Where in the world are all of Australia's strikers?

Unfortunately AFL seek the exact same body type (tall, athletic, fast) of strikers and defenders and they get first pick of the best athletes (easier path to getting paid immediate $$$ too). Arguably, you chuck a soccer ball at Scott Pendlebury and Gary Ablett at 3 instead of a sherrin and they would be world class midfielders too. So an immediate ban on AFL is the only answer

Agree 100%. IMO, NT managers have to pick the players that suit their tactics, not the other way around. It may mean leaving out a great player if that player can't buy into the tactics, but so be it - and in a sense, that should be a part of the hiring process by the FA in terms of finding out what the tactics will be for the NT. Ange has a relatively good strategy, IMO, it's just that we haven't had the consistency to succeed with it all the time. I must admit, I was surprised with his squad selections given I can't see how they match the style he wants to play, but he obviously has a better understanding of these players than we do so I'll defer my judgement as to whether he has made a mistake now. The other thing to keep in mind is that NT football has more variability in it than league football and therefore it's a matter of how well players adapt to their surroundings when called in - the conditions and weather and form of players change so often and are interspersed with fairly long breaks of time together that players aren't really exposed to them often enough to be afforded a lot of time to get used to them. IMO, Ange's complete faith in his strategy is more of a strength than a weakness as he is able to stick to a clear message that the players can pick-up and be familiar with - it's then up to him to be able to extrapolate that to the changing environment of each NT game (mostly away games, admittedly).

Spot on, Fadida - we're certainly missing Rogic's creativity at present and we need to be able to have more than one route to goal - currently it relies on fast attacks down the flanks to cross in to a good 'headerer' of the ball (eg: Cahill). Someone who can either dribble past a couple of players to open up space or deliver a defence-splitting pass for quick forwards to run on to is not something you associate with us at present. That also becomes even more difficult when teams sit back against us. In both these scenarios we have the pace, just not the execution at present to creat clear-cut chances (although Mooy is really starting to come on in leaps and bounds in this regard). That's why McLaren could potentially be an excellent striker for us if we were able to play him in behind teams - his conversion rate is pretty good, IMO. In the meantime, we need to try to develop the high-pressing play from the 'gegenpress' school and dare I say it, my A-League team SFC (obviously to a much better NT standard) so that we can create the space for our AMs to exploit - although Ange is limited in how much better fitness than the opposition he can attain given he's only with the squad for short periods at a time.

Brosque?? (9 goals & 4 assists in 22 games - 19 starts) Yes, he's old, but he's in career-best form and has played at international level before. IMO, he's a reasonable alternative to out-of-season players like Kruse & Burns who have a fair bit to prove atm... Leckie too, although he's been playing a fair bit this season for Ingolstadt (although far from a first XI striker for them) so his place in the squad is probably justified. Other honourable mentions from the A-league apart from McLaren & Taggart are Santalab (11 goals in 18 games - only 9 starts) and Nabbout (8 goals in 20 games - 19 starts)...

Frank arok time with Eddie Thompson was a golden period for oz football .

The only thing I know is that I wouldn't have commented at all but for the ignorance in Nemesis' first comment, and his dismissive attitude towards aboriginal disadvantage in the second. As I said, values matter. Respect and empathy (or in this case, lack of respect or empathy) for the challenges placed by aboriginal people outweigh arguments about strikers every time. If you can't see which is the more important issue, well, that's a really sad thing.

Northerner, I have no idea who these people are, where they come from, what they look like. The only thing I know is these people are not Australian football strikers & should not be discussed on this thread.

@Punter - I have no idea what your point is.If you guys on both sides of the code wars want to argue about which code requires the highest level of skills, who are the best players, have at it. I don't care. It's a meaningless argument because the games and the skills required aren't comparable. Why would I comment about that? Frankly, I have no idea why you would regard me as a code warrior. I have never criticized the game of football, never questioned the skills required to play at the highest level, never belittled the committed fans. It seems I'm a code warrior simply because I give the same level of respect to other codes that I give to football. That's a pathetic point of view you have, to be honest. Unfortunately, it's one that a lot of you seem to share, so I've stayed away. But when the discussion strays into areas of social values - like claiming that AFL players lack the character of football players because they don't have the mental strength - and when two of the four players mentioned are men who've had to face a level of disadvantage and discrimination that no comfortable white guy in his Sydney or Melbourne flat is ever going to understand - well, yes, I do take exception. Sue me. This isn't about code wars, this is about values. I have them and I'll stand up for them, because values outweigh football or AFL or any other sport, every place, every time. If you and Nemesis believe that football is more important than basic values, well then, yep, call me a warrior, but it's not about football codes, it's about decency.

KP - It may come as a surprise to you but there was a system in place when the so called Golden Generation were playing their junior football. Using your math we can calculate that in 2006 the GG were coming on in age, say the high average of 28, and that takes us back to early 1984 when there was a system in place that was aimed at coaching coaches all around the country. Part of that system was to encourage coaches to use small sided games played on small pitches by small teams thus accelerating the learning of kids at the age of 6. (Yes I am talking about a time frame some 20 years before our National Curriculum was written up and "introduced" to us ,.using the same basic principles that I have spelled out. It was lack of funds,and foresight on the part of administrators all around the country that allowed that "plan" to wither on the vine ,but not before it was in vogue in many parts of the country. I have a photograph of myself with my eight young charges, taken at a game that was played in 2004 when the "new " curriculum was only a "supposed" idea being sold to the FFA by the man who wrote it, Rob Baan , who started working for the FFA in 2007.!!!!!!! The times just do not gell. Cheers jb.,

Noticed you were quick to jump on to Nemesis. However, when the AFL fanboy jump on & mentioned 4 people most north of Murray have never heard of about football strikers in Australian football, there was no noise from you. However, you have it right, juvenile posturing of the code wars, you are head of the class.

The NPL & lower leagues across Australia are filled with players who are technically better than those in the ALeague. But, technical excellence alone does not make you a successful professional. From what I've seen & heard from people in other sports, the same occurs in every sport. Right now, Australia has a wonderful tennis technician in Nick Kyrgios. To be the best, he'll need to figure out how badly he wants it. Does he have the mental strength & discipline? That's the unknown. No doubt those AFL players mentioned probably will have transferable technical skills if they played football. Do they have the mental strength to succeed in an international sport? We'll never know because they never test themselves. What we do know is a significant number of AFL players get homesick when they move interstate. Same language. Same currency. Same culture. But they don't have the mental strength to live interstate.

I reckon Sam Mitchell with his vision and skill and accuracy could have been a great football player . The talent in Cyril and Eddie is unlimited . Messi like dribbling there way past defenders . As for stevie j , I think he would get a lot of red cards .

Oh, I am not arguing football any more: I'm bored beyond tears by the juvenile posturing on all sides of the code wars. You all need to grow up, accept that people have different tastes and interests, and that you don't have to belittle other sports to enjoy your own. But I am certainly going to continue to have my two cents worth when it comes to issues which affect us all - like misogyny, homophobia and racism. And I have to say, you've been building up an interesting resume in all three areas.

Very weak attempt at a comeback, Nemesis. The fact is, you are ignorant of the challenges that face indigenous people, especially those from remote areas, and have no understanding whatsoever of the qualities it takes to overcome those kinds of disadvantages. To belittle the discipline, commitment and mental strength of Betts and Rioli, apparently on the sole ground that they chose Aussie Rules over football, is simply beyond the pale in my book.

@northerner "which rather raises the question of why you feel competent to criticize the skills involved in playing those sports) – so I don’t expect you to have any appreciation of what it takes in terms of athletic skills to be a star in the AFL" I notice you conveniently ignore the comments on a Football discussion that disparage the skills of footballers. You are a Top Grade Hypocrite. Life on the Football Discussion Board has been wonderful for the last few weeks when you've stuck to AFL discussions & not tried to poke your nose into issues where you are completely out of your depth.

How easy do you think it is for Awer Mabil to play in Denmark? You're kidding yourself if you think Indigenous footballers playing in Australia have it any tougher than African Australian footballers playing overseas. I find your comments frankly, ignorant, insensitive, and quite appalling. There is simply no excuse for your comment. PS: Are Sam Mitchell & Steve Johnson of indigenous background?

That's enough, Nemesis. I know you pride yourself on your lack of interest in or knowledge of other football codes (which rather raises the question of why you feel competent to criticize the skills involved in playing those sports) - so I don't expect you to have any appreciation of what it takes in terms of athletic skills to be a star in the AFL. I do expect, however, you to show some respect and understanding of the kinds of challenges aboriginal kids in particular have to deal with to make a go of things in life. To question the "discipline, commitment & mental strength" of guys like Cyril Rioli and Eddie Betts, who've done it tougher than you can ever imagine, and still have to deal with racism though they're both top flight players, is frankly, ignorant, insensitive, and quite appalling. There is simply no excuse for your comment.

" Sam Mitchell, Cyril Rioli, Eddie Betts, Steve Johnson" 4 athletes who've never had the discipline, commitment & mental strength to move to a foreign country with alien culture, language & no family to support them. And, when their alleged superior athletic ability is tested against people outside Australia these 4 players have failed against amateur players from Ireland. If those 4 guys had followed a path in football they'd have been NPL players who stay in Australia. Being an top footballer requires much much more than just having technical ability, or physical athleticism. That's why excellent technical footballers at a young age don't automatically become great professionals. They don't have the mental strength.

Lesterlike - Offhand I can name at least 15 players who played for Australia in "striking" roles and mostly played their early football in the NSL. Probably the best known today would be John Kosmina who made 60 appearances for his country while playing with NSL clubs. Cheers jb.

Lesterlike- you use an interesting analogy there talking about a "pyramid". A pyramid has an eternal shape having a broad base to support the ever increasing problems in reaching towards it's peak,where, after a long time frame, the projected height foreseen by the builders is reached. By then only the toughest,strongest "labourers " have managed to "stay the course" and witness the finished article. You have likened that task to the HAL and how it is run but in doing so you have moved away from that original thought as to where and when does the pyramid attain it's highest point. Is it the World Cup final,is it the Continental champions final,is it the European or Asian or South American championship.or is it winning the HAL trophy at Grand Final time.????.level after level after level. Do you get my point. The top of the pyramid is where the "elite" live and perform,and there are many levels that have to be worked on and beaten in order to advance to that next level. How can a kid playing in a back court somewhere in Australia attain the top of the pyramid, or should the question be can an Australian kid ever attain that top level? There is ample evidence that birth place has nothing to do with creating what is termed an elite player. But one thing is for sure,to attain a promotion to the next level there are,just like in pyramid building,endless hours of hard work and practice required to attain the top of the pyramid. Cheers jb. .