Carlisle as a fwd - what did Bomber know??

[j959]

Doesn't Bomber look like a genius??!

I remember an end of game presser (sometime w/in the first 5rds or so, though my memory's a bit dodgy - getting old) when a journo asks him if he's going to persist with Carlisle in the fwd-line after a couple of poor weeks where he looked like a 'duck out of water' in the fwd-line.

Bomber simply goes, 'Yep' and the journo says something to the effect of, 'Well I and many others think his best position is back' and Bomber coolly says (to the effect of), 'Well I suppose that's why I'm an AFL coach and you aren't'.

That's come home to roost now ...  :o

Have to say, Carlisle in those early games did not look right or at all comfortable in the fwd-line but now ...  :o

if he keeps it up for another week or so, or even if Carlisle drops off a little but is consistent then Bomber is a genius!  ;)

[Southstorm]

I'll admit I questioned his effectiveness as a forward in the early part of the season so much I called for him to be swapped with Hurley or dropped to the VFL, and I'm willing to eat my words for that. But I saw him take some crucial marks in the forward line during the 2013 season and thought then he'd be great as a key forward. As an Essendon supporter I might be a little biased but Carlisle is truly exceptional talent and I think could master any key position whether it be forward or back.

[kilbluff1985]

even Kyle Riemers kicked 8 in one game

[Mailman the 2nd]

even Kyle Riemers kicked 8 in one game

This. Essendon are very good at steamrolling opponents who are out of form/much worse than them. They caught Collingwood at a perfect time and the Bulldogs defence has been one of the worst for a while now.

Sydney and Richmond in successive weeks will be the real litmus to how Carlisle is traveling, as both are in good form

[Boomz]

He was drafted as a forward so I don't get the surprise. Yes he looked way out of his depth until a few weeks ago but that was because we were kicking it to him like shower, he had no confidence and because he's been playing as a defender the last few seasons. He's always had amazing hands and it just took some time & practice as a forward to get into it again.

[AFEV]

Er, Essendon have won 8 of 11 since ANZAC day, with 2 losses under 10 points. I wouldn't really attribute Carlisle's last two weeks to 'finally winning' or anything, because we've been doing well for 3 months now, and he has been terrible for the majority of that time.

His form has probably been building for a month, the last two weeks have been great - but as Boomz said, he has always been a forward.Those who were following him before his breakout down back were excited about him being the follow-up great forward to Lloyd.

Richmond have won their last 4, but WC, St Kilda and Brisbane aren't impressive scalps, and the wheels have fallen off at Alberton in a similar fashion to Essendon from the last few years.

The Sydney game is just a bonus really, nobody will expect us to win it and we even get close it's a confidence boost and if we win it's 4 points we never would've thought we'd get. I'll be penning in a loss, but after that I'd expect us to win every game and Jake could well end with 40 goals this year (18 in 5, 3.6/game), which would be a big return I think for a transitional year. If he can get 50 regularly over the next decade, that's a big return in the modern game - plus he offers a lot more than goals.

Hooker and Hurley down back will also be one of the best KPD combos in the comp over that time, plus Joe, the bookends are looking OK for a while (knock on wood).