Matthew Whelan has been our best backman this decade, I wouldn't call him creative.

He has played within his limits to great effect, never really kicking the ball further than 30 metres, and when he gets into the handball situation he has trained himself how to do it properly, he will handball so the other player can move into and through the space provided.

Daniel Bell needn't be creative, he just has to make his disposal work for his team mates. I personally feel his awareness is his biggest issue. I'm not a coach so i'm not sure if it's something you can work on but i'm sure there'd be a way

Bell had a shocking start to the season, and that momentum seems to have carried through to many supporters who can't be bothered changing their tact.

I think this is a fair call.

Put it down to cognitive dissonance

I personally feel his awareness is his biggest issue.

Indeed. Peripheral vision is at the low end of the spectrum for Bell. Been mentioned plenty of times, as recently as yesterday evening by the Ox.

Alot of people on here say that Cam Bruce works hard, I have walked away from most games this year thinking Did he even get a touch, but apon reading these forums I see he had got over 20 possies... For such a senior player he makes no impact on a game at all. Channel 10 had a graffic on friday night about effective metres gained by a player, Id love to see this for Bruce!

Alot of people on here say that Cam Bruce works hard, I have walked away from most games this year thinking Did he even get a touch, but apon reading these forums I see he had got over 20 possies... For such a senior player he makes no impact on a game at all. Channel 10 had a graffic on friday night about effective metres gained by a player, Id love to see this for Bruce!

What does DEE32 represent? Bruce?

Bartram - nothing to commend

Bell - pretended to try

Bruce - showed little interest

Buckley - took opposition on

Carroll - tried but failed

Frawley - little to enthuse

Garland - stood up manfully

Green - needs the holiday

Grimes - a forgettable debut

Holland - a forgettable farewell

Jones - slow to act

McDonald - a miserable game

Maric - little boy lost

Miller - big boy lost

Morton - failed to impress

Petterd - needn't have played

Sylvia - terrific until injured

Warnock - continued to try

Wheatley - lacked any resolve

Whelan - had no influence

White - a lazy game

Yze - prolific but ineffective

Not sure I agree with Whelan he plays hard every game and I wish he would teach the other boys on how to lay a hard tackle that sticks. Not sure if anyone saw but late into the 3rd quater seemed to of hurt his shoulder.

Alot of people on here say that Cam Bruce works hard, I have walked away from most games this year thinking Did he even get a touch, but apon reading these forums I see he had got over 20 possies... For such a senior player he makes no impact on a game at all. Channel 10 had a graffic on friday night about effective metres gained by a player, Id love to see this for Bruce!

You are obviously missing the creative nature of his game. Slick handballs out of a pack which when fumbled by a slower thinking team mate are then unfairly classified as 'ineffective'. He averages 24 possessions a game which is exactly 24 more than you or I could manage. Watch how he goes in the MFC Best and Fairest, he'll be giving it a shake.

A handball like that is listed as effective Bobby.

Indeed, it's a good reason to largely ignore the "effective" stat, or at least not to take it at face value. Even a kick to a team mate that doesn't make the distance but doesn't get turned over is still asigned as being "effective".

Bruce knows how to the footy, better than 90% of the competition, it's what he does with it that frustrates me. And if he used "slick" handballs, that'd go a long way to aleviating the frustration.

Slick handballs out of a pack which when fumbled by a slower thinking team mate are then unfairly classified as 'ineffective'.

Good one bobby. Always good for a laugh you are.

You are obviously missing the creative nature of his game. Slick handballs out of a pack which when fumbled by a slower thinking team mate are then unfairly classified as 'ineffective'. He averages 24 possessions a game which is exactly 24 more than you or I could manage. Watch how he goes in the MFC Best and Fairest, he'll be giving it a shake.

slcik handballs are what greg williams gave out of a pack. cameron bruce comes from the jeff white school of handball-to-a-stationary-player-about-to-get- tackled or sometimes puts his own slant on it: run-in-a-circle-until-i-nearly-get-caught-and-then-handball-back-to-a-player-under-pressure.

his disposal is poor and lets himself down. i think he is probably struggling a little with the new game plan, and exactly what he has to do, like most of the older players.

You have got to be kidding!! "Bailey doesnt give a rats"???

If he doesnt - why the hell would he be there???

We're officially screwed. Obviously Bailey doesn't give a rats about what it actually takes to win a game of football.

A handball like that is listed as effective Bobby.

Indeed, it's a good reason to largely ignore the "effective" stat, or at least not to take it at face value. Even a kick to a team mate that doesn't make the distance but doesn't get turned over is still asigned as being "effective".

Bruce knows how to the footy, better than 90% of the competition, it's what he does with it that frustrates me. And if he used "slick" handballs, that'd go a long way to aleviating the frustration.

It was a 'slick' handball that gave your man Matty an easy goal. Watch the game closely on TV and you will be surprised. You miss a lot when you are at the game and, living in Perth I have to rely heavily on TV. My observations therefore are based on the close up shots of all the action.

Good one bobby. Always good for a laugh you are.

Strange sense of humour you have. If you are suggesting I'm a clown I say it 'takes one to know one'. Read my comments above to see that I am NOT joking.

Strange sense of humour you have. If you are suggesting I'm a clown I say it 'takes one to know one'. Read my comments above to see that I am NOT joking.

You can talk about Bruce's endurance, his ability to find the ball and that would be fine. But slick handpasses? I don't hate Bruce or anything, but his handpassing has been one of the worst parts of his game this year.

Here's a stat: -

93% of Cam Bruce's handballs are allegedly = "Hospital handpasses" - that often result in turnovers or put his teammates in serious risk of injury.

He's not the only culprit.

You can talk about Bruce's endurance, his ability to find the ball and that would be fine. But slick handpasses? I don't hate Bruce or anything, but his handpassing has been one of the worst parts of his game this year.

I concur.. ..actually been saying this for years...both that "stats" are dubious at best and secondly that if footy was tag, and youre near Bruce..and he offloads. then YOURE IT !! lol

Bruces passing by foot actually seems to have improved this year. Not a world shattering achievement in that he nearly kicks at AFL level, not quite, but nearly..

His handpasing ?? For any footballer his handpassing is weak, ineffectual and borderline dangerous for the recipient. For a supossed elite player its diabolical !!

All that effort.. for such lousy results

Here's a stat: -

93% of Cam Bruce's handballs are allegedly = "Hospital handpasses" - that often result in turnovers or put his teammates in serious risk of injury.

He's not the only culprit.

Where did you dig up that UNLIKELY stat? More information please.

I concur.. ..actually been saying this for years...both that "stats" are dubious at best and secondly that if footy was tag, and youre near Bruce..and he offloads. then YOURE IT !! lol

Bruces passing by foot actually seems to have improved this year. Not a world shattering achievement in that he nearly kicks at AFL level, not quite, but nearly..

His handpasing ?? For any footballer his handpassing is weak, ineffectual and borderline dangerous for the recipient. For a supossed elite player its diabolical !!

All that effort.. for such lousy results

This is pure rubbish or my TV is not showing the true picture. Ever since you 'experts' started criticising his handballing months ago

I have focussed all my attention on this feature of his play. In my view at least 7 out of 10 handballs find their mark so I can't believe the hype you guys are creating. It would also be good if some of our boys could move and call for the ball and therefore not be stationary targets for the ball carrier.

I actually posted these comments on Joeboys 3 word analysis after the Dockers away game, and got labelled a "Bruce Hater" by Bobby McKenzie.

"Bruce - His Kicking > His Handballing"

"I am not a Bruce hater, i was just trying to make the point that much has been written about Bruces poor kicking(which IMO hasn't been too bad this season), however his handballing has been appalling. His technique doesn't look right to me, he seems unable to get the necessary purchase on the ball to delivery it with precsion and crispness to moving targets."

I am glad i am not the only one to have picked up on how bad he handballs.

They are just so weak. If he is our No.1 ball magnet in a run and carry game plan, and can't deliver effective handballs. He can actually hinder, rather than help us.

Stef Martin has only been playing for a few short years, but delivers beautiful handballs under pressure, and to people on the move. Why can't Bruce?

You can talk about Bruce's endurance, his ability to find the ball and that would be fine. But slick handpasses? I don't hate Bruce or anything, but his handpassing has been one of the worst parts of his game this year.

So you are saying that if Bruce features strongly in our best and fairest voting ( and many think he will), then the voters ( All former players who should know a bit about footy) have got it all wrong?

I actually posted these comments on Joeboys 3 word analysis after the Dockers away game, and got labelled a "Bruce Hater" by Bobby McKenzie.

"Bruce - His Kicking > His Handballing"

"I am not a Bruce hater, i was just trying to make the point that much has been written about Bruces poor kicking(which IMO hasn't been too bad this season), however his handballing has been appalling. His technique doesn't look right to me, he seems unable to get the necessary purchase on the ball to delivery it with precsion and crispness to moving targets."

I am glad i am not the only one to have picked up on how bad he handballs.

They are just so weak. If he is our No.1 ball magnet in a run and carry game plan, and can't deliver effective handballs. He can actually hinder, rather than help us.

Stef Martin has only been playing for a few short years, but delivers beautiful handballs under pressure, and to people on the move. Why can't Bruce?

Don't know, maybe he should ask you since you are an 'expert'.

Don't know, maybe he should ask you since you are an 'expert'.

Bobby, i presume you watch the better teams play and they way the move the ball by hand with long sweeping handballs to moving targets. Now you can't seriously tell me that Bruce does this well can you?

Now i know he is not alone with this skill defeciency, but he is a senior player and leader of our club and gets the ball more than anyone on our team and should be able to execute this skill better.

And Cam Bruce will poll well in our B & F, by virtue of the fact he is the only player on our list to play all 22 games this season.

Bobby, i presume you watch the better teams play and they way the move the ball by hand with long sweeping handballs to moving targets. Now you can't seriously tell me that Bruce does this well can you?

Now i know he is not alone with this skill defeciency, but he is a senior player and leader of our club and gets the ball more than anyone on our team and should be able to execute this skill better.

And Cam Bruce will poll well in our B & F, by virtue of the fact he is the only player on our list to play all 22 games this season.

Jerry, I really can't agree that his handballing is as bad as you say it is. I would love to be sitting next to you during a Melb game and be able to ask 'What was wrong with that one?" A bit difficult though since I'm in Perth.

I reiterate that almost all my viewing of the Demons is on TV and I believe this gives one the best view of a game. I guess we can agree to disagree. Cheers.

So you are saying that if Bruce features strongly in our best and fairest voting ( and many think he will), then the voters ( All former players who should know a bit about footy) have got it all wrong?

If they are rating him purely on his handpassing, then yes.