Former Essendon forward Matthew Lloyd believes Jobe Watson will be thrown forward by the club in 2017.
Watson told 3AW Radio on Wednesday that the Bombers would benefit greatly from the 31-year-old moving to the forward line this season.
โI think Watson will be more in the forward line than in the midfield this season,โ Lloyd told 3AW on Wednesday night.
โHeโs one of those players that after 12 months out, heโs one of the ones Iโll be really interested to see how he comes back.
"Itโs not as if heโs a quick player, Jobe, but heโs really super smart, really clean...I think playing forward is really going to suit him.
โBecause theyโve found some midfielders in the absence of Watson, he probably needs to stay out a bit more than he did in the past.
"He was such a dominant force in there, but youโve got to find greater avenues and have a deeper midfield, rather than relying on Jobe like they have in previous seasons."
Watson looks set to be joined in the forward line by fellow banned Bomber, Cale Hooker, with forwards coach Hayden Skipworth confirming that he has been earmarked as a forward in 2017.
Lloyd said that Hooker should combine with Joe Daniher to form a formidable partnership in the front third.
โI reckon Hooker and Daniher should be aiming to kick 100 between them,โ Lloyd added.
โI think heโll (Daniher) kick around 60 goals and I think heโs good enough if his body stands up for him.
โHooker, he kicked (21.21), so he needs to get his goalkicking right as well, from the last 10 games of 2015 where he won the best and fairest. I think heโs good enough to kick his 40.
โItโs a pretty good forward line on paper youโd have to say."
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