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Bright future for Dockers forwards

Roar Pro
25th August, 2014
10

Turning up to the Dockers versus Lions match on the weekend I was unaware of the late withdrawal of Matthew Pavlich.

With Michael Barlow, Pavlich and Nathan Fyfe all out of the team and the Lions showing some real potential over the second half of the season, I was anticipating something bordering a close contest.

The first quarter all but put paid to that.

From the outset it was clear the Dockers were on and their trademark pressure was there for all to see. What impressed me most though was a glimpse into a forward line that could be a real handful for opposition defences.

While some have suggested Freo’s premiership window could close with the retirements of their stars – Pavlich, Aaron Sandilands and Luke McPharlin – the talent on show on Sunday suggested otherwise.

While the dynamic duo of Hayden Ballantyne and Michael Walters grab plenty of headlines, the latest rising star nomination, Matt Taberner, was the real positive to come out of the game. He covered plenty of ground, providing a real target for his team to go through and leaving space behind for the small forwards to weave their magic.

By halftime Taberner was the leading possession winner for his side, a great example of his work rate. At 197cm and with an engine that allows him to cover plenty of ground he rates along other exciting running talls such as Tom Lynch and Adam Tomlinson.

He kicked one goal and should have had at least one more, and his combination of endurance and a good set of hands should present plenty of headaches for opposition coaches for the next 10 years.

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Seeing Matt Taberner roam around the Gabba gathering possessions and providing a dangerous roaming target highlights a largely unseen group of tall forwards that many opposition clubs would love to get their hands on. As well as Taberner there are big raps on Michael Apeness, and the two could form the basis of a potent forward line.

Taberner showed enough against the Lions to suggest he should keep his place for the remaining round and provides a good target further up field to help ease the pressure off Pavlich. All this from a young guy from country Victoria who was taken in the rookie draft – I’m sure there’s a Victorian club or two who would like the 2012 draft over again.

So with Taberner (20 years old), Jack Hannath (23), Michael Apeness (19) and Hayden Crozier (20) there is a group of young talent coming through to support established players Zac Clarke (24), Michael Walter (23), Chris Mayne (25) and Hayden Ballantyne (27).

While Pavlich is a great of the modern era and almost impossible to replace, the forward group looks in good hands with a real spread of talent. The younger players may not come with the profile of the forwards of the expansion teams but in the glimpses the Freo forwards have shown to date, they might have found the right mix to be a potent forward group for years to come.

Ross Lyon’s vision to add a couple of goals a game to his side’s already impressive defensive strength has a bright future – as a Saints fan, Ross Lyon developing quality young players is still a foreign concept!

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