2017 Player Reviews: # 32 Tomas Bugg

[Deemania since 56 6,132]

I'd play him, often. Like his endeavour and second efforts. However, I am not the coach. He seems capable of kicking more accurately at times; certainly, he plays off to teammates very well. Importantly, he gets the ball. Just an opinion, not a dictate from the Almighty. 

[Lord Byron 32]

The sting went out of our season immediately after that punch. Tomas brings an edge to the group. That's why he will be in our 22 at the start of 2018.

But now they will come after him, harder and in numbers. It will be interesting to see what he is really made of.

[Deemania since 56 6,132]

Really interesting points and both make a good deal of sense, Lord Byron. C'mon Bugsy! He creates interesting spaces and delayed reactions in his opponents when in touch. With those kicking improvements already mentioned on this site, both in the field and in set shots, he may well be one of our power play instigators. Wouldn't it be exciting?

[Dr. Gonzo 22,412]

I'd have him in our best team. While he isn't the smoothest operator going around he does have a major thing in his favour, guts and determination. That can get a player a long way, and he'd seemed to get over his goalkicking yips before being rubbed out for the hit on Mills. He did dob a crucial goal against the Crows at Adelaide Oval against the run of play to keep us in it when the Crows got out to a 4-5 goal lead remember.

Edited January 9, 2018 by Dr. Gonzo

[Dee Zephyr 17,425]

7 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

I'd have him in our best team. While he isn't the smoothest operator going around he does have a major thing in his favour, guts and determination. That can get a player a long way, and he'd seemed to get over his goalkicking yips before being rubbed out for the hit on Mills. He did dob a crucial goal against the Crows at Adelaide Oval against the run of play to keep us in it when the Crows got out to a 4-5 goal lead remember.

Funny you mention the Crows game, I watched the highlights of that game today  and that was a huge goal he kicked from the pocket in the second quarter. Bobbed up for another also. He has an ability to find space, has a good leap and his defensive efforts are pretty good.

Someone posted a pic of their TV after the QB clash pointing out a 50 metre chase by Bugg that thwarted a Pies attack at a crucial stage in the last. 

[Sir Why You Little 34,432]

Best 22 no doubt. 

The side lost a lot of its intensity once Tomas was out of the side

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,579]

3 hours ago, Lord Byron said:

The sting went out of our season immediately after that punch. Tomas brings an edge to the group. That's why he will be in our 22 at the start of 2018.

But now they will come after him, harder and in numbers. It will be interesting to see what he is really made of.

 

1 hour ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Best 22 no doubt. 

The side lost a lot of its intensity once Tomas was out of the side

Coincidence or one of several contributing factors I think mostly.  I think the wheels fell off our season last year when we lost Jonse, Watts, Viney, Tyson (did we also loose Salem?) and Bugg in consecutive weeks, whilst still down our AA ruckman and key forward.  Three six day breaks in a row took it's toll too I recon.

Asides from that, I generally agree and I like what Buggy brings to the side.  Listening to Todd Viney talk on our late 80s/90s side, he put it's success down to having a mix of good footballers and 'junk yard dogs' and Bugg fits somewhere in between this, but probably closer to the second group.

Calls on his kicking are also a bit off IMHO.  He definitely had the yips in a few games last year (his poor goal kicking was probably one of the things that lost us the first game against North), but over the journey, he has an approximately 50:50 goal kicking record which is probably around the league average mark.  In 2016, he kicked 7 goals 2 and on that basis I think he has the potential to be a good shot for goal - most of it is probably in his head.  His 2016 was also better statistically all round than his 2017, but again it's a bit hard to know what that measure actually means in terms of actual contribution to the team on a number of levels.  On the one hand he had more possessons, tackles and played more games 2016 (though were he not suspended he may have come close on the games column in 2017), but on the other hand I think we were a better team in 2017 than 2016, which would make it harder to get games and win possessions.  Raw stats don't always tell the whole story on effectiveness and contribution to the team either, but my recollection is that he probably did make more of an impact on the team for much of 2016 than 2017.

Overall, I'd say his hardness and compeditiveness are a real asset and the guy can play footy.  Some have written him off as just a depth player, but I don't think that should be underrated.  Sides rarely are able play their absolute best 22, so how deep they bat can make a few games a year difference which is either making finals, or finishing top 4 and setting up your season.  Asides I actually think when he is in form, Bugg is better than just depth and can be a match winner.

Edited January 9, 2018 by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

[corowa 216]

1 hour ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Best 22 no doubt. 

The side lost a lot of its intensity once Tomas was out of the side

I watched Rodney Grinter hand out more than a few 'punishments' over several years. Whilst 'stupid' behaviour, we still loved him and appreciated the intense pressure he applied.

[biggestred 4,281]

He's on his way to earning some respect back - but if he wants to be truly respected again he has to earn it every time he plays by not punching anyone in the jaw.

Having said that he does appear genuinely remorseful and is obviously busting a gut to earn that respect back.

Fair play to the lad so far.

[old dee 22,848]

3 hours ago, Demon77 said:

Funny you mention the Crows game, I watched the highlights of that game today  and that was a huge goal he kicked from the pocket in the second quarter. Bobbed up for another also. He has an ability to find space, has a good leap and his defensive efforts are pretty good.

Someone posted a pic of their TV after the QB clash pointing out a 50 metre chase by Bugg that thwarted a Pies attack at a crucial stage in the last. 

Two swallows does not make a summer.

[old dee 22,848]

30 minutes ago, biggestred said:

He's on his way to earning some respect back - but if he wants to be truly respected again he has to earn it every time he plays by not punching anyone in the jaw.

Having said that he does appear genuinely remorseful and is obviously busting a gut to earn that respect back.

Fair play to the lad so far.

So he ran well for a couple of KM. That makes him a middle distance runner. A good AFL player is way more than that. Lets see what he produces in games

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,579]

35 minutes ago, old dee said:

So he ran well for a couple of KM. That makes him a middle distance runner. A good AFL player is way more than that. Lets see what he produces in games

I think it shows fare effort and dedication beyond just the talk that some might accuse him off.  Comming top of the squad is no mean feat either, though, he probably would have come second to T Mac any other year in the absence of ankle surgery.

 I agree that that the real measure will be in performances from March onwards, but by all reports, I don't think as supporters we can ask much more of Bugg than what he is presently doing.  Speaking of which would we prefer, from our players - Tom Bugg or Jack Watts work ethic this time of year?

[praha 10,270]

interesting in this thread.

during the season people called for him to be dumped because his goal kicking was killing us.

now he's best 22 despite barely playing in the secons half of the year.

[John Crow Batty 8,252]

No doubt Bugg despite his obvious playing deficiencies has some X factor influence on how the team approaches the game. Kind of like the opposite of the “0” factor from some of the leadership group namely the bald co-captain. 

Edited January 9, 2018 by america de cali

[dpositive 1,547]

8 hours ago, old dee said:

Two swallows does not make a summer.

And yet on punch makes a thug???

[Sir Why You Little 34,432]

10 hours ago, corowa said:

I watched Rodney Grinter hand out more than a few 'punishments' over several years. Whilst 'stupid' behaviour, we still loved him and appreciated the intense pressure he applied.

So did i. His place in the team was never questioned

[Deemania since 56 6,132]

10 hours ago, corowa said:

I watched Rodney Grinter hand out more than a few 'punishments' over several years. Whilst 'stupid' behaviour, we still loved him and appreciated the intense pressure he applied.

Grinter certainly applied himself and his consequences to the game outcomes. He was an enigma for the team and for all opponents. With great skills, mobility, excellent run and kicking 'to position' or up the ground, he redeemed himself for his aggressive style many times. But aggression was only a small part - it really was 'drive' and 'driven' was a mantra that Grinter exuded. Bugsy is a different player, a different athlete to Grinter but displays some characteristics of Grinter's drive and enthusiasm. This can do no harm to the team at all if the 'stupid' behaviours are controlled. There is no reason to suggest that these are not under control at this point. He trains hard and shows contrition for what occurred as a 'rush of blood' last season. We need him.

[640MD 2,794]

Not sure I can equate him with Grinter, but we played much better last year when he was on song!  If he can get his agresion at the ball back and kick straiter or more composed. May not be the AA champion but our opponents will crap themselves when the ball gets near him. 

My pick along with O Mac to improve and be a regular best 22

Go Dees

how long to go now to first game ?

[Dr. Gonzo 22,412]

7 hours ago, praha said:

interesting in this thread.

during the season people called for him to be dumped because his goal kicking was killing us.

now he's best 22 despite barely playing in the secons half of the year.

His goalkicking killed us in one or two games (the North one in particular?) But I think he started turning it around and he has shown he can hit the scoreboard.

Some were calling for him to be dropped but others argued it was worth persevering. A few comments doesn't make it universal.

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,579]

19 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

His goalkicking killed us in one or two games (the North one in particular?) But I think he started turning it around and he has shown he can hit the scoreboard.

Some were calling for him to be dropped but others argued it was worth persevering. A few comments doesn't make it universal.

In my recollection, team in general played like crap against North and we probably didn't really deserve to win.  But Bugg did have a number of fairly regulation shorts at goal which could have (and really should have) swung the game in our favor, which has stuck in my mind ever since (it still really gates with me that we lost to North twice last year, when they were crap for most of the year excpt pretty much against us).  And he certainly had the yips for a big part of last season.

But overall, I think he has the ability to reliably hit the scoreboard as demonstrated by his goal kicking in his first year with us in 2016, when he kicked 7 goals 2 and always looked sure and sound in front of goal.

[TeamPlayedFine39 8,154]

5 hours ago, dpositive said:

And yet on punch makes a thug???

It just shows that it s a lot easer to damage your reputation than it is to build it.

[Salems Lot 2,369]

Takes a good grab!

[Elegt 872]

On 09/10/2017 at 10:04 AM, Cranky Franky said:

If he wants to stay on our list he must improve his kicking.  Even 30m out on a 45 deg angle he cannot be relied on.

nothing's changed