Harry O'Brien as a forward?

[tomoleary]

It just occurred to me that we have a player that loves to bomb a goal from outside 50 more than almost anyone I can think of. When he's taken set shots I can't remember him missing too many. He's versatile, he can take a pack mark but can also crumb. He's quite strong and very fast. Fast is something Cloke and Dawes aren't.

Might be a bit too late to try this year, but I reckon Harry would be more dangerous at half forward than he is at half back. Maybe it's NOT too late?

If one thing works in September it's throwing a spanner in an opposition coach's plan.

We've got Heater and Johnno for run off half back and Reid and Brown as reliable key backs. Taz plays the in between role well and even though he's been an all-Australian key forward, he's a better backman. Maxwell and Toovey are in that mix too.

Kicking goals has been an issue and Harry's a player, more than most in our side, that I trust to kick a goal when he's in a position to.

Interestingly, I remember one key element that made our forward line much more dangerous in the 2007 finals was Sean Rusling. Unfortunately, due to his terrible luck with injuries, the 2007 finals were the peak of Rusling's career. But in those games you had Rocca playing as the centre half forward and Rusling as the medium sized player with real blistering pace coming out taking marks on leads. He seemed to come into the size just as the finals started and he was like a phantom to opposition coaches: no one knew who he was, and if you look up the history he did kick goals in those finals.

Harry wouldn't exactly be like a phantom because everyone in the league knows who he is, but they don't know him as a forward.

[Mossi]

Good idea hope the coaches are reading, with the possibility we may not get the Sack back next week Harry could be that unpredictable medium tall forward we need. he is good defensively and can read the ball in flight well. He is untried but i reckon has all the attributes. lets face it we will need something to surprise those Hawks next week!

[Big_Glenn_Sandford]

[Piethagoras' Theorem]

I can live with seeing more of this

[woodys_world69]

I love to have sex with hot bikini model's....
doesnt mean im any good at picking up hot bikini model's
Heater loves a goal more then harry, and harry doesnt have the speed.

Heather went forward in the last quarter, but was just never used, and was BLOWING his top at his team mates poor disposal.

Heater for me, because benny is back.
I dont think Harry is a forward of the ball player.

[Tannin]

I've answered this question before. Why not play Harry at full forward?

[Piethagoras' Theorem]

lol

[Magpie Jack]

Bucks did seem to experiment with the forward structure last night and it looked ok. There were times when it seemed we only had the smalls across half forward and it worked. Harry and Heater both kicked goals and Johnno should have. Depending on the matchups I'd like to see Harry on the wing.

[AN_Inkling]

It's a good suggestion. Harry's our most athletic player. He is the closest thing we have to Buddy or Nic Nat (I did say our closest, not close).

However, I think we still need him down back, certainly for this year.

You say we have Johnno (good, I like Johnno and he's playing pretty good footy), you say we have Heater (yes, we have him; but how's he going? Not well enough for mine, his disposal has been deplorable all year; usually a good defender, but not a good rebounder this year).

No, Harry right now is our best runner and our best ball user off half back, and as a team we've struggled with this all year. He's also just coming into his best form. Last night was probably his best game of the year. Gave us electrifying run. I want to see more of this, not forward experimentation. Move him up the field at stages during a game, because he is definitely an X-Factor, but defense is his home, for this season at least.

[Joel]

I posted a similar thread a year or so ago. Most people didn't like the idea.

[RudeBoy]

[tomoleary]

[Cuthbert Collingwood]

Harry's been killing it down back of late after a patchy start to the year (I've noticed that his detractors have all gone back into their boxes). Leave him be!

[Piethagoras' Theorem]

I'd actually like to see Harry take more kick ins. He is consistently in our top 3 for DE% and has a very accurate and penetrating kick.

[AN_Inkling]

^^Good idea. He can't be worse than Shaw.