1. Simon Buckley [189cm 87kg 18.04.87 - 20 games (14 in 2008), 3 goals (2 0n 2008)] - has pace and flair, runs through the lines, is excitable and exciting and he has a long penetrating kick.

He has his flaws such as the odd error in the choices he makes and his disposal which is a bit iffy at times but if there's plenty of room for improvement and if he works on these areas he will be an asset for the club for many years to come.

Up there with Garland and Warnock as most improved.

As a wingman, he is value. I can't say enough about the way he plays his footy - fearless and bold.

We would be better off if more played like this bloke.

One of the very few shining lights for the Dees in 2008.

A little less speed and a little more football smarts would be fantastic.

Needs to learn to control his kicking.

A little less speed and a little more football smarts would be fantastic.

Needs to learn to control his kicking.

Your joking right.

I would rather see Buckley breaking the lines with his blistering pace and make a few skill errors than not. Football smarts will come naturally, its just a matter of Buckley maturing on the football field.

Your joking right.

I would rather see Buckley breaking the lines with his blistering pace and make a few skill errors than not. Football smarts will come naturally, its just a matter of Buckley maturing on the football field.

No I'm not joking.

Buckley breaking the lines is great, but Buckley running into trouble is not.

I understand that he's a kid and he is still developing, but his disposal and reading of the play is something that he needs to work on right now so that it doesn't become an issue in the future (and the same goes for many of our players).

Pace is great, but it's only one small element in becoming an elite midfielder which I would dearly love for him to become.

By the way, football smarts is IMO the only thing you can't teach a player. Either you have it, or you don't.

I like Buckley I like his run off half back. He makes mistakes but at least he makes them trying to create something not like the rest of them who want to make mistakes by going ring a ring a rosie. He could go either way but I'm confident that he will continue to be a permanent member of the team.

I like Buckley I like his run off half back. He makes mistakes but at least he makes them trying to create something not like the rest of them who want to make mistakes by going ring a ring a rosie. He could go either way but I'm confident that he will continue to be a permanent member of the team.

I agree bjgc!!

he does make a few mistakes but at least he takes the game on

He has very good run, but the way he used the footy in the first 12 rounds or so was horrid.

I think he can be taught to lower his eyes, look for different types of options (hopefully through having options upfield as well) and this started to show towards the end of the year as he used more of a chip kick rather than a "i'm sprinting 65 metres to kick the ball to an opposition"

It will just be interesting to see how quickly this transition can take place. He seemed to change his game to be more defensive reasonably quickly, hopefully he can learn how to use the ball and when to use his run.

Shining light though IMO

One of the players i actually think just might become very good

With a good pre season and game time he could start doing some damage

Up there with Garland and Warnock as most improved.

As a wingman, he is value. I can't say enough about the way he plays his footy - fearless and bold.

We would be better off if more played like this bloke.

Agree with everything rpfc, and off the wing , or in the middle, he will definitely fire up our forward line with either running goals, or lace out to presentees.

Oh, if we could get or develop more like him!

We've been slower than cement setting through the centre.

At least he's got pace and better judgement will follow from experience.

Every time I see him he looks like a fast Lions or Port player. With a bit of flair.

Something we haven't had for a while.

He needs to look up at the trouble he is running into. He often calls for handballs that run him into trouble. However, I always prefer the player that wants the ball in his hands, there is plenty for him to learn, but plenty of potential. Take the game on and break the thick defensive lines teams put up in today's footy.

Has weapons! Pace, long kick and strong upper body. Already one of our best running options. Room for improvement, has grown in confidence, seems to know he belongs.

I still get bile rise up in my throat when I say go bucks.

So is there going to be a thread for each player to review their season? I like it.

As for Buckley, someone has got to tell him he's not Superman. Once he learns that he can't beat everyone, then I think we'll begin to see him making some smarter decisions.

So is there going to be a thread for each player to review their season? I like it.

As for Buckley, someone has got to tell him he's not Superman. Once he learns that he can't beat everyone YET, then I think we'll begin to see him making some smarter decisions.

i fixed your obvious error.

Like most here I love his run, but I think the talent he has that is easy to overlook is his ability to read the play.

Often he puts himself in the right place at the fall of the ball, to clear and run.

Really looking forward to his development.

i fixed your obvious error.

Thanks mate.

i think weapon is the best way to describe simon...

if we use him properly, will become a star ( has a bit of aboriginal dash with the way he plays), but we need to learn to control the power we hold :D

improve the skills, and will become our "go-to" man off half back, like peter burgoyne or luke hodge

Not bad for pick 53 in the 2005 draft.....lots to work with

he could become it all. or he could become another spud.

i like what he has. he has the 'weapons' as it has been so eloquently put, however, if he doesnt improve on his skill execution and on his decision making (ie when to run and when to give off) he will just be another player who continues to turn the ball over ala daniel ward, who also had dash and daring (but had the benefit of red hair).

things like kicking a goal on the run from 50 need to become a natural ability. and he needs to hit targets when going forward. otherwise he may as well kick it backwards to the opposition, because there is no way he is going to catch up with his man in defence when he turns it over.

he also needs to work hard on running the other way, covering his opponents. and he needs to be smarter at this. i still shake my head when i think of him running with his man but running on the other side of the marking contest to his opponent, allowing him to get the easy give of and deliver it forward. he should have stuck on him, silly football mistake, and hopefully he learns.

By the way, football smarts is IMO the only thing you can't teach a player. Either you have it, or you don't.

Natural ability goes along way. Footy smarts can be improved. And you can be taught. It's up to the player to implement it into his game and improve. Brad Miller is a prime example with his improvement this year in some of his decision making with the ball.

I wish we had more players with pace that were prepared to take the game on and kick the ball 50 metres into our forward line.

More power to him for trying to break the pattern of what has otherwise been boring predictable football. If he is doing this now he is going to be a beauty in a few years when he gets more experience and we have better players supporting him.

What I find interesting is how ordinary he looked in his first few Sandy appearances. How wrong it would have been to write him off then!(as I heard some do). Yet now I think we can realistically hope he can become a top AFL player.

The faults in his play that are described above will surely diminish as he gains experience.

I reckon he's a really bright shining light in an otherwise dismal season. Think how good he'd look if surrounded by top players playing with confidence! I hope this is what lies in the future.

Great football honours could await this young man in the future, IMO.