AFL

Frenchman To Remain Up Forward

Saturday 9th January 2010

Author: LMSC

Photographer:

West Coast Eagles assistant coach, and club goal kicking record holder, Peter Sumich, says the team has built a forward structure that will enable it to reach its goals in the 2010 season.

Sumich, speaking via the AFL’s website, said the club’s efforts in fixing the recent issues with their forward structure that has dogged them over the past few seasons, was now coming together.

"It's good, I think we've got the mix we were looking for now - we've been looking over the past few years for that small forward player," Sumich told the league.

The Eagles have never been a club with a dominate forward structure.

Even during the early premiership years (1992 & 1994), as well as their recent grand final appearance season in 2005 & 2006, the club relied heavily on the midfield’s goal scoring ability and a team defensive mindset.

But Sumich says recent chances in the game have made the traditional “full forward” structure a thing of the past.

"The game's changed a bit and those small forwards put a lot of pressure on and keep the ball in their forward line with their chasing and tackling,” he said.

"Not only do they kick goals, they keep pressure on. So to have one in the near future would be nice."

The club’s leading goal kicker last season was 23 year-old Mark LeCras.

Built more like a midfielder, the former West Perth sharp shooter has been a dominate performer up field for the Eagles in recent seasons.

Standing at just 182cm tall, LeCras doesn’t suit the mould of a traditional forward when compared to the likes of Quinten Lynch who is 194cm.

He slotted 58 majors for the Eagles last season, and with that structure seemingly working, Sumich said it wasn’t likely LeCras would be making any move away from the big sticks in the near future.

"LeCras you think would play more forward, then through the midfield sparingly if needed," Sumich said.

The had been talk LeCras would spend significant time in the middle this coming season as the club continues to rebuild but Sumich said there wasn’t much point to moving one asset from one part of the ground to leave another exposed.

"I think you've still got to kick goals to win games. There's no point 'Lecca' kicking it in there if it's coming straight back out,” he said.

"We've got Tom Swift, Chris Masten, Daniel Kerr, Matt Priddis, Adam Selwood, Luke Shuey - all these blokes that can go through the midfield - so I think we've got ample numbers."

Sumich also hinted the club’s recent draftees in Ryan Neates, Lewis Broome and Gerrick Weedon will be looked at in filling more potential gaps in the club’s forward structure.

In other Eagles news, hard man defender Beau Waters will be eased back into the mix as he overcomes a serious of serious injuries.

The 23 year-old, who has spent more than a year on the sidelines thanks to a shocking elbow dislocation injury last year, may not participate in the club’s preseason games.

He recently underwent arthroscopic knee surgery before Christmas to deal with another setback, with the procedure fining a floating bone fragment.

The premiership defender hasn’t been seen in an Eagles jumper since round 10 2008.