Is defense more important than offense in AFL?

Discussion in 'Aussie Rules Football Discussion' started by Harps, Apr 4, 2013.

?

Defence or attack?

  1. Defence

    8 vote(s)
    42.1%

  2. Attack

    6 vote(s)
    31.6%

  3. Lachlan Coote Is Gun Association

    5 vote(s)
    26.3%
Page 5 of 8

  1. Jager LO Townsend

    AWTA, possibly even 90+.
     
    Jager, Apr 4, 2013
    #81

  2. Mousey AJ Son

    Even before this was the case it was always about getting Hurley forward because they know he'd be more damaging there. When Hurley was forced to play back they were doing anything possible to get him forward.

    Harry Taylor is an example too, Chris Scott sometimes tries to find ways to get him down there.
     
    Mousey, Apr 4, 2013
    #82

  3. Harps ZAF MacDonald

    How so?

    Hansen is a terrible, terrible set shot. Has a poor work rate imo and has never ever lokked at home down front.
     
    Harps, Apr 4, 2013
    #83

  4. Number 11 CJ Downes

    Ah ok, good to know. Still skeptical about the whole "hot chick likes league" thing tbh. :p

    Oh and just my 2 cents on the actual topic...in junior AFL the uncoordinated speds (i.e. me) always played in the back 6.
     
    Number 11, Apr 4, 2013
    #84

  5. Skippos SM Morgan

    Bock and Rutten both started as key forwards, as did Lonergan and Taylor as well as Jake Carlile, Ben Reid, Lachie Henderson, Brian Lake, Luke McPharlin, Phil Davis, Ryan Schoenmakers, Chris Tarrant, Jackson Trengove, Ben Griffiths, David Astbury, Heath Grundy and Ted Richards.

    You raise a good point.

    It's almost as if

    ~conspiracy hat on~

    recruiters draft key forwards as they know they'll make the better key backs!
     
    Skippos, Apr 4, 2013
    #85

  6. Harps ZAF MacDonald

    How the fuck have you seen pics?
     
    Harps, Apr 4, 2013
    #86

  7. Skippos SM Morgan

    Lake's the same. Often it's just about changing up with regards to body type and style.
     
    Skippos, Apr 4, 2013
    #87

  8. Mousey AJ Son

    Sometimes for Lake isn't more about getting him into the game too, because he's best when he's attacking.
     
    Mousey, Apr 4, 2013
    #88

  9. Cribbage RG Cribb

    How fluid are the positions in the AFL? Like can players seamlessly move from one extreme to the other regularly? The skillset for each position does seem to be a lot more similar than the role-based rugby league positions, but it might just be because I don't know enough about them.
     
    Cribbage, Apr 4, 2013
    #89

  10. Skippos SM Morgan

    Key forwards that started as backs:

    Pavlich, Roughead, Hansen, Tarrant, Petrie, Waite, Hurley, Ryder

    It does work both ways ^_^
     
    Skippos, Apr 4, 2013
    #90

  11. Harps ZAF MacDonald

    Fluid enough. Tall backs can play tall forward and vice versa. Small backs can play small forward and on ball and vice versa. Rucks can play key position forward but usually struggle in defence due to mobility etc.
     
    Harps, Apr 4, 2013
    #91

  12. Lukic L Popovic

    I might be wrong, but to me the biggest difference in moving a player wouldn't be their actual skills as such but rather their ability off the ball and intangible things. Kicking, marking, punching, handball, speed whatever, that doesn't change but your ability to read an offensive structure and dictate their moves or say cover a zonal region in defence compared to having the vision to anticipate a run or make one yourself would be the biggest difference. Fairly sure there's been examples of players playing out of position and having some success (Dustin Fletcher at FF? someone to confirm? also luls when they called in players parents about the drugs scandals and Fletcher was there).
     
    Lukic, Apr 4, 2013
    #92

  13. Harps ZAF MacDonald

    Petrie was a good CHB.
     
    Harps, Apr 4, 2013
    #93

  14. Skippos SM Morgan

    Fluid, to a degree. Midfielders often rest in forward pockets/flanks as a midfielder playing as a small forward most of the time > a genuine small forward.

    Key forwards and Key backs, despite being completely different roles, often transition really easy too. Failed forwards often reinvent themselves as defenders. Old midfielders often wander to a forward pocket to retire, and failed small forwards, especially the speedsters, often move to a back flank as an attacking weapon. It's rare to see midfielders in genuine defense positions though; if they're ever there it's to provide an attacking option in the back fifty. Rucks can play forward too. You'll never see a Ruck/Key Forward/Key Back playing a small/midfielder role though, unless you're Adam Goodes or Matthew Pavlich.

    I think league is probably more fluid in its positions
     
    Skippos, Apr 4, 2013
    #94

  15. Mousey AJ Son

    Not seamlessly, but the roles for a lot of players are very similar and the skill sets even more so. Rugby is pretty specialised where as in AFL the same skills a required in most positions, there aren't many specialist skills aside from ruck work.
     
    Mousey, Apr 4, 2013
    #95

  16. Skippos SM Morgan

    Petrie is probably the third most versatile player in the league. Can play ff/chf/chb/fb with ease and also ruck. Also a very good flanker. He'd be second to Pavlich (FF/CHF/midfield/CHB/FB) and Brennan (FF/CHF/CHB/FB/Ruck/Small Back/Small Forward/Onball)
     
    Skippos, Apr 4, 2013
    #96

  17. Mousey AJ Son

    DWTA. The rest is right though, except maybe the ruck/KPP as a midfielder. NicNat does it, Blicavs :ninja:

    But seriously there are multiple who could and do float in and out the mids and through key position posts.
     
    Mousey, Apr 4, 2013
    #97

  18. Cribbage RG Cribb

    Without wanting to sidetrack the thread completely, the fluidity of league's positions is as an interesting topic. Many would argue they're more fluid than ever with players having more similar body types, scrums being uncontested and the forever increasing centre/second row similarities bridging the gap between forwards and backs, however on the flip side, more and more players are now coming through as left or right side specialists. The positions have become more similar but we've also created new ones in a way. Imagine telling someone from 60s that there would be wingers out there more comfortable playing right side second row than they would be playing on the left wing...
     
    Cribbage, Apr 4, 2013
    #98

  19. Skippos SM Morgan

    Yeah, a lot of my league opinions are from reading the league board here. I probably read most posts in there, just never post myself.

    I'd gathered that halves are pretty interchangeable and fluid as are locks and second rowers. centres often move into the second row too
     
    Skippos, Apr 4, 2013
    #99

  20. Skippos SM Morgan

    I'd argue nicnat's midfield role is a completely new midfield role never seen before.
     
    Skippos, Apr 4, 2013
    #100
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