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The AFL Missing Links: Essendon and Fremantle both short of talls

Roar Guru
30th March, 2015
11

Today’s Missing Link looks at a couple of youngsters who will look to expand their team’s forward line. Essendon will look to a new draftee to fill the hole left by Stewart Crameri, while Fremantle will pin its hopes on a towering former rookie to ease his skipper’s burden.

Essendon
Although Essendon supporters would hate to admit it, their forward line was missing Stewart Crameri last year. In 2013, Crameri averaged two goals and a goal assist per game for the Bombers and there is no denying that the Bombers were lacking this in their forward line last year.

They needed that mobile lead-up forward, who is equally comfortable at ground level as they are in the air, to support talls Joe Daniher and Jake Carlisle – who will likely play back again with Hird as coach.

Patrick Ambrose tried last year, but simply didn’t have the class around goal that was required. Fortunately, the Bombers got exactly what they needed at pick 17 in last year’s draft. They selected 190-centimetre utility Kyle Langford who, by reports, could have gone as early as Gold Coast’s pick eight.

He will be likely groomed into a tall midfielder with his endurance and agility, but before he can make that transition, he will prove that he is a legitimate weapon inside 50. At an awkward size, Langford will prove to be a difficult match-up and as such, is likely to expose small defenders with his height and tall defenders with his agility and endurance.

He should have a similar impact on the Bombers’ forward line that Jack Gunston had on the Hawks’ forward line, after transferring from the Crows, by making the forward line more multidimensional.

Simply by being another legitimate target inside, he will give Essendon’s key forwards a better chance. This should see an increase in the Bombers scoring this year after ranking 12th for points in 2014.

Even if it is only a small increase in scoring, that would have been the difference between winning and losing the third elimination final against the Roos.

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Could it be the difference that takes the Bombers one further in 2015?

If unaffected by ASADA investigations it is certainly not out of the question. Langford will also aid in the Bombers transition from defence to attack as that lead-up player that provides an exit out of the defensive 50 in a similar fashion to Gunston and Nick Riewoldt.

His ability to play that role for his team that Crameri did in 2013 will see Langford become Essendon’s ‘missing link’ in 2015.

Fremantle
Fremantle are on the search for replacements for their three veterans: Matt Pavlich, Aaron Sandilands and Like McPharlin. Zac Clarke is locked in as Sandilands’ replacement.

The Dockers may have missed their shot at finding a legitimate replacement for McPharlin in selecting local talent Lachie Weller over South Australian Sam Durdin who, at 198-centimetres tall, has the size to one day compete with the AFL’s monster forwards.

The heir to Pavlich is not yet certain, with 2013 first round pick Apeness in a battle with 2012 rookie pick Taberner.

After breaking into the side late last year, it is Matt Taberner who looks most likely to fill the shoes of the greatest ever Docker and South Australian.

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The 197-centimetre, 89-kilogram key forward will play a vital role in the Dockers’ forward line in 2015 as he continues to develop into the forward the Dockers hope he will be.

Taberner was instrumental in his side’s Round 23 win over the Power which ultimately cemented Freo in the top four.

His seven-mark (four contested), two-goal performance gave a small insight into the player he may become in the next couple of years. Unfortunately for Ross Lyon, he struggled under pressure, failing to kick a goal in either of Fremantle’s losses in the finals.

These finals also addressed Fremantle’s need for a tall forward, with Pavlich struggling to contend against taller opponents and no other key forward kicking a goal in the semi.

Given another year of experience, as well as another preseason, Taberner will be looking to be this taller forward who can provide a target inside 50 and out of defence.

If he can continue to ‘clunk’ marks like he did in Round 23 against the Power, Fremantle will again be legitimate premiership contenders. If he and Apeness can both reach their potential in the coming years, then the Dockers will finally have a forward line in which they can build a team around.

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