2009 Player Review - #1 Simon Buckley

[pantaloons 2,019]

Buckley's had four years on the list. That's a fair amount of time to gain an assessment on a midfielder. Assuming we delist three uncontracted players, it's going to be very tough for him to keep his spot on the list. Trade week may shuffle some things around and make life easier for him, but realistically, he needs three of Miller, Bartram, McNamara or Cheney to go ahead of him. Only Miller has been at the club for a longer period than Buckley of that group. His pace is the only thing that would save him in my opinion, as his kicking is unreliable and he's highly prone to brain explosions, two damning flaws in today's football.

[The Dr 51]

Give the kid a chance, Very early call. The kid has size and experience, can run and carry. IMO AT LEAST another year, Same goes for Belly.

You had me until the last four words....

[Tatu 416]

was impressed with how composed and confident, Buckley looked with the ball in '08'.

hopefully he stays, would like to see more.

Buckley could turn out to be a great footballer, given time.

[e25 5]

Its a shame cos he has potential, but we have to do these things to move forward.

Decisions like this are only going to become harder in the ensuing years when we run out of old boys like Robbo, Whelan and Wheatley to send to the glue factory, and we have to trim guys that are only 24 but are 'too old'...

[Jock Strap 197]

Very simple ... we must keep him. He's a young bloke with a bucket load of potential, and already a proven performer. Remember 2008 - "Averaged 21 disposals and six marks a game in 14 appearances and had 31 touches in Melbourne’s round 20 victory over West Coast and 32 the following week against Port Adelaide" ... will only get better

[Rogue 585]

if it came down to valenti (solid, reproducable, workmanlike but not nessecarily a match winner) versus buckley (unproven, great pace and potential to be damaging) for one position on the list, who would you choose?

Valenti's a better player but I'm not sure how much improvement is left. He seems like a guy who would be getting the most out of himself and I don't think he's quite there.

I don't think Buckley as good and he may well be fatally flawed for AFL level but he has the potential to be a better player. Since I can't see Valenti as part of an elite AFL midfield I'd take Buckley.

Assuming we delist three uncontracted players, it's going to be very tough for him to keep his spot on the list. Trade week may shuffle some things around and make life easier for him, but realistically, he needs three of Miller, Bartram, McNamara or Cheney to go ahead of him.

I agree.

It'll be interesting to see if we do delist three more though. Assuming we keep one pick for the PSD, is pick 50 in a shallow draft pool (due to the changed age rules) worth more than a guy like Buckley or McNamara?

I hope not. A quick skim of our list reveals the following players that I think will not help us win a flag:

Of the listed players you've mentioned, only Bartram and Miller are uncontracted. It seems likely we'll cut three more, so if not Buckley, who else are you getting rid of?

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

I'd take Valenti and Buckley.

If possible (excluding current contract situations) I'd have them both ahead of Miller, Bartram, Newton, Bail, Bell, Cheney* and McNamara*.

*Not writing these players off just yet, but I'd prefer Buckley and Valenti.

[torpedo 33]

If he could not run fast would people still rate him?

I think he'll go. He's had a fair go, he went pick 50 something and got 4 years on the list. We can't keep them all.

[beelzebub 23,390]

Youd kind of like to give this guy some more time and another preseason.. It will just depend. His futures lays in what transpires in trade week leading to the draft.

bloody hell..toss a coin !!

[jacey 333]

We can't keep them all.

We need to put games into the right players next year which is why this year was so important for Bucks.

He had to develop this year while we still experimented but next year, with even more kids pressing, Bucks might be left out when selecting the right kids to put games into. These kids need to play together a lot so they can build combinations and trust amongst themselves.

SB got some good attributes but with dud 2010 contracts left over, there might not be enough room.

[deanox 10,045]

@ deanox: Buckley. I don't think Valenti is quite up to it IMHO.

Since I can't see Valenti as part of an elite AFL midfield I'd take Buckley.

I'd take Valenti and Buckley.

so out of three responses i got 2 for each player. it is interesting, because it wouldnt surprise me if it came down to one of these two for a spot next year.

If possible (excluding current contract situations) I'd have them both ahead of Miller, Bartram, Newton, Bail, Bell, Cheney* and McNamara*.

interesting because mcnamara and bartram both got a good wrap in the 'end of season report' which sounded like they would be kept around... and cheney and mcnamara's next year is discussed.

newton and miller both had positive spins but nothing that suggested them as walk ups next year (although newton is contracted), bail cant go (first year) and bell is definetly looking shaky...

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

interesting because mcnamara and bartram both got a good wrap in the 'end of season report' which sounded like they would be kept around... and cheney and mcnamara's next year is discussed.

newton and miller both had positive spins but nothing that suggested them as walk ups next year (although newton is contracted), bail cant go (first year) and bell is definetly looking shaky...

I dont think you can draw much from those Coaches reports as everyone in a wooden spoon side got a good wrap. Too much sugar and treacle for the masses.

[Arthur Dent 2]

I rate Buckley and always have.

The way he moves and breaks lines in Judd-like.

His long kicking is very good and still a very inexperienced footballer. Well worth keeping.

Absolutely agree. I had very high hopes for Bucks this year - had him in my supercoach team

I love how he tries to break the line. Was getting caught a bit last year, but I could see where he was headed. Not far from being a cracking footballer I reckon. Watch this space - I reckon he will be very important for us over the next few years.

[Bucks-Fan 1]

He has so much potential, more so then his fellow 'eligible' team mates.

Delisting is a big problem, fair enough. He has a good chance of leaving

He should have another year, but if he has injuries. He's injury prone and would unfortunatly, have be to be removed.

But this fella's a gun and a few more games he would be very handy to have in the side.

[Deeoldfart 8,105]

In my mind this season was going to be a 'make or break' year for Bucks, and unfortunately he couldn't get onto the park, so that must leave him vulnerable. It can be a very cruel game.

[Adzman 2,154]

How many players can we possibly cut in one off-season?

Bucks gets one more year IMO. The game is all about harnessing pace these days, and he has pace to burn!

[Demon trucker 1,800]

He is actually not a bad kick at all. His biggest problem can be cured with experience. He tends to play too 'fast' and runs himself into trouble and rushes his disposal as a result. Once he learns that he has the pace to break away and then steady he will become a better player and will find a role in the senior side.

I also think that players of his size, speed and power do not grow on trees and he should be persisted with.

Simon has too big problems because he is fast,he has a arrogance of speed, he thinks that he is as fast as bolt,and that know one can catch him,so every time he gets the ball he runs with it the opp know this, so when every he gets the ball they just tackle him because they know he is going to run with it before he kicks it, he needs to mix it up a bit sometimes run with some time pass it on. his second biggest problem is that he is afraid of a contest, he will let the opp player get it and he also is afraid to tackle, so unlike col, he never get a hard ball get and he does not tackle, if he does not improve these two area soon, then he needs to go.