jirskyr
Well-known member
@ said:@ said:Yep because James Tedesco, Josh Dugan, Michael Gordon, RTS, Josh Wighton, Alex Johnston and Matt Duffy are all noted ball players.
This nonsense of the modern fullback being a ball player is a fallacy. I've just named you seven fullbacks out of the sixteen clubs that aren't ball players.
It's determined on how your team is structured. Thompson is the perfect fullback when the halves are correct. This year they were until Benji went full derp.
Hmm…it's interesting that Thompson himself said that he wanted to develop that part of his game. A ball playing fullback is someone who can set up his outside men. Slater also felt he was better player when he could do this....and BTW Teddy fits the mould as does RTS. The rest of your list are not what I would call top shelf.
I agree with bbobb, I would class Tedesco, RTS, Johnston, Wighton, Dufty as ball-playing fullbacks. Personally I don't really like that terminology, because it makes out like these fullbacks are 5/8ths with 1s on their back, which isn't accurate. But the point is that when in the backline they can both run or pass well. Even better if they have a kick, but not absolutely necessary.
All those guys I've mentioned have a good pass on them, as well as pass selection, though some more than others. Watching Dufty set up that Widdop try last week shows he doesn't just have pace.