Teams who don’t have a “freewheeler” across half back are tipped to struggle come finals and that’s bad news for a side like Brisbane, Fox Footy’s David King believes.
King named the Lions as one of the top clubs not to have a “run and gun” player across halfback who can create scoring opportunities.
But he believes a veteran in Brisbane’s ranks could hold the key to success come finals.
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“You look at the halfback flankers that in the competition right now don’t play tradition halfback – they are more halfback freewheelers,” he said.
“They stay involved in the play, stay involved with momentum.
“Five of the top 10 players that are the most impactful players in terms of creating scores in the competition right now are Dan Houston, (Jack) Sinclair from St Kilda, (Nick) Blakey, Nick Daicos and (Adam) Saad.
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“If you haven’t got one – you’ve got to create one. You’ve got to find one.
“If you want to win the flag this year, I believe you need to have one of these types that’s prepared to be a major piece on your chessboard and allow the pawns to pick up the pieces around the edges.
“You’ve got to let them run and gun, you’ve got to let them go.”
King said it was the like of Tigers superstar Dustin Martin who started the role years ago, but now a lot of clubs possessed a player to break through the lines.
“If you’re a team that’s going to make a charge … if you haven’t got a freewheeler, you’re in trouble,” he said.
“Brisbane are probably the team I’m looking at the most.
“(Daniel) Rich – probably not. (Keidean) Coleman, probably not just yet. They played Dayne Zorko down back at the start of last season and he was exceptional.
“I know he went a bit too far with the leg rope at times and probably cost them a few goals … He’s maximum damage. He’s 50-50 mid-forward at the moment and he’s just going.
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“I think he’s their option. I’d love to see them experiment and just have a look at what they’ve got under the bonnet with Zorko back. I think he could be redeployed.
“Zorko for me is that man.”
King said now is the time for the Lions to roll the dice and give Zorko the licence to have free reign down back.
“They’re going to be there when the whip’s are cracking – it’s not going to cost them a position on the ladder whether they look at this or not,” he said.
“I think the challenge for Brisbane is to find that player – the freewheeler.”
AFL 360 co-host Jordan Lewis said teams had yet to come up with a role to combat the likes of an “untaggable” Daicos or Saad.
Panellist Leigh Montagna said that was because those sort of players had the freedom to play the game on their terms.
“These guys they just go and stand whether they want,” he pointed out.
“They stand off the back and say to the forward, either you come with me or you don’t. Makes it really hard.”