After Geelong’s success with Harry Taylor and Lachie Henderson, will other clubs try a swing man move?
GEELONG threw Harry Taylor and Lachie Henderson forward against Richmond and won the game, so why don’t more teams try it? Who could be your club’s swing man?
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TRAILING by more than five goals against Richmond on Sunday, Geelong coach Brad Scott rolled the dice.
Throwing caution to the wind, Scott moved key defenders Harry Taylor and Lachie Henderson to the forward line and turned the tide.
It’s history now that the Cats stormed home to win — with Taylor kicking the go-ahead goal — and the move remains an ace up Scott’s sleeve heading into September.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE YOUR CLUB’S SWING MAN. HAVE WE MISSED ANYONE? HAVE YOUR SAY
The tactic revived memories of famous radical moves in the past, from Cale Hooker bobbing up in the forward line to kick the matchwinning goal against Hawthorn in 2015 to Kevin Sheedy turning the 1984 Grand Final on its head by throwing Bill Duckworth, Paul Weston and Steve Bradbury forward.
Given its role in some of footy’s most memorable wins, why doesn’t it happen more often?
“It doesn’t happen very often anywhere any more,” Fox Footy caller Anthony Hudson lamented in this week’s SuperFooty podcast.
“Everyone is so structured now in what they do, which teams now have a player who moves from defence to the forward line — where’s Adam Hunter?”
Shifting Hunter from centre half-back was John Worsfold’s go-to move in the mid-2000s at West Coast — and it had the ultimate pay-off in the 2006 Grand Final when he kicked the matchwinning goal.
So, who could be your club’s swing man?
ADELAIDE
It’s hard to imagine young key defenders Daniel Talia or Jay Lever playing in the forward line but Talia kicked 10 goals as a junior playing at full-forward for Assumption College, so Don Pyke shouldn’t rule it out. Ricky Henderson is an old-fashioned utility who can play at either end.
BRISBANE
Coach Justin Leppitsch should be well aware of the theory, having played as a key position player at both ends himself. Full-back Daniel Merrett has lined up in the goalsquare in the past but it seems those days are behind him. Michael Close can play forward or back.
CARLTON
The Blues have a potential star swing man in Jacob Weitering. The No. 1 draft pick has already shown what he can do down back, and was swung forward against the Eagles and kicked two goals as Carlton almost pulled off an unlikely comeback win. “He had a corked shin, so we moved him up forward,” coach Brendon Bolton said. “I hope our members (are pleased), I know some of our coaches were pleased that he could mark some ball up there.”
COLLINGWOOD
Two of Collingwood’s key defenders have proved they can have an impact in front of goal. Ben Reid kicked 25 goals in eight games in 2013 and Jeremy Howe has spent much of his career at full-forward. If Travis Cloke departs there might be more room for one of them to make a surprise midgame move.
ESSENDON
The Bombers also have a very handy swing man on their books in Mitch Brown, who has played at both ends this year with success. When Cale Hooker returns John Worsfold will have to decide where to play him and Michael Hurley has settled as a defender but has played plenty of games as a forward, but will he be at Essendon next year?
FREMANTLE
Not many options for Ross Lyon given the Dockers’ issues down back. Zac Dawson has made surprise appearances up forward a couple of times in his career, kicking seven goals in 163 games. Not sure that move would strike fear into the heart of too many defenders though.
GEELONG
The Cats know what Harry Taylor and Lachie Henderson can do in front of goal and they have Tom Lonergan and Kade Kolodjashnij to hold the fort down back.
GOLD COAST
The Suns’ defensive pillars Steven May and Rory Thompson seem anchored down back but Sam Day can move from one end to the other as needs require.
GWS GIANTS
Phil Davis kicked five goals in 2012 but has only one since. Jon Patton is a reverse swing man, a forward who can play at centre half-back.
HAWTHORN
The Hawks are the most versatile team in the comp so it’s no surprise a couple of their big defenders are more than handy in front of goal. Ryan Schoenmakers has played at both ends and James Frawley played as a forward in his last year at Melbourne. Josh Gibson has kicked 5.8 in 209 games.
MELBOURNE
The recent departures of Frawley and Howe leave the Demons’ options a little bare. Tom McDonald can take a grab and booted two goals in a game against Brisbane last year. Cam Pederson is a classic utility.
NORTH MELBOURNE
Lachie Hansen can be swung forward if needed and Robbie Tarrant started as a forward before cementing his spot as a key backman. The Roos like to use big midfielders Jack Ziebell and Ben Cunnington for impact in the goalsquare.
PORT ADELAIDE
Justin Westhoff is the ultimate swing man. In fact it’s hard to pin him down to any one position.
RICHMOND
The Tigers have tried David Astbury forward on a few occasions with limited success (one goal in the past four seasons). If things were desperate we’d love to see what Alex Rance could do at the opposite end of the ground.
ST KILDA
Sam Fisher and Sean Dempster have played a combined 447 games for 43 career goals at an average of just under 0.1 a game. Josh Bruce played as a defender at GWS but now starts at full-forward every week. Next year Alan Richardson will have a great swing man option in Jake Carlisle, although he didn’t always love playing forward as a Bomber.
SYDNEY SWANS
Ted Richards turned himself from a utility into a key defender and then a forward for a few games this year before being dropped in favour of brother Xavier. It’s hard to see Heath Grundy moving, but what could Aliir Aliir do as a forward? He’s clearly a fast learner.
WEST COAST
The Eagles have a fine swing man tradition and have arguably the best current swing man in the game in Jeremy McGovern. After he kicked 13 goals in 2014, we haven’t seen it so much lately, but could Adam Simpson pull it out of his hat Adam Hunter style on Grand Final day?
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Luke Beveridge has a few options up his sleeve with Jordan Roughead capable of playing full-back, full-forward and in the ruck. Zaine Cordy can play at either end and defender Joel Hamling lined up as a forward against Geelong three weeks ago.
Originally published as After Geelong’s success with Harry Taylor and Lachie Henderson, will other clubs try a swing man move?
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