The problem with Kurt Tippett is that there is only one of him. For three years the Crows have wondered how best to use him - up forward, in the ruck, or a bit of both? In his first year he did enough of both to show that he was a star in the making. Last year he played mostly up forward and kicked 55 goals.

Early this year, however, Craigy was still unsure. In the first few games Tippett played as a forward who would double as a ruckman, but he had only limited impact. Then Craigy decided to play two full-time ruckmen and Tippett was stationed permanently in the forward line; his form has been better since then. He is the Crows’ leading goal-kicker this year.

But I’m still not convinced; Craigy needs to re-think the Kurt conundrum. The Crows’ rucks, Griffin and Maric, have been good this year, but they have fallen off the pace in the last few games. On Sunday against the Bulldogs they were beaten single-handedly by Hudson, who had more tap-outs and disposals than our two blokes combined. I think it’s time to take Tippett to the midfield.

The Crows have a number of rucking options besides Griffin (201 cm), Maric (198 cm) and Tippett (201 cm), but most have been injured this year. At 200 cm, Moran is a genuine rucking option if he gets himself fit. Sellar (196 cm) has been used as a ruck in the past, big-jumping James Craig (195 cm) is highly regarded, and McKernan (196 cm) is often used in the ruck at South Adelaide.

Tippett is good as a forward because he can take a contested mark (with his height he is difficult to spoil), he is agile at ground level, and he is brilliant at stoppages. If he was to play as a full-time ruckman he would bring all those assets with him, and he would become one of the best around-the-ground ruckmen in the league. We need his ruck work, agility and marking power in the midfield.

Of course, moving him to the midfield would deprive the Crows’ forward line of its star attraction, and the Crows can ill afford that. But a substitute or two are in the making. In recent times the Crows have recruited a bunch of tall marking forwards - next year, we need to see them in action. Talia (194 cm) or McKernan, for example, could take Tippett’s place in the forward line - both like a contested mark and (unlike Tippett - sorry, Kurt!) are excellent kicks for goal. Talia models himself on Nick Riewoldt (although he is a little taller than him); next year it would be nice to see how Riewoldt-like he can be.

There is another lad who could be tried up forward, too. Phil Davis (195 cm) has shown this year that he has the poise to play a handy backline role. But with Bock up and running, Rutten holding forwards like Barry Hall and Jack Riewoldt to mere handfuls of possessions, and Stevens taking tough marks on the last line, there is no longer a place for Davis in the backline. Craigy has said that, eventually, Davis will become a forward, and he is said to be a great shot for goal. Why not give him a try-out in Tippett’s place?

There is no shortage of potential forward-line talls. What the Crows lack is a small, fast, sharking forward. On Sunday against the Bulldogs the ball was often pumped long into the forward line, where, more often than not, it spilled to the ground. A Milne, a Didak or a Betts would have feasted heartily on such offal. Porplyzia has kicked nice sharked goals in the past, but his role is changing. Jaensch has potential as a crumbing forward, but he needs a full preseason to build his fitness.

Clearly, the Crows’ forward line is a work in progress. As Craigy said after the game, it is young; it is bound to have its ups and downs. My proposal to move Tippett to the ruck is unlikely to be popular - in the car heading home after the game, there were four votes against the idea and only one (me) in favour of it. Readers of this blog can air their opinions below.

So far only the Burgermeister, no stranger to crackpot theories (see http://www.afc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/4417/newsid/83408/default.aspx), has backed me … sort of.

“Put Davis at centre half forward. With his straight back he would be perfect as a launching pad for Taylor Walker’s speckies,” he says.

Thanks, Burgermeister. Now, get back in your cage until next year.

Maybe it would be foolhardy to rob the forward line of its biggest gun, but just imagine the firepower Tippett would add to the midfield. It is not a move you would contemplate unless you had a good alternative, but the Crows have several. Among all those youngsters now languishing in the SANFL or the rehab room, surely there is another genuine forward star waiting to emerge. He just needs to be given the chance, and this is a way to give it to him.

Sarrey now has a Facebook page - “Sarrey’s Blog” (http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Sarreys-Blog/103023909750934?ref=ts).