Simon Buckley

[Dannyz 2,335]

Some may not agree, but I think he holds the key to the football we'll be playing in 2-3 years time.

Apart from the very unproven Blease, it would seem we have no one with the ability to break the lines when linking defence to attack. I love the way Bucks does this and I think he will be given the license to run by DB into next season. If he can get his delivery on the run right, then the likes of Watts, Jurrah, Petterd will no doubt love the sight of Buck's breaking away.

[#MYHEARTBEATSTRUE 27]

That's if he doesn't get delisted.....

[Dannyz 2,335]

That's if he doesn't get delisted.....

Good joke.

[BAMF 3,787]

He is out of contract and still has question marks all over him. A lot of people on here think he might be delisted.

I however, am a fan of his. Really disapointed that he didnt manage to get on the park this season. He has bulked up a lot!

He will be a massive bonus if he comes good.

[Guest sticksmorton]

Can't hit a target, to predictable kicks long and gets cut off

good VFL player thats it...

[Doggo 32]

I think he's got plenty to offer, provided his osteitis pubis hasn't affected his pace or depth of kicking. Judging by his game on the weekend, those two things look to be fine. His decision-making on the other hand... not so good. But it was his first game back for a while, he'll have been rusty so i'm willing to cut him some slack.

I don't think he'll get delisted, as others have already alluded to, he has something we're desperately lacking: PACE... and he's got it in droves. His ability to run and carry and break the lines is only rivalled at the club by Aaron Davey. Until we draft some more speedsters in Scully & co, or the likes of Blease, Bennell and Strauss start really stamping themselves on the game, he'll stay. Provided he can stay fit, he's the only player on our list with that speed, who has a body ready to make an impact at AFL level. He really did bulk up heaps in the pre-season, sp i wonder what effect that had on his OP? Guys like Moloney and Sylvia, both heavily built, have spoken in the past about the importance of lightening their workload, in particular weight training, in managing their OP. I suspect Simon may be doing the same now.

Anyway, i hope he gets a game for MFC in before the end of the season.

[Mousey 47]

Simon Buckley was one positive for myn in 2008.

2009 has been a horrible year for him.

Sure he may be out of contract but would be very disappointed if we delist him.

I could think of 6 people ahead of him to delist when we have to.

I agree with OP.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

I could think of 6 people ahead of him to delist when we have to.

Who are they?

Buckley is in the mix and out of contract.

[AzzKikA 2,371]

I love the way Buckets takes the game on. He is 22, just coming into his prime, now should be the time he irons the kinks out and starts to be more effective, with his pace and breakaway skill do you really want to see him go over the likes of others? Who would others keep over him that has his traits?

[Roost It 1,434]

Who are they?

Buckley is in the mix and out of contract.

That's easy.

Robertson

McDonald

Bell

Wheatley

Johnson

Buck.....I mean Dun.....no ummm.....Whelan, yeh Whelan.

Phew!

As a gardner would say, after 3 fruitless seasons there's not as much dead wood to cut!

Edited July 28, 2009 by Roost It

[Rogue 585]

Buckley's been Ward-like so far - a quick running back that doesn't use the ball well enough. Should we keep him?

If you think he'll become a good user of the ball then he might be worth keeping for his pace, but you've also got to take into account the plethora of other guys who want a running defender role.

If you think that his disposal issues are terminal then he should be moved on at the end of the year.

That's easy.

Robertson

McDonald

Bell

Wheatley

Johnson

Buck.....I mean Dun.....no ummm.....Whelan, yeh Whelan.

Phew!

I don't think PJ comes out of contract at the end of this year. Back to the drawing board

[JACKATTACK 17]

I don't think PJ comes out of contract at the end of this year. Back to the drawing board

I don't think Bell is either.

Whatever the contract situation PJ should stay, Bell should go.

[Carn dees 108]

Love how buckley plays, id be keeping him.

[jackie_moon 0]

phew.

here i was all fired up to defend the bugger but you've all jumped in for me.

kid was a shining light in 2008. out injured all season, is just getting back fom injury and people call for head. ridiculous.

I love his run. Judd would've struggled to hit targets running out of our backline last year with no one up the ground or moving and an opposition team smashing us.

[Deano74 156]

If he stays fit, and has a big pre-season, I expect him to dominate next year, Im a fan and is standing by him.

[Jumping Jack Clennett 1,625]

"kid was a shining light in 2008. out injured all season, is just getting back fom injury and people call for head. ridiculous".

Couldn't agree more, Jackie M. I'm sure he has something really special.

But Rhino's right, he's in the mix to be de-listed, since the footy dept. does not have the same high opinion that we do of him, his contract's finishing, and the improvement of McKenzie and McNamara means that someone else has to go.

It would be so unfair to get rid of him after his promising '08, when he's been a victim of over-training(as I think O.P. is) and unable to consolidate his improvement this year.

I take some heart that he was named in the full squad for the firsts last week(before the paring). Perhaps(I hope) ,I'm wrong about the footy dept.

I thought his effort for Casey on Sat. was very encouraging.

I have so much admiration for his creative, line-breaking play ,that I almost hope he's NOT promoted in case he makes us win!

The boy has real talent. I'm amazed that not everyone can see it.

[rpfc 27,590]

That's if he doesn't get delisted.....

Didn't you want to delist Petterd a few weeks ago?

Buckley definitely stays then.

[Doggo 32]

Buckley's been Ward-like so far - a quick running back that doesn't use the ball well enough. Should we keep him?

If you think he'll become a good user of the ball then he might be worth keeping for his pace, but you've also got to take into account the plethora of other guys who want a running defender role.

I don't see Buckley competing for a running defender role at all. With his added bulk and strength, he is being groomed as an inside midfielder with pace to be able to break away from stoppages, something we're deserately lacking. I thought the best footy he played last year was out of the middle and on the wing. His lack of accountability off half back was exposed too often, as he ran hard to create running options going forward, but didn't run as hard the other way.

At this stage of their careers, Grimes, Bennell, Cheney and Strauss are the likely rebounding defenders, who could likely go into the midfield in a couple of years. Bucks has done his time back there and, once 100% fit, should be ready to go into the guts.

Another suggestion could be using him in a run-with role, because unlike Bartram or Dunn, who have been our tagging options in recent times and IMO are too negative when playing that role, Buckley actually knows how to find his own footy and could cause some headaches for his opponent when we go forward. It will help build his defensive side, plus, he has the pace to run with speedsters like Judd, Ablett, Montagna, Lovett, Kerr etc.

[#MYHEARTBEATSTRUE 27]

Didn't you want to delist Petterd a few weeks ago?

Buckley definitely stays then.

Mate, yes i did say that Petterd should be delisted, a Very silly thing to say, so I'll cop that on the chin,

as for this post, did i say that i categorically want him delisted? No.....

Edited July 28, 2009 by WattsHappening?

[Rogue 585]

I don't see Buckley competing for a running defender role at all. With his added bulk and strength, he is being groomed as an inside midfielder

Maybe he is, but I haven't seen him play there. He's generally played as the Wheatley-style linkman.

[Kit Walker 207]

Maybe he is, but I haven't seen him play there. He's generally played as the Wheatley-style linkman.

Wasn't he played at full back in a pre-season match this year against Brisbane?

Unfortunately, I think his disposal and decision making issues are terminal. That said, he's probably somewhere between 4 and 7 on the list of players to be delisted so it's by no means a certainty.

[torpedo 33]

There is no way way Buckley has the foot skills to play as a linkman, you need elite kicking for that whereas his has been absolutely disgraceful. He seems to have no defensive side to his game either. If he is going to make it anywhere it has to be as a midfielder, I highly doubt it though.

Sadly for Bucks I think he is one of those types lots of clubs drafted a few years ago that have athletic attributes but cannot actually play football and because of this will end up on the scrap heap.

Wasn't he a pick in the 50s or something? So no great loss really.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Maybe he is, but I haven't seen him play there. He's generally played as the Wheatley-style linkman.

Most of the games I've seen Buckley play have been on the wing.

Buckley's sometimes bad disposal is overplayed here as his long kicking is generally very good. The way he moves, takes on the game, creates space and opportunities with his genuine pace makes him a very valuable player and must be kept.

[Jumping Jack Clennett 1,625]

quote name='Clint Bizkit'

"makes him a very valuable player and must be kept."

I have a really high opinion of Buckley, but I sometimes begin to have my doubts when I see so many negative comments.

I'm so glad that you have seen his qualities , too, Clint, since I've always admired your analysis of the game on this forum.

It's not obvious how fast he is, since he's quite chunkily built. He has a strong body, but doesn't hit the opposition hard. He uses his strength to break tackles and then his pace to break away. He's quite tall, but not strong overhead.

I'm impressed by his creativity. He picks good options with his handballs. He can kick long,though accuracy isn't his forte.

If he was playing for Collingwood now, we'd be looking at him, thinking......"why can't we find players like that?".

Mr. Harrington....you've had no chance to see Simon in your time at our club. PLEASE don't delist him. The boy has real potential.

Edited July 29, 2009 by JUMPING JACK CLENNETT

[Guest Rojik of the Arctic]

Mad to even think about booting the kid. Can't hit targets? Apart from Davey. Jurrah and Grimes who else in the team can? Every other player kicks it 3 feet over or ten feet in front of the target. At least Buckley has the balls and skill to take on the other team and if he turns it over it will be 50 meters down the field rather than 10 meters sideways. I think he will be a very good 15th chosen in the Demons finals team of 2011.