LEADING FROM THE FRONT

[The O 39]

I don't like bagging players on here, but you've got to be kidding right? Rarely misses? How many games over the last two or three seasons have you seen? Rarely does he hit a target. Admittedly he hit two or three against Richmond, but he also turned it over horribly by foot at least twice (having just watched the replay again ten minutes ago). One on one defensively he is 50/50 too. The two things he does have is a bit of run and creativity, which in the modern game is essential off half back.

Agree with the above comment 100%. Bruce does create run and provide movement from the backline, however his disposal by foot has been deplorable during the last 3 weeks. From watching our games this year I reckon that I yell in frustration at least 3-4 times more at Bruce for his errors and failure to hit targets by foot, than any other MFC player.

Unfortunately for Bruce, I believe that with the game developing into your ability to hold/keep possession and hit your presenting targets by foot I can't see Bruce fitting into our best 22 from 2011 onwards. Whilst it may be harsh, I see players such as Morton, Strauss, Bennell, McNamara and Cheney preventing Bruce getting a regular game during next year.

Edited April 23, 2010 by The O

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

I say that's one possibly exceptional case. You still can't assert that it's a strong possibility to happen every week.

Arguing with you is a bit like banging my head against a brick wall, only less productive, and this is a fairly trivial topic anyway, so I won't bother responding to your other post.

nice conceited way of admitting you are wrong. Maybe try not being such a know-all next time someone suggests there might be a late change

will be pretty funny if Martin plays too

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

I say that's one possibly exceptional case. You still can't assert that it's a strong possibility to happen every week.

Agree.

And to the think that an AFL team coaching panel would be thrown off course by the inclusion of someone off the mergency list beggars belief.

BTW, there was comment that Spencer was not right leading up to the Pies game.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

nice conceited way of admitting you are wrong. Maybe try not being such a know-all next time someone suggests there might be a late change

will be pretty funny if Martin plays too

A hollow victory at best that pleasures the trivial.

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

Agree.

And to the think that an AFL team coaching panel would be thrown off course by the inclusion of someone off the mergency list beggars belief.

BTW, there was comment that Spencer was not right leading up to the Pies game.

oh reall?y well that would prove my point exactly in that they named him in the 22 knowing he would be a late withdrawl, but since you two happen to know everything I guess you were right to mock anybody that suggests it might happen again this week

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

A hollow victory at best that pleasures the trivial.

that's right, a victory

[Nasher 33,613]

nice conceited way of admitting you are wrong. Maybe try not being such a know-all next time someone suggests there might be a late change

I'm not admitting I'm wrong, I'm walking away from the argument because I can't be bothered anymore. You haven't "won" anything, I've just stopped playing.

I stand by everything I have said, just so we're clear.

[Dinosaur Rover 197]

Here here!

Bruce decimated Troy Taylor last week. So superior in the one on one contest it was a joke. Without Bruce, it's distinctly possible we'd have been reading about Taylor as a rising star nominee. I know, I know, an experienced player such as Bruce should be able to pants a young new player, but my point is - that was Bruce's job (or part of it) last week, and he did it very well.

I just wish he'd stop handballing backwards.

My amateur club coach is recently ex WB and Geelong and the handpass backwards if you cant find a way through is strongly promoted - retains possession I guess and allows the new carrier to go straight ahead and find another path foward or play 2 on 1. Other teams (AFL) appear to do it. Maybe Bruce is following a team rule.

[jnrmac 20,058]

I will take 5 points anyday.

Interesting to see how the ruck combination of Clark and Leudenberg is countered by Bailey. Sole ruck Jamar arguably has had to ruck against one main opponent with Adelaide, Hawthorn and Collingwood (on the basis that Tippett and Fraser were playing forward relief rucks)Richmond rucks are not that compelling. Does the coach stay with solo Jamar and win an extra runner (as listed) or play emergency Martin. I think the former so we will see if we breakeven here.

The advantage of using a relief ruck is that we have an extra running player which can come in very handy.

[titan_uranus 25,002]

who besides martin is capable of filling the obvious hole at Full Forward. It is clearly not Newton or watts for a while so who is it

Probably no one at the moment. Which only futher validates Nasher's point. If Martin's the best option for that spot, why isn't he in the team already?

That's exactly right, the Lions would have an inkling it might happen, because it makes perfect sense... that's why myself and others have put it out there. What they can't do is include an extra big man in the 22 that can line up on him if he sits at FF all day unless they are somehow certain we will make the late change, which they obviously can't be

Wow you're thick.

Nasher said that the Lions can see the emergency list, so if we do make this change it's not going to be anything of a surprise. Which is what you intimated earlier.

Nasher 2. You 0.

you just seem to be unable to type a response to validate it, yet you can be bothered typing more 'look at me and how much more I know than you muppets' rubbish. Yuck.

I would argue you have been doing this exact thing.

[satyricon 267]

My amateur club coach is recently ex WB and Geelong and the handpass backwards if you cant find a way through is strongly promoted - retains possession I guess and allows the new carrier to go straight ahead and find another path foward or play 2 on 1. Other teams (AFL) appear to do it. Maybe Bruce is following a team rule.

Poseidon, careful don't say Bruce is doing something really well, the Board may cease to exist as we know it, we will have posters imploding just with the thought of it........

[H_T 3,043]

Bailey is expecting Brown to play

[Lost Highway 31]

Remember that TV show, 'Hypotheticals'? With Geoffrey Robertson, the eminent human rights QC as compere?

That's what this thread has become, at least that part of it connected with Martin's being an emergency. Except in the minds of some, it's more than a hypothetical, it's a done deal straight from the AFL coaches' manual, section 97, III, iv, (f) Use your emergency to catch the opponents by surprise on game day.

The reasoning process, if you can call it that, behind the wishful thought/hope/dream/fantasy that Martin will swoop in to the side in order to discombobulate the Lions, is infantile. It's tantamount to asking the apparently rhetorical question, 'Do you really, really think that pigs don't fly, ever?'

There's even a suggestion by one of the proponents of this theory that its opponents are already admitting they are wrong - more than 24 hours before the match:

nice conceited way of admitting you are wrong. Maybe try not being such a know-all next time someone suggests there might be a late change

will be pretty funny if Martin plays too

Yes, it will be pretty funny if Martin plays. And we'll admit we were wrong, provided we know that he wasn't brought in to cover a genuine injury or illness. It'll be pretty funny, too, if Gysberts or Cheney were brought in instead of Martin. I suppose that'll be an example of really catching the opposition by surprise, especially if they've been sweating over this thread.

[H_T 3,043]

For those that like to chew the fat on stats: Brisbane have won 2 of their past 11 games at the MCG.

[Lost Highway 31]

For those that like to chew the fat on stats: Brisbane have won 2 of their past 11 games at the MCG.

I saw that too. It's another thing to inspire vague, inflated confidence. If there's a bit of drizzle and it's pretty cool, they might just feel a little disoriented.

[Sir Why You Little 37,033]

LEADING FROM THE FRONT by JVM

Brisbane by 5 points.

If you are predicting the game will be that close then.....-i will say Melbourne by 5 points!!! B)

[deanox 9,912]

Bruce does one bad kick and you state he is a deplorable kick. Why don't you watch the game, his efficiency

rate on Sunday was 80%.

He is an excellent field kicker and his passes rarely miss. I will admit that Yes in front of goals I hold my breath

bruce is not an excellent kicker. he has a terrible ball drop (almost throws it upwards).

He is not a bad player. He does what he does well, very well. That is things like cover ground, beat his man defensively, get lots of the ball etc. What he doesn't do well is kick the ball. And his biggest flaw the past 2-3 years has been his penchant for handballing to a player who is either flat footed or about to be tackled. He hasn't done that as much the last 2 weeks so im not too concerned.

but don't claim he is an excellent kick. scully, grimes, trengove, morton, green, are pretty good kicks. davey is an excellent kick. bruce is about as low a standard as I would want from an afl player (other players are worse but I think that their kicking is unacceptable).

[Trisul 664]

For some reason that read to me in the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy voice.

Edited April 23, 2010 by Trident

[Dee Fan 3,247]

bruce is not an excellent kicker. he has a terrible ball drop (almost throws it upwards).

He is not a bad player. He does what he does well, very well. That is things like cover ground, beat his man defensively, get lots of the ball etc. What he doesn't do well is kick the ball. And his biggest flaw the past 2-3 years has been his penchant for handballing to a player who is either flat footed or about to be tackled. He hasn't done that as much the last 2 weeks so im not too concerned.

but don't claim he is an excellent kick. scully, grimes, trengove, morton, green, are pretty good kicks. davey is an excellent kick. bruce is about as low a standard as I would want from an afl player (other players are worse but I think that their kicking is unacceptable).

I've noticed that a bit lately he seems to over extend himself and then throws the ball up causing him to search for it when he kicks. It's like he loses contact with the ball or realises it's too far out in front of him causing him to kick it when he is at full stretch. This may have something to do with his revised running action developed to stop him from getting hammy problems.

[Felix 92]

with all this rain tonight and even more expected tomorrow, who will the conditions suit more Melbourne or Brisbane?

[Go Dees Attack 0]

If the dees play with same intensity as last few weeks they will surprise alot of people and could run away with this game. Go dees

[deanox 9,912]

us. we are a small running side without marking forward targets.

that being said, brisbanes talls are more likely to perform in poor conditions than ours.

i thought we've been good in the clinches the past few weeks, and that will be important tomorrow night.

[Salems Lot 2,526]

I reckon we can take the Loins, we have form against them at the G and if Brown is missing, it makes it look more doable.

BOG Joel Mac!

Go Dees

17 points

[Miracle 89]

bruce is not an excellent kicker. he has a terrible ball drop (almost throws it upwards).

He is not a bad player. He does what he does well, very well. That is things like cover ground, beat his man defensively, get lots of the ball etc. What he doesn't do well is kick the ball. And his biggest flaw the past 2-3 years has been his penchant for handballing to a player who is either flat footed or about to be tackled. He hasn't done that as much the last 2 weeks so im not too concerned.

but don't claim he is an excellent kick. scully, grimes, trengove, morton, green, are pretty good kicks. davey is an excellent kick. bruce is about as low a standard as I would want from an afl player (other players are worse but I think that their kicking is unacceptable).

Why are you commenting about his handballing and his style of kicking.

I will repeat myself as you obviously have trouble reading.

When it comes to passing the ball by foot he is excellent. I don't care how he drops the ball as long

as he hits his target. Stats back me up.

I say again he is bad when shooting for goal and his handballs

are questionable at times.

Is that clear enough

[praha 11,240]

Bruce has the brains, but he drops the ball on an angle, hence why he often sprays his kicks. Not easy to fix, especially this far into his career. Worth having in the team atm, but won't have a place in 2-3 years imo.