It really really upsets me that of all the experienced, highly paid players at our club, who have all had absolutely woeful games/seasons/careers, supporters choose to single out and humiliate Spencer.

He is a child, he hasn't play in 2 years, and he is coming back from a knee reconstruction.

Newsflash: he isn't our problem.

  On 01/07/2012 at 11:15, Jaded said:

It really really upsets me that of all the experienced, highly paid players at our club, who have all had absolutely woeful games/seasons/careers, supporters choose to single out and humiliate Spencer.

He is a child, he hasn't play in 2 years, and he is coming back from a knee reconstruction.

Newsflash: he isn't our problem.

Don't bring reason into it, cull everyone, trade everyone, fire the coach, oh and get rid of that "liability" Magner...

  On 01/07/2012 at 11:21, stuie said:

Don't bring reason into it, cull everyone, trade everyone, fire the coach, oh and get rid of that "liability" Magner...

You forgot to BRING BACK JUICE!

Spencil moves like one of those fan inflated sausage men outside the new tyre sellers, limbs flapping around with not much result.

  On 01/07/2012 at 10:18, stuie said:

You think 1 ruckman, and a first gamer at FF was a good option and you think I'M the one having trouble.... sheeesh

We only had one ruckman (and sorry it wasnt Jake) and no FF today Stuie.

Don't be so blinded.

  On 01/07/2012 at 11:15, Jaded said:

It really really upsets me that of all the experienced, highly paid players at our club, who have all had absolutely woeful games/seasons/careers, supporters choose to single out and humiliate Spencer.

He is a child, he hasn't play in 2 years, and he is coming back from a knee reconstruction.

Newsflash: he isn't our problem.

Jaded, he is a problem. One of many including the likes of Moloney, Davey, Green, Petterd and Morton to name a few.

But unlike those others who all at some point in the last 4 years have played good games/seasons or even careers, Jake has not.

Perhaps my thread title was too confronting but that doesn't change the facts.

He is probably a ripping bloke. But he doesn't cut the mustard.

Oh, and he's had just as much time on the list as Morton yet you and many others are quite happy to throw him to the wolves.

The point about Spencer and Martin is that they are coming from so far back, you know like if they run round without falling over, folks think they are on the improve.

Not sold on Magna and Howe either, ....doubt if other recruiters overlooked them,... reckon they had a good look and thought no cigar.

  On 01/07/2012 at 12:19, bluey said:

Not sold onHowe either, ....

LOLs were had. Thanks.

Kreuzer's form is not much better.

Well it was just bad luck he played really, he may not get another game but I guess they thought bringing him in was the logical thing to do with Jamar out (I don't think it was). His future is doubtful though with about 5 ruckmen/possible ruckmen on our list ahead of him, so if he does get another game he better reassure himself that he is playing for his career (unless footy isn't what he wants to do and he'd rather be a Journalist, then voluntarily leave and become a Journalist spenco).

In his 9 career games he has never played in a winning side

Usually when a kid comes in they show something in their first 5-10 games. Spencer showed nothing in his first and second years, and showed nothing today and in the VFL this year. So with the current ruck situation at our club he was extremely lucky to play today imo and won't be in next week or ever again!

The kids hardly played a game at any level in 2 years. Big guys take time to develop WHEN they are playing every week. Like many on our list he will be given time to show if he's got what it takes.

I actually thought he was no worse than what Jamar has been for much of the year and did some good things at times, including a tackle on Brown which caused a turnover that led to at the very least a shot at goal for us.

  On 01/07/2012 at 12:58, McQueen said:

Kreuzer's form is not much better.

Well said, Kreuzer is really suffering at the moment he again looks injured, but so much is expected (No 1 pick and all that)

but you have to remember the posters on here want/expect/demand an 18yr old skinny kid we have recruited to have half a game at Casey and then come into the AFL side absolutely star, get 40 possessions, kick 10 goals, fill out his application for the job as the new CEO during the half time break and have a girlfriend who makes Pia Miller look average.

This thread is pathetic, Jake Spencer has had a full knee recon, he has had four games in the VFL, thrown in at the last minute to play with a midfield group that is in a state of flux itself and missing one of it's most important players, in unseasonable heat (for Melbourne), his tap work was ok and at least he had a crack

he's been bloody awful at Casey too. keep that in mind.

  On 02/07/2012 at 00:59, Bring Back Barassi said:

he's been bloody awful at Casey too. keep that in mind.

I think that post rests my case, he was in the best 6 at Casey the week before last

Jamar was no better at the same age.

He's raw, and needs another 2-3 years of development before he's performing at AFL level. He'll be OK.

Well said Satyricon, Cudi_420, S_T and others..this young player needs games in his legs and experience..and constructive criticism, encouragement and support from his coaches.

He did some good things yesterday despite mistakes and weak spots..and if I recall, his first game (or one of his first games) against Collingwood several years ago he did really well early in the match. I feel he has suffered both from injury and lack of game time to mature.

Of course he is not the 'problem', but as far as I can see he definitely is not part of the solution. We were top heavy on the weekend, I looked across the field at one stage yesterday and noted each defender of ours was at least a few centimetres taller than their opponent. Personally, I thought it was a baffling selection, and he is, along with others, not up to standard.

  On 02/07/2012 at 02:04, Forest Demon said:

Of course he is not the 'problem', but as far as I can see he definitely is not part of the solution. We were top heavy on the weekend, I looked across the field at one stage yesterday and noted each defender of ours was at least a few centimetres taller than their opponent. Personally, I thought it was a baffling selection, and he is, along with others, not up to standard.

And to repeat what so many have already stated... to get up to standard, a player (and possibly more so a ruckman) needs to get games into them. he has had just 4 years, much of which has been interrupted by injury, and he was improving and starting to show something just prior to his last injury, and at 22, he has a lot of time ahead of him to get up to standard.

No doubt you would have been one of the chorus line calling for Jamar's axing prior to him finding his feet? That's what I love about these forums... as soon as we put in a poor performance, too many are looking for scapegoats with a view to them being placed on the chopping block.

  On 01/07/2012 at 09:08, Grandson of a gun said:

Is your fault if you can't see that there were other options structurally.

Martin primary ruck.

Sellar relieving.

Garland back to defence.

Cook forward.

There's an option for ya. Gives us a permanent tall forward target. Defence loses nothing and we get two blokes playing ruck that ate far better options than Spencer.

Didn't realize it was so hard to comprehend?

How much of the game could Martin have played in the ruck given, like Spencer, he is on the way back from a long injury lay off? Sellar would have had to ruck for at least half the game.

Spencer may not be a future champ but your criticisms to me are very harsh considering he is had played what, 4 or 5 games with Casey?, on his way back from a year out with a knee reco.

Ordinarily both Martin and Spencer would have had more games with Casey to build match fitness and touch.

  On 01/07/2012 at 07:16, Grandson of a gun said:

Has never played a good game. Is an absolute liability in the ruck and even worse around the ground.

Surely knowing Jamar may have been sore it would have been a better option to play Cook, have Martin ruck with relief from Dunn or Selar.

I know Cook is only just starting to get consistent games in and develop his body and they don't want to gift games but this is just ridiculous.

Spencer is just horrendous.

  On 01/07/2012 at 07:16, Grandson of a gun said:

Has never played a good game. Is an absolute liability in the ruck and even worse around the ground.

Surely knowing Jamar may have been sore it would have been a better option to play Cook, have Martin ruck with relief from Dunn or Selar.

I know Cook is only just starting to get consistent games in and develop his body and they don't want to gift games but this is just ridiculous.

Spencer is just horrendous.

Hi MD,

Our back up Rucks are a worry. Spencer and also Fitzpatrick are no better. Both liabilities. Gawn looked good. Had the height, tap skills, character and mobility to make it. Two knee reco's absolutely catastrophic. Martin/Sellar Combo much better for the Lions game. Not sure about Dunn. Not sure if Dunn is sure about Dunn. Needs to lose the Moustache. Cook must earn a spot first with a bag of 4 or 5 at least.

  On 01/07/2012 at 07:57, stuie said:

Really dumb thread.

No Jamar, no Clark, no Gawn, no Fitzpatrick... Who the hell was meant to play?

Why do people even bother to post "dumb thread" . This is opinion .

Do any of you blokes remember a dopey hugh giant of a man who could not get a kick in his first 3 years was the brunt of many jokes during that time.......Supporters calling out for him to be delisted.....According to so called 'supporters' and 'experts' was hopless and would not get a game as long as his arse pointed to the ground

This player was Sandilands ....who turned out to be a AA ruckman and one of the best ruckman in the AFL today....

Just a thought....

He wasn't ready, came in out of necessity not because he deserved a call up. I don't know if he will make it as a footballer but boy his skills were barely VFL level.

As I said though, came in because we had bring him in. Martin as well is in because we had to. We lost our no. 1 & 2 ruck combo, and brought in two back ups who have been injured for much of the year. No surprises they struggled. (I'll say this in terms of taps they both did ok)

  On 02/07/2012 at 03:26, Bossdog said:

Do any of you blokes remember a dopey hugh giant of a man who could not get a kick in his first 3 years was the brunt of many jokes during that time.......Supporters calling out for him to be delisted.....According to so called 'supporters' and 'experts' was hopless and would not get a game as long as his arse pointed to the ground

This player was Sandilands ....who turned out to be a AA ruckman and one of the best ruckman in the AFL today....

Just a thought....

Salmon was like that at Essendon, too.

  On 02/07/2012 at 03:16, thaipantsman said:

Why do people even bother to post "dumb thread" . This is opinion .

As is "dumb thread"