunity to get him, he had a super year for South in 2006, Thomas played for the maggies while Campbell was pyling his trade for North surely all right in front of Crows and Power officials..

I know you want to keep finding ways to have a crack at the Power and the Crows but this is not a good example. Let's have a look at your list v the current Crows and Power small forwards ...

Lindsay Thomas 181cm - 32 goals this season
Matty Campbell 174cm - 14 goals this season
Ryan Gamble 184cm - 21 goals this season
Matty Stokes 178cm - 36 goals this season
Alwyn Davey 173cm - 5 goals this season
Austin Wonaeamirri 176cm - 24 goals this season

v

Jason Porplyzia - 177cm - 32 goals this season
Richard Douglas - 180cm - 22 goals this season
Daniel Motlop - 185cm - 57 goals this season
Brett Ebert 179cm - 33 goals this season

If you ranked them all - Crows and Power players make up 3 of the top 5 in terms of goals kicked. I am struggling to pick the differences, particularly with the Power lads they are exactly the type of players you are talking about.

At the end of the day, small forwards are useful but in terms of immediate drafting needs, they rank behind key forwards, midfielders, key defenders, ruck-men. The Roos would rank their key forwards ahead of Campbell and Thomas, for example. If you have all those bases covered off then, sure, punt a high draft pick on a flashy forward type. Not every team has that luxury.

[Dutchy]

Lindsay Thomas 181cm - 32 goals this season
Matty Campbell 174cm - 14 goals this season
Ryan Gamble 184cm - 21 goals this season
Matty Stokes 178cm - 36 goals this season
Alwyn Davey 173cm - 5 goals this season Knee Reco - remember?
Austin Wonaeamirri 176cm - 24 goals this season

v

Jason Porplyzia - 177cm - 32 goals this season as i said a midfielder turned forward due to injury
Richard Douglas - 180cm - 22 goals this season interstate recruit, doesnt count
Daniel Motlop - 185cm - 57 goals this season hardly a small forward
Brett Ebert 179cm - 33 goals this season a small forward but gets most goals from strong leads and marks, not a crumber

Hondo you seem to think all I do is try to have pot shots at the SA teams which is incorrect, its tough to discuss any other teams on here in any depth.....I think I have a valid arguement that the SA teams seem to have missed some quality SANFL based players that have forged very good careers elsewhere for little cost to their clubs....I think a small nippy forward is critical to any successful side, not only for goals but for defensive pressure in keeping the ball inside 50..

The point Im trying to make is maybe the SA clubs recruiters should be looking harder at the SANFL as there is some great talent which has had to go over the border to ply their trade....

[RustyCage]

You might be right in saying that we (Port) may have missed out on some quality "small forwards", but are we missing anything by not having them at Port? Not at all. Crumbing goals from marking contests and stoppages is something that Port is one of the best teams in the league at, with Rodan, S Burgoyne, Motlop, Gray, Pierce, Ebert, Cassisi all doing that job effectively. Maybe they aren't all what you would define as small forwards, but they do that job as well as anybody in addition to their normal role in the team. You could say that Port have done well by avoiding people you define as small forwards.