Brereton: Essendon must use matchwinner Cale Hooker forward in case of “emergency”

After his matchwinning switch into attack, AFL legend Dermott Brereton says Cale Hooker should return to where he is best suited — defence.

Cale Hooker celebrates his matchwinning goal with Orazio Fantasia and Jayden Laverde. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos.

Essendon has been urged to use Thursday night’s match winner Cale Hooker as “break-open-in-case-of-emergency” forward.

AFL great Dermott Brereton says the Bombers must resist the temptation to move him permanently into attack.

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE SUPERFOOTY PODCAST

Hooker won the game for the Bombers when he sank the Giants with a goal in the dying seconds after being shifted forward late when ruckman Tom Bellchambers was injured.

But Brereton, a five-time premiership Hawks forward, insisted the big Bomber was better suited to defence — where he was an All-Australian back in 2014 — but could drift forward when the situation required, as it did against the Giants.

“He’s a definite backman, he is an occasional ‘go forward in times of emergency’ (forward),” Brereton said of Hooker.

“He plays very well as a backman, and if you allow him to drift forward for a limited amount of time, you know he can get the job on occasions, as he did (on Thursday night).

“That’s the way he should be used, the way they used him (against GWS).”

The Hooker forward-or-back conundrum has been a talking point throughout John Worsfold’s tenure as Essendon coach.

Cale Hooker celebrates his matchwinning goal with Orazio Fantasia and Jayden Laverde. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos.

He was used in attack throughout the 2017 season and the first three games of last year, but has predominantly played in defence since then.

Brereton said Hooker always gave a competitive effort wherever he played, but said he had too many deficiencies to be a permanent fixture in attack.

“As a forward he is almost untidy looking, but he is just a competitor,” Brereton said.

“If you knew Cale was going to be a full-time forward, you could set up to exploit the situation. Like every player, there is an element in his game that clubs could exploit if he was a stay-at-home forward.”

INJURY NEWS: ALL THE FALLOUT FROM ROUND 15 GAMES

SCORE REVIEW: ERRORS PUT SYSTEM BACK IN SPOTLIGHT

“His forward craft isn’t outstanding, but what he does do is that he runs to the drop of the ball. He is big and capable of taking a contested mark.”

Worsfold had to move Shaun McKernan into the ruckman after Bellchambers went down with a calf injury, which meant Hooker had to be shifted to attack.

“Moving Hooker forward was a necessity,” Worsfold said. “It was the best way to cover the ruck. Full credit to the (assistant), they planned it out well.”